Coach Saban and Coach Prime reunite with Aflac in annual college football campaign to help fans tackle the chaos of medical bills when health insurance falls short COLUMBUS, Ga., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Just as the college football landscape feels more unpredictable than ever, so too does the growing challenge of medical debt for Americans. That's why the Aflac Duck is taking charge as the commissioner — the Commissioner of Coverage, that is — for the 2025 season, ready to call the shots and set the g ...

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Core Insights - The 2025 Aflac Time Away Study reveals that nearly 75% of employees experience workplace stress or anxiety when covering for a peer on leave, highlighting the significant challenges faced during these periods [1][5][6] - The study emphasizes the need for proactive leave management practices to mitigate burnout and maintain employee morale, urging employers to adopt a holistic approach to leave management [2][3] Employee Well-Being and Productivity - 41% of employees reported experiencing burnout when a co-worker's leave extended beyond eight weeks, indicating a direct correlation between extended leave and employee stress levels [2][5] - Mental well-being dropped by 11 percentage points for employees covering for peers, showcasing the mental health impact of increased workloads [5] - 73% of employees experienced at least moderate workplace stress or anxiety while covering for a peer, underscoring the need for effective support systems [5] Health Impacts - 27% of employees diagnosed with a new health condition during or after their coverage period attributed it to the increased workload, indicating a significant health risk associated with covering for absent colleagues [5] - 18% of workers reported that a preexisting condition worsened while covering for a peer, further illustrating the health implications of additional responsibilities [5] Recognition and Support - 29% of employees stated they did not receive any recognition for their additional work, despite 95% of leaders claiming access to recognition tools, highlighting a gap in acknowledgment of employee efforts [5] - Employers are encouraged to implement strategies that include clear communication, regular check-ins, and support tools to prevent burnout and enhance employee engagement [3][4] Recommendations for Employers - Aflac suggests that employers should create robust leave contingency plans that foster a culture of communication, recognition, and support to minimize the negative impacts identified in the study [3][4] - The study calls for leaders to be aware of the toll that longer leave coverage takes on employees, particularly tenured staff who may seem better equipped to handle increased workloads [4]

Core Points - Aflac Incorporated's Board of Directors has authorized the purchase of up to 100 million shares of its common stock, increasing the total number of shares available for repurchase to approximately 130.9 million [1] - The company plans to conduct the share repurchase in open market or negotiated transactions based on market conditions [1] Company Overview - Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company providing financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan [2] - In the U.S., Aflac is the leading provider of supplemental health insurance products, while in Japan, it is the top provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force [2] - The company has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years and has been included in Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 24 years [2] - Aflac became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment in 2021 and has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 11 years [2]

Group 1 - Aflac Incorporated will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 5, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call to discuss the quarterly results is scheduled for August 6, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (ET) [2] - Aflac is the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S. and cancer and medical insurance in Japan [3] Group 2 - Aflac has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years and has been included in Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 24 years [3] - The company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for 11 years [3] - Aflac has provided financial protection to millions of policyholders for nearly seven decades [3]

Core Insights - Aflac Incorporated experienced a cyber incident on June 12, 2025, but managed to stop the intrusion quickly, ensuring business operations remained unaffected [1] - The attack was attributed to a sophisticated cybercrime group targeting the insurance industry, utilizing social engineering tactics to gain network access [2] - Aflac is offering free credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and Medical Shield for 24 months to potentially impacted individuals [2] Company Overview - Aflac is a Fortune 500 company providing financial protection and peace of mind for nearly seven decades, primarily through supplemental health insurance products in the U.S. and cancer and medical insurance in Japan [5] - The company has been recognized as the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S. and the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in Japan [5] - Aflac has been included in the World's Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years and Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 24 years [5]

Core Insights - Aflac Incorporated reported a significant decline in total revenues for Q1 2025, amounting to $3.4 billion, down from $5.4 billion in Q1 2024, primarily due to net investment losses of $963 million compared to net gains of $951 million in the previous year [1][20][27] - Net earnings for the first quarter were $29 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, a drastic decrease from $1.9 billion, or $3.25 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year [1][20][27] Financial Performance - Net investment losses in Q1 2025 were $963 million, driven by losses on derivatives and foreign currency activities, as well as a decrease in the fair value of equity securities [2][3] - Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $906 million, a decrease of 5.7% from $961 million in Q1 2024, with adjusted earnings per diluted share remaining flat at $1.66 [3][27] - Shareholders' equity increased to $26.3 billion, or $48.55 per share, compared to $23.5 billion, or $41.27 per share, a year earlier [5][21] Segment Performance - Aflac Japan's net earned premiums in yen decreased by 5.0% to ¥256.5 billion, while in dollar terms, net earned premiums fell by 7.4% to $1.7 billion [7][8] - Aflac U.S. saw a 1.8% increase in net earned premiums to $1.5 billion, with total adjusted revenues up 1.3% to $1.7 billion [10][11] Sales and New Products - Total new annualized premium sales in Japan increased by 12.6% to ¥14.1 billion, reflecting strong sales of new products [9] - In the U.S., sales increased by 3.5% to $309 million, driven by group product sales [11] Capital Management - The board declared a second-quarter dividend of $0.58 per share, with $900 million deployed for share repurchases in Q1 2025 [13][17] - The company maintained a strong focus on capital and cash flow generation while managing liquidity and capital effectively [17] Outlook and Strategy - The CEO expressed satisfaction with the adjusted earnings and premium persistency rates in both Japan and the U.S., emphasizing a focus on profitable growth and improved underwriting discipline [14][16]

Core Insights - The Aflac Wellness Matters Survey highlights that 90% of Americans delay preventive checkups or screenings, with younger generations particularly affected by various barriers [1][2][3] Group 1: Preventive Care Challenges - 94% of Americans face barriers to obtaining recommended screenings in a timely manner [2] - Common screenings avoided include pap smears (33%), prostate exams (32%), colonoscopies (32%), mammograms (31%), blood tests (31%), full body skin cancer exams (27%), and STD screenings (22%) [3] - Millennials (62%) and Gen Z (61%) are the most likely to avoid these screenings [3] Group 2: Attitudes Towards Health Care - 65% of Americans become proactive about their health only after experiencing a health scare [4] - Those who believe they will be diagnosed with cancer are more likely to delay screenings (62% vs. 42%) [4] Group 3: Primary Care Access - Nearly 20% of Americans lack a regular primary care physician, often citing good health as the reason [7] - 41% of Americans, particularly Gen Z (51%) and millennials (54%), primarily use urgent care or emergency rooms for medical needs [7] Group 4: Generational Differences - Younger generations are more likely to consult family and friends or social media for health concerns, with 68% interested in using AI for health issues [8][9] - Gen Z women (68%) are more likely to skip screenings compared to Gen Z men (55%) [10] Group 5: Influence of Community and Family - 70% of individuals confident in their loved ones' health priorities are more likely to prioritize their own health [12] - 24% of those diagnosed with cancer were urged by a loved one to get checked, indicating the importance of social support in health care decisions [13][14] Group 6: Aflac's Role and Commitment - Aflac emphasizes the importance of preventive care and the establishment of trusted relationships with primary care physicians [6][15] - The company has been recognized for its ethical practices and commitment to corporate social responsibility [17][18]