Insurers give Nepal ultimatum to end tourist rescue fraud

International insurance companies have set a September 1 deadline for Nepal to clamp down on fraudulent helicopter rescues of tourists or they will stop giving cover, industry sources say.


An AFP investigation earlier this year revealed a lucrative insurance racket around pressuring hikers in the Himalayas into unnecessary rescues.


Multiple tourists are crammed into a single chopper, but each insurance company gets billed for the flight. The trekking operators, lodge owners, helicopter companies, and even hospitals pocket the extra cash.


The fraud became so acute that Nepal's government, which relies heavily on tourism, launched a probe in June in a bid to keep insurers from pulling out altogether.


AFP has since learned an alliance of insurers from Britain, Australia and New Zealand have warned they will stop providing cover unless concrete action is taken.

MORE. https://www.afp.com/en/news/2266/ins...ud-doc-1885qk1

Next step, Thailand?

I discussed with a friend working in insurance (specifically working on oversea accidents), and he said that Thailand was one of the country with the most dodgy habits...(although the number of tourists going here surely contribute to this record).

He tends to fly back injured clients, as soon as possible even when his/her condition isn't adequate for traveling because of inflated medical bills (some hospitals tend to make sure to reach the max reimbursement ceiling, regardless of the patient conditions)

Maybe when (if) mandatory Thai travel insurance kicks in, those hospital will be put in check?