Insurance protection difficult for armed private bodyguards - Experts
This is because the nature of the job carries significant risk, involving various dangerous situations and could endanger lives.
SHAH ALAM - Armed private bodyguards find it difficult to obtain medical insurance card protection and grants from insurance or takaful providers if they suffer any injuries or permanent disabilities while on duty.
Takaful advisor Muhammad Zamir Zubaide, 26, said this was because the nature of the job carries significant risk, involving various dangerous situations and could endanger lives.
However, he noted that the situation would be different if there was a death, as the dependents of the contributor would receive full compensation grant.
"Unarmed private bodyguards can obtain full protection, including takaful grant compensation, if they suffer injuries or die while on duty.
"Insurance or takaful providers offer various medical card plans with a minimum takaful grant of RM250,000 to protect them in the event of any incidents while on or off duty," he said.
Zamir clarified that contributions for private bodyguards were higher because of the high-risk nature of the job compared to applicants from low-risk job sectors.
"There are many benefits to having insurance or takaful, such as receiving early treatment, having the option to choose the best hospitals and most importantly, not having to worry about treatment costs.
"Employers are advised to promptly obtain personal protection for their bodyguards because the job carries significant risk and exposes them to various unforeseen accidents," he said.
Meanwhile, takaful consultant Nur Izzati Kasim, 37, said private bodyguards need to apply for takaful protection to be assessed for risk (underwriting) by insurance or takaful companies.
"Usually, takaful companies will not approve protection applications or accept them conditionally, for example, with exclusions if accidents or injuries occur while working.
"In reality, medical card protection is indeed difficult for private bodyguards. For life protection applications, approval can depend on the risk assessment of the applicant," she said.
