MAM
Mary Wells Lawrence honoured with lifetime achievement at Cannes Lions
NEW DELHI: “I love New York!”
“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.”
“Flick your Bic.”
Recognize any of these jingles? All of these iconic ads were created under the supervision of Mary Wells Lawrence. She brought a burst of colours to otherwise boring and bland television screens.
The 92-old year, Lawrence was one of the trailblazers of the advertising world. Cannes Lions on 26 June, presented the prestigious lifetime achievement award, the Lion of St. Mark.
Mary Wells Lawrence has been awarded this year's Lion of St. Mark for a lifetime of achievement in creativity.
Tune in at 1.20PM (BST) where we'll be honouring industry legend Mary Wells Lawrence and her extensive career.
Head over to #LIONSLive here: https://t.co/rzwKiJeRMl pic.twitter.com/Onm8MDjmBH
— cannes_lions (@Cannes_Lions) June 26, 2020
The in-person festival was cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
Lawrence who has had a successful advertising career is the founder of the New York advertising agency, Wells Rich Greene established in the year 1966. She was the first woman to found, own and run a major ad agency. She was one of the first female CEOs of a company which was traded on the Big Board of the New York Stock Exchange.
Within its first year, Wells Rich Greene had 100 employees and $39 million in billings. By 1976, it had billings of $187 million and a client roster that included Procter & Gamble, Trans World Airlines, Miles Laboratories, Philip Morris, Bic Pen Corp, Ralston Purina Co, Midas Inc, White-Westinghouse Electric Co and Sun Oil Co. The New York Observer said that the agency was responsible for creating ads that “etched indelible phrases into the public’s imaginations.”
Her work in the field of advertising has been recognised all over. That’s not it, Lawrence was named Advertising Woman of the Year by the American Advertising Federation in 1971, and was inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2002, Mary also published her autobiography A Big Life (in Advertising).
Throughout her lifetime Wells Lawrence has directed a host of notable campaigns.
Cannes Lions chairman Philip Thomas said in a statement: “Mary is an extraordinary woman with a drive, passion and talent to burn. Cannes Lions campaigns for creativity as a force for business but Mary was ahead of the game – she already knew this 50 years ago. Her ability to inject entertainment and creativity into her advertising saw her transform the reputations and revenues of many a struggling brand, and she has earnt huge respect and admiration from the industry as a result. We’re thrilled to be presenting a true legend with the Lion of St. Mark.”
Lawrence said: “Awareness of the time you are in is at the core of any business of persuasion, but I think my particular strength is my belief in passion – caring obviously and emotionally about how IMPORTANT what I am selling is. I want to leave you FEELING about it – nervous if you are doing something else. Like falling in love.”
If we think about how many times you visited a paediatrician during the year for your child’s fever, or went to the pharmacy for cough syrup, antacids, or prescription cream; how many physiotherapy appointments your spouse had throughout the year, or how many routine diabetes check-up appointments you had; most families would say that the ongoing healthcare cost to their family isn’t necessarily the sudden expense of a grown adult being admitted to the hospital, but rather the ongoing and regular expenses of running the household. Because of this, the search for the best family health insurance plans in India have evolved to include OPD covering as a significant factor in their decision making process.
As someone who has reviewed countless policies for families, I’ve seen a clear shift. Families are no longer satisfied with a plan that only activates during a hospital crisis. They want a partner for everyday wellness, and that’s what modern, comprehensive Health Plans for Family aim to be.
OPD Cover: The Game-Changer in Family Health Insurance
OPD, or Outpatient Department, cover handles expenses incurred outside of a hospital admission. This includes:
- Doctor consultation fees (General Physicians and Specialists)
- Diagnostic tests (blood work, X-rays, MRIs)
- Pharmacy bills (medicines prescribed)
- Minor procedures (dressing, injections)
Without OPD coverage, all these costs come directly from your monthly budget. A comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover absorbs these shocks, transforming your policy from a seldom-used safety net into an active, year-round health management tool. For a family with children or aging parents, this isn’t a luxury; it’s a practical necessity.
Identifying the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD
Not all OPD covers are created equal. When comparing Health Plans for Family, you must dig into the specifics. Here’s what separates the good from the truly valuable:
Integrated vs. Add-on Cover: Some of the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India bundle OPD within the base plan (e.g., HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore). Others offer it as a paid add-on rider. Integrated covers are often more seamless, but add-ons allow you to customize. Compare the sub-limits and overall value.
Realistic Sub-Limits: OPD coverage always has limits. Look for plans that offer a dedicated annual OPD sum insured (e.g., ₹10,000-₹25,000 per family) rather than a tiny per-consultation limit. This gives you flexibility, you can use it for a few major diagnostics instead of just small consultations.
Cashless OPD Network: The true convenience of health insurance with OPD cover is cashless access. Leading insurers have tied up with pharmacy chains, diagnostic centers, and clinic networks. You can walk in, show your card, and walk out without paying upfront. Check the insurer’s network partners in your locality.
Simplified Claims Process: For reimbursements outside the cashless network, the process should be digital and straightforward—via an app with document upload. Cumbersome OPD claim processes defeat the very purpose.
Key Players and What to Look For
Several insurers have pioneered strong family floater plans with OPD benefits. While new products emerge, plans like HDFC Ergo’s Optima Restore, ICICI Lombard’s Health Advantage Plus, and Niva Bupa’s ReAssure 2.0 have been notable for their structured OPD components. Star Health’s Family Health Optima also offers a comprehensive package.
However, the plan name is less important than its architecture. Your checklist for the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India with OPD should verify:
Adequate In-patient Sum Insured: This is your core cover. Don’t compromise this for OPD. Start with at least ₹15-20 Lakh for a family of four.
Restoration Benefit: Crucial for families. It restores your main sum insured if exhausted, often including the OPD cover.
No Claim Bonus (NCB): Your reward for a healthy year should protect your OPD benefit too, often by increasing your overall sum insured.
Preventive Health Check-ups: A sign of a wellness-oriented insurer. Many top Health Plans for Family include free annual check-ups, complementing the OPD benefit.
Making the Smart Choice for Your Family
Choosing the right plan requires a simple audit. Tally your family’s average annual spend on doctor visits, tests, and medicines. You’ll likely find it’s a significant amount. Then, compare the premium of a comprehensive Health Insurance with OPD Cover against a basic plan plus your out-of-pocket OPD expenditure. The difference is often negligible, but the value is monumental.
For families, the Best Family Health Insurance Plans In India will be those that acknowledge the fact that the “real” journey for your family’s health occurs daily and not just during emergencies. By choosing a Family Health Insurance plan with meaningful OPD coverage, you will not only be insuring against your family getting sick, but also investing in your family’s ability to see their doctors or other healthcare providers on a more frequent basis for non-emergency issues and providing your family with a significant degree of peace of mind with regards to their financial and physical well-being. The shift away from reactive insurance to proactive insurance by families is now essential; it has become a necessity for the modern family that is living with intention.
