Couples buy wedding insurance to ensure they will not lose out if forced to cancel their wedding due to unforeseen circumstances. So, does this cover the outbreak of an infectious disease?
Yes if the bride or groom or a key member of the wedding party has coronavirus, but no if they are self isolating, says John Lewis.
Whether an insurer has chosen to reimburse its clients during this time will depend on their individual policy, however many big names are disregarding claims made due to the pandemic.
Notably John Lewis, who provide wedding insurance to thousands, is not reimbursing customers who have chosen to cancel venues, caterers and entertainment, due to the virus.
Whether an insurer has chosen to reimburse its clients during this time will depend on their individual policy
It will also not cover the cancellation of a wedding due to the bride, groom, or any other key member of the party is forced to self-isolate – however they will cover cancellations if key members test positive for coronavirus.
Claims are being refused despite the policy customers have paid for stating it will provide cover if ‘the booked venue for the wedding or wedding reception being unable to hold your wedding due to an outbreak of infectious or contagious disease’, reports The Guardian.
John Lewis said it will only consider a wedding venue unable to hold a wedding due to the virus if the company closes its doors, either through self-closure or due to government legal measures – a couple’s decision to cancel is not covered.
As venues cling to remaining bookings for income and couples put plans to book on hold, self-closures by venues become more unlikely.
Until the government renders all wedding gatherings illegal, it has currently advised against all mass gatherings, a couple’s judgement on whether they wish to continue with their wedding is not taken into consideration by most insurers.
John Lewis will not cover cancellation of a wedding if bride, groom, or any other key member is forced to self-isolate – they will cover cancellations if key members test positive for COVID-19
John Lewis said in a statement: ‘The current UK government position is that, while advice in relation to social distancing has been issued, weddings are still permitted to take place. So if your wedding venue is still prepared to hold your wedding and you chose to cancel, then this would not be covered.’
They also warn those wishing to cancel that they must make an effort to ‘minimise their losses’ by attempting to re-book at a later date before agreeing to a cancellation with their venue – and say correspondence could be needed as evidence that this was carried out.
Other insurers including Debenhams and Emerald Life have adopted similar positions.
Emerald Life states: ‘If you choose in light of current circumstances to delay or cancel your wedding, that is a voluntary act and not covered by your policy.’
The insurer insists that it will extend its wedding insurance cover free of charge to those on its policy lucky enough to rearrange a date in the future with their venue, caterer and entertainment.
While Debenhams states that it will not cover cancellations made by wedding suppliers due to the coronavirus.
They state: ‘Would I be covered if any of my wedding suppliers cancel due to Coronavirus? No – we would only cover in the event of Financial Failure of a supplier, if a supplier cancels to due self-isolation as a result of having symptoms of the Coronavirus any costs would need to be recovered from the supplier.’
They will however cover venue cancellations forced by the local council on government recommendation.
Emerald Life, Debenhams and John Lewis have all suspended the sale of their wedding insurance.
Rachel Hirst who was due to get married in Santorini at the end of May said: ‘We have been told by John Lewis wedding insurance that even if we cannot travel to our wedding, but the venue remains open, that we are not covered.
‘Even if the government still have the travel ban in place. We saved for 2.5 years and it’s in tatters.’