While it's our job as news reporters to feed our readership whatthey need to know and what interests them most, I couldn't help butfeel a little uncomfortable reporting all the “good” news thatcarriers need not lose any sleep over insured losses in Haiti,where thousands have lost their lives and many more lost theirhomes and businesses in this week's devastating earthquake.

Just because the industry did not have much exposure in thiscatastrophe-torn country, doesn't mean insurers can't play a partin the island's recovery. I'd love to run some news storiesabout how insurers are helping provide financial or other kinds ofsupport.

We ran one today on our life and health insurance news serviceabout a response by Aetna, which says it will try to helparrange medical evacuations for employer clients with injuredworkers in Haiti.

Aetna said it also is opening its behavioral health unit'semployee assistance program to members of all Aetna benefit plans,regardless of whether the employers have signed up for EAPservices.

The industry suffers from a chronically poor reputation. Eventhough insurers pay the overwhelming majority of claims filed in acatastrophe, the consumer press often focuses on the smallpercentage of claims that are mishandled or otherwise rejected–evenif most were rightfully declined.

Here is a chance for polishing that poor image by reaching outand helping finance relief efforts, even though the industry doesnot have a lot of policies written there.

If such efforts are underway, I have yet to hear about them, andneither has the general public. If you folks have any positivestories to share about the industry pitching in to help out inHaiti, post them right here, and send them to our online newseditor, Dan Hays, at [email protected].