Insurance help for farmers

New Zealand’s largest locally-owned life insurer, Fidelity Life, is helping farmer customers deal with the financial effects of mycoplasma bovis with a special relief offer.

From this month customers who are suffering financial hardship due to the disease on their farms can apply to put their premium payments on hold for up to six months, without affecting their insurance protection. Fidelity Life chief distribution officer Adrian Riminton says the company has a responsibility to look after its customers, particularly in tough times.

“Life insurance is all about being there for your customers when they need you,” says Adrian. “Efforts to eradicate mycoplasma bovis will likely see 126,000 cows culled over the next two years and many of our beef and dairy farmer customers will be concerned about the potential impact of mycoplasma bovis on their businesses.

“Farmers are already dealing with high debt levels, which is compounding the financial pressure,” says Adrian.

In 2015 Fidelity Life made a similar offer to dairy farmers hard hit by a fall in the farmgate milk price. Mr Riminton says beef and dairy farmers with Fidelity Life policies should contact their financial adviser.

“It’s important for farmers’ financial security — their families and their businesses — that they keep their insurance protection in place, even when times are tough.

“It’s also important for us to retain our customers, so this offer is a small thing we can do to help our farmer customers get through this crisis.”