Prudential Malaysia Introduces Relief Measures for Customers and Communities Facing Financial Difficulty During the Movement Control Order (MCO)

KUALA LUMPUR, 1 April 2020 – Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad (PAMB) and Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad (PruBSN) today announced the introduction of additional COVID-19 relief measures to assist their customers and communities that are experiencing financial difficulty during the movement control order (MCO) period.

Both PAMB and PruBSN remain committed and have proactively extended the measures undertaken by the government and Bank Negara Malaysia, to support their customers and communities affected by the outbreak. Through these relief efforts, the insurer and takaful provider hope to help ease the financial pressures on their customers and communities during this extended MCO period.

The new relief measures introduced by Prudential include the following:

Prudential Malaysia COVID-19 Relief Program

Customers

1. Deferment of Premium/Contribution Payment

   This relief program allows policy/certificate holders financially affected by COVID-19 or the MCO to apply for a grace period of three months to pay their premium/contribution. During this period, they will still be covered by their  insurance policy/takaful certificate.

   Customers are advised to read the full terms and condition at www.prudential.com.my or www.prubsn.com.my

2. Online Consultation

   PAMB and PruBSN have introduced virtual insurance/takaful consultation for customers who want to review their policy/certificate as well as those consumers who are interested to speak with a PAMB Wealth Planner/PruBSN Takaful Consultant from the comfort and safety of their home.

   As face-to-face meetings are difficult during the MCO period, PAMB has also implemented tele-underwriting where PAMB will contact customers directly to complete selected underwriting requirements through a recorded phone conversation, which eliminates the need to complete a physical questionnaire/form. For PruBSN, customers’ submission of underwriting requirements will be done virtually via email, followed by further verification via phone call.

3. Special COVID-19 Coverage

   PAMB and PruBSN customers will receive a total cash payout of RM5,000 if diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital identified by the Ministry of Health Malaysia on or before 30 April 2020.  The coverage has also been expanded to cover Group policies/certificates (except Group Employer-Employee Benefit), in addition to individual policies/certificates.

   Prudential in Malaysia was the first life insurance company and takaful provider in the country to waive the exclusion in medical policies/certificates on communicable diseases requiring quarantine by law and subsequently the first to provide special COVID-19 coverage.

   For more details, go to www.prudential.com.my or www.prubsn.com.my.

Community

1. Free online doctor consultation on Pulse by Prudential

   Through Prudential’s free digital health app, Pulse by Prudential, Prudential customers have access to free online doctor consultation whilst non-customers can also enjoy the service free upon completion of a health check available on the app. In addition, users of Pulse can keep updated with health tips and the latest developments on COVID-19.

2. PAMB fund raising in partnership with Yayasan Generasi Gemilang

   Since 2011, PAMB has been providing temporary financial relief to urban low-income families through its free protection plan – PRUKasih. Together with its NGO partner, Yayasan Generasi Gemilang (YGG), they have been working to improve the lives of the underserved communities through PRUKasih and other programmes. During the current MCO, these communities have been adversely impacted and are in critical need of basic necessities. They are unable to go out to work and earn their daily wage; some have mobility challenges which has made their situation even more dire.

   YGG has stepped in to help by purchasing and distributing provisions to low-income families in the communities that they serve, including three PRUKasih communities. PAMB employees are contributing funds to this initiative and the insurer continues to pay out claims to its PRUKasih communities in the event of an illness, accident and/or death.

   Further details on how to make a donation can be found here https://www.gengemilang.org/blog/generasi-gemilang-urgent-covid-19-needs

3. PruBSN Prihatin COVID-19 fund raising and zakat distribution to B40 in partnership with MERCY Malaysia

   PruBSN’s charitable arm, PruBSN Prihatin, is running a donation drive to support MERCY Malaysia Pandemic Fund. The funds raised will be channeled to government hospitals and district clinics for their purchase of medical and general supplies, as well as to marginalised groups for purchase of their essential needs.

   Those who wish to contribute can make a transfer from 29 March to 12 April to:

   Account Name             : PruBSN Prihatin (PruBSN Cares)

   Bank                               : Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad

   Account Number         : 312409962689

   Reference                     : COVID19

   All donations of RM50 and above are eligible for tax exempt receipt. To be issued a receipt, please contact prubsnprihatin@prubsn.com.my or call 03 2778 2156.

   Already suffering from the low wages and high cost of living, the COVID-19 outbreak and extended MCO will further impact the livelihood of the poor and hardcore poor families in the B40 group. Together with MERCY Malaysia, PruBSN Prihatin will be allocating RM500,000 from PruBSN’s zakat fund to provide assistance to the families from this vulnerable community.

4. Contribution to IMARET to provide relief to health facilities and frontliners

   In addition to the above, PruBSN Prihatin has recently donated a portion of its zakat fund to IMAM Response & Relief Team (IMARET). This fund will be channeled towards mobilising volunteers at health facilities, providing medical and general supplies to hospitals and district clinics, as well as to assist the communities and frontliners who are currently hospitalised/quarantined.

5. PruBSN FB Session with Amin Idris (2 & 9 April 2020, 7.35pm)

   PruBSN will be organising a yassin recital and a talk on togetherness and unity in times of hardship. The pre-recorded session will be hosted on PruBSN’s Facebook by motivator and TV presenter Amin Idris on 2 & 9  April 2020 at 7.35pm.

   The COVID-19 relief program supplements the existing COVID-19 coverage benefits that PAMB and PruBSN have introduced over the past few months, extending their care and protection for its customers and the community. Safeguarding the health and safety of its customers and colleagues remain the companies’ priority. During this period, PAMB and PruBSN encourage customers to consider making full use of its available e-channels such as PruAccess Plus and PruBSN Touch.