Mexico: MAPFRE brings peace of mind to its clients in a year marked by the pandemic
Overall, COVID-19 has left 2,613,000 dead worldwide. In Mexico, the total number of patients with COVID-19 reached 2.14 million, and deaths totaled 192,000 people. Although the trend of cases in Mexico has been in decline (as the sharpest surge in infections this year occurred on January 23 with an average of 17,441 new cases in the last 7 days, and there is now a steady decline in cases), the Mexican industry still struggles to curb the effects of the coronavirus on various fronts, mainly in the health and economic sectors.
MAPFRE’s role during the pandemic
As part of its initial actions when the first outbreaks of COVID-19 surged in Mexico, MAPFRE notified all its users that its Major Medical Expenses policy covered its beneficiaries against the disease, as this was its clients’ first concern.
In addition to these efforts, and concerned about its collaborators (who are the heart of the company), the insurer activated its Business Continuity Plan, the main objective of which was to safeguard the well-being of all its participants. It therefore immediately moved 90 percent of its workforce to the Home Office modality and implemented its activities digitally as quickly as possible, making it easier for adjusters to serve clients remotely, establishing remote appraisals, indemnifications and collection of documents from home. In doing so, it became one of the first companies in Mexico to join the #ImStayingHome initiative, which succeeded in preventing further infections.
At the same time, concerned about the financial health of its collaborators and clients, MAPFRE applied a 20 percent discount on automobile insurance, seeking to reduce the economic impact that this insurance could represent for families.
“We know that COVID-19 has ravaged Mexico and the world. There is no doubt about it. That is why, at MAPFRE, we seek to address the pandemic personally, as those affected by it are our clients, partners and collaborators, who are part of our family, and that means that we will do everything we can to provide them with peace and security,” said José María Romero, CEO of MAPFRE Mexico and LATAM North.
In addition to the health of its collaborators, one of its biggest concerns was the impact that event and social distancing measures could make on its partners, allies and clients. MAPFRE therefore implemented exceptional support measures by making the MEDIPHONE — Over-the-Phone Medical Advice service available to its main stakeholders, free of charge, whereby doctors provide over-the-phone care for any questions relating to COVID-19, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Furthermore, as an industry effort, MAPFRE Mexico was instrumental in implementing the “Cobertura Solidaria de Apoyo al Sector Salud” (solidarity coverage to support the health sector) of the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions, compensating the families of public service healthcare personnel that have sadly died while caring for Covid patients.
We know that much progress has been made to halt the pandemic. These improvements can now be seen worldwide in the accelerated distribution of vaccines and the decrease in the number of infections. MAPFRE intends to participate in such advances and good results from continuously supporting Mexico and its society, increasing that positive trend through best practices and initiatives that benefit clients and collaborators.