Topic Insurers
What auto insurers need to deny coverage based on alleged suicide attempt
May 11, 2022 by David GambrillEditor’s Note: This article has been corrected so that all incorrect references to Unica have been replaced with correct references to Optium. Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error. If an insurer wishes to deny auto coverage to an injured…
NDP auto platform: 40% rate cut, frozen rate increases, and a Fair Pricing Commission
May 11, 2022 by Jason ContantOntario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has proposed to lower auto insurance rates by 40% and investigate a “new system” for auto insurance that could include a public or partially public system. Horwath says if she is elected premier in the…
Chubb Canada names new president
May 10, 2022 by Jason ContantPaul Johnstone has been named president of Canadian operations for Chubb, the P&C insurer announced Friday. Johnstone will assume the role of country president of the company’s business operations in Canada on July 1, subject to regulatory approvals. He will…
Ownership critical to independence: broker exec
May 10, 2022 by Gloria CilliersBrokers are justified in thinking independence is shrinking due to increased consolidation in the P&C industry, according to Lorie Phair, president of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN), Canada’s largest network of independent brokers. To think ownership does not influence a…
Ontario Election: NDP plans to ban postal code rating for auto insurance
May 10, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoEditor’s Note: The Conservative government outlined its plans for insurance in their budget document, released before the Ontario election, which will take place June 2. Canadian Underwriter is asking Ontario’s political parties for their platforms on insurance. We are printing…
Could the P&C industry have anticipated current supply chain issues?
May 9, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoPandemic-related supply chain interruptions have been contributing factors to rising commercial client exposures, and this outcome could have been anticipated, say panellists in a Canadian Underwriter webinar. “When you think about firms who have offshored, whether it be processing, or…
Don’t investigate fraud suspicions indefinitely, court tells insurer
May 6, 2022 by David GambrillIf an insurer suspects fraud in a house fire contents claim, it might be better to deny the claim within 60 days, alleging fraud, rather than to prolong the claims investigation indefinitely while asking for documentation from the insured that…
3 lessons about brokers’ obligations to insureds
May 6, 2022 by Harmon C. HaydenA broker has an obligation to help clients understand policy specifics and avoid coverage gaps, and it’s not necessarily going to save them if the client hasn’t reviewed the policy, the British Columbia Court of Appeal found recently in Alvaro…
Legacy systems create IT talent crunch for the industry
May 6, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoThe industry’s heavy reliance on outdated legacy systems may be holding it back from modernizing, panellists note during a Canadian Underwriter webinar — and this could be a problem for attracting IT talent. “Legacy platforms are a big challenge for…
Insurance investigators: Be on guard when sharing info with police
May 5, 2022 by David GambrillInsurance investigators need to be on their guard about sharing information with police, lest they breach their duty of good faith to their insureds, note lawyers for Borden Ladner Gervais, referencing a 2021 Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench decision. The…
Auto insurer changes policy on seeking costs from cyclists and pedestrians
May 5, 2022 by Jason ContantEditor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information from ICBC. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is changing its policy on when it seeks recovery for costs from cyclists and pedestrians who have some responsibility for…
Drones, phones and loss control: how inspections changed amid the pandemic
May 5, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoLoss control strategies had to pivot amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and while many insurance carriers reverted to ‘Old School’ loss control inspections via the phone, some took it even further, industry experts share during a Canadian Underwriter webinar. The…