With ongoing quarantine measures in place; we are without a doubt living in unprecedented times. Geraldine O’Sullivan is the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) farm families and social affairs executive. She says that there has been a marked increase in members in financial distress since the COVID-19 crisis took hold.

“I deal with the illness benefit and pandemic employment scheme,” she says. “The calls would have been slower [at the start of the pandemic], but more recently we’ve seen a huge increase, especially since the closure of the marts. The crisis has made a substantial impact on farming livelihoods.”

In an industry where people are under significant pressure anyway, COVID-19 has heightened that

Full-time farmers financially affected by the crisis are entitled to the government’s COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 per week. Geraldine says they have yet to hear if this payment also applies to those farming part time.

“In an industry where people are under significant pressure anyway, COVID-19 has heightened that,” she continues. “Farmers are being directed to different schemes that are means-tested, and farmers can be at a disadvantage because their assets are often taken as a proportion of means.”

In the coming weeks, insurance will play a large role for individuals and businesses dealing with the economic fallout of COVID-19, but the ethical responsibility of Irish insurers remains unclear to many.

Insurance Ireland issued a press release on 10 April, which stated they had sent a “comprehensive outline” of measures the insurance industry were willing to take to help consumers, to Minister of Finance Paschal Donohue.

Customers can be assured that their insurers will continue to deliver for them during the crisis

“Irish insurers continue to pay out €250m to customers in claims and benefits every week,” it reads. “Customers can be assured that their insurers will continue to deliver for them during the crisis – paying pensions and settling life, travel, household, property, liability, motor and health insurance claims.”

For business clients, these measures include a reduction in monthly premiums, allowance of up to 28 days after renewal for payment, continued cover for unoccupied commercial buildings and support requests for changes of property use.

For personal insurance accounts, there will be no fees for cancellations or missed direct debits, a 28-day grace period after renewals have been confirmed, an extension of credit facilities (with relevant brokers) and a four-month extension on NCT and driving licenses. When contacted, Insurance Ireland declined to comment, but advised that anyone with concerns should discuss them directly with their insurance company or broker.

Currently, no insurance company in Ireland or the world provides specific cover for pandemics. As a result, insurance companies or businesses feel that coronavirus-related losses should be covered under business interruption insurance, which includes sub-context for cases of infectious disease. However, many small businesses have reported claims being denied because the infectious disease didn’t originate on the premises or because closures were considered “voluntary”.

Health insurance specialists have been busy these past weeks as concerned citizens are adjusting plans and asking questions

In opposition to these denied claims, the Central Bank stated on 27 March that where there is any confusion regarding a claim, insurers must find in favour of the consumer. Above all, the focus from regulated firms should be to protect consumers from the financial impact of COVID-19; meaning Irish insurers have an ethical responsibility to help clients through this pandemic.

Health insurance specialists have been busy these past weeks as concerned citizens are adjusting plans and asking questions. On 16 April, news broke that private health insurers will be taking immediate steps to financially support their customers through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dermot Goode of Total Health Cover says that now is a good time for farmers, specifically, to review their health insurance plans.

“We deal with a lot of farmer co-ops and group schemes, and as a rule, farmers tend to be over-insured,” he explains. “They’re guilty of staying on the same plans regardless of changes in situation, but a few minor tweaks to a health insurance plan could mean big savings.”

HSE guidance seeks testing to control the spread of COVID-19. We urge any concerned customers to contact their local branch with any querie

For farmers who fall ill with COVID-19, FBD Insurance and the IFA are offering a once-off payment of €500 to help offset business continuity costs. To be eligible for this payment, farmers must be IFA members insured with FBD and will need documentation proving they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Irish Country Living asked FBD’s corporate business manager Paul Murphy what farmers can do if they are sick with suspected COVID-19 but do not yet have a confirmed diagnosis.

“FBD COVID-19 relief fund is designed and tailored to support victims of COVID-19,” he says. “HSE guidance seeks testing to control the spread of COVID-19. We urge any concerned customers to contact their local branch with any queries.”

IFA director of organisation James Kelly, says that (as of 10 April) they had not seen many cases of COVID-19 within the farming community.

“Thankfully, we haven’t had anything significant come back, yet,” he says. “The scheme (with FBD) is now coming in and we’ve created a self-assessment document for farmers, which can be downloaded and printed to use as a farm checklist.”

Aviva

While Aviva offered Irish Country Living no specific options for the farming community, they have introduced a number of measures to support customers on a case-by-case basis:

Axa

AXA have introduced a number of measures to support and reassure Ireland’s farming community (for existing policy holders):

FBD

For existing farming clients FBD provides the following: