Protection of catastrophe victims in Belgium

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Protection of catastrophe victims in Belgium

• Wauthier Robyns
• 30 09 08

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1. Damage to persons
A. Basic layers social security

• Health care and disability
• Accidents at work ( commuting)
• Involves private insurance
• Occupational diseases

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• Public sector employees
• Private sector employees
• Self employed
• (pensioners unemployed)
• Best case 60

• Other help
• victims of crime (State - provided)
• asbestos

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B. Employee benefits (private sector)

• Group life insurance
• Collective medical insurance
• Workmens compensation
• compulsory
• Collective accident insurance
• Similar provisions possible for self-employed
• Schools / youth organisations / volunteers

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C. Individual first party insurance

• Life cover (mostly related to loan or savings)
• Private medical insurance
• Accident cover (no widely subscribed)

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2. Damage to goods
A. Building and contents cover

• NOT compulsory, but minimum standards for simple
  risks
• Storm
• Terrorism, labor unrest
• Flood earthquake
• Rating office / state support

Other help -gt limited state role
B. Vehicles cover
Other help -gt limited state role
C. Agricultural risk -gt state
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3. Assistance

• Legal expenses ( effective help)
• Liability claims
• Other assistance

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4. Liability claims

• Civil code rules
• Fault requirement
• Specific activities (transport, )
• Often international conventions with no fault
  rules but limited compensation (Airshow)
• Terrorism scheme (most lines) aims at market
  continuity through TRIP pool and state support
• Fire explosion in public places no-fault
  liability
• Nuclear liability through SYBAN pool

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5. Insurance issues

• Pricing limits to freedom
• Discrimination
• Bonus/malus discussion
• Compulsory insurance / minimum standards
  (controls, funds, rating offices,
  commoditization)
• Legislation on timing of payments
• Complaints handling
• Companies
• Market-wide
• Access to prosecutors data

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Recent catastrophes

• Natural
• Storms 1990 700 000 claims
• Floods 1953
• Earthquake Liège 4,9 1983

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Recent catastrophes

• Man-made
• Fires Innovation dept. Store
• 322 , 1967
• Inquiry not conclusive
• Switel hotel, 12 , 1994
• Explosion Ghislenghien industry construction
  site, 24 , 2004
• Aviation Ostend airshow, 9 , 1997
• Motorway chain collisions (international aspects)