News Bullying insurance policy available as of October 2023

[thomas]

What if your child is bullied at school or online? Every parent fears it, and while financial losses are likely not their first concern, a new insurance policy to be made available later this year will at least ease those worries.

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance will start selling an insurance policy in October that covers up to JPY 200,000 per case if a child is bullied at school or online, covering counselling fees and the costs associated with transferring schools, such as buying new uniforms and learning materials.

The insurance policy will target the schools and parent-teacher associations that already have education-related insurance contracts with Tokio Marine. Parents willing to sign up will pay an additional ¥120 per month which also includes another insurance policy that covers legal fees. To be eligible for compensation, parents need to submit damage reports filed with the police as well as consultation results with the school. In fiscal 2021 through March 2022, 615,351 cases of bullying were reported in elementary, junior and high schools nationwide, up 19% from the previous year and more than eight times the figure in fiscal 2011. Most of the cases, totaling 500,562, were in elementary schools, with the figure doubling since fiscal 2016.

Japan insurer to offer policy against bullying

While financial losses are likely not a parent's first concern should their child be bullied, a new insurance policy to be made available later this year will attempt to ease those worries.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Lothor]

Filing with the police is quite a hurdle to jump through for 'up to JPY 200,000'. I doubt that many parents would want to go as far as filing with the police, particularly in a country like Japan with close-knit neighbourhoods and organisations that close ranks in times of trouble: such an act could have further repercussions on the child or the family.

 

[mdchachi]

Filing with the police is quite a hurdle to jump through for 'up to JPY 200,000'. I doubt that many parents would want to go as far as filing with the police, particularly in a country like Japan with close-knit neighbourhoods and organisations that close ranks in times of trouble: such an act could have further repercussions on the child or the family.

Yes, it's a smart product. They will almost never pay out.

 

[musicisgood]

I imagine the police report and the psychological evaluation from a licensed psychiatrist at a medical University is probably going to be required.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Insurance is nice and all, but the bigger issue is why bullying is increasing at the rate it is. Is it due to social media? What can be done to reverse this trend?

 

[Lothor]

Insurance is nice and all, but the bigger issue is why bullying is increasing at the rate it is. Is it due to social media? What can be done to reverse this trend?

It might not be. The 'increase' could be due to increased reporting because of people being more prepared to report it and a society less willing to tolerate it. I've no idea what the true situation is.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

That could be. If it's a real increase in prevalence, it's a real problem. I used to teach those kiddos, so I feel for them. I knew at least one student that I suspected was being bullied, and eventually he went to the special kids class. He was a really nice kid, but he was definitely effected by his experiences. He's the only kid that ever physically hit me, although it was an honest accident. He was demonstrating his boxing/kickboxing skills. sigh Kids can be so mean to one another.