Topic Emerging Risks
Insurers adding pandemic exclusions in commercial policies that go beyond just BI
September 2, 2020 by Greg MeckbachMany insurers that did not start adding pandemic exclusions this past July may have to do so in January, a Winnipeg-based executive with commercial brokerage Gallagher reports. “The majority of insurers – or all insurers – are adding specific wording…
MGAs finding it harder to place this kind of commercial coverage
September 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf you are finding it difficult to place business interruption insurance for restaurants, hotels and event venues, you aren’t alone. Aurora Underwriting Services Inc., an Alberta-based managing general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder, is still placing insurance for restaurants, company owner…
What is the future of ridesharing insurance in Canada?
August 27, 2020 by Jason ContantOnce autonomous vehicle technology becomes commercially feasible for public transportation, it will be widely adopted, predicts Obaid Rahman, vice president of commercial underwriting and specialty lines at Economical Insurance. “In my view, when autonomous technology is commercially viable for public…
This blockbuster global brokerage merger goes to vote Aug. 26
August 24, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe industry will be closer to finding out whether the second and third-biggest global P&C brokerages will merge after shareholders of both Willis Towers Watson plc and Aon plc vote on Wednesday. Aon and Willis announced this past March that…
Why insurance regulator says this ‘notifiable contagious disease’ clause covers BI in pandemic
August 21, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWhether business interruption coverage for a notifiable human infectious or contagious disease within a certain distance from the client’s premises actually insures closure due to COVID-19 was a hotly contested issue in a British trial that recently wrapped up. The…
Economical to take over commercial ridesharing insurance coverage from Intact
August 21, 2020 by Jason ContantEconomical Insurance will replace Intact Insurance as the commercial auto insurer for Uber in four Canadian provinces effective Sept. 1. Waterloo, Ont.-based Economical announced Tuesday in a press release the “new and significant relationship with Uber in Canada, designed to…
Intact’s Brindamour: Why the hard market could last for up to two more years
August 20, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA hard market in reinsurance is among three main reasons why primary insurance rates will continue to rise for brokers’ clients for at least another year or two, Intact Financial Corp. CEO Charles Brindamour suggests. In a recent virtual fireside…
How the largest commercial brokerage views its COVID E&O exposure
August 18, 2020 by Greg MeckbachAlthough some commercial clients may start “suing everybody” because their business interruption insurance did not cover income lost during the pandemic, brokers could not have obtained broad-scale pandemic coverage for all clients even if they wanted to because the exposure…
What an insurance solution for pandemic risk might look like
August 17, 2020 by Jason ContantThe P&C insurance industry has technical expertise it could bring to bear in covering future pandemics (risk management and claims adjustment experience, for example), but the financial losses would best be covered through public-private partnerships, speakers said recently during an…
Canada Revenue Agency suspends online services after cyberattacks
August 17, 2020 by Lee Berthiaume - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The Canada Revenue Agency has temporarily suspended its online services after two cyberattacks in which hackers used thousands of stolen usernames and passwords to fraudulently obtain government services and compromise Canadians’ personal information. A total of 5,500 CRA…
Why it’s hard to make telematics ‘commercially viable’ in Canada
August 13, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf regulators continue to prohibit auto insurers from imposing surcharges when they detect risky driving behaviour through telematics, it will be difficult for usage-based insurance to be commercially viable, an Aviva Canada data science expert suggests. “Telematics is a good…
How the UK pandemic business interruption test case could play out
August 13, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe industry will likely learn next month the outcome of a business interruption coverage test case arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the verdict is likely to be appealed, a Bermuda insurance CEO suggests. The British Financial Conduct Authority filed…