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For further information regarding Aflac's U.S. financial results and sales, see the Aflac U.S. Segment subsection of
MD&A in this report.
Insurance Products
Aflac Japan
Aflac U.S.
Third Sector Insurance
Cancer
Cancer
Accident
Medical
Short-Term Disability
Income Support
Critical Illness
First Sector Insurance
Hospital Indemnity
Life
Dental
Protection
Vision
Term
Life (Term, Whole)
Whole
Savings
Hybrid (WAYS)
Child Endowment
Japan
Aflac Japan's insurance products are designed to help consumers pay for medical and nonmedical costs that are not
reimbursed under Japan's national health insurance system. Changes in Japan's economy and an aging population have
put increasing pressure on Japan's national health care system. As a result, more costs have been shifted to Japanese
consumers, who in turn have become increasingly interested in insurance products that help them manage those costs.
Aflac Japan has responded to this consumer need by enhancing existing products and developing new products.
The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, our third sector cancer and medical
insurance products. Aflac pioneered the cancer insurance market in Japan in 1974, and we remain the number one
provider of cancer insurance in Japan today. Over the years, we’ve customized our cancer insurance product to respond
to, and anticipate, the needs of our consumers and the advances in medical treatments. The cancer insurance plans we
offer in Japan provide a lump-sum benefit upon initial diagnosis of internal cancer and benefits for treatment received due
to internal cancer such as fixed daily benefits for hospitalization, outpatient services and convalescent care, and surgical
and terminal care benefits. In September 2014, Aflac Japan introduced New Cancer DAYS, a new cancer insurance
product which provides enhanced coverage, including outpatient treatments and multiple cancer occurrence benefits. At
the same time, premiums for this product have been lowered for most ages compared to prior plans. In October 2014,
Aflac Japan introduced a unique Aflac-branded cancer insurance product for Japan's postal system, Japan Post (see the
Distribution - Japan section for background information). In March 2016, we launched a cancer insurance product that
offers protection to customers who have survived cancer. As the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan, we
believe these products further strengthen our brand, and most importantly, provide valuable benefits to consumers who
are looking for solutions to manage cancer-related costs.
In early 2002, we introduced EVER, a stand-alone, whole-life medical insurance product which offers a basic level of
hospitalization coverage with an affordable premium. Since its initial introduction, we have expanded our suite of EVER
product offerings to appeal to specific types of Japanese consumers and achieve greater market penetration. In June
2015, we upgraded our EVER insurance product to include riders to be associated with three critical illnesses (cancer,
heart attack, and stroke) to better respond to consumer’s needs for coverage of serious illnesses. These riders provide
policyholders with a benefit upon the diagnosis for those three critical illnesses, waiver of premium payment thereafter and
unlimited hospital days for such critical illnesses. Gentle EVER, our non-standard medical insurance product, is designed
to meet the needs of certain consumers who cannot qualify for our base EVER plan. An upgrade to our Gentle EVER
insurance product, released in July 2012, included expanded benefits and an attached advanced medical care rider.
In
March 2016, we made revisions to our Gentle EVER insurance product to enhance its alignment with changing customer
needs.
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