Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - November 6, 2007
Phusadee Arunmas Charoen Kittikanya
AIA executives said the company had no explicit policies against homosexual clients, but reserved the right to consider applications based on risk factors related to "personal lifestyle".
Natee Teerarojjanapong, the president of the Gay Political Group of Thailand, said his application to purchase life insurance from AIA, the country's largest insurer, had been rejected solely because of his sexual orientation.
He said this was a clear violation of Section 30 of the 2007 constitution, which outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, language, sex or health.
Mr Natee yesterday submitted a complaint to the Insurance Commission and vowed to file a petition to the Administrative Court if he did not receive a response within the next couple of weeks.
He also called on the office to investigate whether other insurers also adopted such practices, and planned to co-ordinate with gay-rights advocates such as the Bangkok Rainbow Organisation to launch a global campaign against AIA.
"We condemn AIA's policy in Thailand for unfair discrimination. If AIA executives deny such practices, I will be happy to bring hundreds of homosexuals to the company to apply for insurance," Mr Natee said.
He claimed that on Oct 28, he applied for a life insurance policy with AIA agent Pachara Pipatwong, who later informed him that the company had a policy to deny insurance to gays and transsexuals.
Mr Natee added that he previously held life insurance policies with both Muang Thai and ING and that neither had ever asked about his sexual orientation.
AIA senior vice-president Sutti Rajitrangson denied that the company had any explicit policy against homosexuals. AIA was open to all applications without discrimination against any particular group of persons, he said.
But AIA reserved the right to evaluate policy coverage, premiums and set other conditions for clients in high-risk jobs or with high-risk lifestyles.
"Life insurance is a risk-management tool for the public. Underwriting criteria is thus based on risks met by the general population," Mr Sutti said.
"Anyone found to have higher risk than the general population could face higher premiums, limits in protection, restrictions on riders or even denials of their applications."
Mr Sutti added in a statement that the company's applications were judged based on various factors, including sex, age, occupation, health history and lifestyle.
"Out of our 5.8 million policyholders, we have persons belonging to high-risk groups as well. These policies were written based on our evaluation procedures and criteria," he said.
Insurance insiders say it is not unusual that companies would take steps to limit their potential liability for high-risk groups, such as smokers or persons with past drug addictions.
One AIA agent said customers are asked to fill out questionnaires to help the company assess potential health risks.
The Aids epidemic in Thailand is certainly one major public health threat faced by insurers.
Many firms require Aids tests prior to offering coverage, particularly for persons from higher-risk jurisdictions such as in the northern provinces where Aids is a particular problem.
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