Humans of Allianz

A friend in us: How a critical health claim blossomed into a lasting friendship

Allianz SE | Munich | Oct 11, 2024

When Cristina called the Allianz Portugal health claims hotline at the beginning of her battle with cancer, she was hoping to find a trusted and competent partner to help her navigate the challenging bureaucracy that stood between her and her treatment. When Ilda answered the phone, she found that and much more; she found a friend for life.

Written and produced by:

Melanie Hazlett
Senior Communications Specialist

Nicolas Roa Santofimio
Senior Visual Editor

Insurance isn’t just about policies and paperwork – it’s about people. Behind every claim is a story, and behind every story is a human connection. Our latest video tells the story of Ilda and Cristina, and it’s a testament to the fact that insurance is, and always will be, a people business.

When Allianz Portugal customer Cristina found herself facing one of the most challenging battles of her life – cancer – she was overwhelmed with the stress of navigating the complex world of medical insurance alongside the difficulties of her treatment. Until she met Ilda – a compassionate health claims coordinator at Allianz Portugal who stepped in to provide the kind of support that went far beyond the minimum.

Ilda became a source of comfort and strength for Cristina during an incredibly difficult time in her life. Cristina, with her fighting spirit and commitment to turning her cancer journey into something positive, became a source of inspiration for Ilda, who has faced her own battle with cancer. Their connection blossomed into a friendship that continues to this day. It's a story that not only demonstrates the Allianz purpose in action, but also highlights the critical role our people play in making insurance more than just a transaction; it’s a relationship built on trust, care and compassion, and the impact we have on our customers’ lives can be profound and lasting!

Watch Cristina and Ilda's story below!

About Allianz

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, active in almost 70 countries and serving around 97 million private and corporate customers*. Our customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, including property, life and health insurance, as well as assistance services, credit and global business insurance. Recognized for the seventh consecutive year as the number one global insurance brand in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2025 ranking, Allianz’s success is built on technology-enabled customer centricity – providing peace of mind, protection, and prevention for our customers and strengthening the resilience of individuals, communities, and societies. We are one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 770 billion euros** on behalf of our insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 2.0 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of environmental and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, Allianz received an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA (as of March 2026). In 2025, our 156,000 dedicated employees achieved a total business volume of 186.9 billion euros and an operating profit of 17.4 billion euros for our shareholders.

* As of December 31, 2025. Customer count reflects Allianz customers in consolidated entities that are part of the customer reporting scope only

.** As of March 31, 2026.