O.O.M. Onderlinge Molestverzekering Maatschappij UA is the only Dutch insurer that offers war cover. How is O.O.M. monitoring developments in Ukraine? And what can they do/can't do? Spokesperson Chantal Deen answers five questions.
1. What do you notice about the war between Russia and Ukraine? What is your involvement?
"As far as we know, there are fifty Dutch people in Ukraine who are insured with us. I don't dare to say whether they are still there or have already left. The connection is very poor and moreover, insured persons do not have to report it to us if they leave the country where they (temporarily) live. All our insurance policies have world coverage and although we always ask where people are, they have often already left before we know it. Some customers have been insured with us for forty years, because they want to keep the Dutch health insurance, with a molest cover. We know our customers. They do things that others often do not dare. But, if you look into my heart, I hope that as many people as possible are safe in the Netherlands again."
2. Do you get a lot of questions?
"That's not too bad. We did receive ten applications in one day for people who come from Ukraine and need to have temporary health insurance. This is an insurance with a limited coverage (1.60 euros per person per day) that is specifically intended for people who come to visit (family). Furthermore, we have received little to no questions and / or reports so far, but to be honest, that does not surprise me either. In Ukraine you will find few or no expats. It's not Hong Kong. People who sit there and stay there are there for a reason. For example, we also insure war photographers and journalists. In practice, we sometimes notice that people like it to have when they hear that we offer war coverage, but for war photographers and journalists it is of course a need to have."
3. What can you do for them?
"Of course we have reported to the emergency centres what our policy is. And we have had an emergency team for years that is now extra alert. We also talked at length about whether we should actively approach our policyholders, but decided not to. Then you approach people just to approach them. What good is it if we send an email in which we report what they have known for a long time? Statements of support are only nice if they really contribute something and have utility. Normally, we are immediately in the starting blocks in the event of an emergency. That was the case after the storm on Sint Maarten, but also, for example, with the ash cloud on Iceland. If we have insured persons on the spot, we must take immediate action. We also offer SOS coverage. And if Dutch people leave Ukraine, their health coverage will of course also remain in force when they are (temporarily) in the Netherlands again."
4. O.O.M. is the only insurer that can provide cover against war. What is/isn't covered?
"The war coverage we offer is included in our health and SOS coverage in the Temporary Abroad Insurance and in the Living Abroad Insurance. Normally, molestation (armed conflict, civil war, internal unrest, insurrection, riots and mutiny) is always excluded, but not with us. If an insured person suffers a gunshot wound, we cover it on our Molest insurance. And if an insured person dies in the worst case, we will take care of repatriation. There is no (one-off) payment, as is the case with a life insurance policy. We have a separate greenhouse for molestation and in short, what is in it can be paid out. Our original name says it all, Mutual War Damage Insurance Company. We were created to cover war damage, but also have a small portfolio with regard to real estate in the Netherlands. In recent years, we have received the necessary cancellations from those private individuals, because they thought that the danger of war had passed, but with the current current situation, people are becoming more aware of the molest risk again."
5. Do you already notice that there is more attention for war coverage?
"The phone is not yet red-hot, but we are asked more about our specific coverage. We can also offer molestation cover on the fire insurance. For example, for embassies and consulates, but also for political targets such as the Anne Frank House. I don't dare to predict anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone from the port of Rotterdam suddenly shows up on our doorstep tomorrow to talk about molestation coverage."
Read more about the situation in Ukraine in relation to insurance
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