Singtel Bill Protect will waive bills for customers who are retrenched

Singtel and Etiqa Insurance Singapore have launched Singtel Bill Protect, a complimentary insurance plan to cushion Singaporeans from adverse economic situations and stay connected even if they face financial difficulty. Retrenchments in Singapore have risen for three quarters in a row, according to the latest Ministry of Manpower labour market estimates*.

Against the backdrop of rising economic and job uncertainty, the Bill Protect plan helps Singtel customers who face financial hardship due to a loss of employment with waivers on their upcoming Singtel mobile and fixed broadband bills.

Anna Yip, CEO, Consumer Singapore, Singtel, said: “Staying connected has become an essential part of modern lifestyle. By offering our new Singtel Bill Protect plan to our postpaid customers for free, we aim to help ease the strain of life’s uncertainties by ensuring that our customers impacted by adverse conditions like retrenchment can stay connected with their communities using Singtel's superior network without worrying about their bills. That frees up their mind to focus on other more pressing priorities.”

Raymond Ong, CEO, Etiqa Insurance Singapore, said: “We are excited by the Singtel-Etiqa telcoassurance partnership, which will see the launch of initiatives and plans to achieve our vision of closing the protection gap that exists in Singapore, and help customers achieve peace of mind during difficult moments in their lives. The Singtel Bill Protect is a positive step towards achieving this vision by providing coverage for retrenchment and accidental death to support affected customers and their families.”

Eligible insured persons** who become retrenched can get their Singtel bills mobile and fixed broadband waived for up to six months, up to a maximum of S$600. In addition to retrenchment, the plan also covers accidental death***.

Singtel Bill Protect is part of a broader series of Singtel Protect telcoassurance offerings that aim to help its customers narrow potential gaps in their insurance coverage to address life’s other unexpected adversities with Etiqa Insurance Singapore’s offerings. These solutions include Singtel Life Protect for protection against death and permanent disability; Singtel Health Protect, which covers unexpected illnesses; and Singtel Wealth Protect, which helps customers invest and accumulate wealth.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore will leverage their digital expertise and sales force to deliver these products to Singtel customers exclusively through Singtel's digital and physical retail channels. Other solutions dedicated to enhancing the protection needs of Singtel customers under the Singtel and Etiqa Insurance Singapore partnership will also be progressively introduced.

*https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2023/0428-labour-market-advance-release---first-quarter-2023

**Customers who wish to sign up for this complimentary plan must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident residing in Singapore, aged 17 to 65 years old, and subscribed to at least one Singtel postpaid mobile line.

***For accidental death, beneficiaries of the policyholder will receive a lump sum payout that is 12 times the last Singtel bill before death, up to a maximum of S$1,200.

Etiqa launches first-ever free inflight insurance for Singapore travellers

- The first free inflight insurance that includes up to S$50,000 in personal accident coverage

- Provides coverage upon three hours flight delay with an add-on of S$4, across all flights

- Allows instant travel claims encashment via PayNow

Etiqa, Singapore's online insurer, has launched Singapore's first free inflight insurance service for travellers. It also introduced a flight delay add-on for S$4, allowing travellers to receive benefits upon a flight delay of three consecutive hours. The industry average is a delay of six to 12 hours.

All Singapore outbound travellers* are eligible for the free inflight insurance solution, which includes up to S$50,000 in personal accident (inflight accidental death) coverage. In addition, the flight-delay topup allows travellers to claim up to S$300 for flight delays**. This complements Etiqa's existing ePROTECT travel policy coverage, which currently also include coverage for both in-flight and flight delays.

"According to a survey conducted by the Singapore Tourism Board, about 10% of consumers have never purchased travel insurance despite being aware of the importance of a policy," said Sue Chi Kong, CEO, Etiqa Insurance Singapore. "With our extended service offering of a free inflight insurance service, we hope to educate travellers on the value and importance of travel insurance coverage, encouraging them to consider protecting themselves - even when the cost is kept to a minimum, or absolutely free."

According to FlightStats, 20,671 flights were cancelled and 177,352 delayed in Asia-Pacific alone during a 30 day period from 10 February to 12 March 2018. Globally, this number rises to over 60,000 flights cancelled, and over 630,000 flights delayed during the same period. Last year, Etiqa processed more than 1,500 travel claims within one day following the launch of its straight-through claims processes in July 2017. Of these, 17% were claims processed due to travel delays. A real-time flight monitoring system was also implemented at the same time to enable auto-flight delay claims for its customers.

Claims are seamlessly processed through eWallet on TiqConnect, Etiqa's online portal that allows customers to manage their claims and policies. The eWallet balance can be used to purchase new policies, renewals, or encash claims. From 19 March, existing customers can also enjoy instant encashment via PayNow, along with the current encashment via IDEALRAPID (bank transfer)***.

*All Singapore citizens, permanent residents of Singapore or foreigners with a valid work pass, student pass, dependant's pass or long-term visit pass.

**Customers can claim S$50 for every full three consecutive hours of flight delay, with a limit of up to S$300, across all countries except Singapore. For flight delays that occur in Singapore, customers can claim a maximum of S$50 for every full three consecutive hours of flight delay.

***IDEALRAPID, from Etiqa partner DBS, provides fast access to banking services, including to services from the FAST alliance. Instant encashment is a FAST service.