Covers accountant charges for proof of loss
Source: AXA
We will pay you for reasonable charges payable by you to your professional accountants (subject to suitable proof)
Business Interruption
Claims AXA makes that competitors do not (2)
Covers interruption from discovery of death at premises
Source: AXA
Interruption caused by the discovery of death (i.e., murder or suicide) at your premises
Claims competitors make that AXA does not (7)
Covers costs of setting up business in temporary location
Source: Direct Line
It can also cover your expenses while you set up your business in a new, temporary location
Covers terrorism damage and access restrictions within 1 mile radius
Source: Direct Line
If you have your commercial premises insured in England, Wales and Scotland, you can extend your insurance, for an additional premium, to include cover for reduced turnover and costs of setting up elsewhere, as a result of an Act of Terrorism damaging your business property or restricting the access you or your customers have to your premises. It will also cover you not being able to access your premises as a result of an Act of Terrorism within 1 mile of your business.
Covers damage to homeworkers, suppliers or customers property
Source: Hiscox
Get cover for interruptions to your business caused by damage to your own property or property belonging to your homeworkers, suppliers or customers based in the UK up to the limit specified in your schedule
Covers internet service failure
Source: Hiscox
Get cover for interruptions to your business caused by a failure in the supply of water, gas, electricity, telecommunications or the internet, for example due to damaged cables or pipes
Covers police restrictions following violent crime
Source: Hiscox
restrictions in access to your business premises imposed by the police or another public authority following a violent crime
Covers defects in sanitary fixtures and food poisoning
Source: Hiscox
defects in the sanitary fixtures and fittings or an outbreak of food poisoning
Covers fire alarm system failure for leisure, education and retail
Source: Hiscox
If you work in leisure, adult education or retail, we can also include cover for: Interruptions caused by the accidental failure of a fire alarm system, safety curtain or emergency lighting system for more than 24 consecutive hours
Areas where AXA's language is weaker (5)
Minimum waiting period before cover applies
AXA says:
Any incident involving interference or interruption that is less than 12 hours duration
Hiscox says:
Total failure in the supply of water, gas, electricity, telecommunications or internet services for more than 24 consecutive hours due to damage to the cables or the service provider's premises in the UK
Clarity on disease coverage scope
AXA says:
Interruption caused as a result of certain contagious diseases on your premises
Hiscox says:
Hiscox business interruption insurance covers interruptions to your business caused by specified diseases only. It's there to step in if your or your employees' ability to access the premises is restricted. The specified diseases are: Acute encephalitis, Anthrax, Cholera, Dysentery, Legionellosis, Leptospirosis, Paratyphoid fever, Rabies, Tetanus.
Explanation of indemnity period concept
AXA says:
The business interruption indemnity period is the period when your business activity has been impacted, starting on the date of the damage. The maximum indemnity period will vary depending on the event you're insuring against since you'll need to consider how long it takes to get back on your feet – from day 1 right through to business being back to normal.
Hiscox says:
With business interruption insurance at Hiscox, the indemnity period starts on the date the interruption began and continues until one of the below scenarios: the damage which caused the interruption is repaired or the relevant items are replaced, the insured premises become accessible to you and your employees, the relevant restrictions are lifted, the relevant supply is reinstated. A typical indemnity period is 12 months.
Guidance on calculating adequate cover amount
AXA says:
— nothing on this topic —Hiscox says:
When working out how much business interruption cover to buy, you should look at your income and request an amount insured which is reflective of your estimated annual income for the next 12 months.
Explanation of under-insurance consequences
AXA says:
— nothing on this topic —Hiscox says:
At Hiscox, we would say you were under-insured if the amount insured you purchased was less than 85% of your actual income during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of the first interruption.
Differentiation suggestions (6)
Expand cover to include temporary relocation costs and setup expenses, positioning this as a business continuity feature rather than just loss recovery
Direct Line explicitly promotes temporary location setup costs as a key benefit. AXA makes no mention of this, missing an opportunity to help customers resume operations faster and retain competitive advantage during downtime.
Create a clear, tiered disease list (like Hiscox's specified diseases) and communicate it prominently, replacing the vague 'certain contagious diseases' language
Hiscox's specificity (9 named diseases) builds customer confidence and reduces claims disputes. AXA's undefined 'certain' language creates uncertainty and appears less comprehensive by comparison.
Add explicit cover for damage to supplier and customer property (as Hiscox offers), particularly for supply chain dependent businesses
Hiscox covers homeworkers, suppliers and customers' property damage. This is a material gap for AXA, especially relevant for businesses with critical supply chain dependencies that competitors are now addressing.
Introduce internet/telecommunications failure as a standalone covered peril with clear trigger thresholds (e.g., 24+ hours as Hiscox uses)
Hiscox explicitly covers internet failure; AXA only mentions 'communication services' generically. Given digital dependency, making this explicit and prominent would address a modern business risk competitors are highlighting.
Develop marketing content explaining under-insurance risk and provide a simple calculator tool to help customers set appropriate cover levels
Hiscox educates customers on under-insurance consequences and the 85% threshold. AXA provides no guidance on cover adequacy, missing an opportunity to reduce claims disputes and build trust through transparency.
Add cover for police-imposed access restrictions following violent crime, positioning as a modern security risk
Hiscox covers police restrictions from violent crime; AXA does not. This is a contemporary risk that demonstrates responsiveness to evolving business threats and differentiates from legacy coverage.