As COVID vaccinations begin to take off, the number of patients reporting adverse reactions is also growing. Now insurance companies are getting in on the act. Two Taiwanese insurance giants are offering tailored "COVID vaccine insurance packages," promising to take the financial sting out of any vaccination mishap. But they have an important subclause: you have to be hospitalized to get the money.

Here in an insurance broker’s office, an administrator puts down the phone and types up the latest fresh sale. There’s a lot of forms to print out, and everyone’s busy.

Tseng Hsu-wei
Insurance broker
Since April we’ve seen a number of COVID cases and vaccination incidents. Sales have grown 400% this month.

There are two companies in Taiwan offering vaccination insurance. If anything goes awry with your vaccination, it entitles you to compensation, including NT$3,000-5,000 in daily hospital fees, plus an extra NT$30,000 if you need intensive care. At less than NT$300 for a year’s insurance, that’s quite a good deal.

Member of public
I would consider it, it’s an extra protection.

Member of public
If it gets worse, I might compare the rates if I get the jab. Otherwise I probably won’t specially go to look it up.

The insurance offers compensation for any adverse reactions to a COVID vaccine within a limited time period. Chubb is also offering a fixed sum of NT$300,000 for funeral fees for a vaccine-related mortality, while Fubon Insurance offers a maximum sum of NT$200,000 towards hospital expenses if you contract COVID after getting vaccinated. But there’s a caveat.

Tseng Hsu-wei
Insurance broker
Basically, to get the compensation you have to be admitted to hospital. Once you’re in hospital, the hospital will have a record saying you had an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

The new market of vaccination insurance seems to be heating up. Numerous companies are understood to be investigating the option, hoping to make business out of the latest medical trend.