Third-party insurance
For foreign students, special insurance packages have been developed by Lippmann (www.acepolis.com) and AON (www.myaon.nl/fellows). The Nuffic has given a positive advice on both packages.
The UM has taken a (company) third-party insurance covering the risk of liability for damages to persons and property, as well as consequential damage. The insurance covers such cases as liability because of a wrongful act, contractual liability and product liability.
Insured parties include students insofar as they operate within the context of the university (including trainees). This insurance provides so-called secondary coverage. The insurance does not apply to students, however, if and insofar as damage is covered by a separate third-party insurance, even if the latter is of a more recent date.
The insurance does not cover the following:
- the own risk of other insurance policies
- liability when traveling between home and university
- liability for damages resulting from theft, embezzlement, loss or displacement of property
Occupational liability is not insured. In the case of damages because of a medical error, the supervising physician shall be held liable for damages incurred.
The UM insurance should be regarded as a supplement to the insurance policy that students are expected to arrange for themselves.
In principle, students who cause damage to persons or property within the framework of their studies, should first approach their private insurance company with claims for damages or the liability insurance company of the institution where they take their traineeship.
Only if the student or the institute offering the traineeship has no third-party insurance or coverage of the latter is insufficient, an appeal can be made to the UM insurance.
Students who suffer damages as a result of activities within the framework of their studies, may only hold the UM (management/teaching staff/other staff/student volunteers) liable if the damages can be regarded as the result of a wrongful act on the part of the UM or other liability (contractual liability of UM, product liability of UM). Such must be established for each individual case. If the UM is not liable, the student will have to claim from his/her own (health) insurance.
The conclusion is that all students must make sure that they have an adequate third-party insurance. The UM's insurance does not provide primary coverage.
The Landelijke Studenten Vakbond (National Students Union) provides students' insurances; see www.lsvb.nl
