Summary of the “Halun Solo” Case: 5 Million Baht Travel Accident Insurance Coverage and Claim Conditions

Amid the sad news that Halun Solo, a Thai travel YouTuber, has passed away permanently, his family not only faces this tragedy but must also manage various matters, including paperwork and arranging to bring him back to his home country. Recently, the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) announced that Halun had insurance coverage, but the extent is still being clarified. Thairath Money invites you to explore and understand all the insurance issues involved.

What insurance did Halun have?

Adisorn Phiphatworapong, Deputy Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Inspection at the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), told Thairath Money that Upon review, it was found that Halun had one travel accident insurance policy with a coverage sum of 5 million baht, and the incident occurred while coverage was still active.

However, as travel accident insurance covers death resulting from "accidents" or "homicide," it differs from life insurance, which covers death from all causes.

Initially, the OIC has coordinated with the insurance company holding Halun’s policy and is currently awaiting documents to file a claim, such as the death certificate, medical opinion documents, and forensic reports. If the cause of death is determined otherwise, or if relatives doubt the findings, they have the right to request a re-autopsy in Thailand.

Regarding the costs for repatriating Halun’s body to Thailand, the insurance company has updated the OIC that it will cover these expenses, even though the cause of death has not yet been definitively determined.

On the evening of 30 July, Sompo Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, the insurer of Mr. Bowornthat Pengsuk (Halun Solo), stated that the company will be responsible for all expenses related to repatriating the body to Thailand. Other coverages are pending verification and will be considered based on the policy terms.

What is travel insurance and what does it cover?

Travel accident insurance, often known as TA (Travel Accident Insurance), can be purchased by anyone traveling domestically or abroad. For example, when traveling to Europe, visa applications often require travel insurance to cover possible incidents such as:

• Death caused by accident or homicide—for instance, death caused by gas exposure is covered. However, death from illness, pre-existing conditions, or suicide is not covered.
• Medical treatment for illness and accidents.
• Repatriation to the home country, including repatriating patients or the deceased’s remains or ashes.
• Property coverage, such as lost baggage.
• Flight delays.

Terms and coverage in TA policies vary by insurer. Before purchasing, one should check what conditions are covered and the coverage limits. For international travel, choosing an insurer with a local-language call center can reduce communication problems.

Additionally, insurance typically

Heirs unaware of the deceased’s insurance policies?

A common issue arises when heirs do not know which insurance policies the deceased held or the nature of the coverage. Therefore, the OIC introduced a new feature on their official LINE account called 'OIC Knowledgeable' that allows heirs to 'search for insurance policies.' This feature initially lets them verify the deceased’s insurance information as follows:

• The insurance company name.
• The policy number.
• The type of policy (e.g., life insurance or accident insurance).
• The policy status.

For detailed policy information and coverage, heirs should contact the insurance company directly to obtain accurate information and expedite claim processing.

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