Aflac Japan and Nok Nok Use Biometric Authentication for Insurance Claims

Cancer patients in Japan should have an easier time getting reimbursed for treatments thanks to a new agreement between Nok Nok Labs, Fujitsu, and Aflac Japan. Specifically, Aflac, which was the first insurance provider in the country to offer cancer insurance, has adopted the Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite, which is being deployed by Fuijitsu through its preexisting partnership with Nok Nok.

“Aflac is the first Japanese insurance provider to deploy a FIDO-certified solution, and we would like to continue collaborating with Nok Nok Labs to introduce it to banks, insurance, and other industries,” said Fujitsu VP Michihiko Ejiri.

The S3 Authentication Suite will allow Aflac’s 15 million customers to biometrically verify their identities and log into their accounts using only their mobile devices. The platform supports multiple forms of biometric authentication, including fingerprint and facial recognition, and will drastically reduce the substantial amount of paperwork that is usually required for insurance claims and payment service requests.

“Insurance claim systems contain vital information that needs to be secure yet easily accessible,” said Nok Nok CEO Phillip Dunkelberger. “Strong and easy to use authentication allows patients to process their claims with robust security, but with less burden to the end user.”

The announcement notes that while the insurance industry has lagged behind other industries when adopting biometric authentication, the need for security and convenience is likely to encourage other companies to follow Aflac’s example. And it underlines the growing biometrics market in Japan. The S3 Authentication Suite was recently deployed by Japan’s largest bank, while Fujitsu has been pioneering naked payments through partnerships with organizations like the Japan Racing Association.    

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April 4, 2019 – by Eric Weiss