Buddy Now Protects Connecticut from Outdoor Mishaps

July 6, 2021

On-Demand Accident Coverage Covers the High Deductible Insurance Gap

RICHMOND, Va. July 6, 2021 —Connecticut, the Constitution State, is the 43rd state to approve e-commerce insurtech startup Buddy (https://buddyinsurance.com/) to operate in, according to an announcement today. The Richmond-based online agency offers instant accident insurance to anyone who is active outdoors — and is a resident of a state in which Buddy is licensed — starting at less than $10 a day.

Buddy is the only company in the United States able to sell on-demand coverage in bite-sized chunks, which can be as short as a day or as long as a year. It was launched to empower Americans to fearlessly lead active lives while removing the financial pain and insecurity that accompanies any unforeseen accident. Benefits of up to $50,000 are paid directly to policyholders who only pay for the coverage they need, no more. The insurance applies to state residents but is honored anywhere in the world they travel.

It was this novel approach that led Outside Magazine to name Buddy one of the top outdoor innovators, and for Investopedia to name it one of the country’s five best personal accident insurance companies.

“It all started after we saw more and more of our friends having to run GoFundMes to cover getting hospital bills or just buy groceries after being hurt while mountain biking, rock climbing or even hiking,” said Buddy’s CEO, Charles Merritt. “Our fellow fans of the outdoors in Connecticut deserve to be protected while enjoying the stunning nature of New England. If you’re hurt while boating, hiking or riding a bike, you shouldn’t have to fear the ‘unknown unknowns.’ Buddy has you covered.”

The on-demand accident plan provides benefit payments for injuries treated by a medical professional or physical therapist up to and including paralysis, traumatic brain injury, and death. Plans can cover individuals, couples, families, or kids. The premium for a one-day plan starts around $9 in most states, and annual plans begin at $47 per month. Coverage is available directly at BuddyInsurance.com and through Buddy’s partner API.

Buddy’s platform is also able to embed coverage into registration, signup, or checkout systems for all kinds of experiences, from forested adventure parks to canoe and boat rentals, thus making it easy for tour operators and others to offer their customers peace of mind.

“In the U.S., healthcare is expensive and only getting more so. Insurance companies have tried to adapt to market and regulatory conditions, but that has only made deductibles skyrocket,” explained Merritt. “This was made even more extreme by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced gyms and organized recreation to shut down all over the nation. The silver lining is that more Americans are discovering the outdoors — but that brings with it added risks, even if you’re just going for a bike ride. Since Buddy’s coverage is designed to protect individuals in all kinds of uncertain situations, protecting socially distanced athletes is a natural fit, whether they’re participating in a virtual race or just a new solo activity.”

“We don’t want to detract from the critical conversations happening about race and equity in our society. Our goal is to make sure that as we choose to move our bodies for health, for recreation, and with purpose, Buddy can provide extra protection from an expensive healthcare system. We could not be more excited about becoming available to the massive number of outdoor enthusiasts in Connecticut, safeguarding them whether they are active in their home state or as they travel throughout the country or around the world,” said Merritt.

ABOUT BUDDY

Buddy is based in Richmond, Va., and was founded by Charles Merritt, David Vogeleer, and Jay Paul. Buddy is an alumnus of Techstars and Plug and Play accelerators, and it has been named a 2019 outdoor innovator by Outside Magazine and an insurance innovator to watch by Digital Insurance. Buddy is funded by Atypical Ventures, Sequoia Scout Fund, CIT, Techstars, and Plug and Play, as well as angel investors. For more information, call 833-462-8339; email buddy@iambuddy.com; mail P.O. Box 81, Richmond, Va. 23218-0081; or visit https://buddyinsurance.com/.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Martin Stein

martin.stein@orcapr.com

Orca Communications Unlimited