While it's our job as news reporters to feed our readership what they need to know and what interests them most, I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable reporting all the “good” news that carriers need not lose any sleep over insured losses in Haiti, where thousands have lost their lives and many more lost their homes and businesses in this week's devastating earthquake.

Just because the industry did not have much exposure in this catastrophe-torn country, doesn't mean insurers can't play a part in the island's recovery. I'd love to run some news stories about how insurers are helping provide financial or other kinds of support.

We ran one today on our life and health insurance news service about a response by Aetna, which says it will try to help arrange medical evacuations for employer clients with injured workers in Haiti.

Aetna said it also is opening its behavioral health unit's employee assistance program to members of all Aetna benefit plans, regardless of whether the employers have signed up for EAP services.

The industry suffers from a chronically poor reputation. Even though insurers pay the overwhelming majority of claims filed in a catastrophe, the consumer press often focuses on the small percentage of claims that are mishandled or otherwise rejected–even if most were rightfully declined.

Here is a chance for polishing that poor image by reaching out and helping finance relief efforts, even though the industry does not have a lot of policies written there.

If such efforts are underway, I have yet to hear about them, and neither has the general public. If you folks have any positive stories to share about the industry pitching in to help out in Haiti, post them right here, and send them to our online news editor, Dan Hays, at dhays@sbmedia.com.

Special Reports /

What Can Insurers Do For Haiti?

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