Dr. Somporn Suebthawilkul, President of the Thai General Insurance Association, disclosed that due to the influence of Tropical Storm “Wipha,” which caused heavy rain and flash flooding in many provinces across the country, the Thai General Insurance Association has been closely monitoring the situation with concern, and sends encouragement to those affected in every area to stay safe and overcome this crisis quickly. The Association also advises the public to check whether their existing insurance policies cover flood damage, so they can proceed with claims to help alleviate the damage that has occurred and help those affected return to normal life as quickly as possible.
Once the flood situation subsides, people with insurance policies can contact their insurance company to report the damage and file a claim. Policies that provide coverage for flood damage include the following:
1. Motor insurance policies provide coverage for flood damage only for Class 1 policies, or Class 2+/3+ policies (only for policies that have extended coverage for natural disaster damage).
2. Home fire insurance policies provide coverage for natural disaster damage, including flooding, up to a limit of 20,000 baht.
3. Fire insurance policies will provide coverage for flood damage only for policies that have purchased additional flood coverage.
4. Industrial All Risks (IAR) insurance policies provide coverage for flood damage according to the sum insured under the policy.
In addition, the Thai General Insurance Association has also prepared to serve as a coordination center between insurance companies and the public, to provide assistance to policyholders affected by floods or other disasters, aiming to facilitate claims, verify information in cases where policy documents are lost, and provide various insurance-related advice, through the online channel Facebook: Thai General Insurance Association, and by telephone at 0 2108 8399 during business days and hours.
“In a period when natural disasters are occurring more frequently and tend to intensify each year, preparedness through advance risk management, including regularly checking coverage under insurance policies, is therefore important and should not be overlooked, in order to respond effectively to unexpected events. The insurance system is an important mechanism of society that helps mitigate the impact when disasters occur, while supporting the process of recovery and remediation of damage, so that society can return to a stable, normal condition. The non-life insurance industry remains committed to providing assistance to the fullest extent, to alleviate the hardship that has occurred, and stands ready to stand alongside the public and policyholders in every situation,” the President of the Thai General Insurance Association concluded.