COVID-19

TOOLS & INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Governments, municipalities and employers are taking various measures to help contain the spread. To assist you, this page includes information regarding potential insurance coverage implications and additional resources.

Ongoing Resources

The following includes a roundup of resources to assist in monitoring the most up-to-date information available:

Government & Policy Updates
  • President Signs Into Law Bill Amending PPP
  • Executive Order – State of New York: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency
  • Insurer Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • World Health Organization:
    • Information and guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
    • Guidance on Exposure & Reporting
    • Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
    • Coronavirus Information for Travel
    • Health Alert Network – CDC’s primary method of sharing cleared information about urgent public health incidents with public information officers; federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local public health practitioners; clinicians; and public health laboratories.
  • Emory University, School of Medicine – Department of Emergency Medicine:
    • Coronavirus Tracker
  • Guidelines: Opening Up America Again
  • OSHA Region VIII Compliance Assistance Newsletter: Spring 2020
  • US Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Emergency Loans – Small Business Guide and Checklist
  • Paycheck Protection Program FAQs for Small Businesses
  • In The Know: CARES Act: Small Business Loan Overview (April 2020)
  • In The Know: Understanding the Historic $2 Trillion Stimulus Package (March 2020)
  • In The Know: CARES Act: Infographic
  • News Brief: Treasury Secretary Says More Funding Coming for Small Businesses (April 2020)
  • News Brief: Agreement Reportedly Reached on Newest Coronavirus Aid Package (April 2020)
  • News Brief: House of Representatives Approves $484 Billion Coronavirus Relief Package (April 2020)
  • News Brief: Senate Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill (March 2020)
  • Know Your Benefits: Coronavirus Stimulus Direct Payments FAQ
  • Benefits Bulletin: CARES Act – What Employers Need to Know (March 30, 2020)
Operations
  • Cyber Risk & Liabilities: How to Protect Your Organization from Ransomware (April 2020)
  • Cyber Risk & Liabilities: Coronavirus and Remote Work Cyber Risks (March 2020)
  • Insight: Plan. Don’t Panic – 10 Things Employers Should Do to Deal with Coronavirus
  • Privacy and Cybersecurity Tips for Zoom Meetings
  • Client Communication Material: Sample Construction Delay Notice Letter
Return To The Workplace Guidance
  • Office Posters – COVID-19 Return to Work
    • Elevator Capacity Limited Poster
    • Deliveries and Drop-offs Poster
    • Cafe Capacity Limited Poster
    • Hand Sanitizer Station Poster
    • Meeting Room Closed Poster
    • Elevator Temporarily Closed Poster
    • Six Feet from Desk
  • Acrisure Guides:
    • Acrisure Compliance Solutions: Returning to Work After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Resource Guide for Employers
    • Acrisure’s Guide to Creating a Return to Work Action Plan
    • On-Demand Employer Webinars: Returning to Work After the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Government Guidance:
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Workplace Reopening Decision Tool
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Restaurants and Bars Reopening Decision Tool
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): School Reopening Decision Tool
    • Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA): Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
  • Additional Resources:
    • Risk Insights: COVID-19 Reopening Considerations – Restaurants
    • 5 Practice and Policy Considerations in Advance of Return to Work
    • Coronavirus Action Plan for Retail Clients
    • HR Insights: Accommodating At-Risk Employees Amid COVID-19
    • HR Insights: Wearing Facial Coverings or Masks in the Workplace During COVID-19
    • Return to Work Updating the Office – Poster
    • Return to Work Employee Email Template
Human Resources - Benefits & Compensation
  • Benefits Weekly Digest July 7, 2020
  • Benefits Weekly Digest June 23, 2020
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: June 9, 2020
  • Benefits Brief: 2021 HSA and HDHP Limits – June 2020
  • Benefits Bulletin: Increase to Health FSA Carryover Limit (May 15, 2020)
  • Benefits Bulletin: IRS Provides Temporary Flexibility for Cafeteria Plans, Health FSAs, and DCAPs (May 13, 2020)
  • Benefits Bulletin: U.S. Department of Labor Issues COVID-19 Relief for Employee Benefit Plans (April 30, 2020)
  • Benefits Bulletin: FAQs for COVID-19 & Group Health Plans (April 17, 2020)
  • Benefits Bulletin: CARES Act – What Employers Need to Know (March 30, 2020)
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: IRS Announces 2021 Limits for Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans (May 26, 2020)
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: Federal Agencies Extend Deadlines for COBRA and Health Plan Claims, Appeals, and Special Enrollments (May 12, 2020)
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: U.S. Health Care Costs of COVID-19 Could Range from $163.4 Billion to $654.0 Billion (April 29, 2020)
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: Payroll Tax Credits Under the FFCRA and the CARES Act (April 14, 2020)
  • Benefits Weekly Digest: COVID-19 Guidance and Legislation for Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plan (March 31, 2020)
  • Benefits Brief: Medical Child Support Orders – Compliance for Group Health Plans (May 2020)
  • Benefits Brief: Group Health Plan Dependent Eligibility Audit (April 2020)
  • Benefits Brief: Weekly Digest: CARES Act Makes Changes for Retirement Plans (April 2020)
  • Acrisure Agency Partner – Cowden Insights: COVID-19: Health and Welfare Strategies for Taft-Hartley Funds (April 7, 2020)
  • Acrisure Agency Partner – Cowden Insights: CARES Act Impact On Executive Pay, Dividends, and Stock Buyback Program (April 1, 2020)
  • Acrisure Agency Partner – Cowden Insights: Benefits, Compensation, and Retirement Plan Considerations For Employers Contemplating Operational Changes (March 30, 2020)
  • COVID-19 Scenarios and Benefits Available Table
Human Resources - Benefits & Workplace
  • HR Weekly Digest (July 28, 2020)
  • HR Insights: COVID-19 Is Reshaping HR – Here’s How
  • HR Weekly Digest (June 30, 2020)
  • HR Weekly Digest (June 2, 2020)
  • Legal Update: CDC Expands List of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms (April 2020)
  • Meditation & Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 2020)
  • HR Insights: Designing a post coronvirus workplace (April 2020)
  • Weekly Digest: Protecting Trade Secrets During the Pandemic (May 5, 2020)
  • Weekly Digest: CARES Act Provides Potential Avenue of Recovery for Federal Contractors When Employees Cannot Work Due to COVID-19 (April 21, 2020)
  • HR Insights: Preventing Remote Employee Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 2020)
  • HR Insights: Responding to an Employee’s Positive Coronavirus Test (March 2020)
  • Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
  • 5 Tips for Onboarding Employees Remotely During the Coronavirus Pandemic (March 2020)
Human Resources - Risk & Compliance
  • HR Weekly Digest: Supreme Court Ruling on Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Transgender Status (June 16, 2020)
  • HR Compliance Bulletin: Dependent Care Benefits and COVID-19 Outbreak (May 2020)
  • HR Compliance Bulletin: Employee Retention Tax Credits (April 2020)
  • HR Compliance Bulletin: New Coronavirus Relief Laws (March 2020)
  • 2-Part Coronavirus FAQs for Employers: Part 1 | Part 2
  • HR Weekly Digest: Protecting Trade Secrets During the Pandemic (May 19, 2020)
  • HR Weekly Digest: COVID-19 How Do You Complete or Update I-9s When Your Company is Remote? (April 7, 2020)
  • HR Weekly Digest: The Intersection of COVID-19 and Laws: An FAQ for U.S. Employers (March 24, 2020)
  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Quick-Reference Flow Charts
  • Webinar replay: Family First Coronavirus Response Act | What Employers Need to Know

 

Potential Insurance Coverage Implications

 

Property Policies

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, governments and authorities globally have closed venues such as theaters, museums, gyms, among others. This is a unique situation in which closures and “social distancing” will impact businesses directly and indirectly.

Business Interruption

It is anticipated that most claims will likely be tied to income losses from indirect exposures such as supply chain or civil authority-related impacts. This includes the disruption of supply chain, slowdown, or in some instances, complete breakdown.

  • Coverage Insights: How Coronavirus Could Impact Your Business’s Insurance
  • Coronavirus Concerns: Employment Practices Related Lawsuits
  • Blog: Insurance Reimbursement for Pandemic Losses

Management Liability (E&O, D&O, EPLI)

In addition to general liability coverage, many companies may hold errors and omissions (“E&O”) coverage or other professional liability coverage. These specialized insurance policies are meant to protect against damages arising out of the provision of, or failure to provide, certain services.

  • Policy Implications: D&O: Private Company Management Liability Premium Increases
  • How The Legal Industry is Navigating COVID-19: Article by Founders Professional

Workers’ Compensation & Employer Liability

Claims related to communicable and contagious diseases are not generally the intent of workers’ compensation coverage and related statutes. Exceptions may occur depending on how a disease like COVID-19 is contracted.

Employee Benefits

Companies should be as proactive as possible in addressing and minimizing risks for their employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, categorizing workplaces according to risk and outlining steps employers can take to help protect their workforce.

  • Benefits Bulletins: Health Plan Coverage for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment (March 2020)
  • Benefits Bulletins: Coronavirus Concerns: Employment Practices Related Lawsuits (March 2020)
  • Compliance Overview: Employee Compensation & Benefits During Closures & Furloughs (March 2020)
  • Webinar replay: COVID-19 | Critical Considerations for Plan Sponsors
  • COVID-19: Cost Projection Presentation

Life Insurance

Most life insurance policies will not be impacted by COVID-19. Once a life insurance policy is in force and premiums are paid, the policy will pay out to beneficiaries for most types of death, including death from COVID-19.

Surety

In the surety market, underwriters are likely to reduce their support for companies that are unable to sustain themselves through this period of business interruption, particularly if the return to normal economic activity is delayed.

Renewals

The longer the persistence of the COVID-19 threat, the more likely it will be a consideration during renewal or buying discussions. Brokers and underwriters should be aware of the changing market dynamics related to any potential impacted coverages.

Understanding, Mitigating and Managing Risk Potential

In addition to following the CDC’s interim guidance, organizations should proactively identify the concerns of their clients and ensure that the organization has done all that it can to ensure the safety of their clients and consistent delivery of product or services they need and expect. As COVID-19 continues to develop daily, employers must make sure clients are informed with any updates.

Beach & Associates and Acrisure COVID-19 Newsletters

  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 10
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 9
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 8
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 7
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 6
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 5
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 4
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 3
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 2
  • Beach and Associates: COVID-19 Newsletter, Edition 1