During the course of October, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) had been observing Financial Information Month with a campaign of several activities geared towards sensitising the public about prudent financial management. The theme for the month was “Innovation in the Face of Adversity – Respond, Recover and Rise”.
An important feature of the month was an interview conducted by Klass FM’s Principal, DJ Hammer, held at D-3 Insurance offices on Friday, October 29th. In the presence of The Anguillian and KCN Television, Hammer spoke with D-3’s Office Manager, Mrs. Wanda Brooks, as well as D-3’s Proprietor, Mr. Clement Ruan.
Hammer: What have you been doing to promote Financial Information Month this year, Mrs. Brooks?
Mrs. Brooks: Since we at D-3 Enterprises realise that it is rather difficult for our customers, these days, to meet the financial needs in supporting insurance, we have been offering installment payment plans where customers can complete their payments over a period of time. This enables our customers to better manage their financial obligations. Most of our clientele take advantage of this offer and appreciate it very much.
Hammer: What are some of the insurance services that you offer at D-3?
Mrs. Brooks: Here at D-3, among other types of coverage, we offer medical insurance, life insurance, motor insurance, private home, commercial property, liability, air evacuation, travel insurance, workmen’s compensation, professional indemnity, as well as marine insurance. We also offer personal accident insurance.
Hammer: What are your insurance packages like, and what is the range of your benefit for health insurance?
Mrs. Brooks: Our packages are designed to meet the financial abilities of our customers. It all depends on the amounts that the customer desires to spend. We have packages where the deductible amounts vary and the benefit amounts vary.
We have policies with benefit amounts starting at US$250,000 and can reach as far as US$2,000,000. Our benefit range would take in considerations factors like health and age. That is why we tell potential customers that it is best to take out medical and health insurance policies while they are young. And depending on one’s medical condition, the premium can be rated up.
Hammer: Does your medical insurance afford the customer an air ambulance service?
Mrs. Brooks: Yes! Most of our medical policies carry air ambulance coverage. We utilise SkyMed as our air ambulance provider, and this company offers unlimited service. Air ambulance is easily accessible to D-3 Enterprises. We don’t need to wait on long flights to arrive. Our Skymed planes are as close as neighbouring St. Maarten.
Hammer: Tell us about your third party and comprehensive insurance. What do you have to offer there?
Mrs. Brooks: Under motor vehicle insurance, we offer affordable rates for the regular comprehensive coverage which takes care of any injuries and repairs to your vehicle, and the other person’s vehicle if you are the wrong party. We also have affordable rates for third party coverage which covers all injuries and repairs to the other person’s vehicle when you are in the wrong.
Hammer: In these times of natural disasters, home insurance has become a very popular term. Would you explain how you cover risks to homes?
For this question, Mrs. Brooks allowed D-3’s Founder, Mr. Clement Ruan, to answer:
Mr. Ruan: Home insurance is a transfer of risk coverage from the homeowner to the insurance provider. In the event that the property should be damaged or destroyed, the insurance provider will pay in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. We offer very affordable home insurance policies, and I would encourage our people who own uninsured homes to come in and speak to us.
Hammer: How has the Covid dilemma affected the business considering loss of jobs in some cases, and interruptions in personal income?
Mr. Ruan: After all, we have tried to make it easy for our customers to pay. We have accommodated them with the possibility of making convenient direct deposits to our accounts, and we have provided them with a drop off box for payment at any time. But, essentially, we have reached out to our customers by providing them with ample time to make payments under specific payment plans. We try to accommodate our customers based on the reality that exists.
Still, of course, there would be some persons who may not be able to continue payment because of personal economic situations. We wouldn’t want such persons to lapse their policies, so we do all we can to work with them, and provide them with the easiest payment plan possible for remitting their premiums – and keeping their policies active.
Hammer: I realise that you represent several insurance companies. How do you manage this type of representation?
Mr. Ruan: D-3 Enterprises is a brokerage insurance company. We represent several insurance companies like Caribbean Alliance Insurance, Redbridge Insurance, TripleS Insurance, Massy United, Global Insurance and Skymed and others. What we do is not only to represent these insurance companies, but we represent our client by looking for the best fit – based on his or her budget. So we set out to provide the most appropriate rates by working along with the respective insurance companies and the clients, – given their current reality.
Hammer: So, Mrs. Brooks, what else would you like to let the public know about D-3 Enterprises Insurance?
Mrs. Brooks: As I indicated earlier, D-3 Enterprises offers a wide range of insurance products. We would like to encourage people to be insured. It is important. You can contact us here at D-3 by calling 497-3525. I am sure that we would be able to find insurance plans to meet everyone’s needs during these difficult times.
