But if the situation persists, it means more and more non-combatant workers from all over the world will continue to bravely head out on to the front line. Namely, those working in the media covering the conflict, or humanitarian assistants and charity workers going out to provide support.
With that said, the threat of injury is very real for these people, and it’s important they travel to Ukraine and the surrounding nations knowing their Personal Accident and Medical policy will respond if the worst should happen.
Many will assume their regular business policy will suffice, but there are a number of reasons why it could fall short of the cover they need in these unusual circumstances.
Notice of cancellations
Some insurers will have a condition in their wording where they can issue a ‘notice of cancellation’ if the policyholder is heading into a war zone. They’ll usually give a 7 or 14-day notice period for any war related situation. After which time, that policyholder won’t be covered.
It’s not even a case of them choosing not to write a portion of the risk – they’ll cancel the policy completely.
War exclusions
This is when the insurer explicitly excludes circumstances of war in the wording of the policy. They won’t cancel the policy at this time, but they’ll deny any claims directly or indirectly related to war scenarios.
So if you’re a charity worker in Ukraine who’s exposed to shelling, the policy wouldn’t pay, as it’s a direct result of ‘a war of greater powers’ – a term relating to any global body or nation such as Russia, NATO, US, the EU etc.
Uninsured services
Then there are those specialist services a policyholder might call on in their time of need, only to discover that service isn’t included within the terms of the policy.
For instance, an injured cameraman might need to arrange for an assistance company to repatriate them from the country, but those services are often uninsured under the policy. Meaning that person or business will eventually have to cover a very hefty repatriation bill.
We can help
At Gallagher, we work with a lot of insurers in the market, Underwriters at Lloyd’s and most of the London Insurance Company Markets so we are very familiar with their policy wordings. It means we can quickly identify whether there are gaps in your cover and help you fill them.
For now, syndicates at Lloyd’s are offering terms for Personal Accident and Medical benefits, but with the situation as volatile as it is, coverages, benefit limits and premium rates are changing daily.
That’s where our close relationship with these insurers can be crucial – we’re in contact with them multiple times a day, helping you move fast and find the most favourable terms available.
You can help too
While underwriters in Lloyd’s are open to covering these risks, they’re only willing to do so for clients who are taking steps to mitigate the risk their end too.
From understanding the locations you’re moving to and from, to scrutinizing the security you have in place, to asking for a detailed crisis management plan – they’ll be looking to see you’re taking responsibility for your peoples’ welfare before they can even consider writing a policy. We can help guide you through the appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
Speak to our team
If you’re a business with people heading out to the region or you’ve got clients working in the industries we’ve mentioned above, get in touch with the team for more information. We’re here to help.
