NZ New Insurance Provider Teams Up With First Assistance

MEDIA RELEASE
13 February 2013

NZ New Insurance Provider Teams Up With First Assistance

First Assistance, New Zealand’s leading emergency assistance company, today announces its partnership with a new travel insurance provider - Travel & Accident International Ltd (TAI).

This marks TAI’s entry into the New Zealand market as a travel insurance provider specialising in coverage of niche market or higher risk group travel schemes, with the support of Lloyds underwriters to provide greater flexibility and ability to spread risk.

The deal will see First Assistance act in a full Third Party Administrator role for all emergency assistance and claims management decisions – a move which First Assistance CEO Mary-Jo McDonald says will be positive for both parties and their customers.

“First Assistance has provided claims management services to a number of its clients, so is well placed to represent TAI’s interests around both its claims and its emergency assistance processes. The result will be speedier resolution of all TAI cases, dealing with an expert team of experienced case managers,” says McDonald.

Through its partnership with major UK Lloyds based specialist insurer and reinsurer Atrium Syndicate, with Crispin Speers as the coverholder, and by taking a different approach to risk, TAI meets a niche in the New Zealand market for those otherwise unable to secure travel insurance through mainstream insurers. For this reason, the company is better prepared to cover the likes of adventure travellers, sports teams, and those with higher inherent risks.

TAI Director Greg Smith says the partnership with First Assistance makes the process for customers of TAI faster and more efficient.

“Where traditionally securing insurance for something like an overseas sports tour or adventure travel has been a long and arduous process, through this deal with Crispin Speers in the UK, and by working with a local provider such as First Assistance, we are making it easier for clients to get the peace of mind they need without having to jump through hoops,” says Smith.

“Allowing First Assistance full control over claims management will further simplify the process by allowing all decisions to be made promptly by the expert team at First Assistance, with no lag time,” he says.
First Assistance is New Zealand’s leading assistance company, providing a diverse range of claims management and emergency assistance services across the travel, automotive, property and business issues sectors.
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Mary-Jo McDonald First Assistance

ENDS

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