Does your insurance policy cover acts of terrorism?

Frequent travellers should ensure that their travel insurance policy covers acts of terrorism, such as the recent MH17 tragedy. -- PHOTO: AFP
Frequent travellers should ensure that their travel insurance policy covers acts of terrorism, such as the recent MH17 tragedy. -- PHOTO: AFP

Frequent travellers should check their existing insurance policies to see if they cover acts of terrorism or war.

The Star had previously reported that the basic travel insurance policies most airlines offer to passengers do not provide cover for acts of war and terrorism.

However, many personal travel or life insurance policies are now providing terrorism coverage, given its rise as a global threat.

In general, an act of terrorism is considered to be any act by person or group committed for political, religious, ideological or similar purposes that puts the public at risk of injury or death. These acts might or might not include the use of nuclear, chemical or biological substances or weapons.

We checked with five insurance companies here on their terrorism coverage.

1. NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited

NTUC Income's travel insurance policy has been covering acts of terrorism since the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center on Sept 11. The coverage includes acts of terrorism involving the use of nuclear, chemical or biological substances or weapons.

However, losses resulting from war, riot, revolution or any similar events do not apply. People who travel to countries against MFA advisory warnings will also not be able to claim damages.

All life insurance policies, including the most basic ones, also provide full coverage on all acts of terrorism but not acts of war.

For more information, visit https://www.income.com.sg.

2. Prudential Assurance Company

All of Prudential's life insurance plans provide coverage against acts of terrorism, including those by nuclear, biological and chemical means, as well as any act of war or invasion.

"Our life insurance policies provide a death benefit so in the event of death due to acts of terrorism or acts of war, policyholders covered with these plans will receive a payout," executive vice president and chief marketing officer David Ng.

The maximum amount to be claimed is dependent on the sum insured respective of the different policies.

For more information, go to http://www.prudential.com.sg.

3. Great Eastern Life Assurance Company

Great Eastern's life insurance policies cover acts of terrorism as well as acts of war.

Travel insurance from Great Eastern's wholly owned general insurance subsidiary, OAC Singapore, does not cover acts of war, but provides terrorism coverage. This excludes injury or losses resulting directly or indirectly from nuclear, chemical or biological means.

The sum insured for acts of terrorism is a combined limit of $100,000 for personal accident, medical reimbursement and medical emergency evacuation per insured person.

More information on Great Eastern's insurance policies can be found at http://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/index.jsp.

4. AIA Singapore

AIA's travel insurance plan, AIA Around The World, does not cover any losses resulting from acts of war or terrorism.

The company has confirmed that the plan's general exclusions include any claims arising from war or invasion and travelling in, to, or through Afghanistan, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan or Syria.

However, AIA's life insurance plans do provide terrorism coverage alongside general exclusions such as the consequences of war, invasion or any warlike operations.

More information can be found on the AIA website, http://www.aia.com.sg.

5. ACE Insurance Limited

ACE travel insurance has a terrorism extension which covers any losses arising from any act of terrorism up to the benefit amount corresponding to the plan type purchased by the insured.

An act of terrorism means any actual or threatened use of force or violence directed at or causing damage, injury, harm or disruption, or commission of an act dangerous to human life or property, against any individual, property or government, with the stated or unstated objective of pursuing economic, ethnic, nationalistic, political, racial or religious interests, whether such interests are declared or not.

The policy also has a general exclusion on war and does not cover claims arising from war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power.

Policyholders can refer to the full set of policy documents to understand their coverage, or go to http://www.acegroup.com/sg-en/ for more information.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.