Bank introduces insurance plan for female-related health risks

Kuala Lumpur, 1 July 2009 - Concerned with the increasing number of cancer cases among women and the rising medical costs that comes with it, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (Alliance Bank) has joined forces with ACE Synergy Insurance Berhad (ACE Malaysia) to introduce Alliance LadyGuard, a specially designed insurance plan to address female-related health risks.

"Women make up more than half of the workforce in the country. With the increasing health risks among them, we strongly believe that a flexible and well-diversified protection plan is important. The launch of Alliance LadyGuard is relevant and timely because it is about providing peace of mind when one is going through emotional and physical stress that comes with being diagnosed with an illness of such magnitude. The last thing one wants to worry about is how to cope with medical expenses that comes with such diagnoses," said Datuk Bridget Lai, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad and Director of Alliance Financial Group Berhad.

True to its name, the Alliance LadyGuard insurance plan provides protection against identified female-related cancers ranging from the most common breast and ovarian cancer to cancer of the fallopian tubes, vulva and vagina by giving unparalleled cash benefits of up to RM300,000 upon diagnosis. Diagnosis of any other cancer qualifies for a lump sum of tax-free cash of up to RM150,000. The Alliance LadyGuard also offers a monthly Homecare Income Benefit of RM1,000 for up to six months and cash benefits for other expenses incurred due to cancer.

From as little as RM35 per month, one gets to enjoy 24-hour protection anywhere in the world. In addition, lump-sum cash benefits are paid on top of any other existing protection plans one may already have and it is tax-free. All Alliance Bank female customers and their female family members between the ages of 18 and 59 years are eligible to enrol for this protection plan.

It is a universally known fact that breast cancer is the number one killer for women. The Malaysian National Cancer Institute estimates that by age 50, one out of every 50 women will develop breast cancer¹ . In the United States, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and one dies from the same cancer every 11 minutes.

Alliance Bank is partnering with ACE Malaysia, a member of the ACE Group of Companies®, one of the leading global providers of insurance and reinsurance which provides a diversified range of products and services to clients through operations in more than 50 countries around the world, to bring the exclusive Alliance LadyGuard plan to the forefront. ACE has been operating in Malaysia as a general insurer since 1948 and has earned a strong reputation as a solid insurance provider.

¹ http://www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/About/FactsNStats.htm