For a fee, the sender may purchase insurance to protect against loss, damage, or missing contents for Priority Mail International parcels containing merchandise. Insurance may not be purchased for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Compensation varies according to the fee paid. If the parcel has been lost, or if it has been delivered to the addressee in damaged condition or with missing contents, payment is made to the sender unless the sender waives the right to payment, in writing, in favor of the addressee.
Insurance is available only for Priority Mail International parcels and only to certain countries. See Exhibit 322.2. Insurance is not available the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.
Merchandise insurance coverage — up to the maximum amount allowed by the country (see Exhibit 322.2) but never to exceed $5,000 — may be purchased at the sender’s option. The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees and is based on the insured value. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for optional Priority Mail International parcel insurance coverage.
Return receipt service is the only extra service that mailers may add to insured items. It is available for an additional fee and is available only to certain countries. See the Individual Country Listings for availability. See 340 for additional information about return receipt service.
The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the declared value of the contents. However, the insured value may be less than the declared value depending on the wish of the sender.
As proof of mailing and proof of insurance to file a claim, the sender must submit the following:
- The original mailing receipt.
- The sender’s copy of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72.
For more information on indemnity claims and payments, see chapter 9.
All Priority Mail International insured parcels must be numbered. PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note — CP 72, and the mailing receipt issued at the time of mailing will serve as proof of mailing and proof of insurance. Volume mailers may use PS Form 3877, Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail, as the sender’s receipt.
The accepting clerk must do the following:
- Indicate on PS Form 2976-A the amount for which the parcel is insured. Write the amount in U.S. dollars in ink in the “Insured Amount (U.S.) block.”
- Convert the U.S. dollar amount to the special drawing right (SDR) value and enter it in the SDR value block. For example:
INSURED VALUE
$100.00 (U.S.)
65.09 SDR
- See Exhibit 323.62 for a table showing the conversion of U.S. dollar values up to $600 to SDR equivalents. To determine SDR equivalents above $600, multiply the insured amount, rounded up to the next full dollar, by the conversion factor of 0.6509.
Note: Use the following rates when converting between U.S. dollars and SDR values:
1 U.S. $ = 0.6509 SDR
1 SDR = $1.54 ($1.5364 U.S.)
- Write a bold capital “V” in the space provided adjacent to the boxes for Insured Amount and Insurance Fees as an indicator that additional insurance was purchased.
- Indicate special contents for fragile, liquid, and perishable items.
- Round stamp PS Form 2976-A in the appropriate place on each copy.
Exhibit 323.62 (p. 1)
Conversion Table: U.S. Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)
1 U.S. $ = 0.6509 SDR 1 SDR = $1.54 ($1.5364 U.S.)
Exhibit 323.62 (p. 2)
Conversion Table: U.S. Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)
1 U.S. $ = 0.6509 SDR 1 SDR = $1.54 ($1.5364 U.S.)
Postmark the item at the time of acceptance at all breaks (including any cut or torn edges) of any tape or tabs used in sealing the parcel.
The sender should enter the name and address of the addressee on the mailing receipt and retain the receipt. The sender must submit the receipt to make an inquiry about or file a claim for an insured parcel (see chapter 9).
The sender has the responsibility to do the following:
- Mark parcels containing fragile or perishable articles with the appropriate endorsement — e.g., “FRAGILE,” “PERISHABLE,” “GLASS,” etc.
- Enter the insured amount in U.S. currency (figures only) in the appropriate space on the customs declaration.
The sender must seal all insured parcels.
