Swine Flu - Insurance Cover & Disaster Planning

Swine Flu – Insurance Cover & Disaster Planning

At the time of writing the World Health Organisation is at Alert Level 6  in relation to the Swine Flu Pandemic. We have received enquiries from clients in relation to their insurance coverage and Swine Flu.

This can be confirmed as follows:-

TRAVEL

Usual policy cover from our travel insurers currently applies. However, travellers whether personal or commercial need to remain aware that policies exclude known pre-existing conditions and would also not cover the consequences of travelling to a country against the advices of the Home Office.

For an update on these countries ref to:-  www. fco.gov.uk and follow the appropriate links.

CANCELLATION/ABANDONMENT

Policies in force prior to the onset of Swine Flu will not have an exclusion of such and will operate for cancellation following localised outbreak as long as all their policy conditions are met. New policies covering such are not being offered by Insurers or where they are, they are generally uneconomic.

BUSINESS INTERUPTION

This useful cover section often found under a Commercial Combined Insurance can extend to cover loss of profit following notifiable diseases at location. Currently Swine Flu is not one of these, hence policy cover would not be operative. (Notifiable Diseases are noted in the Infectious Diseases Act).

With limited offerings within current policies and new financial covers marketed being debatable in terms of use, cost and cover, risk management/business continuity facets increase in importance.

 Areas a company should consider are:-

• Set up a management group to review internal/external aspects and plan possible necessary actions, communications accordingly. This group should monitor public health announcements and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Revisit your current business continuity plans. What are the minimum number of employees required to run each department or the company?/Could more home working be introduced throughout this period? What additional training is required to allow other tasks to be covered? Where is this not possible and what gaps does it leave?
• Clearly communicate with your staff ensuring they know they are to stay at home if sick.
• Workplace etiquette will need to change and must be advised. Proper cough and sneezing etiquette should be underlined in communications. A colleague who doesn’t bother to use a handkerchief could be spreading a potentially fatal disease and has to realise this. Regular hand washing and maintaining a clean working environment must be reinforced. 

The policy covers advised in this article relate to general non-healthcare business. For more specific advice if your business is within this sector or for further general guidance on this subject or Risk Management, please contact your Account Executive.