The Sichuan earthquake in May 2008 resulted in an enormous number of casualties, with rescue teams working day and night saving lives and providing support to survivors. People from Hong Kong not only raised more than HK$1 billion in under 10 days – many of them also joined NGOs and headed for the disaster area to help directly. Even after the worst of the earthquake was over, volunteers in the devastated area were still at great risk from aftershocks, flooding and infectious diseases. Under these circumstances, if a volunteer is injured or even killed while working in the affected areas, are they covered by their personal accident insurance?

Usually, NGOs will take out group personal accident insurance on behalf of their volunteers. Most plans do not specifically exclude bodily injury or death caused by natural disaster and the insurer will therefore assess the risk, specifying insurance coverage and arriving at a premium based on information provided by the applicant. In the case of an NGO, information such as number of volunteers, their ages, the destination, the duration of their trip and the nature of their activity is necessary. Volunteers should consult with their NGO for details of insurance coverage. Volunteers need to pay special attention to the limitations of their own personal accident insurance plan. It will be made clear if there is any change which may increase the possibility of a claim, i.e. increase the possibility of a claim, and policyholders must notify and get clearance from their insurer prior to the trip. It is generally considered dangerous going into a disaster area because of aftershocks which may trigger landslides, floods or cause buildings to collapse. If the insured does want to enter the earthquake area, we suggest that they should notify their insurer immediately and check the limitations of their coverage. The insurer will consider the conditions and variables of the situation and determine whether an additional premium is necessary or not.

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Personal Protector 3.0

Scenario:
Mr. Chan reported theft of property at home to the police and it turned out that it was committed by his girlfriend who once cohabited with him. Items stolen included mobile phones, cameras, cash and a large quantity of Mr. Chan's collection of stamps, phone cards, railway tickets, MTR tickets and octopus cards. Should the missing items be covered under the home insurance plan taken out by Mr. Chan?

Answer:
According to MSIG home policy, we would assess the loss under the "Home Contents" section that covers "valuable property, collections of stamps, coins or medals, money…" and only those items listed in the policy will be covered in general. With MSIG's excellent claims service, if Mr. Chan had declared his collections when taking out home insurance and they were accepted by the insurance company, the loss of such items by theft would also be covered even though the collections did not fall within any of the listed items on the policy.

As long as you have special collections, it is advised that you declare these items in detail when taking out home insurance. It is because, in general, collections such as phone cards and MTR tickets will not be covered under home insurance.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Home Protector
FamilySurance Plus 4.0
Mortgage Fire
HelperSurance 4.0

In Hong Kong, there are many traditions to celebrate during Lunar New Year. Among the many customs, the placing of the first incense at the temple is an important designated activity for many Hong Kong people each year as the first incense is supposed to bring great fortune to the placer during the upcoming year. This is the reason why almost every temple is packed with people on Lunar New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year’s Day.

We have all witnessed this spectacular scene in the news every year, where worshippers flock to the temple and compete to place the first incense. In fact, pushing in such crowded places can easily turn into confrontation with tempers flaring. Will a personal accident policy protect the policyholder if he/she is injured during such an argument or conflict?

The term "injury" within a personal accident insurance policy refers to bodily injury caused by unforeseen circumstances. People can easily get into an argument or even a physical fight when celebrating Lunar New Year’s activities in crowded places. If the insured is injured during an argument or fight, they may not necessarily be covered by personal accident insurance, depending on the circumstances behind the incident.

When handling such claims, we would take the police report into consideration to discover which party actually initiated the violence. If it is the policyholder who picks a quarrel in the first place, they may not be compensated even though they were injured during the fight. The rationale is that the insured should be well aware of the fact that a fight could easily result in injury. If the insured party is found to be the initiator of the conflict and suffers an injury, that injury would not be seen as being caused by an unforeseen accident; therefore the policyholder will not be entitled to any compensation. In addition, bodily injury and death caused by fighting are generally excluded from a majority of personal accident insurance policies except in the case of self-defence. If the insured person does not initiate the fight but is a victim, mediator, spectator or pedestrian, personal accident insurance may provide protection for policyholders.

To celebrate the festive season happily and safely, you are advised to comply with instructions from police officers in crowded areas.

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Personal Protector 3.0

Hong Kong's annual marathon competition has become the biggest sports event in Hong Kong.

According to past experience, it is common for amateur athletes to sustain injuries during the annual competition. Many participants require attention from the Auxiliary Medical Service with most of them suffering from cramp or minor injuries. Will an injured participant be covered under personal accident insurances if he/she was hurt or died during the marathon competition? Would there be any difference between professionals and amateurs when it comes to insurance coverage?

Insurance coverage of professional athletes differs from that of amateur athletes. Normally, insurance companies will not accept any personal accident insurance application from a professional athlete. Professional athletes can apply for a tailored personal accident insurance plan through their sports organisations. But, for amateur athletes, injuries and death in the marathon would be covered under their standard insurance policy unless it was caused by a previously known ailment.

Personal Accident Insurance covers accidental death and permanent disability. Such insurance products even cover accidental medication costs and loss of work subsidies due to accident. It should be highlighted that injuries or deaths caused by sickness are not included under personal accident insurance coverage. In this case, if an athlete had a heart attack and died in the marathon caused by a pre-existing illness, his/her estate would not be eligible for any compensation.

Not all sports or competitions are covered by personal accident insurance coverage. In fact, injuries incurred from only two speed-related sports activities competitions would be covered under a personal accident policy.

(1) Swimming; (2) Foot racing (i.e.: power walking, running, hiking…etc). Any other speed-related competition and related preparation or practising are excluded from insurance coverage. Consult your insurance company for further information if you are planning to participate in any sports competitions.

Above all, everyone should be cautious when running a marathon. If you are not feeling well before or during the competition, a runner is advised to consider withdrawing from the race.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Personal Protector 3.0

Question:
I have renovated my flat to have an open kitchen, is it still covered under the Home Protector insurance policy?

Answer:
As long as no structural walls have been removed and the structure of the building has not been affected by the renovation and it is not in violation of any statutory requirements, the open kitchen is covered as a household improvement under your Home Protector insurance policy.

Question:
How would I get paid if I made a claim under my Home Protector insurance policy?

Answer:
If the damaged item can be repaired, we will pay for the repair cost. If the item is beyond repair or is stolen, we will pay for the replacement cost of a similar item at its current market value. But you have to pay the policy excess which is, in general, HK$250.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Home Protector
FamilySurance Plus 4.0
Mortgage Fire
HelperSurance 4.0

A few years ago, the pedestrian area in Mongkok witnessed three “acid bomb” incidents which injured more than 30 pedestrians. A number of days after the last “acid bomb” incident, a trumpet fell from a building in Mongkok, resulting in a pedestrian being injured and sent to hospital.

Accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, even in small districts. If you have the misfortune of suffering an accidental injury, what kind of insurance can offer you the best protection and what do policies cover?

If the insured is injured in an accident, medical insurance and personal accident insurance will provide a range of protection under different categories.

If the policyholder is injured and sent to hospital, medical receipts and claims submitted by the insured will be covered under their medical insurance. For example, if the insured is injured by a falling object and requires hospitalisation, MediSure Plus insurance would cover the capped cost. Most of the resulting costs, including miscellaneous expenses, intensive care fees and post-hospital follow-up treatment charges, are fully covered unless they exceed the maximum cover limit of the policy.

However, if the insured suffers disablement or death from an accident, indemnity received by claiming the total hospitalisation bill would not be sufficient to cover daily living expenses of the insured and his family. Most personal accident insurances are able to provide a single indemnity to the insured if he/she suffers permanent disablement or accidental death. As for MSIG Personal Protector 3.0, if the insured is killed in an accident, we will offer a single indemnity of a maximum of HK$1 million (the maximum indemnity depends on the insurance policy) for the insured’s family financial support. The insured can also purchase additional temporary disablement coverage with a personal accident policy. If the policyholder is temporarily unable to work due to injuries suffered in the accident, he/she could receive a fixed compensation during that period, based on their weekly salary and up to a maximum of 104 weeks (2 years).

It is, therefore, evident that purchasing a suitable insurance policy for yourself is an important means of providing financial assistance and additional protection for your family if you were to meet with an unfortunate accident.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Personal Protector 3.0

As a landlord with property rented out, have you ever considered that you could be sued by a third party who has been injured in an accident related to your property (e.g. windows falling on the street) and for which you require indemnity? When landlords encounter this kind of accidents, what should they do to best protect themselves?

There is a general misunderstanding among landlords that once properties are rented out, all responsibilities belong to the tenants only. However, in the case of an accident, both landlords and tenants may become liable, with the court determining which one is the liable party. In other words, landlords may still need to bear responsibilities.

Therefore, we advise landlords to buy insurance to protect themselves. There are such products in the market. For example, there are plans that will cover landlord's liabilities in respect of accidental death or bodily injury or property damage suffered by a third party on the property. Also, they will cover lawsuit fees as well as the loss of rental income if the property is rendered uninhabitable.

As a landlord with property rented out, it is vital to buy insurance to protect yourself. However, when is the best timing?

In fact, once landlords sign the Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase, they will need to have an insurance plan to protect their liabilities. The signing of agreement means that he is the owner of the property and will have to bear responsibility if accidents occur. Even though the property is not rented out, the coverage of landlord liabilities is still effective. Therefore, landlords should look for the right insurance plan once the Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase is signed.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Home Protector
FamilySurance Plus 4.0
Mortgage Fire
HelperSurance 4.0

Mrs. Chu felt pain in her back after doing 2 hours of housework and thought that she had accidentally sprained her back by adopting an incorrect posture. As a result, she consulted her family doctor and then filed a claim with her insurance company for personal accident medical expenses. 

However, it was rejected by her insurer. Why was Mrs. Chu's claim rejected?
The insurer rejected her medical expenses claim on the grounds that Mrs. Chu's injury did not fulfil the definition of "bodily injury". According to Mrs. Chu's personal accident policy, "bodily injury" means:

"Bodily injury suffered anywhere in the world caused solely and directly from accidental external violent and visible means and which are independent of any other cause and not by sickness, disease or gradual physical or mental wear and tear."

As no element of accidental external violent and visible means could be identified in Mrs. Chu's case, her insurance company was unable to indemnify her medical expenses.

Many people have a misconception that all unintentionally caused injuries are covered by personal accident insurance. In reality, a personal accident insurance claim is decided by the facts of the situation leading up to the injury. Though the definition of "bodily injury" varies between different personal accident insurance policies available in the market, most of them only cover "bodily injury" caused solely and directly by accidental external violent and visible means. For example, a cut finger or bone fracture caused by slipping over is covered by most policies as there is evidence of accidental external violent and visible means, but an arm or back sprain caused by cleaning a ceiling or window is not covered as there is no evidence of accidental external violent nor visible means. Customers are therefore advised to read any policy carefully in order to have the most suitable protection for their needs.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Personal Protector 3.0

Every year during the cyclone season, Hong Kong encounters its fair share of tropical storms and this year's was even worse.

In one potentially harmful case, a window was blown out from its frame and sent crashing into the window of the opposite flat before smashing to the ground below. Fortunately, no one was injured in this accident.

In this case, should Home or Fire Insurance cover the tenant for the damaged window frame?

In this case, whether the window frame is an original fixture or the tenant’s own improvement would determine the type of insurance under which policyholders could file a claim.

Technically, Fire Insurance only covers building structure and the property’s original fixtures such as walls, windows, ceilings and floors etc. If the window was an original fixture damaged by a fire or other accident covered by the Fire Insurance policy, policyholders could make a claim under Fire Insurance.

However, we should pay particular attention to what types of accidents Fire Insurance would protect us against. In most cases, Fire Insurance will only cover losses caused by fire while some Fire Insurance extends coverage to damage caused by other named perils such as floods and storms. It is recommended that policyholders read through the terms and conditions of their policy or consult their insurance company to learn about the coverage details.

Nowadays, it is common for people to renovate their homes e.g. revamping the windows, floors and ceilings. If customers have made an improvement to the original window frame provided by the house developer, the insurance company will regard this window frame as interior decoration which then belongs to part of the home contents component of the Home Protector policy. In an event of window damage, the policyholder could make a claim under Home Protector policy instead.

It is important that policyholders consider buying both Home Contents and Fire Insurance for comprehensive protection.

Question:
If a passerby is injured by a falling household item, will Home Insurance cover the policyholder’s personal liability?

Answer:
Home Insurance will not only protect you against the loss of home contents, it will also protect you and your family members against any claims/legal liability in the event of your negligence causing third party injury or property damage. Such protection includes any lawsuit related expenses, but the amount of compensation will depend on maximum benefits payable of the policy. When purchasing Home Insurance, it is also recommended that policyholders should determine if "personal liability" was included in the plan.

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Home Protector
FamilySurance Plus 4.0
Mortgage Fire
HelperSurance 4.0

When Mrs. Chan’s domestic helper, Mary, carried out her cleaning duty at the insured premises, she accidentally dropped a container of cleaning fluid while cleaning the window and damaged a private car parked on the street below. As a result, the private car owner lodged a claim for his loss against Mrs. Chan, the occupier of the premises from which the cleaning fluid container fell.
 
Does the “Personal Liability” section of Mrs. Chan’s home insurance provide coverage for Mrs. Chan’s liability?
 
Although the incident was caused by Mary’s negligence, she was carrying out cleaning duties as per Mrs. Chan’s instructions at the time of the accident. In the third party claim against Mrs. Chan in her capacity as Mary’s employer, Mrs. Chan may be held vicariously liable for the damage or loss to the third party’s property arising out of the incident. In cases of this nature, the “Personal Liability” sections of most home insurance products in the market may provide coverage for the insured’s liability.

On the other hand, if Mary hurt a passenger on a bus during her holiday – a period of time during which she was not carrying out duties for her employer on her employer’s instructions – even though Mrs. Chan is Mary’s employer, Mrs. Chan is not legally liable for Mary’s actions during Mary’s free time and is therefore not liable for any third party bodily injury or damage or loss to any third party’s property. The coverage of different home insurance policies in the market may be different and customers are advised to check policy details carefully.

Learn more about our insurance plans:
Home Protector
FamilySurance Plus 4.0
Mortgage Fire
HelperSurance 4.0