Frequently Asked Questions

We are…an Independent Insurance Broker, which means we act as professional insurance advisors operating an independent business to serve all your insurance needs. Our dedicated employees are continually trained through IBAO (Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario) and other RIBO (Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario) approved programs. We are experts at simplifying the intricacies of insurance policies, sharing our knowledge and presenting our best recommendations to you, the customer. Our office represents several different insurance companies and we are, therefore, able to shop around and negotiate the best premiums matched to the best coverage for your protection. Simply put… we work with you to help you make a more informed decision.

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Why is it a wise decision to use the services of an independent insurance broker? Working with an independent broker offers many advantages.

• With A Broker, Your Needs Take Priority
• Brokers Are Experienced in Assisting You, Should a Loss Occur
• Brokers Are Highly Skilled Professionals
• Brokers Protect Your Privacy
• Broker Disclosure
• Identifying an IBAO Broker

Four good reasons to insure. In some cases, insurance is mandatory - to obtain a mortgage, for example, or to drive a car. Otherwise, the choice is yours, but it's a wise choice for four main reasons:

1. Reduces worry. With the right type and amount of insurance, you can be protected from the risks to property and person that are inherent in everyday life.
   
2. Makes it easier to obtain credit. Lenders may be more willing to extend personal or commercial credit if they know that proper insurance is in place.
   
3. Helps to prevent loss. Brokers and insurers work to help prevent loss with information and advice on road safety, anti-theft, fire prevention and fraud reduction.
   
4. Frees up capital. Because insurance protects your assets, you do not have to put money aside in case of future losses.This security applies to individuals and businesses.

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Insurance companies, along with the brokers and agents who sell home, auto and business insurance, are committed to safeguarding your rights when you shop for insurance and when you submit a claim following a loss. Your rights include the right to be informed fully, to be treated fairly, to timely complaint resolution, and to privacy. These rights are grounded in the contract between you and your insurer and the insurance laws of your province. With rights, however, come responsibilities including, for example, the expectation that you will provide complete and accurate information to your insurer. Your policy outlines other important responsibilities. Insurers and their distribution networks, and governments also have important roles to play in ensuring that your rights are protected.

Right to Be Informed
Responsibility to Ask Questions and Share Information
Right to Complaint Resolution
Responsibility to Resolve Disputes
Right to Professional Service
Right to Privacy

There are some situations in which you shouldn't and your broker can help you decide.

• Is it covered? Remember that your policy has limits and exclusions that mean some losses are not covered. Property belonging to your employer, for example, is probably not covered. Damage from a fire that was set intentionally might not be covered, and theft of a valuable painting could be beyond your insurance limit. Is it covered? Ask your broker first.
  
• If the loss is less than the amount of your deductible, then you cannot make a claim.
  
• If your loss is covered and above the amount of your deductible, you might still not want to make a claim if your premiums will increase as a result. Again, ask your broker for advice.

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Liability insurance covers the cost of damages (for accident benefits, medical costs, lawsuits and awards) in the event of personal injury or death from an accident involving the insured party. In other words, you are financially protected if you are held liable for an injury or loss by others arising from the operation of your vehicle. Read more here

Many provinces in Canada now have some level of no-fault insurance in which each person's own insurance company pays for injury or damage up to a certain limit. This applies regardless of whether or not the insured person was at fault.
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The recommended level of liability insurance coverage is usually about $1 million. There are some situations in which you might want to increase your liability limit depending on the use of your vehicle. Read more here

Medical and Rehabilitation Benefit

Covers the cost of reasonable and necessary medical and rehabilitation expenses (e.g. Physiotherapy, prescriptions) that are not covered by OHIP or your disability insurance plan

• If you sustain a minor injury in a car accident, the maximum that will be paid out is $3500
• If the injury is non minor but non catastrophic, the policy will pay to a maximum of $50,000.
• If purchased, and the injury is non minor but non catastrophic, coverage is increased to $100,000

Caregiver Care

If you are providing full-time care to dependants and can no longer provide that care as the result of an auto accident, you may be eligible for caregiver benefits to reimburse you for your expenses to hire someont to care for your dependants.

• If the injury is non catastrophic, there is no compensation
• If the injury is catastrophic, the policy will provide $250/wk + $50/wk for each additional dependant
• If purchased, coverage will respond even if the injury is non catastrophic  

Housekeeping & Home Maintenance

If you are unable to perform your usual duties due to your injuries, this benefit pays for reasonable and necessary additional expenses for someone to complete your duties.

• If the injury is non catastrophic, there is no compensation
• If the injury is catastrophic, the policy will provide up to $100/wk
• If purchased, coverage will respond even if injury is non catastrophic

Income Replacement

If you cannot work as the result of an auto accident, you may be eligible for basic weekly income replacement benefits up to $400. This benefit commences after one week.

• Income replacement benefits are 70% of gross weekly income to a max of $400/wk
• If purchased, levels can be increased to $600, $800 or $1000 per week

Dependant Care

Pays for additional expenses incurred to care for your dependants if you are employed and are injured in an auto accident

• The standard policy does not include coverage
• If purchased, coverage will provide $75/wk for 1st dependant, $25/wk for each additional to a maximum of $150/wk. (not applicable if receiving the Caregiver Benefit)

Attendant Care

Attendant Care pays for an aide to look after you if you have been seriously hurt in a car accident

• No coverage is provided if the injury is minor
• If the injury is non minor but non catastrophic, the limits are $3000/mth to $36000 max.
• If the injury is catastrophic, the limit is $6000/mth to  $1,000,000 max.
• If purchased, and the injury is non minor but non catastrophic, coverage may be increased to $72,000

Increased Death and Funeral

If you die as a result of an auto accident, the death benefit provides a lump sum payout to your spouse and your dependant; the funeral benefit provides a lump sum payout to cover the cost of your funeral expenses.

• standard death benefit is $25,000 to surviving spouse or same sex partner and $10,000 to surviving dependants; if purchased, this benefit can be doubled ($50,000 and $20,000)
• standard funeral benefit is $6000; if purchased, this benefit may be increased to $8000

Indexation Benefit

Tort Deductible

Renting a car.
If you drive a rented car or any vehicle that is not owned by you, your existing policy automatically extends accident benefits and third party liability coverage to your rented car. These limits are the same as those on your own car.
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Traveling outside the province or country
Your insurance will apply if you take your car on short trips to other provinces or into the continental U.S., as long as you engage in normal use of the vehicle.
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Moving to another province
If you are relocating long-term or permanently, you must inform your insurer and arrange for new coverage that reflects the risks in your new location.      

When the car is "in the shop"
Under most insurance policies, you are not entitled to a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop for normal maintenance or repair. If you lose the use of your car because of an accident, then you might be entitled to a loaned vehicle depending on the situation.      

When driving someone else's car
If you borrow someone else's car, you are covered by the insurance on that car. However, if you are involved in an accident, the owner's record, not yours, will be affected.  

When someone else drives your car
Remember that when someone else is driving your car, you are still responsible for it. Any at-fault accidents or claims will go onto your driving record and affect your future premiums.

Your home should be insured from the moment you take legal ownership-even if it is under construction. Your broker's expertise is particularly useful at this stage when you really need to match policy features with needs. Here's a primer to get you started: Home insurance covers the building, its contents and liability     There are usually three parts to your homeowner's policy. For condominium owners and tenants, just the contents and liability coverages apply.
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Policies range from offering comprehensive to "bare-bones" coverage. You can save money by scaling down your policy, but be careful not to underinsure. Basically, there are two common types of protection.

1. Named Perils coverage provides coverage for specific basic perils outlined in the policy. This coverage is usually less expensive, but places more risk to financial loss on you.
2. All Risks coverage provides you broader coverage for normal risks to which your home exposes, except those which are specifically excluded, such as acts of terrorism or flooding.

There are three general policy categories from which to choose:

1. Basic/Named Perils policies which is the most basic policy you can buy, providing "Named Perils" coverage only for both your home/outbuildings and its contents.
2. Broad Form policies provide slightly broader protection, offering "All Risks" coverage on your home and outbuildings and "Named Perils" coverage on your contents.
3. Comprehensive policies provide the most thorough coverage available by offering "All Risks" coverage for your home/outbuildings and also your contents.

Regardless of which policy you select, some coverages can be increased and certain items insured separately. Your broker will be happy to sit down with you to review your coverage needs.