Top court sides with insurer in unidentified vehicle coverage dispute
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Supreme Court of Canada decision released today means Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company does not have to cover a claimant who says he drove off the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Andrew Funk was injured after he drove his…
How recreational cannabis has created numerous challenges for insurers
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCannabis legalization is making things more complex for auto insurers and increasing risk for some commercial property clients, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggests in a recent report. About 25 insurers, most of whom are non-admitted, provide coverage for cannabis risks…
What hard market in liquor liability means for clients
March 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachClients planning St. Patrick’s Day celebrations may find themselves short on luck when it comes to insurance coverage. It’s becoming more difficult for clients to get insurance for liquor-related losses with the terms they need, one managing general agent observes.…
Insurtech seeks to bring the ‘Uber-Netflix-Spotify-Amazon’ experience to commercial clients
March 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAn insurtech with offices in Ontario is looking for commercial and personal lines carriers who want to sell insurance the way Spotify sells music. “We are talking to several Canadian insurers who have an interest in launching new products” Philippe…
How to sell commercial coverage to small businesses
March 8, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokers looking to sell commercial coverage to small businesses need to keep it simple, fast and client-specific, industry professionals told Canadian Underwriter Thursday. Sometimes when buzzwords like artificial intelligence, blockchain and chatbots dominate the conversation, the cart comes before the…
How this paperwork accident gave condo dweller stamp collection coverage
March 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFor insurance professionals who put together renewal packages, some mistakes are worse than others. A case in point is sending a “quality package” that refers to a different kind of policy, rather than the policy you are renewing for the…
How innovation changes the underwriter’s job
March 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachTechnology and data will change the underwriter’s job but will not eliminate it, suggests Russell Johnston, chief executive officer for North America of QBE Insurance Group Limited. “At the end of the day, people still make the decisions,” Johnston said…
What lies behind the unexpected Alberta quake
March 6, 2019 by Jason ContantPerhaps the largest-ever earthquake to hit a section of central Alberta caused no immediate reports of damage, but knocked out power for more than 4,000 customers. Could fracking be the culprit? In this case, Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is probing…
The insurance implications of digital healthcare
March 5, 2019 by Jason ContantAs the digital healthcare market continues to evolve, the insurance industry in Canada should consider gaps or exclusions in current policies and the need for a bespoke option. Digital healthcare will include a focus on two areas: Telemedicine – remote…
This province could see major spring flooding
March 1, 2019 by Jason ContantTen years after serious flooding in much of the southern part of Manitoba, there is again a high risk of major spring flooding in the province’s Red River Valley region. “Early forecasting data shows that we expect to see major…
Why some homeowners aren’t buying flood insurance
March 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOverland flood insurance might be easier to sell if homeowners could figure out how vulnerable their properties are. “What would be most useful for homeowners is they would be able to search their postal code or property address and be…
Your landlord agrees to insure the property. Why the landlord can still subrogate against you
February 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Thunder Bay restaurant operator has lost its bid to block an insurer from filing a subrogated claim arising from a fire. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Feb. 21 it will not hear an appeal from the Sushi Station…