Everyone needs insurance; be that home, car, pet or
critical illness insurance. But choosing the right company is not only about who offers the cheapest policy. However, many consumers – both individuals and corporations alike – are beginning to question the ethics of their insurance providers. They're asking questions such as whether they offer coverage to munitions factories or companies with significant operations in countries with oppressive regimes. Other considerations might be whether they offer coverage to companies with poor labour conditions or bad environmental histories. However, there are companies who are very careful about who and what they insure, providing a new movement in favour of ethical insurance.
Initially, you might like to try and find out the ethos behind your existing insurance provider. Many insurers provide information on their websites about their products and their corporate social responsibilities. Alternatively, you can telephone a company and ask them directly about any specific concerns you might have. If you find that your provider is ethically sound, you may want to write to them to offer your support of their ethics – and encourage others to do so as well.
Unfortunately, it is always possible that your existing insurer does not share your concerns. If this is the case, it is always worth voicing your concern by letter or email. While they may not change their policies as the result of a single letter, they may eventually bow to public pressure if enough people contact them. People have been known to gather signatures and even to start online petitions to encourage insurance providers to consider just who and what they are prepared to insure.
If you are dissatisfied with the ethics of your insurance company, then you always have the option to switch. In this instance, you should not 'go silently'; it is better to write to your provider to explain just why you are leaving. Your next step is to try and source an ethical insurance provider, so you need to examine just how it is you would like your ideal company to behave. Writing a list of your concerns and desires can help your mind stay focussed on what is an important issue.
Before you take out another policy, it is worth taking the time to examine the ethics of other providers. You may want to know things such as whether they offer environmental pledges, fund sustainable energy products, are involved in conservation products or even whether they sell certain products on a 'not for profit' basis. In addition, however, whether you are seeking ethical home insurance, pet insurance, car insurance or even travel insurance, you want to be sure that the company you are dealing with offers the best coverage with competitively-priced premiums – as well as concerning itself with wider issues.
The best resource for this task is the Internet. Online comparison websites are available to help you find ethical insurance companies. In essence, these sites work by searching the Internet for reputable companies who offer the best deals and cover. Instead of lengthy sales pitches and baffling jargon, they work by presenting the bare facts of their policies, side by side with others, so that you can quickly assess which offers you the best coverage at the best price. In addition, many of these sites list the professional ethics of companies, allowing you to see which particular issues they are most concerned with. Some online comparison sites also provide links to the pages of these companies that state their ethical philosophies and aims. To make the process even easier, there can also be links directly to the application pages of the companies that interest you most, ensuring that you strike a balance between finding a company that shares your concerns and one that offers you the best policy for your money.