# Aflac

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/aflac  
**Vertical:** Consumer Finance  
**Subcategory:** Enterprise  
**Tier:** Leader  
**Website:** aflac.com  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-14

## Summary

Columbus GA supplemental insurance (NYSE: AFL) at $19.13B 2024 revenue, $5.44B net income; largest US supplemental insurer and Japan's largest insurer (1-in-4 households), 16% dividend increase Q1 2025 competing with Unum and MetLife.

## Company Overview

Aflac Incorporated is a Columbus, Georgia-based supplemental health and life insurance company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AFL) as an S&P 500 Financials component — providing voluntary, payroll-deducted supplemental insurance policies that pay cash benefits directly to policyholders when they experience a covered illness, injury, or medical event, operating in the United States and Japan through approximately 11,500 employees and 70,000+ US agents and brokers. Aflac is the largest supplemental insurance provider in the United States and the largest insurance company in Japan (where approximately 1 in 4 Japanese households holds an Aflac policy). In fiscal year 2024, Aflac reported full-year revenue of $19.13 billion and net income of $5.44 billion, with Q4 2024 revenues of $5.4 billion and net earnings of $1.9 billion ($3.42 diluted EPS) — and the company announced a 16% dividend increase for Q1 2025, reflecting the business's strong capital generation. CEO Dan Amos has led Aflac since 1990, building one of the most recognized insurance brands globally through the Aflac Duck mascot (introduced 2000) that made Aflac's name synonymous with voluntary supplemental insurance in the United States. Aflac Japan generates the majority of Aflac's earnings through cancer insurance, medical insurance, and income support policies sold through bank channel partnerships (Japan Post Bank, major regional banks) and traditional agents.

Aflac's supplemental insurance model fills the critical healthcare coverage gap that major medical insurance does not address: when a policyholder is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes treatment, their major medical insurance covers hospital bills and physician fees — but not the everyday expenses that accumulate during treatment: mortgage payments, car insurance, utility bills, childcare, transportation to treatment, and income replacement during recovery. Aflac's cancer, accident, critical illness, and disability policies pay a predetermined cash lump sum or daily benefit directly to the policyholder (not to the hospital or provider), giving the insured freedom to use the benefit for any financial need during their medical crisis. The worksite distribution model (policies sold through employers as voluntary, employee-paid benefits with payroll deduction) creates low acquisition cost per policy (employers facilitate enrollment), persistently high retention (automatic payroll deduction removes the lapse trigger), and tax advantages for employers (no cost to offer) and employees (pre-tax premium payments in Section 125 plans).

In 2025, Aflac competes in voluntary supplemental insurance and worksite benefits against Unum Group (NYSE: UNM, disability and supplemental, $12.7B revenue), MetLife (NYSE: MET, group benefits, $54B revenue), and Colonial Life (Unum subsidiary, worksite voluntary benefits) for employer worksite voluntary benefits distribution and individual supplemental insurance policy sales. Aflac Japan's competitive environment includes domestic Japanese insurers (Tokio Marine, Nippon Life, Dai-ichi Life) for cancer and medical insurance products in a market where Aflac has held a dominant position since 1974. The 16% dividend increase announced for Q1 2025 signals Aflac's capital management discipline — returning capital through both dividends and share buybacks — consistent with the company's history of 40+ consecutive years of dividend increases. The 2025 strategy focuses on growing US voluntary benefits sales through expanded broker distribution and digital enrollment platforms, maintaining Aflac Japan's premium persistency in an aging Japanese population with high supplemental insurance demand, and deploying excess capital through share repurchases.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Aflac?
Aflac is the world's largest provider of supplemental insurance, offering policies that pay cash benefits directly to policyholders to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by major medical insurance. Founded in 1955 in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac operates primarily in the United States and Japan, where it is the #1 provider of supplemental health insurance and leading cancer insurance provider respectively. The company is a Fortune 500 corporation with over $19 billion in annual revenue.

### Who are Aflac's customers and target market?
Aflac serves individual consumers and employees of businesses that offer Aflac as a voluntary benefit. The company's target market includes working adults who want financial protection against unexpected medical expenses, families concerned about out-of-pocket costs from serious illnesses like cancer, and employers seeking to provide valuable voluntary benefits to employees at no cost to the company. In Japan, Aflac serves millions of policyholders through various distribution channels including Japan Post.

### When was Aflac founded?
Aflac was founded in 1955 in Columbus, Georgia, by three brothers: John, Paul, and William Amos. The company started as the American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus with approximately $300,000 in capital. After struggling for three years selling traditional insurance, founder John Amos developed the company's signature cancer insurance product in 1958, which became the foundation for Aflac's success.

### Where is Aflac based?
Aflac is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, United States. The company operates primarily in two markets: the United States and Japan. Japan is Aflac's largest market, contributing approximately 51-53% of total revenue. Aflac Japan is headquartered in Tokyo and is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in Japan. The company employs 12,694 people across its operations.

### How much revenue does Aflac generate?
Aflac reported fiscal year 2024 revenue of $19.13 billion, up from $18.89 billion in 2023. The company generated net income of $5.44 billion in fiscal 2024 with annual earnings per share of $9.76. Aflac Japan contributed $9.66 billion (51% of total revenue) while Aflac US contributed $6.74 billion. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $57.5 billion with 524 million shares outstanding.

### What makes Aflac different from traditional health insurance?
Aflac is not traditional health insurance—it's supplemental insurance that works alongside major medical coverage. Unlike health insurance that pays doctors and hospitals, Aflac pays cash benefits directly to policyholders (unless assigned otherwise) to use however they choose. This money can help cover out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, copays, mortgage payments, childcare, or any other bills during illness or injury. Aflac's policies focus on specific conditions (cancer, critical illness, accidents) rather than comprehensive medical coverage.

### Who are Aflac's main competitors?
Aflac's main competitors in the supplemental insurance market include MetLife, Unum, Colonial Life (owned by Unum), Mutual of Omaha, Cigna's supplemental lines, and Allstate Benefits. In the voluntary benefits space, competitors include Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial, and Principal Financial. However, Aflac maintains market leadership as the #1 supplemental insurance provider in the United States and the leading cancer insurance provider in Japan, with significantly higher brand recognition than competitors due to the iconic Duck campaign.

### How can I contact Aflac?
Aflac's corporate headquarters is located in Columbus, Georgia. Customers can contact Aflac through the company's official website at www.aflac.com, by calling the customer service number on their policy documents, or by contacting their workplace benefits coordinator if they have employer-sponsored Aflac coverage. For claims processing and policy questions, Aflac provides dedicated customer service teams. Investor relations can be reached through the investor section of the Aflac website.

### Is Aflac hiring?
Yes, Aflac actively recruits sales agents, customer service representatives, claims processors, IT professionals, and corporate staff across its operations in the United States and Japan. With 12,694 employees and continued growth in both markets, the company regularly posts opportunities on its careers website. Aflac is particularly known for its independent sales agent network, offering entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals interested in selling insurance on a commission basis.

### What's the latest news about Aflac?
Recent developments include Aflac's leadership restructuring effective January 2025, with Virgil Miller promoted to President of Aflac Inc. and Max Broden and Audrey Boone Tillman elevated to Senior EVP roles. The company announced a 16% dividend increase for Q1 2025, marking its 43rd consecutive year of dividend increases. Aflac expanded its partnership with Empathy to offer LifeVault legacy planning services starting July 2025. The company also launched the 'Raise the Bar' campaign with TOGETHXR for NCAA Women's Basketball and was recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 19th consecutive year.

### What is Aflac's market position?
Aflac is the world's largest supplemental insurance provider and maintains #1 market position in both its primary markets: the United States (supplemental health insurance) and Japan (cancer and medical insurance by policies in force). The company's brand recognition of 94% in America places it among the most recognized brands in the country. Aflac's market capitalization of $57.5 billion and Fortune 500 status underscore its dominant position in the supplemental insurance industry.

### What are Aflac's future plans?
Aflac is focused on expanding its reach through Aflac Group to serve larger employers with 100+ employees, launching new cancer insurance products in Japan in March-April 2025, and enhancing digital capabilities including the LifeVault legacy planning platform. The company plans to continue its 43-year dividend growth streak and maintain market leadership in both the U.S. and Japan. With leadership changes in 2025, Aflac appears to be implementing succession planning while pursuing growth in the evolving supplemental insurance market and expanding partnerships with corporate customers.

## Tags

b2c, fintech, insurance, global, public

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*