Personal Accident Insurance in Kenya: What You Need to Know

What Is Personal Accident Insurance?

Personal accident insurance is designed to provide financial protection following an accident.

At Geminia, the Enhanced Personal Accident Insurance provides monetary compensation in the event of accidental injuries, disability or death, while also providing cover for certain medical expenses resulting from an accident.

The level of protection you receive depends on the plan and benefits selected.

Depending on the applicable cover, benefits can include:

• •Accidental death
• •Permanent total disability
• •Temporary total disability
• •Accidental medical expenses
• •Accidental dental expenses
• •Accidental optical expenses
• •Post-accident reconstructive surgery
• •Artificial appliances
• •Local evacuation
• •Last expenses
• •Critical illness
• •Post-trauma counselling
• •Non-accidental death through the life rider

These benefits are subject to the specific policy terms, limits and conditions.

What Does Personal Accident Insurance Cover?

One of the most important things to understand when choosing personal accident insurance in Kenya is what your policy actually provides. Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident Insurance offers a range of benefits depending on the selected plan.

1. 1 Accidental Death. If the insured person loses their life as a result of an accident, the nominated beneficiaries receive the pre-agreed sum insured, subject to the policy terms. This benefit can provide financial support to your loved ones at a difficult time.
2. 2 Permanent Total Disability. An accident can sometimes result in permanent disability. Geminia's cover provides a predetermined benefit for permanent disability based on the applicable continental scale. This can provide important financial support following a life-changing accident.
3. 3 Temporary Total Disability. Not every accident results in permanent disability. Some injuries may temporarily prevent you from carrying out your normal occupation or daily business. The Enhanced Personal Accident cover provides a weekly benefit for temporary total disability, subject to the policy terms, for a maximum period of 104 weeks.
4. 4 Accidental Medical Expenses. Accidents can result in unexpected medical bills. The policy provides reimbursement for medical expenses arising from the treatment of injuries resulting from an accident, subject to the applicable benefit limit.
5. 5 Accidental Dental and Optical Expenses. An accident can also result in dental or optical injuries. Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident cover provides benefits for accidental dental expenses and accidental optical expenses resulting from treatment of injuries caused by an accident.
6. 6 Post-Accident Reconstructive Surgery. Some accidents can leave injuries requiring reconstructive treatment. The cover provides reimbursement for costs incurred for reconstructive surgery resulting from an accident, subject to the applicable policy terms and limits.
7. 7 Artificial Appliances. Recovery from an accident may sometimes require an artificial or medical appliance. Geminia's cover can provide for artificial appliances required for rehabilitation, including examples such as crutches, hearing aids, wheelchairs and prosthetics.
8. 8 Local Evacuation. When an accident requires you to seek medical assistance, evacuation may be necessary. Local evacuation expenses resulting from an accident are included as a benefit under the Enhanced Personal Accident cover, subject to the applicable terms.
9. 9 Last Expenses. In the unfortunate event of accidental death, a last-expense benefit is available to nominated beneficiaries to assist with funeral costs.

What Additional Benefits Are Available?

Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident Insurance can also provide additional protection through specific benefits and riders.

Critical Illness

Critical illness cover is available as a benefit on the personal accident covers. Under the Enhanced Personal Accident brochure, this benefit becomes payable when the insured is diagnosed for the first time with a defined critical illness, subject to a six-month waiting period from inception of cover.

Life Rider for Non-Accidental Death

The Platinum Personal Accident cover can be extended with a life rider. This combines personal accident insurance with life cover and provides a pre-agreed sum insured upon loss of life from natural causes, subject to the applicable terms.

This is different from accidental death cover, which responds specifically to death resulting from an accident.

Post-Trauma Counselling

The cover can also provide reimbursement for post-trauma counselling expenses incurred following an accident, subject to the applicable terms and limits.

Personal Accident Insurance for Children and Students

Personal accident protection isn't only for adults.

Children's Personal Accident Cover

Geminia offers a Silver Children's Personal Accident option, with benefits that include accidental death, critical illness, permanent total disability, tuition fee reimbursement, accidental medical expenses, dental and optical expenses, artificial appliances, local evacuation, last expenses and post-trauma counselling.

Student Personal Accident Cover

Geminia also provides a Personal Accident proposal specifically for students on attachment. The student plan provides benefits including:

• •Death
• •Permanent total disability
• •Accidental medical expenses
• •Artificial appliances
• •Funeral expenses
• •Post-trauma counselling

The student brochure provides Plan I and Plan II options, with cover periods of 3, 6 or 12 months. This can be particularly relevant for students undertaking attachments or internships where personal accident protection is required.

Who Can Get Personal Accident Insurance?

Personal accident insurance can be relevant to people who want financial protection against the consequences of accidental injury.

Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident offering includes individual and family options, as well as children's personal accident cover.

However, certain occupations and activities are subject to referral. The brochure specifically identifies motorcycle riders, professionals in certain fields such as aviation, professional sports and military personnel, and individuals involved in hazardous undertakings as covers referred to Geminia.

This means it is important to disclose the nature of your occupation and activities when applying for cover.

Why Consider Personal Accident Insurance?

An accident can affect more than your immediate medical needs.

An injury could temporarily affect your ability to work. A serious accident could result in permanent disability. Your family could also face additional financial responsibilities following an accidental death.

Personal accident insurance is designed to provide financial support for specified consequences of an accident.

With Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident Insurance, protection can extend beyond accidental death to include disability, medical expenses, dental and optical treatment, evacuation, rehabilitation appliances and other benefits depending on the selected plan.

Personal Accident Insurance vs Medical Insurance

Personal accident insurance and medical insurance serve different purposes.

Medical insurance is generally designed around healthcare and treatment needs covered under the applicable medical policy.

Personal accident insurance, on the other hand, provides specified financial benefits following covered accidental injuries, disability or death.

Geminia's Personal Accident Insurance can include accidental medical expenses alongside benefits such as permanent total disability, temporary total disability and accidental death.

How Much Does Personal Accident Insurance Cost in Kenya?

The cost of personal accident insurance depends on the plan and level of benefits selected.

Geminia's Enhanced Personal Accident Insurance offers different options under its Platinum, Gold, Silver Children's PA, Bronze Children's PA and Family options, with different benefit limits and corresponding premiums.

For example, the brochure provides different annual premium options depending on the selected cover and whether terrorism cover is included.

Rather than choosing a policy based only on price, consider the level of financial protection you may need and the benefits included in the plan.

For the current premium applicable to your circumstances, speak to Geminia or request a quote.

What Is Terrorism Cover?

Terrorism cover is available as an optional extension.

Under the Enhanced Personal Accident brochure, this extension provides monetary compensation where accidental injury, disability or death is occasioned by an act of terrorism, subject to the applicable terms.

The brochure also presents premiums both with and without terrorism cover, depending on the selected plan.

What Should You Check Before Buying Personal Accident Insurance?

Before choosing a personal accident policy, take time to understand:

1. 1 The benefits. Know exactly what your selected plan provides.
2. 2 The benefit limits. Different plans have different sums insured and limits.
3. 3 Eligibility. Check applicable age and occupation requirements.
4. 4 Exclusions and conditions. Understand circumstances that may not be covered.
5. 5 Waiting periods. Some benefits, such as critical illness, have specific waiting periods.
6. 6 Optional extensions. Determine whether additional protection, such as terrorism cover or applicable riders, is appropriate for you.
7. 7 Your nominated beneficiaries. Ensure the relevant beneficiary information is correctly provided.

Protect Yourself Against the Unexpected

You may not be able to predict when an accident will happen, but you can take steps to prepare for its potential financial consequences.

Geminia Personal Accident Insurance provides a range of protection options designed around accidental injury, disability and death, with additional benefits available depending on the plan selected.

From accidental medical expenses and disability benefits to evacuation, artificial appliances and post-trauma counselling, you can choose protection that suits your needs and circumstances.

Ready to protect yourself and your loved ones?

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Accident Insurance in Kenya