Social News
Written by: Golden Chess Ouyang Dehao
2020-05-14 12:49
Last update date: 2020-05-14 12:50The new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic has raged around the world, and a large number of domestic students have returned to Hong Kong to avoid the epidemic. Many parents have also paid more attention to the health and safety of their children abroad, and have purchased overseas education insurance for them. The Consumer Council reviewed the 12 overseas study insurance plans offered by 10 insurance companies in the market and found that not only the premiums and protection amounts of each plan are quite different, but also the conditions and limitations of claims.
In addition, the Consumer Council also found that the definition of "infectious disease" in each plan may not be the same, and in the 12 plans, if the insured person is studying in an infectious disease in the city where the overseas college is located, "Miya Insurance" and "Anda Insurance" No protection will be provided, 4 will cover the medical expenses caused by the insured person due to infection of infectious diseases, and the rest will only provide return to Hong Kong for follow-up consultation, or cancellation and interruption of school protection.
The Consumer Council said that it has not received any complaints about new coronary pneumonia leading to overseas study insurance, but has received many complaints related to interest classes in the country. The Consumer Council pointed out that due to the impact of the epidemic, tutoring and interest classes were forced to suspend classes, and some schools changed to online teaching. The experience is different from the physical class, so consumers want to get a refund, but the school encountered the refund arrangement. Difficulties, or even reluctance to refund, increased the number of complaints.
The large number of students who stayed at home earlier returned to Hong Kong to avoid the epidemic, which also made many parents pay more attention to the health and safety of their children abroad and purchase overseas education insurance for them. (Information picture / photo by Luo Junhao)
Before going overseas to study, many people will buy insurance specifically. The Consumer Council pointed out that overseas education insurance generally provides protection similar to general travel insurance, such as personal, property and liability protection, and generally also provides protection for academics, such as compensation for the cancellation or interruption of academics and education fund protection due to specific conditions. Wait. Some plans will also provide protection against accidental damage to household items in overseas residences.
The difference in premium ranges from RMB 1,800 to USD 1,109
In April this year, the Consumer Council asked 14 insurance companies for information on overseas study insurance. Before the deadline, 10 companies provided information on 12 plans. Taking the provision of one-year global protection as an example, the premiums of the 12 plans vary widely, ranging from a minimum of 1,800 yuan to a maximum of 1,109 US dollars (about 8,596 Hong Kong dollars).
Consumer Council│Energy bar more than 90% high sugar up to 2.5 times more sugar-free samples also have organic sugar intake
Consumer Council | 17 plastic trowels 5 models detected potential carcinogens 1 model immersed in oil for one minute hot melt deformation
Consumer Council│The cooling capacity of ten air conditioners is 2.2% lower than the claimed low Westin air conditioner
The definition of "infectious disease" in each plan is different. "Meiya Insurance" and "Anda Insurance" do not cover infectious diseases.
The recent global pandemic of new pneumonia has caused consumers to pay attention to whether infectious diseases will be covered by the education insurance. In the plan of this investigation, some policy provisions provide protection against losses caused by infectious diseases, but the definition of "infectious disease" in each plan may not be the same. For example, some insurance companies define "infectious disease" as "any kind of disease that has been announced and required to be quarantined by the local government", and it has also been defined as "any human-to-human infection declared by the World Health Organization and already widespread among the local population Infectious diseases transmitted. "
In response to the epidemic situation, some insurance companies have set up special protection or compensation procedures for their travel insurance products, and some of them are also applicable to overseas study insurance. However, depending on the decision of individual insurance companies, these special protection or compensation procedures may only be applied before the specified date. Insured policies, policies that are insured after a specified date, may not necessarily get the same arrangement. Interested persons should also note that some protection or compensation procedures specifically for the new coronavirus may not be applicable to other infectious diseases or epidemics. In this investigation, "Meiya Insurance" and "Anda Insurance" will not provide protection against infectious diseases or epidemics in the city where the insured is located.
The Consumer Council reminded that before purchasing an insurance policy, you should check with your child ’s upcoming college to see if there are any specific requirements and time limits for the insurance provided by international students. (Screenshot of CCTV live broadcast)
Unforeseen "infectious disease" causes academic cancellation before you have a chance to pay
In response to the global outbreak, many parents are worried that their children studying abroad will be infected and quickly arrange for their children to return to Hong Kong, which may involve loss of school interruption. If unfortunately needs treatment after infection, it will involve medical expenses. The Consumer Council pointed out that although most of the plans reviewed have compensation for the cancellation or interruption of their studies, their coverage conditions may not be the same. For example, some insurance policies state that an unforeseen "infectious disease" occurs at the destination within one week before the insured person's destination. Taking the tuition fees paid but not refundable as an example, the amount of compensation ranges from HK $ 40,000 to HK $ 200,000.
The Consumer Council found that if the insured is younger than a specific age, the personal accident coverage for the four schemes will be lower. (Profile picture / Photograph by Zheng Zifeng)
As for the scope of protection, the scope is wide and the insured amount varies widely. It covers medical treatment, hospital cash allowance, personal accidents, kidnapping protection, emergency reunion or relative visits, school interruption or cancellation, and overseas emergency support. Taking medical expenses as an example, the individual protection levels of the four plans do not provide medical expenses protection, including the "Basic Plan" of "Meiya Insurance", the "Smart Choice" and "Standard Plan" of "Blue Cross Insurance", and "Zurich" "Full-year study abroad plan-basic" of insurance. The medical cost protection of "Prudential P & C Insurance" is optional and additional premiums must be paid.
In addition, the Consumer Council found that if the insured is younger than a specific age, the personal accident protection amount of the four plans will be lower. For example, the amount of protection provided by "Meiya Insurance" to the insured under the age of 17 will be covered by the general Insurer's US $ 50,000 (approximately HK $ 387,543) or US $ 100,000 (approximately HK $ 775,086), reduced to US $ 40,000 (approximately HK $ 310,034); the The coverage of individual or all personal accident protection items of the insured under the age of 18 is also lower than that of the insured over the age of 18.
The Consumer Council reminds you to check with your child ’s upcoming college before purchasing an insurance policy. There are no specific requirements and time limits for the insurance provided by international students. Different countries, regions or colleges may have special insurance for international students. Claim.
Consumer Council Consumer Council Tests Investigation of New Coronary Pneumonia Overseas Study
