Aflac Insurance Company History

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) offers supplemental health, accident, and life insurance in the United States and Japan. Aflac Incorporated was founded in 1955 as American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus by brothers John, Paul, and William Amos, in Columbus, Georgia. During the first year of operations they signed 6,426 policy holders. In 1958 Aflac pioneered a new insurance product in cancer insurance. The company changed its name in 1964 to the American Family Life Company of Columbus (AFLAC). Beginning in 1964, the company decided to focus sales towards worksites and employer locations. Aflac Incorporated introduced and began selling policies that would be sponsored by employers and funded through payroll deductions. By 2003, more than 98% of Aflac policies in the United States were issued on a payroll deduction basis, making the company a leader in that approach to policy distribution. In 1973, Aflac established a holding company, the American Family Corporation. Aflac became licensed to sell insurance in Japan in 1974.

Aflac Japan is the number one insurance company in Japan in terms of individual policies in force and the largest foreign insurer in Japan in terms of premium income. Aflac Japan also ranks first in the number of individual policies in force among all of Japan's life insurers and is the fifth most profitable foreign company in any industry in Japan. Aflac Incorporated sells its insurance products through thousands of sales associates and brokers, independent corporate agencies, individual agencies, and affiliated corporate agencies. They provide insurance products and services to over 50 million people worldwide. Aflac Incorporated’s global headquarters is currently headquartered in Columbus,