Through this pilot, PICC intends to explore ways to provide better protection to migrant workers. The project will deliver personal accident and health insurance (in case of accident) to migrant workers in selected provinces of China. Through consumer education, the target market will gain awareness of the value of insurance. This project will explore new delivery channels (local village committees, sales outlets and employment agencies) and test how to cover claims incurred in provinces other than where the policy was sold (i.e., inter-provincial coverage). For example, insured migrant workers will be able to claim reimbursement for certain medical expenses in provinces outside where the policy was purchased. In later phases of the project, PICC will also seek to add value to the product by collaborating with medical facilities to provide migrant workers with services such as direct payments and medical monitoring.
The project targets the internal migrant workers in China. In 2007, migrant workers were estimated to number around 210 million and have become a pillar of the country's work force. Less educated than other groups of workers, they tend to be more vulnerable and have difficulties realizing their legal rights to employment, medical care, a pension and education of their children. PICC aims to educate people on the use of insurance as a risk management tool and cover more than 900 000 lives by the end of the pilot project.
Partly state owned, Property and Casualty Company Limited (PICC) is a leading non-life insurance company in China. With more than 5,500 domestic branches, it provides a broad range of property and casualty insurance products, including accidental injury insurance and short-term health insurance.