When policy exclusion wording intersects with fraud
April 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe Court of Appeal for Ontario has decided, in a divided ruling, that title insurance coverage would be “nullified” if one title insurer had its way on a claim. In 2014, Karl Nodel agreed to lend a person $1.1 million.…
Tenant insurance too expensive at $15 per month, renters say
April 10, 2018 by Jason ContantDespite the fact that premiums start as low as $15 per month, nearly half of consumers polled by insurance comparison site Kanetix.ca reported that they couldn’t afford renter’s insurance. Last month, Kanetix.ca conducted a Google Survey of 1,000 Canadian renters,…
Why McFarlan Rowlands acquired DA Kurt Insurance Brokers
April 3, 2018 by Jason ContantGeographic and cultural fit drove London, Ont.-based McFarlan Rowlands‘s decision to acquire DA Kurt Insurance Brokers of Kitchener, Ont., McFarlan told Canadian Underwriter. The deal is expected to close on April 30. “The DA Kurt team prides themselves on providing…
Pay-as-you-go travel insurance comes to Canada
April 2, 2018 by Jason ContantAn AIG company has launched a pay-as-you-go travel insurance app. Travel Guard Group Canada launched the iPhone app last week to allow Canadian customers (except Quebec residents) to purchase travel insurance coverage in blocks of time ranging from one day…
How landlords can help you sell tenant insurance
March 26, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSome landlords are refusing to rent residences to people who do not have tenant’s insurance and some are even trying to use lack of insurance as grounds to evict tenants. “A lot of landlords in this day and age are…
Desjardins offers free flood coverage to eligible clients in low-risk areas
March 23, 2018 by Jason ContantOne Canadian insurer is not waiting for consumer take-up of its flood insurance coverage — it is automatically tacking the endorsement onto the policies of eligible clients who live in low-risk areas. Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) told Canadian Underwriter…
Ask B.C. residents if they are covered for wildfire. 25% will tell you this…
March 21, 2018 by Jason ContantAs many as 25% of British Columbians say they don’t know if they have insurance for wildfire and severe weather emergencies, according to a survey released Monday by the provincial public safety ministry. Fewer than half of British Columbians have…
Insurance implications of marijuana legalization
March 2, 2018 Jennifer Huneault and Jason ArcuriWith legalization of recreational marijuana use slated to take effect in Canada on July 1, 2018, challenge and change is on the horizon. But with change also comes great opportunity, not only for businesses and industries directly involved in the…
Flood risk training for home inspectors coming in September
February 28, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTraining home inspectors to assess properties for risk of basement flooding is the “most positive action” the industry can take to address the problem of flood-damaged homes, a conference speaker told insurance professionals Tuesday. A new course for home inspectors,…
What customers will soon expect from insurance carriers
February 26, 2018 by Jason ContantInsurance customers are going to start expecting personalized products and services based on data, Andrew Lo, president and CEO of Kanetix Ltd., said during a webinar Thursday. “Our customers are going to expect smart personalization like, ‘Give me the products…
Risk management still a concern post-Lac Mégantic
January 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachRisk management continues to be an issue for major Canadian railways, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said Wednesday in an investigation report into a freight train collision in Alberta. The report came just days before a jury acquitted…
What you need first, before chatbots and blockchain
January 15, 2018 by David GambrillCanadian property and casualty insurers must address their IT data collection systems in order to profit from more IT glamorous solutions such as chatbots, blockchain, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), says Sven Roehl, who facilitates The Cookhouse…