Rep. Krishnamoorthi: Subcommittee Seeks Documents, Interviews With Insurance Companies Cancelling Travel Policies in Wake of Coronavirus

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, March 19 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release:

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, sent letters asking the CEOs of Generali Global Assistance, Travel Guard Group, and Allianz Global Assistance USA to participate in transcribed interviews and produce documents regarding whether their insurance products provide adequate coverage for consumers who cancel travel due to coronavirus.

"The Subcommittee is concerned that your policy to deny reimbursement to consumers who choose to refrain from travel to protect themselves, their families, and their communities may worsen the coronavirus pandemic," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "Some of these consumers, rather than lose the entire price of their trip, may travel against the advice of CDC and increase the risk of infection."

On March 4, 2020, Subcommittee Chairman Krishnamoorthi sent letters to the three companies raising concerns that they may not be covering the costs of coronavirus-related travel cancellations and seeking their testimony at a hearing on March 11, 2020. All three companies declined to testify.

"Responsible consumers who purchased your travel insurance expect to be covered when they cancel their trips due to these coronavirus-related developments," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "However, reports indicate that your company is not covering the costs of coronavirus-related travel cancellations."

Krishnamoorthi asked the companies to produce the documents and information for each of their products and services, including trip cancellation insurance and Cancel-For-Any-Reason coverage, by March 25, 2020.