As more Filipinos embrace digital, Manulife Online launches new features that ensure more accessibility for customers

According to leading life insurer Manulife’s Asia Care Survey, at the height of the pandemic last year, 70% of Filipinos preferred online channels to manage their insurance policies. With this insight, Manulife Philippines has further accelerated its digitalization efforts by introducing new features on Manulife Online, its mobile-optimized customer website, to provide more convenient, secure, and seamless services – anytime, anywhere.

Besides real-time updating of personal information and tracking fund value for investment-linked plans, customers can now make online payments in advance of their due dates, and select the amount of premium they would like to pay. They can also download premium notices and variable life statements of account.

Manulife Investment Management acquires U.S. timberlands for impact-first investment

Hancock Natural Resource Group, a Manulife Investment Management company, announced the acquisition of 89,800 acres of timberland in the U.S. state of Maine. The impact-first investment was made on behalf of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A), and its parent, Manulife (collectively “Manulife”). The acquisition is an opportunity for Manulife to integrate natural climate solutions into its investment decisions and work towards its climate action plan.

This investment is classified as impact-first with the core of the investment thesis centered on the timberlands being used primarily to store carbon. Manulife reserves the option to sell the carbon credits as offsets or use the carbon removals as insets for the purpose of meeting the firm’s net zero commitments.

Manulife launches Health Protect to help businesses better protect their employees

To help businesses in the Philippines protect their employees’ health and secure their future, Manulife has recently launched Health Protect, a one-year renewable term insurance plan that provides employees with health protection coverage of up to Php 5 million against various critical illnesses.*

Based on Manulife’s 2020 health study titled, “Understanding Filipino Sentiments Toward Health and Critical Illness,” among the top critical illnesses most feared by Filipinos are cancer, heart attack, and stroke. With Health Protect, companies can provide their employees with relevant health protection by choosing from any of its four protection bundles against: (a) cancer; (b) cancer, heart attack, and stroke (3 critical illnesses); (c) cancer + 57 other critical illnesses; or (d) 3 critical illnesses + 57 other clinical illnesses.

Businesses with full-time and active-at-work employees can purchase Health Protect for a minimum coverage amount of Php 50,000. For organizations with existing basic group life plans, they can also boost their employees’ protection with the new group critical illness riders. Businesses can opt to upgrade their plan to include additional coverage of up to Php 6 million.

Manulife launches Health Protect to help businesses better protect their employees

To help businesses in the Philippines protect their employees’ health and secure their future, Manulife has recently launched Health Protect, a one-year renewable term insurance plan that provides employees with health protection coverage of up to Php 5 million against various critical illnesses.*

Based on Manulife’s 2020 health study titled, “Understanding Filipino Sentiments Toward Health and Critical Illness,” among the top critical illnesses most feared by Filipinos are cancer, heart attack, and stroke. With Health Protect, companies can provide their employees with relevant health protection by choosing from any of its four protection bundles against: (a) cancer; (b) cancer, heart attack, and stroke (3 critical illnesses); (c) cancer + 57 other critical illnesses; or (d) 3 critical illnesses + 57 other clinical illnesses.

Businesses with full-time and active-at-work employees can purchase Health Protect for a minimum coverage amount of Php 50,000. For organizations with existing basic group life plans, they can also boost their employees’ protection with the new group critical illness riders. Businesses can opt to upgrade their plan to include additional coverage of up to Php 6 million.

Manulife Investment Management’s UITFs lead PH’s top-performing offshore funds

 

Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation’s top-performing unit investment trust funds (UITFs) delivered more than 50% Year-on-Year (YoY) growth as of March 2021. These UITFs, available in both peso and US dollar currencies, include:

Manulife American Growth Equity Feeder Fund with 63.51% and 70.56% YoY performance in peso and dollar, respectively, invests in a distinct portfolio of equity-related securities of large capitalization North American companies with sustainable competitive advantages and trade at a discount to their intrinsic value.

Manulife Dragon Growth Equity Feeder Fund with 54.36% and 61.23% YoY performance in peso and dollar, respectively, invests in a portfolio of equity-related securities of public companies which are listed in Hong Kong, and/or, although not listed in Hong Kong, are listed on a stock exchange in another jurisdiction and have any substantial business interests in Hong Kong and/or China.

Manulife adds new fund options to variable life insurance-linked products, giving customers access to global portfolios

 

Global life insurer Manulife Philippines recently added three new fund options to its variable life portfolio: Tiger Growth Fund, US Growth Fund, and Global Preferred Securities Income Fund. These new funds are available with select Manulife variable life insurance (VUL) products.

“Filipinos have shown greater interest in purchasing life insurance because of the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. Recognizing this key finding from our recent Asia Care Survey, we are focused on offering customers relevant insurance products, which can provide both life protection and investment opportunities in key global markets,” Richard Bates, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Philippines, said. “Through these new funds available with our investment-linked insurance products, Filipinos can expand their portfolios to include global markets and optimize potential returns.”

Tiger Growth Fund invests in innovative publicly traded companies in the growing economies of mainland China and Hong Kong, which have a track record for high revenues and have been performing well in the market. Customers will also have access to mainland China’s sizable economy and transformative growth, driven by their biggest companies in the e-commerce and technology industries.

Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli discovers how to make every day better

Similar to many Filipinos, pop superstar and Manulife Philippines brand ambassador Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli found herself worried and anxious, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she discovered that, by taking care of herself, finding opportunities to grow, and focusing on what is most important, she has found ways to make the best of the situation. The time spent at home during community quarantine has also allowed her to adjust to married life, including learning to make the right financial choices that will give her and her loved ones a more secure future.

Dealing with the challenges brought by the pandemic

Just before the pandemic struck, she had just begun a new chapter of her life as a newly married woman. She had also just completed a Valentines concert, and was looking forward to more exciting projects for 2020. However, the pandemic put a pause to many of her plans. She saw herself constantly worrying about the health and safety of her loved ones. She kept playing out different scenarios in her head, which caused her much worry.

Manulife Announces Global Partnership With World Heart Federation

Today, Manulife has announced the commencement of a new global partnership with the World Heart Federation (WHF) to bolster awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to increase CVD prevention efforts.

CVD is the leading cause of death around the world, with 17.5 million people dying from CVD, such as heart attack and stroke, in 2015 alone. Many premature deaths from CVD are preventable through lifestyle changes – like diet, exercise and nicotine use – and this new partnership will seek to raise awareness of these avenues to better heart health.