Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

"All personal auto insurance premiums will be frozen at renewal, meaning customers that are renewing won’t see any increases to their auto insurance premiums during this time. This applies to policies with renewal dates of June 15, 2020 or later (customers who have had significant losses or traffic violation activity may not be eligible for this benefit).

As a reminder, we also have options for customers whose driving situations have changed. We want to ensure we’re helping customers who #StayHome. If they’re no longer using their vehicles, Endorsement 16, newly crowned our #StayHome endorsement, can be applied, and for those whose usage has changed, their mileage and usage information can be amended to reduce their premiums.

If the customer still requires use of their vehicle, but is no longer using it to commute to work/school during the pandemic, or is driving significantly fewer kilometers over this period, you can offer to adjust the applicable policy information."

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

1. Temporarily suspending policy terminations for non-payment of premium.
2. Temporarily suspending NSF fees.
3. Working with customers who are currently facing policy termination in order to defer payments, as appropriate.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

They are following the Declaration of Emergency wording found in our personal and commercial insurance property policies

Vacant Properties

"Aviva has a vacancy exclusion in their wording and recommend that you contact your broker if you expect to exceed the vacancy period during the Declaration of Emergency period."

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

"Aviva has given this a great deal of consideration and have decided that they will not consider mid-term premium reductions on our Liability policies. Stock and/or equipment limit may be reduced mid-term as per our usual business practice. Please contact your broker so that we can find a solution for your situation.

For auto, for the time being, there will be no mid- term premium rebates, coverage suspensions or coverage adjustments on fleets with the 21B endorsement. Coverage reductions and adjustments on any IRCA, Garage and scheduled fleets without the 21B endorsement are acceptable as per our usual business practice. My customer has been financially impacted by the pandemic and can’t afford the insurance. Instead of reducing their coverage, they want to cancel their policy entirely. Is this considered cancelling short-rate? Aviva will review these on a case-by-case basis and will make accommodations for vulnerable customers that have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Please contact your broker to discuss."

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

Will Aviva accept e- signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic? E-signatures may be used for electronic documents that contain all of the same information as approved paper forms. This includes:

1. New business applications for insurance
2. Payment authorization forms
3. Policy cancellation requests by the insured customer(s)

E-signatures can’t be used for other requests such as:

1. Any policy endorsement that restricts coverage and requires a signature, including but not limited to the Excluded Driver endorsement, the Property Damage Reimbursement endorsement or manuscript wordings
2. Any request to change or remove an insured customer’s name or to change or remove a mortgagee, lien holder or loss payee"

Other

"Customer is using their vehicle to deliver food and medical supplies and is getting compensated for it. Are they covered by their automobile policy? Typically this would not be covered by a standard personal auto policy. However, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, if a customer is now driving their own vehicle to deliver food or medical supplies to those in need, we’ll underwrite these on a case-by-case basis. Contact your broker and we’ll do our best to find a temporary solution. In addition, carrying passengers for compensation is not included in this temporary allowance. My customer spends six months out of the year in the U.S. and takes their vehicle with them. Because of COVID-19, they had to change their travel plans and fly back to Canada urgently, leaving their vehicle in the U.S. They will exceed the maximum time (180 days) that their vehicle is allowed outside of Canada. What should we do?

For existing customers only, we can accommodate vehicles outside of Canada for longer than 180 days. Please call your broker and we’ll work with you to find a solution."

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

As Per April 9 Press Release: Offering a 10 per cent rate reduction for new and renewing home and/or auto insurance policy holders. This rate reduction will be available starting soon in Ontario and is valid for the duration of a 12-month policy term.... The reduced rates can be combined with additional ways to adjust coverage and payment plans to reflect reduced driving behaviour such as:

1. Reducing annual mileage amounts on policies
2. Insurance adjustments for multiple cars that aren't being driven
3. CAA MyPace · The 10% rate reduction for home and auto insurance will be available at the time of renewal and for new customers. This is valid for the duration of the 12 month policy term.

Any existing customers looking for rate reduction the 10% reduction will be coming soon.

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

CAA has made the decision to suspend all non-payment cancellation notices on automobile insurance coverage at this time. In addition, CAA Insurance Company does not, and has not prior to COVID-19, charged an NSF fee on the 1st NSF, so customers do not need to worry about an additional fee on their first NSF payment.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

The Declaration of Emergency Endorsement extends the termination or expiry date of a Personal Property policy when a Canadian public authority declares an “emergency”. This coverage is now available to CAA policyholders if their policy is not renewed by the expiry date or they have a claim in the period. The policy period will be automatically extended, or the effective date of the cancellation will be suspended, until the “emergency” is over, plus the lesser of:
30 days; or the total number of days the “emergency” order was in effect; and is subject to a maximum of 120 consecutive days. Policyholders will still be asked to pay the additional premium for the extra policy period that is provided under this endorsement. Please note that this extension of coverage does not apply to Automobile insurance policies.

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

Our brokerage will work with CAA clients to explore their options such as:
CAA MyPace™, Canada’s first pay-as-you-go auto insurance program Updating annual mileage from commuter to a lesser, pleasure only If a household has two cars, they could share one car and take driving coverage off the other, leaving it as comprehensive coverage only

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

N/A

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

N/A

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Chubb personal lines customers, we’ve instituted flexible premium payment options, contact your broker.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

For our commercial clients, Chubb will commence a voluntary 60-day hold on cancellation and non-renewal for all of its US and Canada insureds that advise that they cannot pay their premiums due to events related to coronavirus except where a longer period may be required by regulatory order. We will continue to bill premiums but will not cancel for non- payment and no late fees will be assessed during this hold. The hold will commence on March 23, 2020. Commercial insureds may contact us directly or reach out to their brokers to let us know that they will be requesting this accommodation.

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

• Provisions for additional living expenses have been temporarily extended for those clients in the midst of homeowner claims where repairs have been delayed due to the pandemic.
• Our commitment to fighting COVID-19 spans the globe and began at the earliest days of the outbreak.
• In January, Chubb committed pro-bono clinical trial insurance coverage to support Chinese firms developing a vaccine.
• More recently, we pledged $10M to pandemic relief efforts around the world.
• Here in North America, Chubb has donated nearly 100,000 masks to support healthcare workers in New York City and Toronto.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Customers whose driving activity and mileage has been reduced due to COVID-19 can request to reduce the mileage associated with their policy, for a premium reduction of up to 15%.
We have also implemented flexible, online payment options, and automatic coverage for our customers who volunteer to deliver food or supplies (excluding coverage for paid deliveries such as UberEats).

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Customers who are no longer using their vehicles due to COVID-19 can request to remove all but comprehensive coverage from their policy, so long as their vehicle is safely parked and stored. This coverage adjustment will result in a premium reduction of up to 80%

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

In addition to these relief measures, which we hope will support individual customers who have been impacted by COVID-19, Echelon will also refrain from introducing all planned rate increases for the next three to six months, representing savings between 12% and 15% for our customers.

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

N/A

Note

Upon request, these relief measures will be applied to active policies retroactively for March 15, 2020, or the date of the most recent policy change, whichever occurred sooner.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

As per their April 9 Press Release: Flexible payment options, including payment deferrals and waived NSF fees Payment plans adjustments to update the method or frequency of payments.
Reduction of auto insurance premiums by limiting coverage or reducing the number of kilometres driven to support those with significantly changed vehicle use.
No impact to premiums if customers temporarily use their cars or homes differently, such as efforts to support community goodwill or migrate to remote work.

Business Interruption

Economical’s business interruption forms provide coverage only when there is interruption to the customer’s business caused by direct physical loss of or damage to building(s), equipment, or stock. Without direct physical loss or damage, there is no coverage.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Economical will be flexible with regard to circumstances affecting our customers, including cancellations, non-payments, and lapsing renewals...COMMERCIAL LINES RATING: We’re taking a proactive approach to support our customers during this time. For the immediate future due to the emergency situation, we have amended our Commercial Insurance rating approach to take into account the tough circumstances many commercial customers are facing. PERSONAL LINES: Handling of Personal Lines Property Non-Renewals Until further notice, we will actively review all personal lines property policies that are set to non-renew due to underwriting reasons such as non payment. We will make every effort to stay on risk for another term.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

The Emergency Endorsement — Extension of Termination or Expiry Date is attached to most of our Business Insurance policies and extends the policy period if there is an emergency declared and there is a direct effect or impact on the insured, the insured site or insured property, or the operations of Economical or its broker in the declared emergency area.

Where the Declaration of Emergency wording applies, Economical will not cancel or lapse any of our business insurance policies while the endorsement is in effect, up to a maximum of 120 days. Premiums will be pro- rated for the additional time at expiring rates.

Vacant Properties

Economical recognizes that in some provinces, many businesses have been ordered to close due to the State of Emergency. During the State of Emergency, they will not consider locations unoccupied or shut down if they still contain enough insured property to conduct customary business (except for removal of perishable inventory or stock), as long as the owner is visiting the property a minimum of every seven days and proactively maintains a prudent level of care, control, and maintenance of the property — this includes adequately maintaining security systems and utilities.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

For customers who are facing a material and substantial drop in business revenues due to the closures brought on by COVID-19, Economical will endorse the policy mid-term to reflect the up-to- date information as long as the policy term is not expiring within the next three months. For fleets, they will make mid-term adjustments to accommodate vehicle and coverage deletions. NON OWNED AUTO: For customers looking to offer delivery services due to the impact of COVID-19, Economical will work to accommodate them on a case-by-case basis, please contact your broker

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

In addition to our existing guidelines for accepting electronic signatures and audio signatures, Personal and Commercial Insurance have agreed to accept either a scanned copy or a photograph of any form that requires an insured's signature

Other

Reading-in off-premises equipment coverage:
Effective immediately, if a customer is insuring their equipment with Economical, and the form under which it is insured does not provide coverage when an employee takes equipment necessary to work off-site to another location, we will extend existing coverage to include that property up to a limit of $5,000 per occurrence. This coverage is being added at no extra charge. Any loss which occurs will be settled as if the property was still at the premises insured on the policy. Policy deductible, terms, and conditions still apply.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

N/A

Business Interruption

N/A

Accounts Payable for Brokers to Insurer

Facility Association will support reasonable extensions beyond the 30- calendar day requirement on a case-by- case basis. Please contact Broker.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

N/A

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

E-signatures, audio signatures and scanned documentation are acceptable.

Other

N/A

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

To provide a premium reduction to our personal auto insurance customers, they will receive a simple one-time payment equivalent to 20% of three months premium. The payment will be sent by cheque and will have no detrimental impact to future premiums or coverage. All in-force auto customers as of Thursday, April 9, 2020 will automatically receive the payment.

Business Interruption

On the vast majority of our commercial lines policies, there is no coverage for business interruption losses relating to COVID-19. However, a limited number of hospitality customers with unique extensions to their policies may be eligible for coverage subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording. Please contact your broker is you believe you have a loss and we can discuss.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Payments: Customer Flexibility
Gore has suspended all cancellations for non- payment and NSF fees until Thursday, April 30, 2020. After that, we'll continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic and explore new flexible payment options on a case-by-case basis including payment deferral without penalty. We will provide additional information to our brokers on those policies with suspended cancellations for non-payment. Effectively today Thursday, April 9, all personal and commercial cancellations at the customer’s request will be on a pro rata basis. Short rate fees will not apply.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

Commercial Customers: Vacant Premises
With many businesses temporarily closed, we will not consider any business properties vacant or unoccupied if they have been mandated to shut down because of COVID-19. Of course, we urge you to remind your customers that we expect them to visit their property weekly and maintain a reasonable level of care and maintenance including utilities and security systems. We'll maintain this position until further notice.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

To support brokers that are working remotely, we have enabled fully remote payments through ClearPay Standard. This gives your team the ability to send premiums and remittance advice digitally, eliminates the need to physically sign cheques, reduces the risk of fraud, creates operational efficiencies and reduces settlement delays.

Other

Pandemic Exclusion
Our priority is to continue providing comprehensive, well-priced insurance coverage for your brokerage clients. As a result of recent events and to provide clarification within our commercial coverage, we will be introducing an explicit pandemic exclusion in the near future.

Home Customers: Home Office
With many of our customers unexpectedly working from home, we'll provide personal liability and business property coverage up to $5,000 on all existing personal property policies. We will not charge any additional premium and coverage will be effective immediately until Friday, July 31, 2020.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Use of Personal Vehicle for COVID-19 related activity

No impact to coverage if policyholders are temporarily using their vehicles in support of COVID-19 community goodwill (e.g. delivering food, products). Clients will be eligible to receive premium reduction of up to 75% per month, on average, when they safely park and store their vehicle until coverage is reinstated. We will waive the minimum 45 days required to use the OPCF 16 to suspend coverages.

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

FARM PROPERTY

Effective March 26, 2020, any renewals that are outstanding will not be subject to the February 1, 2020 rate changes as previously communicated on December 23, 2019. Inflation factor will continue to be applied. New business rates remain unchanged as per the December 23,2020

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Effective March 26, 2020, any renewals that are outstanding will not be subject to receive any rate increases, unless risk characteristics change. Inflation factor will continue to be applied. New business rates will remain unchanged.

Payment Deferral Plan

Policyholders impacted by COVID-19 and facing financial difficulties should complete the payment deferral form and submit to billings@heartlandfarmmutual.com for consideration. Effective Mar 23, 2020, we are suspending non-payment cancellations, and waiving fees for NSF until April 30, 2020.

Reminder notices will continue to be sent out.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

Due to the impact of the declared emergency, we would encourage you to submit any relevant changes in risk profiles so they can be re-rated to reflect a more accurate lower premium (e.g. changes in annual/daily mileage).

Vacant Properties

We will not consider commercial buildings where business is temporarily halted or closed due to COVID-19, as vacant and/or unoccupied. Secondary Homeowners and Comprehensive Rental policy, we will waive the occupancy and inspection requirements during COVID-19. Vacant or Unoccupied Premises

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

Claims Process Changes

Cash settlements are being extended to clients who prefer to have repairs suspended or completed post COVID-19. We will waive the loss of use policy limit for clients who are experiencing repair delays due to repair facility disruption and/or supply-chain challenges. Supporting communities where our broker partners, clients and employees live and work, Heartland has donated 3000 reusable medical masks (PPE) to eight hospitals across Ontario.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

The Mutuals are following the IBC principles and consideration is not being given to premium rebates. However, the Ontario Mutuals are continually monitoring FSRA announcements, competitor strategies and Government response, and will adjust strategies appropriately.
We will keep you updated as the situation evolves.

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

With respect to payments, we are going to allow for a 2 week deferral on monthly PAC payments. Keeping in mind that we only withdraw on the 1st, 8th, 16th and 24th, the 2 week deferral would be to the nearest regular payment date. This deferral will be done on a policy by policy basis upon request of the broker and we will review any requests outside of our position above on a case by case basis upon request of the broker.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

We will accommodate requests to amend policies mid-term as a result of changed operations or risk exposure due to the COVID-19 pandemic ie: stock/inventory, business receipts, etc.

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

N/A

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Farm Mutuals are following the IBC principles and consideration is not being given to premium rebates. However, the Ontario Mutuals are continually monitoring FSRA announcements, competitor strategies and Government response, and will adjust strategies appropriately.
We will keep you updated as the situation evolves. While the filed automobile rates haven’t changed, policyholders have the option to endorse their policy to recognize any change of use of their vehicle to reduce their premium amount (e.g. class of use, shortening commute distance, taking road coverage off vehicles).

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF)

We will be temporarily waiving NSF fees until further notice.

Payment Options

We will continue to work with you in an effort to find alternate arrangements for policyholders with financial circumstances impacted by Covid‐19 and who are experiencing difficulties with payment of premium.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

The government of Ontario has ordered non-essential businesses to close for the duration of this State of Emergency. As long as the order to stay closed is in place, we will not consider the business location as vacant, unoccupied or shut down if: it still contains enough insured property on the premises to conduct business (except removal of perishable stock).
The business owner is visiting the premises a minimum of once every 7 days and is proactive in maintaining a level of care to the premises.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

FAQs About Changing Automobile Use

How would you manage an existing policyholder who volunteers at local grocery stores, making deliveries of groceries to those not leaving their homes?
We will continue to provide coverage for clients volunteering to deliver groceries or other necessities.

How would you manage existing policyholders who make deliveries for restaurants for compensation?
No coverage would be provided, as this is not a class of business we have ever covered (e.g. pizza delivery, Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes).

How would you manage existing policyholders who volunteer to make deliveries for restaurants for no compensation? What if they are being compensated mileage only?
We would continue to provide coverage for clients making deliveries on a volunteer basis, even when receiving compensation for mileage.

🔴 Click here for the FAQ: COVID-19 pdf.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

N/A

Business Interruption

To clarify, our business interruption wordings do not cover losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

We have agreed to support our broker partners and customers by implementing the following directives:

1. Temporarily suspending NSF fees
2. Temporarily suspending policy terminations for non-payment of premium
3. Working with customers who are currently facing policy termination in order to defer payments, as appropriate.

Encouraging customers that have issues to contact us by email at: accounts.mb@portagemutual.com

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

Our property wordings exclude loss of damage at locations that to the insured’s knowledge have been vacant, un-occupied or shut down for more than 30 days.

Many businesses have been closed as a result of government mandated closures which began on March 16, 2020. Until further notice, we will not consider those businesses that have been mandated to shut down because of COVID-19 to be vacant or un-occupied.

It is our expectation that while a business is closed, that the insured or another competent individual will attend the premises at least twice a week to confirm that there has not been any damage.

Other loss prevention measures that should be considered include:

• Locking all doors and windows to secure the premises
• Activating burglar and fire alarms
• Considering turning off the water main and draining pipes, unless the buildings is protected by a sprinkler system
• Maintaining heating
• Removing cash and other valuables from the premises
• Storing high target stock in a separate locked area or moving it away from windows to make them less visible from the outside
• Maintaining exterior perimeter lighting
• Maintaining security cameras and video records

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

N/A

RWAM is pleased to offer Plan Sponsors premium relief during these challenging times.

RWAM Insurance Administrators cares about the health of our Plan Sponsors and Plan Members during these difficult times. We also recognize the financial impact that this pandemic is having on businesses across the nation.

Effective May 1st, we will be reducing dental premiums by 50% which will be reflected on the May invoice. This reduction will also remain in effect for June premiums. This applies to all groups with insured dental benefits.

This approach will ensure that Plan Sponsors maintain dental coverage for critical emergency dental claims as well as ongoing orthodontic coverage (if applicable to the plan). It will also maintain the accuracy of your claims experience reports which provide an important historical picture of claiming patterns.

Please note the following:
• For groups that have elected to defer their renewal date, the reduction will be calculated based on current dental premiums.
• Groups that participate in the Profit Participation Plan (PPP), which is a form of refund accounting, will also receive the 50% reduction in May and June dental premiums.
• Groups that have suspended or terminated the dental benefit will not receive a future credit.

As always, RWAM is here to help. Should you have any questions please contact RWAM Group Benefits Advisor with any questions.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

We recognize that driving patterns have changed radically in the past month. We are helping to pass on the savings from the reduction in auto claims to customers in the form of reduced car insurance premiums to align to their current driving behaviours. Your customers will see reduced auto insurance premiums if they are driving or commuting less or who are no longer using their vehicles because their circumstances have changed due to COVID-19. Savings will vary depending on individual driving habits

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

This is an unprecedented time where many of your customers are struggling financially. We want to do our part to ease that burden by offering flexible payment options to help support those customers. Options may include payment deferrals for those that have been affected through illness or job loss as a result of this pandemic.

Please remember that another way RSA is offering further financial support is through automatic waiving of Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fees during the COVID-19 crisis, effective April 1, 2020. (Please note that financial institutions may still charge a separate fee for NSF).

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

As a way to step up for our local heroes serving their communities, we have made provisions for customers who are temporarily using their vehicle for delivery (e.g. an employee of a pharmacy, restaurant, grocery store, or as part of an app-based food delivery service) during the COVID-19 crisis to be covered under their existing policy without an impact to their car insurance premium.

To reduce any further financial hardship on your Personal Insurance customers, we are working through plans to temper our current rate approach for both auto and property. We will look to dampen the impact of our planned rate actions for your customers. As plans are finalized, we will reach out to you to communicate those specifics.

PREMIUM RELIEF

Effective July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020, WA will be implementing a rate cap for both Auto and Property renewal premiums*.

AUTO INSURANCE
Private passenger automobile renewals will have an overall impact of 0% and will not increase over prior term.
• This renewal premium cap does not apply to risks with a new claim or conviction in the prior term or to any endorsement premiums

PROPERTY INSURANCE
Homeowners will experience a rate increase of no more than 10%
• Limited Sewer Back-Up, Waterproof Coverage™ and Earthquake are included in this capping structure
• This does not apply to risks with a new claim in the prior term
We remain committed to our brokers and customers during this time and are proud to provide support to those who have been impacted. We are working with urgency and pace to have these changes implemented into our system as quickly as possible; if the system is not accurately reflecting these changes for your impacted customer, please contact your underwriter.

*This timeline may be extended past September 30, 2020 depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

We recognize that driving patterns have changed radically in the past month. We are helping to pass on the savings from the reduction in auto claims to customers in the form of reduced car insurance premiums to align to their current driving behaviours. Your customers will see reduced auto insurance premiums if they are driving or commuting less or who are no longer using their vehicles because their circumstances have changed due to COVID-19. Savings will vary depending on individual driving habits

Business Interruption

N/A

Payment Relief for Your Customers

This is an unprecedented time where many of your customers are struggling financially. We want to do our part to ease that burden by offering flexible payment options to help support those customers. Options may include payment deferrals for those that have been affected through illness or job loss as a result of this pandemic.

Please remember that another way RSA is offering further financial support is through automatic waiving of Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fees during the COVID-19 crisis, effective April 1, 2020. (Please note that financial institutions may still charge a separate fee for NSF).

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

N/A

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

N/A

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

N/A

Other

As a way to step up for our local heroes serving their communities, we have made provisions for customers who are temporarily using their vehicle for delivery (e.g. an employee of a pharmacy, restaurant, grocery store, or as part of an app-based food delivery service) during the COVID-19 crisis to be covered under their existing policy without an impact to their car insurance premium.

To reduce any further financial hardship on your Personal Insurance customers, we are working through plans to temper our current rate approach for both auto and property. We will look to dampen the impact of our planned rate actions for your customers. As plans are finalized, we will reach out to you to communicate those specifics.

🔴 Click here for the Covid Refund Memo pdf

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Farm Mutuals are following the IBC principles and consideration is not being given to premium rebates. However, the Ontario Mutuals are continually monitoring FSRA and Government announcements and will adjust strategies appropriately.

• Changing driver classes if possible (ie. no longer commuting to work)
• Reducing coverage on vehicles that are not being driven at all during the pandemic.
• Waiving additional charges for people who are temporarily volunteering in their community (ie. Delivering groceries, medications to vulnerable community members)

Business Interruption

Business interruption coverage responds only after an insured peril (ie. Fire, Wind) causes direct damage to insured buildings that results in a financial loss to the business. Rates for this coverage are based only on these types of loss.

There is no coverage for business interruption losses due to COVID-19 or any other form of a pandemic.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

If a policyholder member cannot make a payment due to COVID-19

• All policies will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
• For policies on a monthly, we will hold one payment at a time (we will need to be notified for each payment that needs to be held).
• We recognize that every situation is different and there is need for more than one option to catch up on the missed payments.

Some Examples might be…

• To add extra payments (twice a month) until the amount is paid off
• To divide the missed payments amount across remaining payments
• To double the monthly payments until the amount is paid off
• To add one extra payment to pay the missed payments in one shot

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

N/A

Vacant Properties

We will not apply the vacancy exclusion within the policy during the time of the pandemic on the assumption that business owners take reasonable steps to check on their property on a regular basis.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

We have temporarily suspending NSF (non-sufficient fund) fees being charged by South Easthope Mutual now up to June 30,2020.
If the policy gets to registered letter status for non-payment (this would only come up if there has been no communication with the policyholder after non-payment – see payment relief section above) an extra 30 days will be given prior to the Registered Letter of cancellation being sent. The member will only be charged the premium that is owing on the date the payment is due. Agents and Brokers are encouraged communicate between the policyholder member and company to avoid Register Letter Status for non-payment.

Policy cancellations requested a policyholder member as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be calculated pro-rata as opposed to short rate, up to June 30, 2020.

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

These are our preferred methods of communication over the course of the pandemic. We will accept scanned copies of any form that requires a policyholder's signature. We will continue to accept hard copies of signatures by mail or courier.

Other

We will do our best to work with the policyholder and come up with a solution that works for both them and South Easthope Mutual.
Policy cancellations requested a policyholder member as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be calculated pro-rata as opposed to short rate, up to June 30, 2020.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Stay-at-Home Auto Premium Credit Program, which will provide a 25% credit on one month’s premium to our Canadian personal auto customers.
This credit is automatic and there is no action required by you or your customers. It’s our way of supporting our customers, and we hope it helps ease some of the financial burden they may be experiencing at this time. Customers will receive the credit automatically either on a future bill or via a mailed cheque.
Separately, we are extending auto coverage for customers whose temporary job responsibilities include using their personal vehicles to make food, grocery, pharmacy and medical supply deliveries. This does not include vehicles participating in a commercial delivery network.
We will keep you updated as the situation evolves.

Business Interruption

Business Interruption coverage is triggered when a policy holder suffers a loss of income due to direct physical loss, or damage to covered property at its location or another location. It does not cover: loss of income due to market conditions; a slowdown of economic activity; or a general fear of contamination. Nor does the policy provide coverage for cancellations, suspensions and shutdowns that are implemented to limit the spread of the coronavirus. If there has been direct physical loss or damage to property, the policy may contain exclusions. A common exclusion is for losses resulting from a virus or bacteria, which would include coronavirus.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

Specifically, we will suspend cancellation and non-renewal of coverage due to nonpayment through May 15, 2020. We will not charge non- sufficient funds (NSF) fees during this period, providing customers with extra time if needed to pay their premiums without risking cancellation. We will work with impacted customers and brokers on a on a case-by-case basis to provide billing support and address billing relief requests due to COVID-19. We will also observe all directives issued by federal, provincial or local authorities.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

We did not adopt the formal IBC Declaration of Emergency endorsement in our personal and business insurance property wordings. We will consider extensions on a case-by-case basis due to COVID-19.

Vacant Properties

Travelers recognizes that many of our customers have been forced to close or conduct only limited operations due to the unprecedented government orders issued in response to COVID-19. For the purpose of applying vacancy, unoccupancy or shut down limitations in our commercial property policies, Travelers has decided not to count the days that a building is vacant, unoccupied, or shut down solely because of a governmental order due to COVID-19 affecting the use or occupancy of the described premises or the area immediately surrounding the described premises. This direction will continue until the earlier of the following:
• The date on which the government order affecting the use or occupancy of the described premises or the area immediately surrounding the described premises is lifted; or
• June 1, 2020.

Please note that whether a building is vacant, unoccupied or shut down and the application of coverage depends on the facts and circumstances of each claim or loss, all applicable policy provisions, including how the applicable policy defines “vacant” or similar terms, and any applicable law. It should also be noted that the decision to provide temporary relief from the application of vacancy, unoccupancy or shut down restrictions does not extend to any other term or condition, and this direction does not amend, or otherwise affect, the provisions or coverages of any insurance policy issued by Travelers. Nor is it a representation that coverage does or does not exist for any particular claim or loss under any such policy.

As of right now this direction remains in place until June 1, 2020. Travelers will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any decisions to extend this direction beyond June 1, 2020.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

We will be thoughtful and consider each request individually. For any request, we will require the appropriate documentation.

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

We continue to support electronic signatures Customers can return the forms by mail or email using either a scanner or taking a picture with a cell phone and emailing them to you.

Other

1. For restaurants that were not doing delivery before but now will be as a result of their restaurant being closed, Travelers will cover those operations and will add Non-Owned Auto at no additional charge If not already on the policy.
2. If your customer’s vehicle is stored/located outside of the province or country for more than six consecutive months due to COVID-19, please contact your underwriter to discuss and provide all the necessary details. We’ll review on a case-by-case basis
3. Q: If a customer is temporarily working from home due to COVID-19, is coverage for Incidental Office Use or the Home Business endorsement required to be added to the policy?
   A: No additional coverage or endorsements are needed. Temporarily performing office work from home due to COVID-19 restrictions, when a policyholder normally works in another location, is not considered business use. The Incidental Office Use or Home Business endorsements do not need to be added to the policy, and additional premium does not apply.

The Stay-at-Home Auto Premium Credit Program is among several initiatives we have launched to provide relief during this challenging time. These include suspending cancellation and non-renewal of coverage through May 15. And we have pledged $5 million to COVID-19 relief efforts to assist families and communities.

Auto Insurance Financial Relief Measures

Previous communications have indicated that brokers can "Endorse the policy mid-term to reflect updated information used for rating."

Business Interruption

Generally, Commercial insurance policies and traditional Business Interruption policies do not offer coverage for Business Interruption or supply chain disruption due to a pandemic such as COVID-19. Business Interruption only responds if physical damage occurs.

Payment Relief for Your Customers

1. Non-Sufficient Funds: We realize this situation is evolving rapidly and some of our policyholders will have their personal household finances impacted. To assist, we will be waiving Non- sufficient Funds Fees (NSF) until further notice. We anticipate that we will do so until at least May 25, 2020.
2. Cancellation of Insurance Policies: We will make every attempt to avoid policy cancellations for non-payment of insurance premiums until further notice. We anticipate that this will be until at least May 25, 2020.
3. Deferral of Monthly Premium Payments: Some policyholders may have financial difficulty over the coming months. If a policyholder is having an issue, please call your broker to consider payment options. We will support the deferral of payments on a case by case basis.
4. Premium Payments: Some policyholders may have premiums due in a lump sum at renewal. Wawanesa will provide for flexible payment options upon request.

Declaration of Emergency Endorsement

The Declaration of Emergency Endorsement extends the termination or expiry date of a Personal Property or Commercial policy when a Canadian public authority declares an “emergency”. This coverage is now available to our policyholders if their policy is not renewed by the expiry date or they have a claim in the period.

The policy period will be automatically extended, or the effective date of the cancellation will be suspended until the “emergency” is over which will be the lesser of: a) 30 days; or b) the total number of days the “emergency” order was in effect; c) subject to a maximum of 120 consecutive days. Policyholders will still be asked to pay the additional premium for the extra policy period that is provided under this endorsement.

Please note that this extension of coverage does not apply to Automobile insurance policies.

Vacant Properties

Property is considered vacant if the insured has no plans to return. We will not consider the following instances as vacant.

1. Commercial buildings where business is temporarily halted or closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
2. Seasonal or Secondary Dwellings where policyholders are restricting their movements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will therefore not be visiting the dwelling as often as they normally would. Policyholders should still be aware of restrictions regarding water damage due to freezing during the regular heating season when they are away from their property for more than 4 consecutive days. Please refer to the applicable policy wordings.

APRIL 9: As the economic impact of the pandemic continues, building owners and property managers need to be monitoring their vacant or unoccupied premises and addressing concerns as they arise.

Mid Term Cancelations or Policy Changes

If a policyholder’s business is greatly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and revenues are expected to substantially reduce, we will endorse the policy mid-term to reflect updated information used for rating.
If a policyholder’s business is required to park their commercial vehicles due to the COVID-19 crisis our underwriters support our customers that wish to delete or amend coverage during this time.

E-Signatures & Electronic Communications

Wawanesa accepts electronic signatures.

Other

1. For policyholders who have purchased our Commercial General Liability coverage, this policy form has no pandemic exclusion. Coverage will respond to allegations of negligence related to the pandemic, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording.
2. We will allow them to use their personal vehicles for the purposes of delivering food and other products. This period began March 16th and will be valid until further notice.