The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) issued a circular
Thursday informing insurance companies that beneficiaries may file
claims for losses resulting from the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS).
Since SARS was a newly found disease, the clients were unable to
include it on the list of contagious diseases when they signed the
insurance contracts, said the circular.
The CIRC demanded that insurance companies take measures to provide
prompt payment of claims to those who suffer SARS-related
losses.
Commercial promotion in the name of SARS prevention is banned
because it could mislead clients, said the insurance watchdog.
The CIRC also required insurance companies to reduce the number of
sales personnel meetings to prevent the further spread of the
illness.
(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2003)
