Chinese people love mountain climbing, but they rarely purchase comprehensive mountain climbing insurance before hitting the trails. Since the introduction of comprehensive mountain climbing insurance last year, six property insurance companies, including Cathay Insurance, have launched such policies. However, over the past year, sales of these policies have been extremely low.
Currently, property insurers offering comprehensive mountain climbing insurance include Cathay Insurance, Fubon Insurance, Shin Kong Tokyo Marine, Shin Kong Insurance, Hua Nan Insurance, and Mingtai Insurance. Industry insiders say sales have not met expectations. The Yushan National Park Headquarters has recently encouraged group applicants for Yushan climbs and day-trippers attempting a single push to the summit to purchase comprehensive mountain climbing insurance before their ascent.
However, the Yushan National Park Headquarters also clarified that purchasing climbing insurance beforehand is merely an “encouragement” for climbers, not a “mandate.” Those who wish to buy it must contact individual property insurers before their climb. The headquarters does not sell any climbing insurance nor collaborates with any insurers.
The six insurers’ comprehensive mountain climbing insurance policies are not identical, but generally speaking, the premiums are not high—only slightly more than those for regular travel insurance. For example, one insurer’s policy includes coverage for death/disability benefits of NT$5 million, reimbursement-based medical expenses up to NT$500,000, and emergency rescue costs up to NT$100,000, with a daily premium of around NT$200.
Insurers say the reason sales haven’t met expectations isn’t due to high premiums, but rather information asymmetry—many climbers simply don’t know such insurance exists. Additionally, some climbers lack awareness of the risks involved, believing that if they get lost in the mountains, the government will automatically dispatch search and rescue teams.
Moreover, there are certain restrictions on purchasing comprehensive mountain climbing insurance. For instance, individuals cannot buy it alone. Cathay Insurance explains that this insurance primarily provides risk coverage for mountain climbing activities within the territory of the Republic of China. It covers accidental injuries sustained during climbing or expenses incurred for search operations, medical evacuations, and body transport due to climbing accidents.
Therefore, the insurance is limited to group members with five or more participants. If fewer than five people are climbing together, the policy cannot be purchased. Also, individuals cannot buy it alone. The insurance period is limited to 30 days (inclusive) or less.