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SCMP Reporter

People worried about Hong Kong's worsening air pollution can  now buy insurance protection against pollution-related illnesses.
American International Underwriters launched the city's first pollution protection and  pollution-related health protection policies  yesterday. The policies cover 12 critical illnesses and payouts range from HK$500 a day for hospital cover to HK$200,000.
Monthly premiums vary from  HK$48 per person to HK$128.
Policyholders must hold a  Hong Kong ID card and be aged  18 to 65.
But medical specialists, concerned at how a link between diseases and pollution would be proven, say the public should read the small print carefully before buying  a policy.
Michael Raines,  president and managing director of AIU Hong Kong, said the policy was  intended to address rising public concerns about pollution hazards.
Medical Association president Choi Kin, a kidney specialist, said he could not comment  before reading  the details, but was concerned how  any claims could be proven as pollution-related. He said  critical illnesses covered in the plan, such as kidney failure, were rarely associated with pollution.
The association's vice-president Louis Shih Tai-cho,  a dermatologist, also refused to comment before reading the details but advised people thinking about getting a policy to read it carefully and check on any excluded costs.
'It's good to have another option for the public, but they need to be careful to check what is covered and what's not.'
Dr Shih was also concerned at how critical illnesses could be proved to be pollution-related, saying   cancers could be caused by many different factors.
Connie Liu Ho-yu, vice-president for  accident and health  of AIU Hong Kong, said they had  collected data which showed the 12 critical illnesses covered in the plan could  be caused by pollution. The illnesses include cancers of the lung, liver, kidney and skin.  Liver failure,  lymphoma, Parkinson's disease and leukaemia are also covered.
Ms Liu said clients would be covered for benefits if none of the diseases were  pre-existing when the policy was bought and were subsequently found on the first diagnosis after the policy was purchased.
Coverage could also be obtained for pollution-related health hazards caused by accidents such as food poisoning.
Ms Liu said they  expected strong potential growth in the policies.
The plan has a global coverage on health hazards caused by accidents, including food poisoning,  and gradual pollution-critical illnesses like lung cancer. The  coverage includes critical illness benefits and surgery expenses benefits, and  daily hospital income benefits.
Not to be sniffed at
90,000 people are taken to hospital each year due to roadside pollution
The average number of deaths each day  from diseases linked to air pollution is: 4



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