QBE supports front line fight against Covid-19
A large multi-national pharmaceutical business wanted to support the wishes of its highly qualified research team to voluntarily work alongside the NHS, testing suspected Covid-19 patients in hospitals and clinics across the United Kingdom. QBE is their existing provider of Employer’s Liability insurance and when broker Marsh Commercial approached the underwriting team at QBE about the possibility of extending the EL cover for this out-of-remit activity, QBE found a way to say yes, and at no additional cost to and with no cover restrictions for the customer.
The underwriting and claims team at QBE were willing and able to take a pragmatic view of the risk at hand, setting aside any emotional responses they might have had to the virus that is dominating world headlines. Applying QBE’s underwriting discipline, balanced with a flexible approach, the team were able to assess the hazards and identify how these might be risk managed, and therefore underwritten, and supplied a same day response.
Janine Wood, Casualty Regional Underwriting Manager at QBE explains “It has always been our approach at QBE to treat every case on its own merits and time and time again we are willing to underwrite risks that others may not. As long as our underwriting criteria is met we will always look to find a solution to support our customers, it is too easy to say no in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. Never before has this approach been so vital if QBE are to support the future economic viability of our customers as well as supporting the country and wider global community to help fight the virus.”
Liam O’Rourke, Client Director at Marsh Commercial adds “It would have been easy for QBE to rely on the policy terms and to say no to the request, but the team were willing to listen and figure out a solution that allowed the client to provide valuable assistance to the Health Service. At a time when insurance is getting bad press, it was fantastic to see a quick and positive response from QBE, who stepped up in support of our mutual client in a time of real need.”
In a fast-moving environment, QBE and Marsh Commercial are in constant dialogue with the customer to ensure at all times those employees on the front line are properly supported.
Authored by QBE
About QBE
QBE European Operations is part of QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s leading international insurers and reinsurers and Standard & Poor’s A+ rated. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, QBE’s gross written premium for the year ended 31 December 2018 was US$13.7 billion.
As a business insurance specialist, QBE European Operations offers a range of insurance products from the standard suite of property, casualty and motor to the specialist financial lines, marine and energy. All are tailored to the individual needs of our small, medium and large client base.
We understand the crucial role that effective risk management plays in all organisations and work hard to understand our clients’ businesses so that we offer insurance solutions that meet their needs – from complex programmes to simpler e-trading solutions – and support them in minimising their risk exposures. Our expert risk management and rehabilitation practitioners focus on helping clients improve their risk management so that they may benefit from a reduction in claims frequency and costs.