Chinese coverage protects the overly helpful

While no good deed may go unpunished, a Chinese insurer is trying to mitigate that risk.

“Helping elderly insurance” was launched this month to protect do-gooders who come to the aid of elderly citizens only to be accused later of malfeasance, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

In one such incident in 2009, a man was ordered to pay 100,000 yuan after coming to the aid of an elderly woman on the grounds that he would not have helped if he had not been responsible for her distress, according to media reports. Such incidents have reportedly led to reluctance by Chinese citizens to offer assistance to seniors.

The coverage is offered by a subsidiary of Chinese Internet provider Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for a premium as low as 3 yuan (47 cents) a year and providing up to 20,000 yuan ($3,148) to cover legal costs, Xinhua reported.

News agency AFP reported that according to the product’s terms and conditions, the insurer, Sinosafe General Insurance Co. Ltd., will investigate alleged incidents before paying out.