As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, here you can find updates and insights on the activity of the insurance and long-term savings industry and guidance on the possible implications for customers.
Commenting on behalf of the ABI, Director General, Hannah Gurga said:
We stand united with the people of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, and our thoughts are with them and their families.
Our members fully support sanctions imposed by the UK Government, and are committed to enforcing their implementation. We are engaging regularly with the Government and the FCA as the disturbing events unfold. We are also discussing with Lloyd's and Insurance Europe, the European insurance and reinsurance federation, the direct and indirect impact of the events in Ukraine on the insurance and long-term savings industry, as well as exploring and sharing ideas of how we can support Ukrainian citizens in this humanitarian disaster.
You can find here information to keep customers and firms updated on the insurance and long-term savings implications as events develop. This includes information for firms on the different humanitarian appeals from charities, which people from across our industry are donating to already.”
ABI members want to support customers who are helping the Ukrainian refugee humanitarian aid operation by providing clear reassurance and guidance on the insurance aspects of the following activities:
Housing refugees
- The insurance and long-term savings industry supports homeowners providing assistance to those displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, as well as refugees displaced by any other conflict in the world. The following position applies regardless of where the conflict has taken place.
- If you are a homeowner in the UK and want to temporarily house refugees who have been displaced by conflict as non-paying guests in your home, you do not need to inform your insurer and your cover will remain the same. This applies for the first 12 months of any refugees living with you, including when your policy is due for renewal. After 12 months, if any refugees are still living with you, then you should tell your insurer when you next renew your policy.
- Customers should be aware of any existing terms that might apply to non-paying guests within their insurance policy and contact their insurer if they wish to discuss their cover or other changes in circumstances. Some insurers have committed to extending cover to include refugees as members of a household.
- If homeowners wish to house refugees in their second homes, guest homes or rental properties, or for longer than 12 months at their primary residence, they should discuss this with their insurer in the first instance.
- Customers should visit the website of their insurer and, if necessary, contact them for further information.
Volunteer driving in the UK
- If you want to use your private vehicle to transport goods around the UK to aid in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, our members want to support this.
- Most customers will not need to inform their insurer and their cover will not be impacted, in accordance with the ABI Volunteer Driving Commitments
Private vehicles used for humanitarian aid in the European Economic Area
- If you want to use your private vehicle to deliver humanitarian aid to other parts of Europe in response to events unfolding in Ukraine, our members want to support this.
- A UK motor insurance policy will provide, at minimum, third party liability coverage for a period specified in the policy when driving within the ‘Free Circulation without Green Card’ zone.
- We encourage you to familiarise yourself with regulations around the cross-border transport of goods and abide by any travel advice issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
- Please check your policy documents carefully for limits of coverage and policy exclusions.
Commercial vehicles used for humanitarian aid in the European Economic Area
- If businesses want to use commercial vehicles to provide humanitarian aid in response to events unfolding in Ukraine, our members want to support this but check with your insurer - especially if you require additional coverage or plan to leave the European Economic Area.
- For customers with commercial vehicles that have comprehensive motor insurance cover in the UK, some ABI members are offering comprehensive coverage at no additional charge for any cross-border journeys taken for humanitarian reasons within the ‘Free Circulation without Green Card’ zone. The insurer should be informed of the plans however.
- Policyholders that are planning to undertake cross border journeys and who would usually not be covered for these journeys under their existing comprehensive policy should also inform their insurer of their plans.
How long will this support be in place for?
- The support for extending comprehensive cover to cross-border travel free of charge for commercial vehicles will be reviewed by 11th June 2022.
- Support for volunteer drivers in the UK, private vehicles used to transport humanitarian aid in the EEA reflects existing market practice.
Should I drive into Ukraine?
- The relevant support applies to the Free Circulation without Green Card Zone, and this does not cover Ukraine.
- Currently the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Ukraine so we would not encourage people to go there.
- You should also be aware that damage or injury caused by war, conflicts or similar events is a common exclusion in motor insurance policies.
For commercial vehicles, providing humanitarian aid includes the transport of people as long as the vehicle in question is designed to safely transport passengers, that passenger capacity rules are abided by, and that passengers are being transported free of charge and in a humanitarian capacity.
If you are unsure about your cover, speak to your insurer or broker so you can be reassured before planning any activity.
This continues to be a fast-developing situation, and our members will continue to monitor developments very closely, responding where appropriate.
Cyber Insurance
While the risk of a cyber-attack, and the potentially devastating impact it can have on any organisation, is well known, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine the cyber threat level has been raised and all UK organisations need to review and reassess their exposure to, and resilience against, a cyber breach.
Government figures (Department for Culture Media and Sport ‘Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021) show that in 2020 four in ten UK firms and a quarter of charities reported a cyber breach. Any organisation could be a victim of a cyber-attack.
It is most important for organisations, whatever their size, to ensure that the fundamentals of cyber security are in place to protect their devices, networks and systems, especially if they:
- hold sensitive customer details such as names and addresses or banking information
- rely heavily on IT systems and websites to conduct their business
- process payment card information as a matter of course
We advise organisations to:
Check with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) for cyber security advice, in particular advice on actions to take when the cyber threat is heightened. If you are a smaller business, the NCSC have further advice here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/small-business-guide
If you have cyber insurance (see below), talk to your insurer or insurance broker who should also be able to give advice and information on steps you can take to reduce the risk of suffering a cyber attack
Check your cyber insurance policy, to ensure that you understand the scope of cover and any exclusions that may apply in respect of that result from cyber warfare or cyber-attacks that may be linked to the actions of a particular country or government. if you are unsure, then your insurer or insurance broker can advise
Find out more about what cyber insurance covers and how to purchase via our cyber insurance pages
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will continue to be linked to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice. If you travel against such advice then you will likely invalidate your cover. There remains advice against travel to Ukraine / certain regions in Ukraine. If you are planning any overseas travel, check and follow FCDO advice.
If you plan to travel to a country where FCDO say it is currently safe to do so, but want to cancel as you are concerned about this conflict, then you should talk to your air carrier, tour operator or travel agent. If you make alternative arrangements, it may be possible to transfer your travel insurance to cover your new plans. If your flight is affected by a ban over flying over Russian, or any other country’s airspace, talk to your air carrier.
Pensions and savings
Firms will be very closely following and responding to developments in uncertain investment markets. Pensions are invested in a range of assets, including shares in companies, to help smooth out any volatility in stock markets.
Customers may understandably be concerned about potential exposure to Russia. Pension providers are currently reviewing their holdings, with several stopping trading or divesting.
Over 85% of those saving into a workplace pension are invested in the default fund. These funds are invested in a cross-section of the economy, in multiple sectors in both the UK and abroad. If you are concerned about your investments, then talk to your provider, but do not rush into any financial decisions
If you are an ABI member company and would like to know more about industry activity, please get in touch with a member of the team.