We have prepared this document to assist you to understand important issues relating to your insurances. Please contact your Account Executive if you have any questions or require further advice/assistance.
ESSENTIAL READING OF POLICY WORDING
The policy wordings for your insurances are essential reading to understand what is protected by each policy. Read them carefully as soon as possible and contact us if you have any concerns about the extent of your cover.
DUTY OF GOOD FAITH
Both parties to an insurance contract, the insurer and the insured, must act towards each other with the utmost good faith. If you fail to do so, the insurer can cancel your insurance. If the insurer fails to do so, you may be able to sue the insurer.
UNDER-INSURANCE
Reviewing the sums insured and declared values in your policies on a regular basis and at each renewal will help you to ensure that you have maximum protection under your policies.
Consider whether you require cover for replacement on a ‘new for old’ basis and other costs such as removal of debris. The value of the property/assets insured may need to be updated if you change locations, renovate or expand your premises, or purchase new property/assets.
If you don’t check these values and advise us of changes you require, you could be underinsured as the insurer may apply an Average or Co-insurance clause.
AVERAGE OR CO-INSURANCE
Some policies contain an Average or Co-insurance clause. This means that if you insure for less than the full value of the property, your claim may be reduced in proportion to the amount of the under-insurance.
Some business interruption policies contain an Average/Co-Insurance clause which has a different application. Check your policy and contact us with any questions.
CONTRACTS AND LEASES YOU SIGN
If you sign a contract with an indemnity, “hold harmless” or release, it can invalidate your insurance – unless you obtain the Insurer’s consent in advance.
These clauses are often found in leases and other contracts you sign from time to time relating to your business. Do not sign a contract or lease without contacting us and/or taking legal advice as to whether the contract terms will prejudice your policy.
LEASING, HIRING AND BORROWING PROPERTY
When you lease, hire or borrow property, make sure that the contract clearly identifies who is responsible for insuring the property.
Industrial Special Risks policies automatically cover property which you are responsible to insure, subject to the policy excess. Public liability insurance may assist you meet claims relating to property damage to property which you lease or hire. A sub-limit usually applies to the amount you can claim for damage to property in your care, custody or control.
ADDITIONAL INSUREDS AND NOTING INTERESTS
If a person is to be named on your policy or insured as a co-insured or joint insured, notify us immediately so we can request this in advance from the insurer. Your property and liability policies will not provide automatic cover for the insurable interest of other parties (e.g., mortgagees, lessors).
Check with us whether the insurer will include someone else as an insured or note their interests before you agree to this in a contract or lease. We cannot guarantee that an insurer will agree to include someone as an insured under your policy or to note their interests on your policy.
CLAIMS OCCURRING POLICIES
Most of your policies do not provide indemnity in respect of events that occurred before the insurance commenced. They cover events that occur during the policy period.
CLAIMS MADE POLICIES
Some policies (e.g. professional indemnity insurance) provide cover on a “claims made” basis. This means that claims first advised to you (or made against you) and reported to your insurer during the policy period are insured under that policy, irrespective of when the incident causing the claim occurred. If you become aware of circumstances which could give rise to a claim, notify the insurer during the policy period.
Report all incidents that may give rise to a claim against you to the insurers immediately after they come to your attention and before the policy expires.
INSURER SOLVENCY
We do not warrant or guarantee the current or ongoing solvency or financial viability of the insurer because we have no control over the insurer's performance and this can be affected by many complex commercial and economic factors.
UNAUTHORISED FOREIGN INSURERS
In limited cases, we may recommend that you insure with an unauthorised foreign insurer. An unauthorised foreign insurer is an insurer that is not authorised under the Insurance Act 1973 (Act) to conduct insurance business in Australia and is not subject to the system of financial supervision of general insurers in Australia that is monitored by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
If the insurer becomes insolvent, you will not be protected by the Federal Government’s Financial Claims Scheme provided under Part VC of that Act.