COLUMBUS, Ga. – March 17, 2009 – As small business owners continue to face a challenging economy, Aflac announced today that it has lowered the minimum worksite size requirement for its short-term disability policy from five full-time employees to three full-time employees.

“We understand that small business owners want the ability to provide quality insurance products in their employee benefit packages, and we're taking steps to help address their needs,” said Karen Riedel, second vice president, director of Product Marketing. “Making Aflac’s short-term disability coverage available to more employers will provide them with a cost-efficient way to help protect their employees’ income against an unexpected health event during a time when people need it the most.”

Currently, Aflac serves more than 420,000 businesses in the U.S. As a leading provider of voluntary benefits sold at the worksite, small employers are an important constituency at Aflac.

“Finding an affordable way to help sustain their business is a top of mind priority for employers of all sizes. Voluntary products like our short-term disability policy are at no direct cost to the business, a much needed value-add for small business owners who want to enhance their benefit offerings,” said John Laughbaum, vice president of Channel Marketing and Sales Development.

In 2008, the insurer launched its “Aflac for Business” initiative which included an integrated ad campaign aimed at business owners. Ad creative featured the Aflac Duck in a variety of small business settings including a mechanic’s garage and an ice cream parlor. The second phase of the campaign was launched in January and again included the advertising icon in the unlikeliest of places including a construction site and classroom. The “Aflac for Business” campaign is designed to showcase how Aflac insurance policies can help serve as a benefits solution for all employers across all industries at no direct cost to their business.

Visit aflacforbusiness.com for more information.

For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. As the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for two consecutive years and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Respected Company in the Global Insurance Industry in 2008. In 2009 Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eleventh consecutive year. Aflac appears on Hispanic Enterprise magazine's list of the 50 Best Companies for Supplier Diversity and on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

Media Contact:
Mechell Clark
Aflac
(706) 243-8004
meclark@aflac.com