The Executive Yuan has passed an amendment to the “State Compensation Act.” In the future, for naturally occurring public facilities in open mountainous or water areas, if the government has already posted warnings or signs and individuals still choose to take risks, the state will not bear liability for compensation. Officials from the Insurance Bureau pointed out that mountain climbing insurance is something individual climbers assess and decide to purchase based on their own risk tolerance to spread potential risks, and it is not directly related to state compensation. However, officials also reminded that there are eight scenarios where mountain climbing insurance does not provide coverage.
According to statistics from the Insurance Bureau, there are currently five property insurance companies — including Fubon, Cathay Century, Shin Kong, Mingtai, and Want Want Youxian — that offer mountain climbing insurance. In recent years, both the number of insured individuals and premiums have increased year by year, rising from 904 people insured and premium income of NT$836,610 in 2014 to 55,183 people and premium income of NT$11.46227 million in the first nine months of 2019.
Insurance Bureau officials pointed out that mountain climbing insurance covers “emergency rescue expenses,” but there are eight exclusions where claims will not be paid. These include intentional acts by the insured, criminal behavior, war or internal unrest, armed mutiny, explosions caused by atomic or nuclear devices, as well as situations where “the insured entered without required permission” or entered restricted or prohibited warning zones under the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Act or other relevant regulations, or was ordered to leave. Additionally, search costs incurred when the insured fails to legally carry positioning equipment and emergency communication devices, arbitrarily changes the climbing plan, or climbs without a guide are also not covered.
Insurance Bureau officials gave an example: if a mountain climbing insurance policy includes coverage of NT$2 million for death or disability, NT$200,000 for medical expenses, and NT$500,000 for emergency rescue, the premium for three days is NT$389, but it is limited to domestic mountains — foreign mountains are not covered.
However, there are five scenarios where death, disability, or injury are also not covered, including intentional acts by the policyholder or the insured, criminal behavior by the insured, driving under the influence of alcohol beyond legal limits, war or internal unrest, armed mutiny, and explosions caused by atomic or nuclear devices.
Will it become mandatory for all mountain hikers to purchase mountain climbing insurance in the future? Insurance Bureau officials pointed out that insurance companies are merely providers of insurance products, and whether such insurance becomes mandatory is to be decided by local governments and relevant authorities based on policy needs.