Insurer responds

In respect of the letter from S. K. Srivastava, which was published in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 15 titled Feeling cheated , we would like to clarify as follows.

We very much regret that Srivastava is upset, but have to state categorically that he has not been cheated under his Company's Group Medical Policy with PT Zurich Insurance Indonesia (Zurich). Global Assistance & Healthcare is employed by PT Zurich Insurance Indonesia to act as its Plan Administrator, to assess and pay benefits in accordance to the Policy Wordings and Exclusions.

Srivastava's company purchased a Group Medical Policy from Zurich in June 2001 and renewed it in June 2002. At no time has the premium, policy wordings or exclusions list been changed by Zurich or by Srivastava's company. We explained this already to Srivastava in a letter couriered to him on Oct. 10, 2002. We contacted the person in charge at Srivastava's company and received the confirmation that their Group Medical Policy with Zurich had not been changed in any way since it was initially purchased in June 2001, and that the exclusion in question was indeed noted. The company stated it had always been very happy with the Zurich Medical Policy and with the service provided by Global Assistance & Healthcare, and had no knowledge of Srivastava's greivance.

We have a positive and long term relationship with Srivastava's employer and pride ourselves on our commitment to service. We are bound, however, to apply the rules of the Insurance Policy and Wordings even when we might all wish it were otherwise.

LIDIA T. HARDJASEPUTRA

Senior Manager

Client Services

Global Assistance

& Healthcare/PT Zurich

Insurance Indonesia

Jakarta