Seesam is now offering homeowners the opportunity to insure their properties against war damage. This additional cover will help to compensate for any damage incurred when, for example, a home is struck by a military drone, a missile or their debris.

Dagmar Gilden, the product manager for Seesam’s home insurance, says the changing security situation has spiked people’s interest in insuring themselves against risks that, however unlikely to occur, could have a major impact.

“The appearance of military drones in Baltic airspace has raised the question of whether homes would be protected in such a scenario,” she explained. “Although the risk remains low, a lot of people want the chance to prepare for events that aren’t covered by standard home insurance.”

The cover can be added to home insurance policies for free-standing, semi-detached and terraced houses as well as apartments. The insurance will help to cover the cost of damage if your home is struck by a military drone, rocket or shell, or by debris from them, or of damage caused by them exploding. If the main home insurance policy also covers contents, the war-damage cover will extend to them as well.

Gilden adds that the launch of war damage cover does not mean the Baltic States have become significantly more dangerous.

“The insurance isn’t about creating risks or provoking fear,” she said. “It’s about giving people the opportunity to protect their property against events that could have very costly consequences, even if they are very unlikely to occur. It goes without saying that we hope no one ever needs to make a claim for war damage.”

As is customary in international insurance practice, Seesam’s war damage cover is not unlimited. For instance, it does not include terrorism, sabotage, riots or civil unrest. Nor will compensation be paid for losses arising from a war between major powers or from the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, as defined in the terms and conditions of the insurance.

Cover for war damage must be added separately to an existing home insurance policy; without a clause to that effect therein, the cover does not apply. The excess is 300 euros per claim, and the cover is provided for up to one year.

“The cost of insuring against war damage may seem steep, but this additional cover is in fact very affordable,” Gilden noted. “It depends on the size of the property that’s been insured. For example, the price is only 0.99 euros or so per month for a 50-square-metre apartment, while for a free-standing house measuring 140 square metres it’s around 5.49 euros per month.”

In addition to homeowners, apartment associations can also insure their buildings against war damage by taking out Seesam’s war risk cover (which was launched at the start of July) in addition to their corporate property insurance. In the case of an association with 40 apartments, for example, the cost of the additional cover could be less than one euro per month per apartment.

Operating in Estonia, Seesam is an insurance provider with branches in eight towns and cities. It forms part of the Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), which is one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading insurance groups. VIG comprises around 50 insurance companies in 30 countries and is headquartered in Vienna. In Estonia, Compensa Vienna Insurance Group, ADB Estonia branch operates under the Seesam trademark.