Insurance Information

Terrorism: Acts of Terrorism: When Will Insurance Respond?


Insurance policies provide financial protection in a broad range of circumstances but each type of product specifies certain situations where the policy will not respond. These vary from one type of product to another, and can vary in detail between one insurer and another. It is important to check the details of your individual policy. However the questions and answers below seek to set out the usual approach for each of the main types of insurance. If you have specific queries on your policy you should approach your insurer or broker.

Property cover

Will my home be covered if it is damaged or destroyed in a terrorist attack?

Yes. Household, buildings and contents policies include damage by fire, explosion or impact whether caused accidentally, through the malicious act of an individual criminal or in an act of terrorism. This cover will normally include the cost of alternative accommodation whilst your home is being repaired, typically up to a total of 20% of the sum insured. However contamination cover, whether caused accidentally or through malicious or terrorist activity, is excluded under household policies. In these circumstances the consequential costs such as alternative accommodation would not apply either.

Some blocks of flats are insured under commercial, rather than household, policies. Under these policies terrorism damage is covered if the specific top-up cover readily available in the market has been taken up. This can be arranged either at the date of renewal, or added to the policy mid-term. This cover will normally include chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination caused by terrorist activity. You should speak to your broker or insurer to obtain a quote and information on how to buy this additional cover.

Why isn't contamination cover included on Household policies?

Contamination has been a standard exclusion on household policies since the 1960΄s as the likely aggregation of claims (many homes will be affected by a single incident) and cost of clean-up could not be met by insurers without putting their financial viability at risk. This would not protect the interests of other policyholders. The additional cover available to commercial properties is only possible through the Pool Re Scheme, backed by government. However if the contamination is caused by a terrorist attack on premises containing nuclear material insured by the Pool Re Nuclear Scheme, the third party liabilities towards other people's property would be picked up by this specialist insurer.

Is cover available for businesses? What about consequential losses?

Yes. You can obtain terrorism cover as an add-on to your property cover and should ask your insurer for a quote, either at renewal or mid-term if you wish to review your situation. This is available on a competitively priced basis, but is associated with your property policy if obtained through the Pool Re scheme, available via most commercial property insurers. Alternatively some terrorism cover is available on a stand-alone basis through the Lloyds of London market.

Commercial property terrorism cover is normally provided on an All Risk basis and includes biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear contamination, and the consequential business interruption losses. However it does not include e-risks, nor losses due to hoaxes.

Why isn't terrorism cover a standard part of commercial property cover?

There is no statutory requirement to have this cover in place. However you should check your contractual requirements, as you may need to put in place such cover to meet your obligations under certain types of contract (for example in leases or loan agreements). You can opt into this cover if you require it by asking your property insurer for a quote and paying the additional premium.

Terrorism: Acts of Terrorism: When will Insurance Respond?

Insurance policies provide financial protection in a broad range of circumstances but each type of product specifies certain situations where the policy will not respond. These vary from one type of product to another, and can vary in detail between one insurer and another. It is important to check the details of your individual policy. However the questions and answers below seek to set out the usual approach for each of the main types of insurance.

If you have specific queries on your policy you should approach your insurer or broker.

Property cover

Will my home be covered if it is damaged or destroyed in a terrorist attack?

Yes. Household policies include damage by fire, explosion or impact whether caused accidentally, through the malicious act of an individual criminal or in an act of terrorism. This cover will normally include the cost of alternative accommodation whilst your home is being repaired, typically up to a total of 20% of the sum insured. However contamination cover, whether caused accidentally or through malicious or terrorist activity, is excluded under household policies. In these circumstances the consequential costs such as alternative accommodation would not apply either.

Some blocks of flats are insured under commercial, rather than household, policies. Under these policies terrorism damage is covered if the specific top-up cover readily available in the market has been taken up. This can be arranged either at the date of renewal, or added to the policy mid-term. This cover will normally include chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination caused by terrorist activity. You should speak to your broker or insurer to obtain a quote and information on how to buy this additional cover.

Why isn't contamination cover included on Household policies?

Contamination has been a standard exclusion on household policies since the 1960΄s as the likely aggregation of claims (many homes will be affected by a single incident) and cost of clean-up could not be met by insurers without putting their financial viability at risk. This would not protect the interests of other policyholders. The additional cover available to commercial properties is only possible through the Pool Re Scheme, backed by government.

However if the contamination is caused by a terrorist attack on premises containing nuclear material insured by the Pool Re Nuclear Scheme, the third party liabilities towards other people's property would be picked up by this specialist insurers.

Is cover available for businesses? What about consequential losses?

Yes. You can obtain terrorism cover as an add-on to your property cover and should ask your insurer for a quote, either at renewal or mid-term if you wish to review your situation. This is available on a competitively priced basis, but is associated with your property policy if obtained through the Pool Re scheme, available via most commercial property insurers. Alternatively some terrorism cover is available on a stand-alone basis through the Lloyds market.

Commercial property terrorism cover is normally provided on an All Risk basis and includes biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear contamination, and the consequential business interruption losses. However it does not include e-risks, nor losses due to hoaxes.

Why isn't terrorism cover a standard part of commercial property cover?

There is no statutory requirement to have this cover in place. However you should check your contractual requirements, as you may need to put in place such cover to meet your obligations under certain types of contract (for example in leases or loan agreements). You can opt into this cover if you require it by asking your property insurer for a quote and paying the additional premium.

by George McGonigal

George is the proprietor of UK based insurance websites that allow visitors to obtain fast online quotations without obligation, for all types of insurance product. Why not check us out at the following sites. Car Insurance UK: Simple but substantial online directory of top UK Insurers. Car Insurance Scotland: Compare online quotes for residents of Scotland. Car Insurance Northern Ireland: Cheaper online quotes for car insurance.


MORE RESOURCES:

Wall Street Journal

Sector Snap: Insurance companies tumble
Forbes, NY - 9 hours ago
By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS 10.15.08, 2:29 PM ET Shares of insurance companies mostly tumbled Wednesday afternoon along with the broader market giving back gains ...
AIG Increases Borrowings While Racing to Sell Assets Wall Street Journal
AIG's gallows humor gives bankers a laugh Reuters
Locally, AIG still writing insurance MiamiHerald.com
CNNMoney.com - Forbes
all 906 news articles


Memphis Flyer

Insured up to $200000
Jakarta Post, Indonesia - 29 minutes ago
As we are now facing the impact of the systemic banking crisis in the United States and Europe, such a wide, generous insurance coverage is key to ...
Blanket Deposit Insurance Is a Bad Idea Wall Street Journal
A Bailout for Small Business? U.S. News & World Report
FDIC Expands Deposit Insurance Coverage to Support US Banks Bloomberg
Slate - Financial Times
all 909 news articles


Aon to sell auto insurance unit to Mercury General
Forbes, NY - 14 hours ago
AP 10.15.08, 9:15 AM ET Insurance broker Aon Corp. said Wednesday it has agreed to sell its Auto Insurance Specialist Management Group unit to Mercury ...
Aon Selling Auto Insurance Broker in California to Mercury General Insurance Journal
Mercury General Corporation Announces Agreement to Acquire Auto ... Earthtimes (press release)
Mercury General Signs Definitive Agreement With Aon To Purchase ... RTT News
Reuters - Chicago Tribune
all 31 news articles


Boston Globe

Health insurance fabrications abound
News Chief, FL - 14 hours ago
The political discussion about health insurance is pretty much a fabrication from beginning to end. Yes, there are serious flaws in the system and we need ...
Video: McCain, Obama Differ Dramatically on Health Care AssociatedPress
Health care questions we want to hear answered tonight News-Medical.net
Primum Non Nocere — The McCain Plan for Health Insecurity New England Journal of Medicine (subscription)
Medscape (subscription) - LA Youth
all 643 news articles


Earthtimes (press release)

Wells Fargo Adds Williams as Claims Executive in West Region ...
WELT ONLINE, Germany - 8 hours ago
Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Inc. announces the addition of Robert (Bob) Williams as senior vice president, regional claims manager for its west region. ...
Wells Fargo Acquires EMAR Group WebWire (press release)
all 12 news articles


Insurance Networking News, Celent Partner on Technology Solutions ...
MarketWatch - 12 hours ago
This third annual ranking, the 2009 Insurance Networking News VIP Awards, will be based on a survey of executives and staff from North American insurance ...


In Uncertain Job Market, NextStudent Offers Short-Term Health ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
And a growing number of these jobless graduates, having to go without employer-sponsored health insurance, are quickly joining the ranks of America's 50 ...


TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company Achieves National Ethics ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
"We are very proud to receive this recognition by IMSA," said Eric Jones, CEO of TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company. "It illustrates the financial and ethical ...


Australia Passes Law Reducing Health Insurance (Update1)
Bloomberg - 57 minutes ago
By Gemma Daley Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- A new Australian law that is expected to see 492000 drop out of private health insurance passed the upper house of ...
Australia says 500000 people to dump health cover Reuters
Australia Senate to support health insurance changes Reuters
all 8 news articles


Insurance company wins appeal in officer's death
Chicago Tribune, United States - 11 hours ago
A Wisconsin appeals court says the estate of a police officer killed in a car crash six years ago cannot collect on his insurance policy. ...

Insurance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006