DiamonD max: Auto insurAnce foryour golden yeArs

ou have been driving for many years and have taken great care in maintaining a clean record, so it is only

fitting that you be rewarded for your diligence. This is why BCIC has created Diamond Max, a private motor insurance policy specially designed for drivers 60 years and over.

In July 2011, BCIC began rewarding mature drivers for their good safety records by applying a discount to their premiums. In an effort to further reach out to this under-served segment of the market, the company held several focused discussions with representatives of the age group and paid keen attention to their particular needs. Diamond Max, which was launched in August of this year, was born of these

discussions. The policy not only offers lower rates but creates customised benefits that aim to make the insurance experience more accessible.

Seniors have flocked to the product since the launch, grateful for a policy that takes their needs into consideration. Visper Blackwood, 82, is a dressmaker, mother of four, grandmother of three and driver 40 years. She signed up for Diamond Max in October. She believes it is a “very good” plan.

“I was attending an event one day and they were promoting it there. I spoke with a representative and I’m now glad I made the switch,” she said.

Another key selling point for Blackwood was affordability.

“With my previous account, you had to pay for everything! When I compared the Diamond Max to what my previous company wanted me to pay for renewal, it was half the money I would have to spend,” she explained. The BCIC Diamond Max policy not only offers competitive rates, it ensures that seniors get the best from the company’s caring and professional staff. Nadine Nunes, Retail Risk Assistant Manager, admitted that most clients have benefited from cheaper premiums and are interested in how they will be treated when there is a claim.

Marcus Maypole*, 73, a grandfather of two, was certainly one client interested in how he would be treated.

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Know Your Policy

Keith Kong displays his Diamond Max key ring

“I was attracted to BCIC when I saw the ad and felt that this was the first time I was seeing an insurance company giving seniors a break. I got the impression from other companies that once a person reaches a certain age, the next stop is the coffin. With BCIC, I was dealt with quite efficiently,” he stated. “I loved that BCIC has such a caring attitude towards seniors. My previous company was too tedious. BCIC has made it easier for persons who have reached a certain age to deal with auto insurance without the unnecessary hassles”

Danielle Galloway, Senior Underwriter at BCIC, remembers Maypole well. “His file was completed on the same day as he brought in all the required documents.

What is significant about his case is that he enquired about the policy well in advance.  As soon as his policy was about to expire, he came to us to do the transaction,” she recalled.

Galloway also observed that older clients tend to go through their forms in specific detail. “They read everything to a‘T’ and ask questions about what they are being offered. A little more time is usually spent with them as a result,” she said.

Pearly Tucker, 78, a retired nurse and minister of religion is one such client who made sure she understood everything about Diamond Max before signing on. Tucker saw the ad one morning on television and went to the BCIC offices to get more information.

“My experience has been good. The customer rep who I spoke with was friendly and helped me. In the latter part of my plan with another company, I didn’t like the treatment; it was too hassling to get my policy renewed. I had to do a medical twice and they held on to my policy and it was costly for me to re-do the medical,” she explained.

If you are a senior who has not made a claim in the last three years and have had your licence for no less than five years, then you are eligible for Diamond Max. For more information about the policy, please call Simone Foote at 1(876) 948-1796 or email simonef@bcicjamaica.com or Racquel Grant at 1(876) 948-1729 or email racquel@bcicjamaica.com. Don’t

forget to visit the Diamond Max website www.bcicjamaica.com/diamondmax

“BCIC has made it easier for persons

who have reached a certain age to deal

with auto insurance without the unnecessary

hassles.”

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Diamond Max customer Pearly Tucker receives a key ring from BCIC Senior Underwriter, Daneille Galloway

Know Your Policy

licence signifies more than one’s ability to drive a car; it is a symbol of freedom and independence. Everyone remembers the feeling of accomplishment that accompanied receiving his/her driver’s

licence and the years of being able to get around conveniently. For seniors, the prospect of being forced to relinquish their licences and lose the sense of self-sufficiency that goes along with it is downright unpleasant.

Maintaining independence as you age is important, but it’s also vital to know when to consider other alternatives. If you become confused while on the road or you or your loved ones are concerned about your ability to drive safely, it might be necessary to consider taking public transportation, using a taxi service or hiring a personal driver. It’s good to be able to get around freely, but remember, safety comes first. However, if you feel you are still capable of handling the road, here are some guidelines to consider:

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DrIve unDer optImal ConDItIons Try to only drive during the daytime, in good weather, on quiet roads and in familiar areas. As much as possible, plan your route to avoid rush-hour traffic. Also, ensure that you are in good condition to drive: Don’t drive if you’re tired or upset. Don’t get distracted by cell phones, adjusting the radio or eating. And never drive after consuming alcohol.

Knowledge Centre

sCheDule regular vIsIon anD hearIng testsSince the senses tend to decline with age, always ensure that you are in the best driving shape possible by doing regular vision and hearing exams. Impaired hearing can limits the ability to hear an approaching emergency vehicle or warning sounds from other drivers. Also, vision problems like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration can make it difficult to see clearly, especially at night.

Ask your doctor how often to schedule vision and hearing tests. Even if you think your hearing and vision are fine, stick to your doctor’s recommended schedule. 4

upDate your DrIvIng skIllsYou have been driving for years and may have a perfect record, but it is always a good idea to brush up on your skills every now and then. Ask a loved one or a trusted friend who is skilled in driving to give you a ‘refresher’.

three Driving tiPs for seniors

how Bcic Assist

workshe road can be an unpredictable place – reckless drivers, bad surfaces, inattentive pedestrians and many other distractions abound. Despite your best efforts to remain safe, anything can happen, so you

need to know that there is someone you can call on in case of an emergency - an accident or an unexpected breakdown. BCIC ASSIST is just the service for you.

ASSIST, which is powered by the Jamaica Automobile Association ( JAA), was introduced in 2002 as an accident scene assistance service, becoming the first such service offered by an insurance company in Jamaica. It was expanded to include emergency breakdown assistance in 2008.

hoW It WorksBCIC ASSIST is provided free of charge to all private car policyholders and is available 24/7 – including public holidays –island wide.

If you are involved in an accident or have a breakdown, call ASSIST at 1-888-227-7478 and the monitoring station will immediately dispatch a response team.

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aCCIDent responseOur team of professionals will promptly arrive at the accident scene. They will: • Notify the police or, if the police are in control of the scene of the accident, comply with the instructions of the officer in charge. • Secure the disabled vehicle. • If required, arrange transportation to take you to the nearest medical treatment facility or public hospital, or transport you to the nearest destination of choice within the service district. • Provide a wrecker to remove the vehicle to the designated BCIC storage facility or to a garage of your choice within the service district. • Secure all valuables as far as is reasonable possible. • Obtain basic information relating to the accident.

• Photograph the accident scene and damaged areas of the vehicle. • Assist in the exchange of relevant vehicle data and driver information with the third party.

emergenCy roaDsIDe BreakDoWn assIstanCe On arrival at the scene, the response team will: • Carry out minor adjustments and temporary repairs at the location to get the motor vehicle back on the road. • Provide a ‘jump start’ and perform adjustments to alternators, starters and other parts associated with the battery/electrical system. • Offer flat tyre assistance. • Tow broken-down vehicle to the nearest service repair facility.

CIC was happy to partner with The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) as the main sponsor for its ‘Groovy Grandparents’ function on Sunday, September 30. The event

celebrated Grandparents’ Day, as well as Jamaica 50, with a lively afternoon programme for fun-loving seniors and their friends. More than 100 seniors enjoyed the celebration at The Deck on  Trafalgar Road. Our support was provided through the new BCIC Diamond Max policy, which was designed specifically for persons 60 years old and over. During the afternoon’s happenings, our team was on hand to explain the features and special benefits of the policy. A number of CCRP members have signed up for the policy and have found it a good deal. Vilma McDonald, for example, sent this message to the CCRP team: “Just to let you know that I took the opportunity to get ‘the Max’ and it does make a difference to the premium, so I hope every one over the age (of 60) will go for it!”

The CCRP is a non-profit membership organisation for persons 50 and over, retired or preparing for retirement. It was launched in April 2010, with the mission of “working to ensure that the vast talent, experience and wisdom of our seniors will be respected, and that they enjoy the quality of life that they so richly deserve.”  The CCRP was founded by communications specialist Jean Lowrie-Chin as a personal tribute to the contributions of her own parents. It is the first comprehensive organisation for retired persons in the Caribbean and is headquartered in Kingston. Its growing membership now numbers more than 700 across Jamaica.

For a modest fee, members enjoy benefits such as discounts and special offers from corporate partners, seminars and workshops on topics such as wellness, retirement planning, learning and leisure and personal safety. Professional networking provides opportunities for learning and social functions like Groovy Grandparents keep members connected, entertained and stimulated.

The CCRP has also hosted two high profile events to honour senior Jamaicans who have made outstanding contributions to nation building. It was among the first to ring in the national  Jamaica 50 celebrations this year, with Living Legacy Awards in February, honouring more than 60 mature nation builders. In June, CCRP marked its second anniversary with a one-day expo, presenting citations to five veteran Jamaican Olympians.  Governor General Sir Patrick Allen currently serves as patron of the CCRP, which counts two former GGs among its distinguished directors – Sir Howard Cooke and Sir Kenneth Hall. Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer serves as the organisation’s Chairman and Lowrie-Chin as Founder/CEO.

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BCiC Partners with CCrP for‘Groovy Grandparents’

Celebration in september

Interested readers may contact CCRP Coordinator Dorett Linton at 926-6740 for

further information or visit their website at

www.ccrponline.org

We believe seniority should have its benefits. That’s why there’s BCIC’s Diamond Max motor insurance, designed specifically for drivers 60 years and up. Get preferential rates, BCIC ASSIST 24-hour emergency roadside assistance and more. Your golden years deserve diamond rewards. That’s our policy.

• Designed specifically for drivers 60 years and up • No medical required under 80 years • Priority Claims Handling • Shrinking Excess

Call, click or come in to our offices today, and you’ll see.

Rewards you earn by just being you.

bcicjamaica.com

/bcicjamaica.com

Conditions apply.

1-888-BCIC-INS (2242-467)• Head Office 36 Duke Street, Kingston (876) 922-1260• Cross Roads (876) 948-1850 • Mandeville VMBS (876) 948-1870• Portmore VMBS (876) 948-1880 • Ocho Rios (876) 948-1890• Montego Bay (876) 948-1900

Contact BCIC, your broker, or agent

Better insurance pays

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