A valuable component of the membership package provided by the Countryside Alliance is our insurance programme. This provides Personal Accident Cover and Liability Insurance for members whilst participating in a wide range of country pursuits referred to as “Recognised Activities” in the insurance documentation.
The insurance programme falls due for renewal at midnight on 31st December 2010 and in conjunction with our insurance advisers, R K Harrison, the Alliance has undertaken a thorough review to ensure that the product continues to offer a broad level of coverage whilst at the same time managing premium costs to keep our membership subscriptions as competitive as possible.
Over the last 12 years total claims costs under the programme have exceeded £3 million which just goes to show the important protection that is being provided to members. We have also seen a significant increase in claims costs under the Liability part of the programme with claim levels up nearly 100% during the last 3 years.
Following the comprehensive review undertaken, the insurance progamme is being transferred to a new underwriter, Tokio Marine Europe Insurance Limited from renewal. The increase in claims costs under the programme has inevitably lead to some increase in the premium level but following a comprehensive tender exercise, the terms offered by Tokio Marine were by far the most competitive.
Essentially the cover provided under the new policy arrangements will be the same but there are a small number of differences that we must bring to your attention as outlined below:
Personal Accident Cover Changes
- Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Exclusion – the effect of this is that insurers will not pay any claim for Personal Accident arising directly or indirectly from or connection with radioactive contamination or the discharge, explosion or use of a weapon of mass destruction whether or not employing nuclear fission or fusion or chemical, biological, radioactive or similar agents by any party at any time for any reason.
- An Accumulation Limit of £10,000,000 will apply. The effect of this is that the maximum aggregate amount the insurer will pay in respect of all Insured Persons for all claims arising from one event, source or original cause is £10,000,000. As the maximum benefit payable to an individual member is £30,000 we do not believe this accumulation clause to be an issue.
- The previous policy arranged with Chartis included an extension called Second Opinion Medical Service but this was not utilized by members and therefore was perceived to represent no value going forward. This benefit has therefore been removed.
Liability Insurance
- Whilst the policy will continue to provide cover on a worldwide basis (so covering members resident in the UK or Ireland who temporarily go abroad and participate in the insured Recognised Activities) the new insurance with Tokio Marine will exclude any claim arising from the use of guns of any sort whilst in the USA or Canada. Cover for all other Recognised Activities carried out by members temporarily visiting the USA or Canada will continue per the policy terms and conditions.
- The new policy will be subject to a UK Jurisdiction Clause (Irish Jurisdiction in respect of members resident in Eire) which simply means that any claims arising must be heard by and dealt with in the UK (or Irish as appropriate) Courts.
- The previous insurance with Chartis included a Crisis Containment extension intended to deal with costs arising from adverse publicity that might arise from an insured claim. It was felt that this was of very limited benefit to members and so this has not been included in the new package.
- The previous policy with Chartis included a Contaminated Land Expense section but it was felt that this was of little or no value in real terms as the cover still only applied where the contamination arose in connection with the carrying on of a Recognised Activity. The new insurance arranged with Tokio Marine still provides cover for sudden & accidental events and cover is further provided as a result of an order or a statutory debt issued by a government appointed regulatory enforcement body provided that the event is sudden and accidental and occurs during the period of insurance.
The Alliance is confident that these changes will not reduce the value of this important insurance protection to members and indeed none of the claims notified during the last 12 years would be excluded by these changes. All the changes will come into effect from midnight on 31st December 2010 for all current members irrespective of when your membership subscription renews.
As always you can view the insurance cover summaries and full policy documentation on the Countryside Alliance website by clicking on the links below
CA Insurance Summary
CA PA Policy summary
CA Personal Accident Master
CA Policy Insurance Wording
If you have any questions at all regarding the insurance cover then please contact R K Harrison Insurance Services Limited on 01234 311255 and they will be pleased to assist. Thank you for your continued support.
Countryside Alliance is an appointed representative of Countryside Alliance Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of general insurance business.
Please note that neither the Countryside Alliance nor Countryside Alliance Insurance Services Ltd is able to provide personal advice to prospective or actual members concerning the suitability or adequacy of the insurance membership benefits. Consequently you will need to satisfy yourself that the benefits are appropriate for your particular circumstances or seek professional advice.
For further information, please call the Countryside Alliance insurance helpline provided by R K Harrison Insurance Services Ltd on 01234 311255. | 
