Aflac#Award programs

{{distinguish|text=Aflaq or Affleck or American Family Insurance}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Aflac Incorporated

| logo = Aflac.svg

| logo_size =

| image = AFLAC Tower Columbus Georgia.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Aflac Building, Columbus, Georgia, U.S.

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|AFL}}|S&P 500 component}}

| founders = {{ubl|John Amos|Paul Amos|Bill Amos}}

| area_served = {{ubl|United States|Japan}}

| key_people = {{Unbulleted list |Dan Amos (chairman, CEO)| Max Broden (CFO)}}

| industry = {{nowrap|Insurance
Human resources services}}

| products = {{nowrap|Supplemental health &}}
{{nowrap|life insurance}}

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|18.93 billion|link=yes}} (2024)

| operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|6.417 billion}} (2024)

| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|5.443 billion}} (2024)

| assets = {{decrease}} {{US$|117.6 billion}} (2024)

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|26.10 billion}} (2024)

| num_employees = 12,694 (2024)

| website = {{URL|aflac.com}}

| foundation = {{start date and age|1955|11|17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aflac.com/about-aflac/our-company/our-history.aspx|title=Our History|publisher=Aflac}} (as American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus)

| location = {{nowrap|Aflac Building}}
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.

| footnotes = {{cite web |title=Aflac, Inc. 2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000004977/000000497725000047/afl-20241231.htm |date=February 27, 2025 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}

}}

Aflac Incorporated {{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|f|l|æ|k}} (American Family Life Assurance Company) is an American insurance company and is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States.{{cite news |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=AFL%3AUS&sid=aAKpYxJb6IRU |title = Aflac Profit Rises 20% on Japanese Currency Strength |work = Bloomberg |date = April 29, 2009 }} It was founded in 1955 and is based in Columbus, Georgia. In the U.S., it underwrites a wide range of insurance policies, but is perhaps more known for its payroll deduction insurance coverage, which pays cash benefits when a policyholder has a covered accident or illness. The company states it "provides financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide".{{cite web |title = About Aflac |url = https://www.aflac.com/about-aflac/default.aspx |publisher = Aflac |access-date = September 15, 2015 }}

In 2009, Aflac acquired Continental American Insurance Company for $100 million,{{cite web |url = http://pdf.secdatabase.com/186/0000950123-09-027067.pdf |title = Aflac, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date July 29, 2009 |publisher = Aflac |via = secdatabase.com |access-date = December 31, 2012 }} enabling them to sell supplemental insurance on both the individual and group platforms.{{cite press release |url = http://www.aflac.com/aboutaflac/pressroom/pressreleasestory.aspx?rid=1313847 |title=Aflac Incorporated Announces Second Quarter Results, Declares Third Quarter Dividend, Announces Planned Acquisition of Continental American Insurance Company |publisher = Aflac |date=July 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228122943/http://www.aflac.com/aboutaflac/pressroom/pressreleasestory.aspx?rid=1313847 |archive-date=2009-12-28 }} {{As of|2012|6|30|df=US}}, it was represented by approximately 19,300 sales agencies in Japan and 76,900 licensed sales associates in the U.S.{{cite web |url = http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2380/0000004977-12-000061.pdf |title = Aflac, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date August 3, 2012 |publisher = Aflac |via = secdatabase.com |access-date = January 1, 2013 }}

History

The company was founded by brothers John, Paul (died 2014), and William Amos in Columbus, Georgia, in 1955, as American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus.{{Cite web|title=A Tale Of Two Companies One started in 1955 and is in the FORTUNE 500. The other started five months ago and doesn't have an office yet. What it takes to reach the pinnacle of business. - April 5, 2004|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/04/05/366369/index.htm|access-date=2020-11-30|website=money.cnn.com}} In 1964, the company name was changed to American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus.{{Cite news|last=Greenhouse|first=Steven|date=2014-07-04|title=Paul S. Amos, a Co-Founder of Aflac, Dies at 88 (Published 2014)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/business/paul-s-amos-a-co-founder-of-aflac-insurance-dies-at-88.html|access-date=2020-11-30|issn=0362-4331}} The company had an initial public offering in 1974 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Andrea V. |date=February 24, 2010 |title=Aflac duck, executives to ring NYSE closing bell |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article29123056.html |work=Ledger-Enquirer}} In 1990, the company adopted the Aflac acronym, although the official name of the underwriting subsidiary remains American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} Aflac announced the appointment of Frederick J. Crawford as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President in June 2015.{{cite web |last1 = Adams |first1 = Tony |title = Aflac grabs executive away from insurance competitor for CFO job |url = http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2015/06/25/3786160/aflac-grabs-executive-away-from.html |newspaper = Ledger-Enquirer |access-date = June 26, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150627233706/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2015/06/25/3786160/aflac-grabs-executive-away-from.html |archive-date = June 27, 2015 |url-status = dead }}

The company signed 6,426 policyholders in its first year.{{cite web |url = http://aflac.com/us/en/aboutaflac/history.aspx |title = Aflac History |publisher = Aflac }} Aflac pioneered cancer insurance in 1958.{{Cite web|date=2010-11-30|title=Aflac's Ongoing Journey in Japan|url=https://www.globalatlanta.com/aflacs-ongoing-journey-in-japan/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Global Atlanta|language=en-US}} Beginning in 1964, the company decided to focus sales on worksite settings, eventually through policies sponsored by employers and funded through payroll deductions. By 2003, more than 98% of Aflac policies in the United States were issued on a payroll deduction basis, making the company a leader in that approach to policy distribution.

Business

Aflac operates in the United States and Japan, and has its worldwide headquarters and corporate offices in an eighteen-story tower just east of Downtown Columbus, Georgia, in an area known as MidTown. The Aflac tower is the tallest building in the city. {{As of|2015|6|30|df=US}}, the corporation's total assets were more than $103 billion, and the company insured more than 50 million people worldwide.{{cite web |url = http://api40.10kwizard.com/cgi/convert/pdf/AFL-20150728-8K-20150728.pdf?ipage=10399856&xml=1&quest=1&rid=23§ion=1&sequence=-1&pdf=1&dn=1 |title = Aflac, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date July 28, 2015 |publisher = Aflac |via = secdatabase.com |access-date = September 5, 2015 }}

Aflac is the largest provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the largest insurance company overall in Japan, when measured by individual insurance policies in force.{{cite news |last = Williams |first = Mary Elizabeth |date = March 15, 2011 |url = http://www.salon.com/news/japan_earthquake/index.html?story=/ent/tv/feature/2011/03/15/gilbert_gottfried_japan_tweets |title = Sympathy for Gilbert Gottfried |work = Salon |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110318085230/http://www.salon.com/news/japan_earthquake/index.html?story=%2Fent%2Ftv%2Ffeature%2F2011%2F03%2F15%2Fgilbert_gottfried_japan_tweets |archive-date = March 18, 2011 }}

The company now offers several types of insurance policies in the United States, including the following:

Accident
Cancer/Specified Disease
Dental
Hospital Confinement Indemnity
Hospital Confinement Sickness Indemnity
Hospital Intensive Care
Life
Lump Sum Cancer
Lump Sum Cancer Critical Illness
Specified Health Event
Short Term Disability
Vision

Aflac also offers un-reimbursed medical, dependent day-care, and transportation flexible spending accounts. The company additionally offers human resources services for HIPAA and COBRA. From 1979 to 1997, the company owned several television stations, most of them in small and medium markets. It sold the broadcasting division (including flagship station WTVM) to what became Raycom Media in 1997.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/14/business/venture-in-accord-to-buy-7-tv-stations-from-aflac.html |title = Venture in Accord to Buy 7 TV Stations From Aflac |first = Joseph B. |last = Treaster |date = August 14, 1996 |newspaper = The New York Times }}

Aflac is ranked 137th in the Fortune 500 list of largest United States corporations by revenue.{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/list|title=Fortune 500 Companies 2018: Who Made the List|website=Fortune|language=en-US|access-date=November 18, 2018|archive-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110190356/http://fortune.com/fortune500/list|url-status=dead}}

Critics of cancer policies

Consumer groups and some government officials say that cancer insurance returns fewer premium dollars to policyholders than standard insurance. A United States General Accounting Office study found that the policies paid back as little as 35% of premiums (Aflac said its cancer insurance paid back 62.4%). In comparison, New York State requires most major-medical policies to pay back 82% and group policies to pay back 75%. New York State does not allow stand-alone cancer policies.

In 1997, AFLAC spent $175,000 on lobbyists and campaign contributions to change the law.{{cite news |first = Carol Marie |last = Cropper |date = April 20, 1997 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/20/business/when-the-policy-covers-only-one-disease.html |title = When the Policy Covers Only One Disease |work = The New York Times }} New York State lifted its ban in 1998 for purchasers who already have basic coverage.{{Cite news|last=Dao|first=James|date=1997-03-24|title=Seeing an Opening, an Insurer Lobbies Albany to Lift a Ban (Published 1997)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/nyregion/seeing-an-opening-an-insurer-lobbies-albany-to-lift-a-ban.html|access-date=2020-11-30|issn=0362-4331}} Consumer Reports recommended that policyholders use the money instead to buy lower-deductible insurance.{{cite web |first1 = Sally |last1 = Esteb Cureton |first2 = Dave |last2 = Cureton |url = http://www.cancerpage.com/news/article.asp?id=1313 |title = Cancer Insurance: Is It Right For You? |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120404180336/http://www.cancerpage.com/news/article.asp?id=1313 |archive-date = April 4, 2012 |work = cancerpage.com |access-date = July 6, 2014 }}

The Aflac Duck

Since December 1999, the company's identity and brand has become more widely recognized in the United States as the result of TV commercials featuring the Aflac Duck, who quacks the company's name with frustration to unsuspecting prospective policy holders. The duck concept and all of the commercials to date have been created by Kaplan Thaler Group, an advertising agency based in New York City. Metzer Farms, a Gonzales, California waterfowl and gamebird hatchery, supplied them with the initial ducklings that each grew into the famous duck. Struggling to come up with a concept to make the big but relatively obscure insurance company's name memorable, one of the agency's art directors stumbled upon the duck idea while walking around Central Park at lunchtime uttering, "Aflac, Aflac." He soon realized how much the company's name sounded like a duck's quack. The Aflac Duck character has now starred in more than 30 commercials. In many of these commercials, character actor Earl Billings also appears. The Aflac Duck is enshrined on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame as one of America's Favorite Advertising Icons.{{cite web |url = http://www.aflac.com/us/en/aboutaflac/aflacfacts.aspx |title = About Aflac |publisher = Aflac |access-date = July 6, 2014 }}

From 2003 to 2006, when both NASCAR on NBC and NASCAR on TNT were scheduled to televise the second half of the Cup Series Season, they ran a 30-second segment in certain parts of each and every race they broadcast, called, "The Aflac Trivia Quiz". The segment would always begin when NASCAR on NBC-TNT Commentator/Cup Series Champion Benny Parsons would segue the topics he would be talking about by saying, "Cue the Duck!"

Celebrities have starred in the Aflac ads, including Chevy Chase (2003); Yogi Berra; Yao Ming; future First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump (2005); NASCAR Cup Series driver Carl Edwards (2008–2014); the United States Olympic synchronized swimming team (2004); and Wayne Newton playing at Stardust Hotel and Casino for the 2003 commercial. The duck also appeared with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.{{cite AV media |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gycSplrvGFM |title = Looney Tunes Aflac Commercial |via = YouTube |access-date= July 6, 2014 |type = Video }} In 2005, the company logo was changed to incorporate the duck. The first commercial using the new logo featured Gilbert Gottfried at a pet store because the duck kept saying, "Aflac!" and he had to trade in the duck for a parrot, saying, "If you're hurt and can't work".{{cite AV media |last=The Hall of Advertising|title=Aflac: Pet Shop (2005, USA) |type = Video |date = January 26, 2012 |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9LKMm1GX_M |access-date = May 10, 2018

|via = YouTube }}

The duck was originally voiced by comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who also voiced Digit on the PBS Kids series Cyberchase and Iago in the Disney film Aladdin.{{cite press release |url = http://www.aflac.com/aboutaflac/pressroom/pressreleasestory.aspx?rid=616598 |title = The AFLAC Duck Selected as One of America's Favorite Icons |publisher = Aflac |access-date = July 6, 2014 }} After 11 years as the voice of the Aflac duck, Gottfried was dismissed on March 14, 2011, due to jokes on Gottfried's Twitter account referencing the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The company's chief marketing officer stated that "Gilbert's recent comments about the crisis in Japan were lacking in humor, and certainly do not represent the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac."{{cite news |url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/03/gilbert-gottfried-fired-aflac-tsunami-jokes.html?cid=6a00d8341c630a53ef014e86b79622970d |title = Gilbert Gottfried fired by Aflac over Japan tsunami jokes |work = Los Angeles Times |date = March 14, 2011 }}

On March 23, 2011, Aflac announced that the company was taking applications for the new voice of the Aflac Duck through QuackAflac.com until April 1. Commercials requesting the submissions, first aired in 2006 but updated, resemble a silent movie.{{cite news |url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42217563 |title = Are you annoying? Aflac needs new duck voice |work = NBC News |agency = Associated Press |date = March 23, 2011 |access-date = March 31, 2011 }}{{cite news |url = http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/aflac-and-monster-team-up-to-find-a-ducks-voice/?ref=stuartelliott |title = Aflac and Monster Team Up to Find a Duck's Voice |last = Elliott |first = Stuart |work = The New York Times |date = March 22, 2011 |access-date = March 31, 2011 }} On April 26, 2011, it was announced that Daniel McKeague, a television advertising sales manager from Hugo, Minnesota, would be the new voice of the Aflac duck.{{cite web |url = http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=a6d7c0c6-729a-42aa-b15f-da95adc27494>1=33002 |title = Aflac duck gets Minnesota accent? |last = Peterson |first = Kim |date = April 26, 2011 |publisher = MSN Money |access-date = April 26, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429051335/http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=a6d7c0c6-729a-42aa-b15f-da95adc27494>1=33002 |archive-date = April 29, 2011 |url-status = dead }} The first Aflac commercial featuring the duck's new voice aired on May 1, 2011.

In 2018, an Aflac ad inserted an animated Aflac duck into the opening credits of the DuckTales reboot.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/duck-tales-aflac-advertising-disney-1202564375/|title=Aflac's Duck Takes Wing With Disney's 'Duck Tales' in Ad Pact|first1=Brian|last1=Steinberg|date=September 20, 2017}}

Aflac and Macy's Partnership

Starting in 2001, Aflac and Macy's have partnered to sell the annual Aflac holiday plush duck in select Macy's stores nationwide.{{Cite web |url = http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/messaging/23938.html |title = Aflac and Macy's promote holiday campaign with social media and messaging app |work = Mobile Marketer |access-date = November 16, 2016 }} Net proceeds from each duck sold are donated to the participating children's cancer facility nearest to where it is purchased. Since 2001, more than $3 million has been raised from the sale of the ducks.{{Cite press release |url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aflac-holiday-duck-sings-in-a-festive-season-of-giving-for-kids-fighting-cancer-300354568.html |title = Aflac Holiday Duck Sings in a Festive Season of Giving for Kids Fighting Cancer |publisher = Aflac |via = PRNewswire |access-date = November 16, 2016 }}

Aflac has participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from 2011 to 2019.{{Cite news |url = http://wane.com/2014/11/27/thanksgiving-turkey-parades-shopping-deals/ |title = Americans mark Thanksgiving with parades, turkey |last = Neumeister |first = Larry |agency = Associated Press |date = November 27, 2014 |location = Fort Wayne, IN |publisher = WANE-TV |access-date = November 16, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161116231010/http://wane.com/2014/11/27/thanksgiving-turkey-parades-shopping-deals/ |archive-date = November 16, 2016 |url-status = dead|df = mdy-all }}

Award programs

Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year, which was first presented in 2004.{{cite web |title = The 2010 Aflac National High School Player of The Year Nominees Announced |date = August 9, 2010 |publisher = Satellite Television |url = http://www.satellitetv-news.com/the-2010-aflac-national-high-school-player-of-the-year-nominees-announced/ |work = Satellite TV News |access-date = November 10, 2011 |quote = The seventh annual Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award will be presented at the Aflac All-American Awards dinner to be held at the San Diego Hall of Champions on August 14. |url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120109051800/http://www.satellitetv-news.com/the-2010-aflac-national-high-school-player-of-the-year-nominees-announced/ |archive-date = January 9, 2012 }}

The Jackie Robinson Award is given to the high-school player who is entering his senior year and who best displays character, leadership, and the values of being a student athlete in academics and community affairs. The award is presented at an annual All-American Awards banquet, which was first held in 2003.{{cite web |title = Fox Sports Network's Live coverage of 2010 Aflac All-American Baseball Classic on August 15: 2010 Aflac All-American Baseball Classic Roster Announced |date = July 8, 2010 |work = Satellite TV News |url = http://www.satellitetv-news.com/fox-sports-networks-live-coverage-of-2010-aflac-all-american-baseball-classic-on-august-15/ |access-date = November 10, 2011 |quote = The Aflac All-American Baseball Classic is ... part of Aflac's ... commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, with ticket proceeds benefiting Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic has generated nearly $805,000 for charity. |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120918100422/http://www.satellitetv-news.com/fox-sports-networks-live-coverage-of-2010-aflac-all-american-baseball-classic-on-august-15/ |archive-date = September 18, 2012 |url-status = dead|df = mdy-all }} The banquet follows the annual All-American Baseball Classic, an East-West all-star game featuring the 38 best players from around the nation who are entering their senior year of high school. First held in 2003, the game is played at Petco Park, San Diego, California. Proceeds from the game and banquet are donated to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego and its fight against childhood cancer.

In 2011, the name of the all-star game was changed to the Perfect Game All-American Classic.{{cite web |title = 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic Rosters Announced |date = July 28, 2011 |work = Satellite TV News |url = http://www.satellitetv-news.com/2011-perfect-game-all-american-classic-rosters-announced/ |access-date = November 10, 2011 |quote = Perfect Game All-American Classic alumni have had a significant presence in Major League Baseball's first-year player drafts. Since the game's inception in 2003, 98 alumni have been selected in the first round.... The game has also produced over 40 players that are currently on a Major League Baseball roster. A record 18 Perfect Game All-Americans were taken in the first round of the 2011 draft, 13 of which played in last year's game. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425154231/http://www.satellitetv-news.com/2011-perfect-game-all-american-classic-rosters-announced/ |archive-date = April 25, 2012 |url-status = dead|df = mdy-all }}

Awards and honors

Aflac has been the recipient of several awards:

Aflac has appeared on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list for 20 consecutive years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
As of 2020, Aflac had appeared on Fortune's America's Most Admired Companies list for 19 years.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-17 |title=Aflac Incorporated Fortune's List Most Admired Companies |url=https://www.3blmedia.com/news/aflac-incorporated-appears-fortunes-list-worlds-most-admired-companies-19th-time |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=www.3blmedia.com |language=en}}
Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as a World's Most Ethical Company since 2007.{{cite web |url = https://www.worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees/ |title = The 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies® Honoree List |publisher=The Ethisphere® Institute |access-date=February 4, 2021}}
Aflac has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for six consecutive years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
In August 2016, Latina Style magazine placed Aflac on the list of the 50 Best Companies for Latinas to work for in the United States. Aflac has been on this annual list for 17 years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
Aflac has appeared on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the Top 40 Best Companies for Diversity for 10 years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}