MONTREAL, Nov. 17, 2011 – Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA) completely redesigned the infoinsurance.ca website, to more effectively answer the questions most frequently asked by consumers and make it easier for them to get information about auto and home insurance.
Understanding how it works
“We built the new website to inform and, above all, to demystify insurance for consumers”, explained Jack Chadirdjian, Director, Public Affairs at IBC.
IBC recently mandated the firm SOM to survey 1,000 respondents about their knowledge of insurance. Among the respondents, 81% had home insurance and auto insurance. The data collected showed that respondents feel they are better protected than they actually are. Moreover, the survey also revealed they were not that well up on their insurance coverage when it came to natural disasters or simple car accidents.
“We realized there were two key insurance stages. The first, when you buy insurance, the second, when you settle a claim. Infoinsurance was designed and created to address the vast majority of questions on the subject. For example, consumers shop around when buying home insurance and sometimes want to pay the lowest premium possible. However, it’s only when they suffer a loss that they truly begin to understand the product they purchased”, noted Jack Chadirdjian.
Answering the real questions
With this new site, IBC undertook to address the real issues candidly. It looks at policy limitations and exclusions, the claims settlement process and the consequences of fraud, whether committed by making a false declaration, or by embellishing a claim.
Consumers can access the information they need easily according to their status (owners, tenants, co-owners). In the case of a loss, all the information is presented by type of loss, providing the policyholder with practical and relevant information based on actual events: what steps to take, the claim settlement process, and their rights and obligations.
There is also content on preventing water damage, as well as automobile theft, fire and break and enters.
About IBC
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. It offers various services to consumers in order to inform and assist them when purchasing car or home insurance, or making a claim. To view media releases and information, visit the media section of IBC’s website at www.ibc.ca.
About GAA
Groupement des assureurs automobile was created in 1978 to set up mechanisms for guaranteeing access to automobile insurance, streamlining and speeding up the claims settlement process, as well as controlling costs, all for the benefit of Quebec consumers.
The two organizations have created a single site, www.infoinsurance.ca to inform consumers about property and casualty insurance and loss prevention.