Like most property coverage offered by other insurance carriers, Selective’s property insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by or resulting from a virus. This means that your insurance likely does not provide coverage for property loss or damage, including loss of income, caused by or resulting from COVID-19. There are, however, some limited instances where coverage might exist that we discuss further below.
Your business’s property insurance, specifically your Selective Businessowners policy, may include the following coverages if you purchased certain enhancement endorsements. These coverages would be available to you if your business suffers a loss or damage from COVID-19. You can confirm whether or not you purchased these enhanced endorsements by referring to the applicable form or Schedule in your policy, or the Declaration Page, and reading the sublimits of liability.
- Food Contamination Shutdown – Crisis Response Coverage (BP 72 13NY 05 13). The Crisis Response Coverage form provides limited coverage for loss of Crisis Incident Business Income, Crisis Incident Extra Expense and Off-Premises Crisis Incident Extra Expense (as those terms are defined in the policy) in the event of the shutdown of a business or location by the Board of Health or other governmental body because of the occurrence or suspicion of food poisoning of a patron resulting from tainted food purchased by you. To the extent a governmental authority or other agency shuts down a business or location due to the occurrence or suspicion that food purchased by you was tainted by COVID-19 and caused food poisoning to your patron(s), this coverage may be triggered.
- Food Contamination Shutdown – Property Enhancement Endorsements. The following enhancement endorsements provide limited coverage for the actual loss of Business Income you sustain from a suspension of your Operations by the Board of Health or other government body because of the occurrence or suspicion of food poisoning of a patron resulting from tainted food purchased by you. To the extent a Board of Health or other government agency shuts down your business due to the occurrence or suspicion that food purchased by you was tainted by COVID-19 and caused food poisoning to a patron(s), this coverage may be triggered.
- MerchantsPro Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 15 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Premier Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 16 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Plus Professional Office Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 17 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Premier Professional Office Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 18 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Plus Funeral Home Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 19 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Premier Funeral Home Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 20 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Plus Florist Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 21 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Premier Florist Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 22 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Plus Technology Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 36 12 13)
- MerchantsPro Premier Technology Property Enhancement Endorsement (BP 72 37 12 13)
If you have suffered loss or damage and you believe any of these coverages may apply, we encourage you to report a claim in whichever manner is easiest for you, such as via the Selective mobile app, selective.com, by calling us at 866-455-9969, or by contacting your agent. We will promptly review and adjust your claim. Whether, and the extent to which, coverage is available depends upon the specific language of your policy and the facts of your claim. You can obtain a copy of your policy through our Self Service portal or by contacting your agent. Nothing in this letter can alter the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of your policy.
If you have any questions about your policy or available coverages, we encourage you to speak with your agent.
1 The Businessowners policies issued by Selective to New York policyholders are written on the Businessowners Coverage Form (BP 00 03 01 10). Coverage under the Businessowners form is only triggered by “direct physical loss of or damage to” property at a described premises caused by or resulting from a Covered Cause of Loss. Contamination by virus such as COVID-19 may not result in direct physical loss of or damage to property. Further, Exclusion j. of the BP0003 precludes coverage for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by any virus or other microorganism that induces or is capable of inducing physical distress, illness or disease, regardless of any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any sequence to the loss, and whether or not the loss event results in widespread damage or affects a substantial area.