When accidents or illnesses occur, many people think about how their purchased insurance will provide coverage.
But what if the hazard does not originate from ourselves, but from cross-border attacks?
Which types of insurance provide coverage, and which might be excluded under policy conditions?
The escalating tensions in the Thai-Cambodian border area since 24 July 2025, due to clashes, have impacted local residents and caused damage to lives and property, affecting both individuals and businesses. A tragic incident at a gas station resulted in many fatalities. Although authorities have evacuated people from the risk zones, many remain concerned that the damage could worsen.
Amid these distressing events, many wonder if the situation being labeled as a “war,” “invasion,” or other terms will affect insurance claims. They also question what forms of insurance protection apply when unexpected external factors arise.
Life insurance policies cover death from all causes, including accidents, illnesses, and war risks. However, they typically include basic exclusions; for example, if the insured person is intentionally killed by the beneficiary, the policy will not pay out.
For additional contracts such as health or accident insurance, coverage details vary by policy and company. These policies generally follow international standards submitted to reinsurers, which specify various conditions.
In cases where claims do not meet conditions but the person is an insured customer, Nusara Assakul, President of the Thai Life Assurance Association, has stated that life insurance companies may consider ex gratia payments at their discretion. This means that although contract terms may not require payment, many companies have recognized public hardship and have already considered such compassionate claims.
In the insurance sector, the regulatory body is the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). Recently, the OIC urged insurance companies to assess risks and assist insured persons affected by the violent incidents. They initially indicated that the events do not constitute “war” under typical policy exclusions but noted that companies should review any additional exclusions case-by-case. The OIC is ready to mediate discussions as needed.
The main message from the OIC on the evening of 6 August 2025 was intended to ease concerns that if the situation were classified as war, insurance claims might become more difficult. However, understanding depends on the specific definitions and exclusions in each policy, which can vary widely among companies.
Importantly, the OIC also stated that "if the case falls under other policy exclusions, companies may assist insured persons by making ex gratia payments," effectively allowing additional public assistance even when claims fall outside standard coverage. This will be further discussed in point 4.
When damage occurs to property, many think of non-life insurance policies such as automobile, home, or business insurance. However, claim eligibility depends on the terms of the purchased insurance. Current discussions focus on the "War Risks" condition, which may exclude coverage.
An insightful perspective comes from Professor Emeritus Dr. Pramuan Chanchiva, who explains that insurance policies often define War Risks as a group of related hazards, including war (whether declared or not), invasion, acts by foreign enemies, hostile actions, warlike operations, and civil war.
The concept of war risk is broad. Some countries use dictionary definitions, a method adopted by Thailand’s Supreme Court in ruling 2667/2001, which defined war as "whether declared or not."
Simply put, the interpretation of War Risks varies depending on wording and conditions in policies from different countries and companies. For example, whether a "clash between Thailand and Cambodia" counts as an invasion affects claim eligibility. Thus, coverage depends on your specific policy terms.
But which insurance types cover war risks?
According to recent information, insured persons can purchase additional coverage for war risks by paying extra premiums. In Thailand, this is mainly available in business insurance, such as All Risks or Industrial All Risks (IAR) policies. For individuals, it may be added to personal accident insurance, but it is not commonly purchased, so such coverage is limited in the Thai market.
We have mentioned ex gratia payments several times. Simply put, this means that even if a claim does not meet policy coverage terms, the insurer may still choose to pay a claim as a gesture of goodwill. Whether this happens depends entirely on the insurer’s discretion. For example, if your car is damaged while towing another stalled vehicle, and the policy excludes towing-related damage, the insurer might still partially pay out as an act of goodwill.
Since ex gratia payments are discretionary, what factors do insurers consider? Thairath Money cites examples such as the insured’s honesty and absence of fraud.
Some independent academics have questioned whether ex gratia payments conflict with the law. Section 31 (11) of Thailand’s Non-Life Insurance Act (1992) prohibits insurers from providing benefits beyond those specified in the policy to insured persons or beneficiaries, with criminal and financial penalties (up to 500,000 baht). Therefore, insurers should avoid labeling such assistance as ex gratia payments.
Sources from the insurance industry note that insurers have provided ex gratia payments before but often without clear limits or conditions. Both life and non-life insurance sectors strive to provide assistance whenever possible.
If you have questions or problems with your insurance, first review your policy to understand your coverage. Consult your agent or insurer for clarification. If claim issues arise, you can contact the insurance company for explanations.
If responses remain unclear, you can contact the OIC via hotline 1186 or their website. The OIC offers consultation and can receive insurance complaints online or in person; however, complaints cannot be filed through the hotline.
Finally, regardless of the type of risk, if you have insurance, you should understand your coverage fully to maximize your benefits.
Sources: Office of Insurance Commission, Thai Life Assurance Association, Thai General Insurance Association,TISCO
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