Phuket-bound tourists may file insurance claims

PHUKET TOWN: Foreign tourists affected by recent rioting in Bangkok may be eligible for financial compensation of up to US$ 10,000 through a state-run insurance scheme.

According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) website, the Royal Thai Government in May 2009 set up an insurance scheme for foreigners visiting the Kingdom ‘who are affected by losses or harms or unable to leave the Kingdom in event of riots’.

The scheme covers losses and damages for the current situation occurring during the period from 4:31pm on April 9, 2010 until 4:30pm March 31, 2011.

Applicable to all foreign visitors entering the Kingdom legally, it covers losses and damages in the following three cases, as follows:

– Loss of life, limbs or permanent disabilities in an amount not exceeding US$ 10,000 per person;

– Hospital expenses as incurred, and hospital stay, if necessary, for a maximum period of 10 days, in the amount of US$ 1,000 per person and not exceeding US$ 10,000 per person;

– Loss or damage due to travel limitation in the amount of US$ 100 per person per day, but not exceeding the total of US$ 10,000 per person.

To make claims, contact Indara Insurance Public Company Limited (Tel: 02-205-7711) within 30 days from the date when the losses or damages occurred.

The scheme does not cover foreigners with resident status in Thailand, nor losses and damages occurring outside Thailand or due to causes other than the riots, including acts of terrorism.

For more information and/or the required documents to file a claim, visit the MFA website or contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s hotline on 1672.

— Stephen Fein