The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic and related closures are leading to some very unique situations that could have unforeseen impacts on various types of insurance that Canadian families and businesses rely upon. The insurance industry is working hard to ease the concerns of Canadians, and we’ve compiled a number of resources here to help put Canadians’ minds at ease.
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It came upon us quickly, and lingered on long enough to change our lives indefinitely. Now a new (old?) normal is on the horizon, and that can mean changes that affect your insurance policies. Whether for your car, your home or your cottage, it’s important to make sure these policies are up to date while ensuring your premiums remain as low as possible.
The coronavirus pandemic, in the short term, is having a downward impact on auto insurance rates in Ontario, but that’s mostly related to people not driving to work. In the longer term, say in the next 3 to 5 years, COVID-19 is likely to drive up insurance rates for everyone, especially for businesses, particularly because of large class action lawsuits against airlines, cruise lines, nursing homes, and insurance companies themselves.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a number of negative effects, including of course the physical and emotional toll on families directly affected by the virus. Beyond that, it has wreaked havoc on businesses, and resulted in millions of Canadians facing considerable financial hardship, either because they’ve been laid off, or possibly because of reduced hours during the pandemic.
Is COVID-19 an Act of God? For Insurance, It Doesn’t Matter
There is a common misconception out there that “Acts of God” are never covered by insurance. This belief is founded in the history of insurance, and in fact there have been “Act of God” exclusions in many an insurance policy through the ages.
The reality is that in Canada today, insurance policies do not contain any references to Acts of God. Instead, Canadian insurance policies refer to specific “perils” that may be covered or excluded, depending on the policy. Perils that might be covered in an insurance policy include things like overland flood, lightning strikes, wind etc. As far as COVID-19 goes, if it is covered under any insurance policy, it would be under a peril called pandemics.
There is lots of news out there about insurance companies offering discounts and rebates to reflect a drop in the frequency and cost of claims. It’s true that insurance companies are doing their best to help their customers save during the crisis, but the maximum savings are only available by removing coverage, and that can be very risky.
When universities closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, tens of thousands of students who had been renting houses or apartments near school suddenly up and went back to their parents’ homes. If the crisis causes those properties to be vacant for more than 30 days, the owners Read more
Planning Travel During The COVID-19 Crisis? Travel Insurance Implications
Given the current environment around COVID-19, all non-essential travel is being cancelled for the time-being, and many Canadians are thinking about cancelling planned trips abroad even later in the year. Some have travel insurance, and some don’t. Read more
We’ve all watched the wildlife documentaries and know what happens when animals get separated from the herd. Don’t do it we can hear you scream, there’s a lion hidden in the grass!. Separation from the herd is extremely dangerous in the wild.
The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc all over the world, leading not only to severe health challenges and social isolation, but also financial and logistical problems related to closed offices and a badly struggling economy. During this time, it’s still best to keep all your insurance up-to-date, but Read more
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact the health of Canadians, it is also having a substantial impact on many hundreds of thousands of businesses across the country.