'Funeral Policies Must Meet Needs of Clients'

By Michael D. Abayateye

Life insurance companies must ensure the funeral products they provide really meet the expenses and fund the cost associated with today's funeral, Country Head, Metropolitan Ghana, Tawiah Ben-Ahmed has advised.

Speaking at the launch of Metropolitan Life Insurance's Family Eternity Plus (FEP) in Accra, he said the cost of funeral these days outweighs the benefits provided by funeral companies and efforts must be made to ensure the right benefits were secured.

"If the cost that is incurred to finance funerals is beginning to rise, then it challenges funeral policy companies to make sure that the funeral policies that they provide, really meets the need of clients and then be able to finance the cost associated for the funeral, otherwise if the benefit do not meet the need or cannot finance the expenses, it makes it irrelevant," he stated.

For example he said, the cost of professional mourners is moving from GH?5000 to GH?7,000 in August, and a funeral product gives only GH?5,000 then the essence of the product has been defeated as other aspects of the funeral is yet to be covered.

It is for that reason, he said, the FEP had been introduced to provide a solution that seeks to address the holistic needs when it comes to funerals in the country.

"As you know, funerals are a big thing in our country and we are of the opinion that the funeral insurance that is provided, must address the entire needs of the Ghanaian insurance public," he stated.

The FEP he added, meets the needs of the insurance public in Ghana by providing GH?60,000 as standard benefit for the main funeral and another GH?15, 000 for the one week celebrations and after every three years, pays 30 per cent of the third year premium back to the client.

"What is interesting is that, the GH?15,000 is not deducted from the main funeral benefit that is selected. Beyond this, we pay benefits when risk has occurred, that is sudden death otherwise in every interval of three years, 30 per cent of the third year premium is paid as cash back because we appreciate that if no claim has been paid, the client would still have the expectation of experiencing a tangible benefit under the offering," he explained.

He said the FEP had been structured to meet the needs of customers and urged the public to take advantage of the package.

Launching the product, Managing Director for Cal Bank, Mr Frank Adu Jnr commended Metropolitan Life for the initiative adding that, the product caters for an essential aspect of financial planning which has not been adequately provided for in the Ghanaian market.

"This product is truly Ghanaian and would be a turning point that enables us to come out of the 'days of cold' where people wondered how to access an adequate funeral finance plan for their loved ones," he stated.

Adding his voice, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Kofi Andoh urged Metropolitan Life to extend the product to reach people in the informal sector.

That he said, would ensure that every Ghanaian benefits from their amazing product that is set out to treat customers fairly and give them value for money.

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