Insurance is not available for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Priority Mail International shipments containing merchandise are insured against loss, damage, or missing contents up to $200 at no additional charge. Priority Mail International shipments containing only nonnegotiable documents are insured against loss, damage, or missing contents up to $100 for document reconstruction at no additional charge. Indemnity is paid by the U.S. Postal Service as provided in 933. For a fee, the sender may purchase additional insurance to protect against loss, damage, or missing contents for Priority Mail International parcels containing merchandise. Additional document reconstruction insurance may not be purchased. 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.
Merchandise insurance above the included $200 amount is available only for Priority Mail International parcels (including Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes) and only to certain countries. See Exhibit 322.2. Insurance is not available for the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.
Additional merchandise insurance coverage above the included $200 — 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 merchandise 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:
- When additional insurance has been purchased:
- 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 (US $)” block.
- Write a bold capital “V” in the blank space adjacent to the boxes for Insured Amount and Insurance Fees.
- Round stamp PS Form 2976-A in the appropriate place on each copy.
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.
