Ebola exclusions are now being written into policies

Fear over the spread of Ebola has caused several insurers to start writing exclusions in policies covering certain groups.

Insurance News

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With the confirmation of the first Ebola case in New York City last week, several US and UK insurers are adopting a cautious approach in the way they insure groups like hospitals, event organizers and other businesses subject to disruptions caused by the virus.

Gary Flynn, an event cancellation broker at Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group in London told Business Insider the industry in general will now charge higher prices for companies choosing to insure business travel to West Africa or cover the risk of business interruption due to quarantine shutdowns.

And along with that comes new standard policy exclusions.

“What underwriters are doing at the moment is they’re generally providing quotes either excluding or including Ebola—and it’s much more expensive if Ebola is included,” Flynn said.

In the US, ACE Ltd announced Wednesday that its global casualty unit will use a new policy endorsement to exclude Ebola on a “case-by-case basis” while underwriting new policies or renewals for companies who allow employees to travel abroad.

Other insurers, such as Miller Insurance Services LLP and William Gallagher Associates, are releasing new products specifically designed to deal with the threat of Ebola. These new products specifically insure hospitals from losses linked to shutdown by quarantine.

Aon, meanwhile, has created an Ebola task force to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary.

Producers in affected areas should be on the lookout for such exclusions when renewing policies for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, looking into endorsements and new Ebola-specific products as necessary.

No events or businesses have yet been cancelled in the US due to Ebola, but the confirmed diagnosis of three patients and the considerable media mileage the virus has had thanks to the upcoming election season has moved fears over Ebola to the forefront.
 

 

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