Return of events pushes hosts to address vaccination, COVID tests and masks
September 9, 2021 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – When Sept. 11 comes, Natasha Koifman’s backyard will be awash with chatter and music as up to 100 guests gather for an elegant dinner meant to raise funds for Haitians to access education. But the public relations maven’s…
The ‘Triple A’s’ to successfully navigate your company through the pandemic
September 7, 2021 by Jason ContantThe ‘Triple As’ of strategic agility — avoid, absorb and accelerate — are distinct ways that successful companies navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent blog from Harvard Business Review. Companies such as Airbnb that not just survived by…
A.M. Best unveils new estimate of reinsured COVID losses
September 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachRecognized COVID-related losses are about US$40 billion for the global reinsurance industry, A.M. Best Company Inc. said in a reported released Aug. 30. Original estimates of insured COVID losses “easily exceeded” twice that US$40 billion figure, “with around half the…
Ontario court certifies class-action against insurers related to COVID-19
September 1, 2021 The Canadian PressTORONTO – Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice has certified a class-action lawsuit against fourteen insurance companies that denied business interruption claims related to COVID-19. The class action, launched by several small businesses including a suit store, a smoothie shop and…
2021 set to be record year for M&A insurance: report
August 31, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffThis year will be a record year for mergers and acquisitions insurance, a recent report by global independent broker BMS Group estimates. The inaugural Private Equity, M&A and Tax Insurance Report, released in May, found that while the COVID-19 pandemic…
Post-pandemic mindshift needed in claims leadership: Desjardins execs
August 27, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffClaims leaders will need to evolve their mindsets if property & casualty insurers are to succeed in meeting customer demands post-COVID, senior Desjardins Insurance Group execs suggest. “Before the pandemic, we thought we were doing a good job, but we…
No charges in case of Montreal area private care home where dozens died of COVID-19
August 26, 2021 The Canadian PressMONTREAL – Quebec’s Crown prosecutor’s office says the owners of a Montreal-area long-term care home where dozens died during the first wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic will not face criminal charges. The office said today in a statement that…
How technology is addressing ‘broken offline processes’ and broker pain points
August 25, 2021 by Jason ContantCreating a “digital round trip” for all players in the insurance ecosystem – from broker to technology vendor to consumer – has really been catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to remote working, the CEO of tech vendor…
Policyholders want to text you. Is your carrier doing enough to make this happen?
August 25, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffCOVID-19 has accelerated insurance carriers’ plans towards digital transformation, but Canada’s insurers are in their “infancy” when it comes to meeting policyholders’ growing demands for texting with their carriers, says a former insurance executive. Speaking at the Reuters virtual Future…
How P&C can keep human connections within digital insurance
August 20, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffWhile the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated P&C’s digitization investments, the need for human connection within digital insurance should not be overlooked, a digital identity firm says. “As the insurance industry accelerates its pace towards digitization, we must keep in mind…
What independent brokers expect from insurers post-pandemic: Canadian Broker Network
August 19, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffAs Canada emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, independent brokers will place strategic alliances with insurers at the top of their expectations list, members of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN) said. “The pandemic has significantly increased the awareness and consideration for…
Will 4th wave, mandatory vaccines spur more insurers to re-imagine the workplace?
August 16, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffWith COVID-19 cases rising across Canada and several large employers — including the federal government — announcing they’ll require workers to be vaccinated, insurers and brokers may begin rethinking their return-to-office plans. Not long before the fourth wave hit, some…