Where can I find out insurance rates for US postal services with letters to the UK?

Each envelope would contain an item worth around the $30 mark, but as they would be going international I want them to be insured. I can find UPS rates, but not USPS rates for insurance.

I looked at the Express mail, but I noticed a bit of small print which says that certain items are excluded from their insurance, jewelry amongst them, which is one of the things I do want insurance for.

Look at USPS' website...you may be able to get "insurance" for doing registered mail....

www.usps.com

Additional information:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_005.ht...

321 Description

Insurance is provided against loss, damage, or rifling for Priority Mail International parcels. Compensation varies according to the fee paid. For parcels delivered to the addressee in damaged condition or with missing contents, payment is made to the addressee unless the addressee waives payment, in writing, in favor of the sender.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_006.ht...

322 Availability

Insurance is available only for Priority Mail International parcels and only to certain countries. See Individual Country Listings. Insurance is not available for the Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_007.ht...

323 Fees and Insured Value
323.1 Insurance Fees

The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees. See Individual Country Listings.
323.2 Insured Value
323.21 Maximum

The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the maximum allowed for the country of destination. See Individual Country Listings.
323.22 Insured Value vs. Declared Value

The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the declared value of the contents. However insured value may be less than declared value depending on the wish of the sender.
323.23 Computation

The insurance fee is based on the insured value.

http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc3_008.ht...

324 Processing Requests
324.1 Mailing Receipt and Insurance Number
324.11 General Use

All Priority Mail International parcels must be numbered. PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note 鈥?CP 72, and the cash register 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鈥檚 receipt.
324.12 Accepting Clerk鈥檚 Responsibility

The accepting clerk must:

1. 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 鈥淚nsured Amount (U.S.) block.鈥?br> 2. 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.)
68.60 SDR
3. See Exhibit 324.12 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 0.6860.

Note: Use the following rates when converting between U.S. dollars and special drawing right (SDR) values:



$1 U.S. = 0.6860 SDR


1 SDR = $1.46 ($1.4577 U.S.)
4. Write a bold capital 鈥淰鈥?in the space provided for the insured number as an indicator that additional insurance was purchased.
5. Indicate special contents for fragile liquid and perishable items.
6. Round stamp PS Form 2976-A in the appropriate place on each copy.

324.13 Sender鈥檚 Responsibility

The sender should enter name and address of addressee on mailing receipt and retain it. The receipt must be submitted if the sender wishes to make an inquiry about or file a claim for an insured parcel (see chapter 9).
324.2 Marking

The sender has the responsibility to do the following:

1. Mark parcels containing fragile or perishable articles with the appropriate endorsement 鈥?e.g. 鈥淔RAGILE,鈥?鈥淧ERISHABLE,鈥?鈥淕LASS,鈥?etc.
2. Enter the insured amount in U.S. currency (figures only) in the appropriate space on the customs declaration.

324.3 Postmarking

1. Postmark item at the time of acceptance showing the full name of the Post Office facility two鈥搇etter state abbreviation and ZIP Code if authorized and the date of mailing.
2. Postmark at all breaks (cuts or torn edges) of any gummed鈥損aper strips used in sealing parcels.

324.4 Sealing

All insured parcels must be sealed.

Basically, do a search on USPS for "insurance" and "international"

Hope this helps...

And you can't insure an envelope - it has to be some type of parcel...

USPS doesn't like to do insurance for items leaving the country. They WILL, if you send it global priority. If you're not mailing global priority, you can't get insurance on international items.

There's a whole section on it, on their website. Or, you can go down to your local post office, and ask.

Check out their website. Appears to be like Mbrcatz is incorrect by stating that you are only able to get insurance on Global Priority. It is actually included at no charge when you ship it Express Mail庐 International. That would cost you about $28.00. Delivery time would be about $28.00. The cheaper alternative is to send it Priority Mail庐 International. Again, insurance is included at no charge up to $650. Rate is approx. $19.00 with a delivery time of 6-10 days.
www.usps.gov