Whether Personal Accident Insurance Policy covers death due to Heat/Cold waves?
Under the basic coverage’s of PA policy, the insured should sustain any bodily injury or death resulting solely and directly from accident caused by eternal violent and visible means then the Insurer shall pay to the insured or legal heirs the sum assured.
There are various common examples where PA insurance policy covers like accident with motor vehicles, snake biting, drowning in river, slip on the road or at any other place. You must have read in the Newspaper that there are more than 2200 death due to Heat waves all over India especially in Andhra Pardesh and Telengana. This cause of death is mostly applicable to poor persons who are living in open.
The question arises whether the legal heirs of these dead persons are eligible to get the compensation under Jeevan Surksha Bima Yojna which is available to bank account holders at Rs 12/- for Rs 2,00,000/- .
Generally the Insurers decline such types of claims (due to Heat waves) as it does not fall under the definition “death resulting solely and directly from accident caused by eternal violent and visible means”.
There is a decision of National Commission in the case of Rita Devi Vs National Insurance Co Ltd (2007) that death due to Cold waves is covered under PA Insurance Policy which is based on the Judgment of Supreme Court Of USA where in Sunstroke is considered as an accident.
In my opinion, the necessary action should taken by the respective States to pay the compensation to the poorer who have the lost their family members in Sun Stroke and had a bank account and paid the premium under the scheme “Jeevan Surksha Bima Yojna”
The above finding may be useful for some if not for all.