Chinese insurer offers smog insurance policy

A mainland firm has rolled out a new smog-focused health insurance – the first of its kind nationally – which compensates Beijingers made ill by air pollution with up to 1,800 yuan (HK$2,270).
The product was rolled out as the capital once again ranked among the 10 most polluted mainland cities in the latest figures published yesterday.The insurance from the People’s Insurance Company of China (PICC) – the country’s largest insurer – is available for Beijing residents, aged 10 to 50, at premiums ranging of 78 to 154 yuan. Clients who land in hospital for smog-related illnesses, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, can claim 100 yuan per day for 15 days.Policyholders will even be offered a one-off sum of up to 300 yuan in the event that the air quality index (AQI) in Beijing’s 12 monitoring stations all exceed 300 for five consecutive days.