2009 Communiqués de presse

Ho Chi Minh City – Manulife Vietnam Limited (MVL) today launched a new medical care solution Phuc An Binh to meet the increasing need for better health care for Vietnamese customers.

Phuc An Binh is the first in the market to offer guaranteed indemnity coverage for 10 common and major surgeries in Vietnam*. The product gives customers flexibility in allocating benefits paid for medical, in-hospital or post-hospital care and living expenses, including their choice of surgery in either a high quality serviced hospital in Vietnam or anywhere in the world. It will provide the insured immediate access to surgery without financial worries to maximize recovery. It is suitable to Vietnamese customers between 18-55 years old with a wide range of premium and benefit coverage from VND 60 million to VND 500 million per surgical treatment. The policy remains in force even if all 10 major surgeries are claimed, unless the insured dies, the policy is surrendered, reaches maturity or premiums are not paid.

A deluxe version is specially designed to provide customers with a guaranteed money-back option to a maximum of up to 50% of the total premium paid, regardless of major surgical treatment claimed before.

This new medical insurance comes at a time of government health care reforms and an upward shift in healthcare costs. Dicky Lam, CFO of Manulife Vietnam said, “Higher health risk exposure, rising costs in the current healthcare landscape and the overloading of the public medical system have increased the urgency for medical financial security and peace of mind for every family.”

“Phuc An Binh means happiness and peace of mind. It has been specially designed for sophisticated customers who need an advanced medical care solution,” Mr. Lam continued. “Itembraces a medical funding concept with guaranteed features, helps ease customers’ worries about the financial burden owing to unexpected major surgery and gives them flexibility for a better treatment choice.”

Research has shown that one of the biggest fears for Vietnamese people is their and their family’s health problems. Planning ahead for financial protection against unexpected health risks is crucial for financial security. The private medical insurance coverage Phuc An Binh will address these concerns and provide a win-win solution for the government in sharing the financial burden and the public for better and immediate health care.

Said David Wong, CEO & General Director of Manulife Vietnam, at the official launch today: “We are proud of being on the leading edge of insurance product development in Vietnam. We have made a concerted effort to anticipate the diversified needs of Vietnamese people. Phuc An Binh is a very distinctive product to the market place with unique health protection benefits. Manulife is committed to providing Vietnamese customers with world-class products and services that ultimately help enhance their lives.”

*The 10 most common major surgical treatments are:

1. Surgery due to fracture of thigh or pelvic bones
2. Open surgical procedures to the spine
3. Total excision of colon, rectum, bladder, spleen, kidney or stomach
4. Coronary Angioplasty
5. Amputation of leg above the knee or arm above the elbow
6. Trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy of pituitary gland
7. Open heart surgery
8. Major organ transplant
9. Craniotomy
10. Critical Cancer surgery

About Manulife Vietnam
Manulife Vietnam - the first 100 per cent foreign-owned life insurance company licensed in Vietnam - provides financial services to more than 300,000 customers through a network of over 6,000 professionally qualified agents. Manulife has been operating in Vietnam since June 1999. On June 14, 2005, Manulife Vietnam Fund Management (MVFM), a wholly owned local subsidiary of Manulife Vietnam, was granted license to operate a fund management and investment-finance consulting business, further expanding Manulife Vietnam’s product offerings for its customers.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$ 405 billion (US$322 billion) as at March 31, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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