Wednesday, 28 October 2020

Your home insurance policy may soon carry a COVID-19 exclusion

 

 https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replie

Methinks the folks of New Brunswick have no idea just how bad the IBC has been putting it to them for years but Higgy et al and their buddy Brad Woodside in particular certainly do N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Your home insurance policy may soon carry a COVID-19 exclusion

Wording being added to policies that underscores inability to make COVID-related claim

 
CBC News · Posted: Oct 28, 2020 12:59 PM AT
 
 

Homeowners are advised to ask their insurance representatives about the communicable disease exclusion in their home insurance renewals. (CBC News Graphics)

Homeowners may see something new when they renew their home insurance policies over the next few months: a communicable disease exclusion.

This will protect insurance companies from any claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amanda Dean, vice-president Atlantic for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said Wednesday. 

"Generally, pandemic risk is not an insurable thing, as the insurance industry is unable to provide protection for losses of this nature because there's no way to diversify the risk due to it affecting the entire world at the same time," Dean said. 

The exclusion reflects the changes being made by international reinsurance companies, which  primary insurers buy insurance from. 

"So what we're seeing is insurance companies starting to make the decision to add that to those home insurance policies," 

Dean said the exclusion endorsement prevents anyone who contracts COVID-19 at someone's house from making a claim against a home insurance policy.

"We know we're all doing our our best to protect ourselves, our neighbours, our friends and family. But you never know where this is going to creep up. If someone were to contract COVID-19 and pursue litigation, it could get quite, quite costly." 

Dean said pandemic insurance is not normally available because the risk can't be diversified when it exists around the globe at the same time and can pop up in any community at any time. 

And while typically no claim related to a pandemic can be made anyway, insurance companies have decided to add the exclusion wording that reinsurance companies have added it their agreements. 

"What we're seeing is insurance companies making the decision to reflect that same wording within their homeowners  policies that they're offering to their customers." 


Amanda Dean, vice-president Atlantic with Insurance Bureau of Canada, said the putting the exclusion on homeowners' policies will be a company-by-company decision. (Insurance Bureau of Canada )

Dean said this is very new and she suggested homeowners speak to their insurance representative about it. 

"Like any change at this point in time, it can be a bit unnerving because we've all gone through an awful lot in the past number of months."

While only one insurance company has added the communicable disease exclusion to the home insurance renewal policy, Dean said there is potential for more companies to do so. 

"Where this is something that's happening with reinsurance companies, it will come down to business decisions with insurers that are selling home policies here in Canada." 

With files from Information Morning Fredericton and Information Morning Moncton

 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
 
36 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
 
 
 
 
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anne Bérubé
Then, please someone argue with me that insurance companies are no thieves?
 
 
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: It makes sense to me. I never thought my insurance company would cover for claims of this nature.
 
 
Randy McNally
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: You'll get no argument from me.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Randy McNally: Nor I
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Jos Allaire: Why would you?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justin Gunther
Watcha gon do with all that house, all that house inside yo yard,
I'm gonna heat and insure that house, all that house $12K a year, check it out:

My backyard's got a heated pool
My invite list is climate cool
My hashtags are all proper too
#climatechangeisreal it's true

Oh no we're weezing

Friends are coughing, snotting on me
and throwing up on me

Oh no they're scheming

Friends are plotting for my money,
CERB money

Watcha gon do when I serve you, I serve you with hefty suits
I'm gonna call my brokerage house, brokerage house on call in cue, check it out:

My friends are playing dirty
The COVID got them crazy
They say I owe them money
So kindly reimburse me

Oh no we're sorry

COVID carveout in effect
nobody's got your back

Re read that policy

By the way your payment's due
last week!
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: If you should go chasing rabbits like the fancy French lawyer Michaud did after eating some kind of mushrooms then ever forget what the Doormouse said
 
 
Justin Gunther
Reply to @David Amos: I am mushroom free good sir. My daily regimen of medication is as consistently the same as its ever been. And my rabbit chasing days are over. I'm not sure I could say the same for much of NB but that's mostly because of all the elephants in all the rooms.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther:
One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar has given you the call
He called Alice, when she was just small
When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom, and your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the Dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head 
 
 
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Should I write a song about angry duty counself showing up to work half drunk or do I need to do that? I assure you I'm focusing a lot of my time on my own utility and its conversion into cash money.
 
 
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Justin Gunther: counsels
 
 
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Cool rap battle guys. Maybe you'll get to have one in person in Restigouche soon..
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver:Methinks everybody but you and your buddy little Lou know that I wasn't joking N'esy Pas?

"A lawyer who represented the provincial government on several high-profile cases and served as president of the province's law society is facing criminal charges after consuming mushrooms"
 
 
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Well if isn't my good friend Mr. McRay, with an acoustic guitar and a BAND that can play. :-) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JOhn D Bond
This actually makes sense. When you purchase home insurance, you are protecting the property, buildings and providing yourself some liability insurance if someone slips and falls or somehow injures themselves on your property.
If someone visited your home and contracted some disease/virus, be that pneumonia, the measles, or some other ailment. The current insurance policies would not cover that nor were they intended to. So by excluding covid-19 ( pandemic ) insurance they are simply trying to mitigate future unnecessary lawsuits. The reality is none of us could afford to pay the premiums something like would cost even if it was available.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @JOhn D Bond: I know you don't care but many lawyers know that Madame Dean and I have a huge bone to pick about my old Harley
 
 
Anne Bérubé
Reply to @JOhn D Bond: It only makes sense if you are selling insurance, right? 
 
 
JOhn D Bond
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: Not really, makes more sense for the individual buying insurance. Why pay for something that would never be paid out. The force majeure or act of god clause would mitigate any payment. This way it is excluded and premium is paid so good news for homeowners. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lou Bell: 
Soon to come ? A long list of exclusions to be added that possibly would be covered . A good example of hidden agendas of the self serving insurance industry is their UNREGULATED decision of forcing people to replace the roofing on their houses . One can now get shingles rated and warrantied for 40 years . Your insurance company can direct you to replace that roof any time they wish and if one doesn't they can refuse to renew your insurance. My roof was in good shape , 25 year prorated warranty , and my Allstate agent told me I had to put on a new roof or they wouldn't renew my insurance. I called to question this and was told there was no negotiating . I did change companies and upon asking if my roof needed replace I was told by my new insurer it didn't . By the way , Allstate called and said they hadn't received my renewal confirmation . When I told them I changed companies they asked why I hadn't called to negotiate !!! REally ???
 
 
Tom Campbell
Reply to @Lou Bell: Yes, that sounds like insurance companies. They should have to send someone around to appraise the roof, and show you where you need to have it replaced.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Tom Campbell: methinks everybody knows your little buddy Lou has not clue but trust that many clops and lawyers know that I know more about the insurance business than most insurance people do The folks of New Brunswick have no idea just how bad the IBC has been putting it to them for years but Higgy et al and their buddy Brad Woodside in particular certainly do N'esy Pas?
 
 
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou DumBell: Allstate' s rates are lower for a reason. They are good until you have a claim. Then they will have nothing to do with you. You get what you pay for. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rekindle Warron 
Time for a complete overhaul of home owner insurance. The current industry in Canada is an utter farce. Hey politicians - if you want to get elected take some notes.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Rekindle Warron: I Wholeheartedly Agree
 
 
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Rekindle Warron:
If you wish to learn about insurance do a bit of research on Bob Rae, specifically Bob Rae's Ontario, where he promised government car insurance. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rob Franklin
I can see the concern about liability risk, but what if this thing gets so bad that my home gets broken into and raided and/or destroyed from people desperate for food/shelter and clothing? Where does the "covid-19" risk start and stop?
 
 
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Rob Franklin: If society deteriorates to that point, I expect that all the insurance companies will have closed down.
 
 
Tom Campbell
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: they'll be among the first to go. In other words, take the money and run.
 
 
JOhn D Bond
Reply to @Rob Franklin: Most insurance policies have an exclusion for war/ terrorism, civil unrest would not be a large step. If it was on a massive scale. Otherwise the break in would be just that a break in and covered. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Tom Campbell: Methinks thats a forgone conclusion a N'esy Pas"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Charges may be dropped against Moncton lawyer

Case against Christian Michaud being dealt with under alternative measures program

Christian Michaud, 48, of Ammon, was charged last February after an incident where Michaud said he accidently ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms. (Shane Magee/CBC)

Charges against a prominent Moncton lawyer of public nudity and causing a disturbance will be dropped if he successfully completes alternative measures.

Christian Michaud, 48, of Ammon was charged last February after behaviour allegedly caused by ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms. At the time, Michaud said he regularly forages for mushrooms and mistakenly consumed those particular mushrooms.

The case was recommended for the alternative measures program. The province says the program is designed to "hold eligible adults accountable for their actions at the community level" and to make better use of resources by providing alternatives to the criminal justice system.

Michaud told Radio-Canada last month that as part of the alternative measures, he admitted his fault in the incident and paid $85 the for cleanup of a police vehicle.

He is to return to court Dec. 11. If he is considered to have successfully completed the alternative measures, the charges against him will be dropped.

Michaud served as the president of the Law Society of New Brunswick in 2018-2019.

With files from Radio-Canada

 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Prominent lawyer who represented New Brunswick government faces nudity charge

Christian Michaud says he consumed the wrong type of mushrooms

Christian Michaud, 48, of Ammon, north of Moncton, is to appear in provincial court later this month. (Shane Magee/CBC)

A lawyer who represented the provincial government on several high-profile cases and served as president of the province's law society is facing criminal charges after consuming mushrooms.

Christian Michaud, 48, of Ammon was charged Feb. 21 and is set to appear in Moncton provincial court later this month. 

The charges include public nudity in Ammon, causing a disturbance on the same day, and committing mischief by making an RCMP Ford Explorer "inoperative."

The charges allege the events occurred Sept. 22. 

Michaud said he regularly forages for mushrooms and mistakenly consumed the wrong kind that resulted in a bad reaction while he was at his home north of Moncton. 

"So possibly I completely lost my mind because it was a very strong hallucinogen," he told Radio-Canada.

Michaud said his wife called 911 asking for an ambulance, but police also answered the call. After he was placed in the back seat, he said he urinated in the police vehicle. 

He's upset police have opted to pursue charges. 

Past law society president

Michaud was president of the Law Society of New Brunswick from 2018 to 2019. 

He was a partner with Cox & Palmer for more than two decades. He recently began his own practice. He told CBC News the change was not directly related to the criminal charges. 

News releases about Michaud no longer appear on the Cox & Palmer website, including one marking his appointment in 2015 as Queen's Counsel, a designation awarded to select lawyers for outstanding service, dedication and commitment to the legal profession in the province. The news releases still appear in cached versions of the Cox & Palmer website. 

He represented the provincial government in a case involving the rights of thousands of nursing home workers last year. He also previously represented Ambulance New Brunswick in a lawsuit related to bilingual service

Michaud is scheduled to appear in court March 20. He said he intends to plead not guilty and will fight the charges.

He's retained lawyer Nathan Gorham to represent him.

About the Author

Shane Magee

Reporter

Shane Magee is a Moncton-based reporter for CBC.

With files from Radio-Canada

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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