…as Nurses Association signs major insurance pact with Assuria

Assuria General Insurance and the Guyana Nurses Association signed a historic pact on Thursday that would see over 900 nurses having easy access to insurance coverage under various areas.

The agreement was signed at Assuria General Insurance Headquarters in Georgetown by the Managing Director of Assuria General Guyana, Yogindra Arjune, and President of the Guyana Nurses Association (GNA), Cleopatra Barkoye.

Under the agreement, registered members of the nursing association, totaling 930, will be provided with special rates to access Health Care, Dental Care, Vision Care, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Fire Insurance, Auto Insurance and Travel Insurance.

Nurses will receive preferred rates on all types of insurance, starting as low as $3,000 per month and will also be able to extend these benefits to their families as well. “This is our way of giving back to the hard-working nurses who spend so many hours caring for our families when we need them” Assuria General (Guyana) Managing Director said during the signing ceremony.

GNA’s President, while praising the deal, said the agreement is a significant step for the nurses association, particularly its members who continue to serve the people of Guyana. “We just celebrated 90 years of existence and this is the best reward we could have expected!”

GNA’s Executive Director, Grace Bond, told Guyana Chronicle the agreement will see nurses and their families benefitting from excellent coverage by Assuria. She noted, however, that only nurses registered under the association will benefit.

“Only members of the association stand to benefit. So we expect our membership to grow as the package offered is very attractive. Immediately, those who take out insurance will receive a multi-discount card which is valid at several businesses,” Nurse Bond said.
At the signing ceremony, she said the agreement is one of many initiatives the nurses association has taken to accommodate nurses and foster development among them.
“The GNA is the oldest recognised association in the Caribbean and has provided training, stipends, bursary awards and other services to thousands of nurses over the past 90 years. The mission of the association is to grow the quality and professionalism of the profession and provide the best care to every Guyanese in need,” Nurse Bond said.

The deal materialized through the efforts of Nexgen Global Marketing Services – the company that puts together the discount services rewards card for Assuria that allows its clients to receive at least 5 per cent discount while shopping at more than 75 stores around the country.

Vice President of Business Development for Nexgen Global, Aleem Hussain, said the initiative is intended to reward nurses for the service they continue to provide to the nation. “Nurses are the first and often last persons we see in our lives and we owe it to them to return, in whatever way, as much as we possibly can. Our company will be providing services for the GNA in the upcoming years and this is just the first of several programs we will develop for the benefit of nurses in Guyana,” Hussain.
Hussain and Nurse Bond signed as witnesses to the agreement. Nurse Nadine Saunders was the first to sign up for coverage.

Under the agreement, for nurses registered under the association, the special rate for fire (private dwelling) has been set at 0.250 per cent. However, if no claim is made for a period of two years, they will receive a 10 per cent discount.

Meanwhile, the Group Life Special Rates have been set at $575 monthly for a sum insured of $500,000, while Group Health Monthly Premiums have been set at $1,500 for single member and $2,700 for member and family. Assuria General has a total of seven offices in Linden, Parika, Berbice, Vreed-en-hoop, Church Street (Georgetown) and Giftland Mall. It is the only company that offers seven day and evening walk-in services available at Giftland Mall.