COVID-19 FAQ's
FAQ’s for policies relating to COVID-19 / Coronavirus.
Covid-19 is having a huge impact on all our lives. We’re working hard to offer you the best service we can while looking after our employees. We appreciate this is an unsettling time for everyone and we’re doing everything we can to support you.
We are receiving a high volume of calls from our customers who have questions about their policy and coronavirus, so we have put together a list of answers to those most frequently asked.
Q. I have had to close my hairdressing / barbers business in line with Government / local guidelines. Can I cancel my insurance?
A. If you have employees, paid or unpaid, even if they are furloughed, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement, so you should not cancel your insurance.
Q. What is covered under the Business Interruption section of my policy?
A. This section of the policy will cover you if your business is unable to trade due to property damage (such as a fire or flood) which leads to loss of income, because you are forced to stop trading.
Q. Am I covered for Coronavirus under my policy:
A. This policy is not designed to cover the coronavirus, though it does have an extension for notifiable diseases. For a claim to be valid it would have to meet both of the below criteria:
- It has to be an outbreak that can be clearly identified as having occurred at the Premises address shown on the Policy Schedule
- Closure has to be enforced by a competent authority and not due to a decision taken by the Insured as a precaution for example.
Q. Can I conduct outdoor classes with my members?
A. The rules on what is allowed varies from tier to tier so please check with your local authority if you are unsure of the rules in your area.
Q. I have had to close my gym in line with Government / local guidelines. Can I cancel my insurance?
A. If you have employees, paid or unpaid, even if they are furloughed, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement, so you should not cancel your insurance.
If your policy is covering the building and / or contents, it could potentially be at a greater risk of break-in or flooding / fire etc if it is not currently in use, so we strongly advise that you give this your consideration before cancelling the policy.
Q. Does my policy include loss of earnings cover?
A. Loss of earnings is not an insurance type that we cover and so is not available with any of our policies. If you are forced to cease trading or your turnover drops due to loss of customers there is no cover available for this.
Q. Can I conduct outdoor classes with my members/clients?
A. The rules on what is allowed varies from tier to tier so please check with your local authority if you are unsure of the rules in your area.
Q. I have had to close my gym in line with Government / local guidelines. Can I cancel my insurance??
A. If you have employees, paid or unpaid, even if they are furloughed, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement, so you should not cancel your insurance. If your policy is covering the building and / or contents, it could potentially be at a greater risk of break-in or flooding / fire etc if it is not currently in use, so we strongly advise that you give this your consideration before cancelling the policy.
Q. Is there any support on my policy to cover bills that I am having to pay whilst unable to trade?
A. We do not have any cover on our policies for this.
Q. Can I conduct outdoor classes with my members/clients?
A. The rules on what is allowed varies from tier to tier so please check with your local authority if you are unsure of the rules in your area.
Q. Am I covered for working online?
A. Yes, provided you comply with the below requirements for remote coaching/instruction (live or prerecorded):
In respect of any coaching or instruction that is undertaken remotely, it is strongly recommended that the Insured should:
1. At the commencement of the session, advise participants:
a. that by participating they are doing so at their own risk;
b. a suitable, non-slip floor space is required and any potential obstructions in the vicinity are removed before they participate;
c. to avoid activities if they have, or suspect they may have any current health concerns, injuries, aches and pains;
d. avoid the use of blades, weapons or sharp instruments of any description;
e. avoid physical contact with other participants and where appropriate, adhere to social distancing guidelines;
2. Ensure that sessions are conducted for the benefit of participants who have demonstrated sufficient suitability to participate;
a. with new clients you must ensure that;
i. you obtain a signed PAR-Q form prior to the first session
ii. you have had a pre-training consultation call
3. Continue to only instruct activities in which you are qualified to do so;
4. Record the session. Retaining the recording for a period of up to thirty-six (36) months may assist in any claim made against you
5. Maximum class size is 16
Q. Will I be covered for one-on-one training in public places such as parks?
A. Yes, providing the UK government permits one-on-one training and you adhere to any other relevant government guidelines whilst conducting your session.
Q. I have Personal Accident cover with my policy. If I was to fall ill would the Personal Accident section of my policy cover this?
A. The temporary total disablement section of the personal accident cover is only applicable if you were to get injured whilst working. There is no cover on the policy for illness.
Q. Does my policy include loss of earnings cover?
A. Loss of earnings is not an insurance type that we cover and so is not available with any of our policies. If you are forced to cease trading or your turnover drops due to loss of customers there is no cover available for this.
Q. My governing body have said that we are unable to trade. Would my insurance policy still cover me for working?
A. No, if your industry body/governing body or any relevant competent authority say that you need stop trading (e.g. due to Coronavirus) then we would require that you comply with that.
Q. Further to the Government’s recent announcement restricting the general public from leaving their houses, will I still be covered with my Pet Business policy?
A. You will still be covered under your policy as long as you comply with any relevant laws and regulations, and follow any government guidance.
Q. Does my policy include loss of earnings cover?
A. Loss of earnings is not an insurance type that we cover and so is not available with any of our policies. If you are forced to cease trading, or your turnover drops due to loss of customers there is no cover for this.
Q. Is there any support on my policy to cover bills that I am having to pay whilst unable to trade?
A. We do not have any cover on our policies for this.
Q. I have Personal Accident cover with my policy. If I was to fall ill would the Personal Accident section of my policy cover this?
A. The Temporary Total Disablement section of the Personal Accident cover only provides cover if you were to get injured whilst working. There is no cover under the policy for illness.
FAQ’s about Coronavirus (COVID-19) updated on the 08th September 2020. This document replaces any FAQs previously published on our website
The following FAQs do not override the terms and conditions detailed within the policy wording. All claims are assessed in accordance with your policy terms and conditions. These FAQs are intended to be guidance only, and do not form part of your contractual terms with us.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the claims handlers are receiving a high number of emails and calls from customers about their wedding insurance cover. We are responding to these in the order they are received, however endeavouring to reply to customers whose wedding day is in the near future quickly. We will answer your questions as soon as possible.If your wedding cannot go ahead as a result of COVID 19, or as a result of the social distancing rules you choose not to go ahead, you should first speak to your venue and service providers to discuss your options. Where appropriate, request a refund of the payments you have made. If your venue or suppliers are unwilling to refund you directly but you paid by credit card, contact your card provider about obtaining a refund directly to the card on which you paid.
We are able to answer some questions about the cover provided by your policy in relation to COVID-19, however as this is an unprecedented and evolving situation changes in government guidance during the easing of lockdown restrictions may affect the outcome of any claim in line with the terms and conditions detailed within the policy wording.
Q. Will I be covered for any costs if I have to cancel or re-arrange my wedding due to the restriction imposed by the government in response to COVID-19?
No
If your claim is in connection with Section 1 Cancellation or Rearrangement of your Wedding and/or Receptions it states:
What You Are Not Covered For:
We will not pay for the following in connection with claims made under this section:
4) Any claim arising directly or indirectly from:
b) government regulation or act
And, under General Exclusions Applicable to all Sections of your policy:
The Insurance does not cover:
14) losses arising from prohibitive regulations by the government of any country
Therefore, if your claim for cancellation or rearrangement of your wedding relates to restrictions imposed by the government, then the above exclusions apply, and we cannot accept your claim under this policy.
Q. My wedding can go ahead but I am unable to have the number of guests originally planned, can I claim for cancellation or rearrangement costs if I decide to cancel or rearrange?
A. No, policy cover is provided for cancellation or rearrangement for a number of reasons known as “insured events” (detailed on page 6 of your policy wording). A reduction in the number of guests is not an insured event covered by your policy.
Q. My wedding ceremony can go ahead but the venue cannot hold the reception, am I able to claim for cancellation or rearrangement?
A. If the venue is unable to hold your reception because they are unable to comply with restrictions imposed upon them under Health Protection Regulations, you will not be able to claim. The policy excludes any claim arising directly or indirectly from government regulation or act. For any claim not arising from inability of a venue to comply with the Health Protection Regulations, please contact our claims team who will consider the individual circumstances of your claim. These will be assessed in accordance with your policy terms and conditions.
Q. Most wedding venues are opening but my wedding venue has advised that they will not be able to open as they cannot comply with the restrictions imposed upon them under Health Protection Regulations, can I claim for cancellation or rearrangement costs?
A. No, the policy excludes any claim arising directly or indirectly from government regulation or act. The Health Protection Regulations constitute a government act and therefore fall under this exclusion.
Q. Can I change my wedding date on the policy if I choose to rearrange my wedding in light of current guest number restrictions, that mean my wedding cannot go ahead as I’d originally envisaged?
A. Yes, you can change the wedding date on your policy and cover will be provided under the same terms and conditions as your current policy, which does not provide cover for cancellation or rearrangement of your wedding relating to restrictions imposed by the government.
Please note that the new wedding date(s) must be within 24 months from the original wedding date that you confirmed when the policy was originally purchased, and your reception must take place within 21 days of your wedding ceremony and the change is subject to a small additional premium.Q. I am due to pay my balance for my up and coming wedding services, I am unsure whether to pay given COVID 19 restrictions and uncertainty around numbers of wedding guests.
A. We are unable to advise you on whether to pay your balance or not. It is best to contact your venue and suppliers to understand what options they could assist you with and, if numbers of guests are restricted, whether they will reduce the costs of their services in line with reduced guest numbers.
The Competition and Markets Authority have published guidance relating to businesses failing to respect cancellation rights during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which can be located here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
Q. What if I have close relatives that are travelling from abroad, will I be covered for cancellation or rearrangement costs if traveling restrictions imposed by either country prevents them from attending?
A. No, this is not a situation that the policy provides cover for.
Q. What happens if around the time of my wedding a close relative is self-isolating as a precaution or shielding, but is symptom free, can we claim for cancellation or rearrangement costs?
A. No, the policy provides cover in the event of death, injury or sickness of you (the policyholder) or a close relative (as defined within the policy). Sickness must be supported by medical evidence; self-isolation or shielding alone does not constitute sickness and is not covered by your policy.
• all documents relevant to support your claim i.e. receipts, invoices (with supporting debit/credit card receipts/statements), booking confirmations, booking cancellations, etc. We would advise you to retain copies of all documentation for future use;
• a copy of your original policy schedule / certificate of insurance to confirm the level of your cover and the date your policy commenced;
• a copy of the Wedding Ceremony and Venue booking/contract, along with any other supplier contracts that are relevant to your claim;
• proof that any claimed expenses are irrecoverable (i.e. confirmation from venues/suppliers) that no refunds will be provided, or outcome of any chargeback claims where payments were made by credit card
• on all correspondence please provide the unique policy number from your schedule. This will help the claims handlers to validate your policy details and deal with your claim as quickly as possible