Perception Versus Reality: ACE Adds An Ebola Exclusion Just In Case

The insurance industry reacts not only to real losses, but it reacts with equal concern to perceived risks, particularly where those perceived risks could, at least in theory, amount to significant financial loss for policyholders and/or insurers.  The Ebola "crisis" is the latest example of the insurance market reacting to a perceived risk that may never amount to an actual insurable loss.  Nonetheless, ACE has taken the first step in what is expected to be an industry-wide initiative to prospectively preclude coverage for Ebola-related losses by adopting an Ebola-specific exclusion that it intends to "selectively" add to property and casualty insurance policies.  Although ACE's policyholders may never suffer an actual Ebola-related loss, ACE is leading the charge to ensure that the perceived risk of Ebola does not become a real financial loss, at least not for ACE.