Local Tourists Offered Special Insurance Policy for Songkran

The government is offering a special insurance policy for people who will be traveling during the week-long Songkran holiday. This insurance policy is designed to protect them against traffic accidents as well as infection by the deadly COVID-19.

According to government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek, the policy is available for only a premium of THB10. She said that this is an initiative by the government to help allay people’s concerns about a possible new wave of infections amidst the celebration of Thailand’s biggest holiday.

People will be able to purchase a policy for the aforementioned one-time premium from today until the end of May. This means that people can still avail of the insurance policy even after the Water Festival ends on April 18, which is on next Sunday.

To create these special policies, the Office of the Insurance Commission hooked up with various insurance policy issuers in the Kingdom. The policy will henceforth be named the “New Normal Super Plus.”

The policy will protect people who are intending to enjoy the holidays by traveling outside their homes, as well as people who are considered at high risk for getting infected by COVID-19.

The insurance policy gives purchases a coverage of up THB100,000. This coverage will be reimbursed to the holder or his beneficiaries in the event of accidental death, dismemberment and disability after getting involved in traffic accidents during Songkran.

On the other hand, if the holder becomes a victim of murder or physical attack, he or his beneficiaries are entitled to receive THB50,000. This will be reimbursed in their name if they suffer accidental death, dismemberment and disability.

In addition, the policy will also provide coverage for hospitalization. Users can get provided for THB300 a day while in hospital. The coverage is only limited for 20 days. It is also valid for people who suffer side effects from being inoculated with any COVID-19 vaccine that is recognized by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration.

If COVID-19 vaccination results to the holder’s death, his beneficiaries can receive a death benefit of THB5,000.

If the policy owner becomes infected with COVID-19 while the policy is valid, they can also receive coverage of up to THB3,000.

The policy is offered by any of the 23 participating insurers in the scheme. Only people between the ages of 20 and 70 years old are entitled to avail of the policy. They must meet the age requirement on the day they purchase the policy.

The government aims to lower the number of traffic accidents during this year’s Songkran by at least 5%. Last year, there were 1,307 road accidents during the period of Songkran. Even though a lockdown was in place in April 2020, road traffic was still at a high.

However, last year’s statistics for road accidents are lower than that of 2019. From 2017 to 2019, the average number of accidents during Songkran was 3,405. There were also an average of 378 deaths as well.

This year, police will deploy 1,200 checkpoints to prevent drunk driving and mass gathering during the festival.

Source:
Bangkokpost