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Here’s the latest press release from Great Eastern:

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

Kuala Lumpur, 19 August 2009 – Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad’s Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Koh Yaw Hui informed that as a good corporate citizen with a hundred and one years’ presence in Malaysia, Great Eastern will cover hospitalization claims made by its policyholders, who have been hospitalized due to influenza A (H1N1).

“This pandemic disease is distressing for our community. We would like to dispel all uncertainties on hospitalization claims by affirming that Great Eastern will compensate our policyholders who have been hospitalized for treatment of influenza A (H1N1),” assured Mr Koh.

Similarly, Mr. Koh in his capacity as a Director of Overseas Assurance Corporation (Malaysia) Berhad (“OACM”), would also like to take the opportunity to assure the policyholders of OACM who have been hospitalized due to influenza A (H1N1), that they will be accorded similar treatment.

Mr Koh urged the public to adhere to the authorities’ request to take precautionary measures to prevent further spread of this disease by practising isolation should one feel ill or show symptoms of influenza A (H1N1), to curb further spread of this deadly disease.

Mr. Koh added, “Great Eastern and OACM have constantly briefed our employees on influenza A (H1N1) in relation to insurance claims. We have also taken the initiative to communicate regularly with our employees and our agency force on this pandemic so that we are able to serve our policyholders on a timely basis.”

Here’s another announcement by Etiqa:

(The Edge, 21st August) KUALA LUMPUR: Etiqa will pay the claims made by its medical and health plans’ policyholders should they be hospitalised for treatment for H1N1 influenza, with immediate effect.

Etiqa said on Aug 21 the H1N1 influenza can affect everyone physically and also financially, in terms of the medication and treatment.

Its CEO and director Datuk Aminuddin Md Desa said in this difficult time, it decided to extend the cover of H1N1 influenza to its medical and health plans and ensure that claims are paid to policyholders hospitalized and treated for the H1N1 influenza.

Etiqa is extending the cover for H1N1 influenza treatment and hospitalisation to its group and individual medical and health plans. This H1N1 coverage benefit is extended to all current policyholders of Etiqa’s medical and health plans and any new policyholders who will be joining the plan from now on.

Here’s another press release from Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM), the Insurance Industry’s self-regulatory body:

Life Insurance Coverage for Influenza A(H1N1) – Press Release

Kuala Lumpur, 21 August 2009: The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has confirmed that death due to the Influenza A(H1N1) will be payable. In addition, all the 16 life insurance companies under LIAM will also be paying claims arising from hospitalization due to Influenza A(H1N1). Even though a majority of the medical policies carry exclusion on communicable diseases requiring quarantine by law, life insurers are responding to an immediate need of the nation in light of the increasing number of people who have been infected.

Life insurance companies will nonetheless continue to monitor the Influenza A(H1N1) situation. In the event of any review of this decision on life insurance coverage, the policyholders will be duly informed.

I should think that all insurers that provide Hospitalisation benefits should be made mandatory by Bank Negara to extend their coverage to include H1N1.

I have not read about PIAM’s take on H1N1 claims, but some of the travel insurance packages offered by General Insurers are already providing limited benefits to H1N1-related compensations and expenses.

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