It makes good sense to take out an insurance policy for your domestic helpers, both foreign and local (including part-timers). This is in fact required by law.
But, more importantly, make sure you are adequately protected against what liabilities that may come your way.
For there is a baffling array of insurance plans on the market varying from one another in the terms and conditions of the protection afforded you as employers of domestic helpers.
The Consumer Council has completed a survey on 21 Domestic Helper Insurance Plans provided by 12 insurance companies. The plans fall mainly into 2 categories: basic (7) and comprehensive (14) plans.
The annual premium for the former ranged from $300 to $556.5 and the latter from $522.9 to $807. Although the difference in yearly premium is not too significant, the difference in protection coverage could be substantial, thus the importance of choice. Some points to take note for the prudent consumers.
For instance, apart from outpatient service, some plans also cover bonesetting and/or physiotherapy expenses. Consumers should also compare the per-day, per-visit and upper limit of reimbursement for clinical expenses.
For loss-of-service cash allowance, some plans stipulate explicitly that such allowance is not payable for the first 2 to even 4 days of hospitalization. And some restrict the length of hospitalization as an in-patient for treatment or surgery for a period of 5 consecutive days only to as long as 2 consecutive weeks or more.
Also, in most plans, a waiting period of 14 or 15 days from the effective date of the insurance policy is required before application for clinical benefits, hospitalization and surgical benefits, dental expenses, and/or loss-of-service cash allowance.
In case of infidelity of the employee, some plans require that any fraud or dishonest act committed by the domestic helper must be discovered within 15 or 30 days after termination of the employment contract, and must be reported to the police immediately or within 24 hours.
Last but not least, take heed of the exclusions in the policy. They may include pre-existing sickness or disease prior to inception of the insurance, any injury, sickness, accident or event occurring outside HKSAR.
Exclusions may include, furthermore, intentional self-inflicted injury or suicide, pregnancy, childbirth, intoxication alcohol, narcotics or drugs not prescribed by a legally qualified and registered medical practitioners.
Consumers are, therefore, advised to obtain several quotations and compare the policies before committing to one. And do pay attention to the definitions and exclusions in the insurance policies: the benefits as well as medical costs, evacuation and cancellation, amount of reimbursement and excess per claim, etc.
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