However, Monarch's policy did contain 'communicable disease' coverage, compensating it for the costs of cleaning, removing and disposing of any disease in response to public health regulations. The contamination exclusion applied to viruses, precluding insurance coverage. Monarch's policy gave its casinos general coverage, subject to exclusions. United Policyholders, which advocates for insurance consumers, deemed the industry's argument a scare tactic, noting insurers turned a profit even in 2020. 'Funding for businesses in duress must come from government-backed pandemic recovery solutions, not efforts to force property insurers to pay for economic losses,' they contended. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, which represents insurers, warned a decision forcing insurance companies to compensate policyholders for COVID-19-related closures would bankrupt insurers and force them to cover more routine impacts to businesses going forward - like a new noise ordinance that affects hours of operation. The case attracted the attention of multiple interest groups. District Court for Coloradoīackground: 10th Circuit says COVID-19 not a basis for Aspen restaurant's insurance claim She noted an additional reason why Monarch's case was not viable: Its insurance policy broadly excluded payments for contamination - including viruses.
