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Relief for Seasonal Cottage Insurance

Relief for seasonal cottage insurance with Mackay Insurance in Belleville

Relief for Seasonal Cottage Insurance

Now that summer is here in full force, we are getting calls from some of our customers who have seasonal cottages.

 One of the hot-topic questions on the table right now is simply this: “if you are not allowed to use your seasonal cottage this summer season, will there be discounts or rebates on cottage insurance, recreational vehicle insurance or cottage rental (business use) insurance?”

If yes, how do you apply? If no, is it possible to cut back on coverage levels to control the costs of seasonal cottage coverage during COVID-19?

What about breaks on associated fees, such as marina use fees, property taxes and local services fees?

These are all great questions; however, with COVID-19 being an unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation, the answer is more complicated than we might like. 

We will take a closer look at each question and give you the most recent, up-to-date information in this blog post. Keep reading!

 

Are There COVID-19 Related Discounts or Rebates for Seasonal Cottage Insurance?

Unlike with auto insurance, currently there are no province-wide or national mandates of any kind encouraging or requiring that insurers provide seasonal cottage insurance customers with rebates or discounts due to COVID-19.

This is in spite of the fact that many cottage owners are not able to even travel to their properties just to check the premises, let alone to enjoy time there or earn rental income by subletting to summer tenants.

There is a possibility that you could apply for a deferment of premium payments for reasons of financial hardship due to COVID-19. This is a decision that is being left up to each individual insurance provider. Find out more about your Mackay cottage insurance here.

 

Is It Okay to Cancel Seasonal Cottage Insurance During COVID-19?

 If you can't visit your seasonal cottage due to COVID-19 restrictions and no one else (such as rental tenants) can either, then is it okay to cancel your seasonal cottage insurance to save money?

We completely understand that many of our customers have been severely impacted financially due to the economic shutdown here in Canada.

There are simply far too many unknowns to make it a smart plan to cancel your seasonal cottage insurance even if you can't enjoy your cottage right now.

It may, however, be possible to adjust your premiums based on adjusting the level of coverage you are carrying.

 

Can You Cancel Business Use Rider Coverage for a Seasonal Cottage Rental?

If you have been carrying a business use policy rider that permits you to rent your seasonal cottage for a more extended time period, it may be feasible to pause this seasonal cottage coverage.

If, however, your business use rider includes coverage for loss of rental income, you may not want to pause this coverage right now!

 

What Other Options Are Available to Make Seasonal Cottage Insurance More Affordable?

Here are some additional ways to adjust your policy premium costs to make continuing to carry seasonal cottage insurance more affordable during COVID-19:

  • Increase your policy deductible.
  • Install extra safety features at your cottage, such as a monitored alarm system.

At the very least, you still want to make sure your seasonal cottage, including the premises and possessions stored on that property, are insured against risks that COVID-19 will not impact, such as weather-related events, vandalism, theft and flooding due to pump or pipe malfunctions.

 

Can You Get a COVID-19 Deferral on Your Seasonal Cottage Premium Payments?

Another option to pursue if COVID-19 is stretching your budget too thin is to ask your insurer if it is possible to apply for a deferral of policy premium payments.

 If you are experiencing financial hardship, it is possible you may be able to have your premium payments deferred for a limited period of time.

A premium payment deferment is not the same as a loan or a forgiveness of financial obligations. Rather, a deferment simply pushes back the due date of the next premium payment.

This may have the impact of extending the term of your policy and/or increasing the amount you have to pay for the remaining premium payments.

It is vital to understand the fine print of how any such deferred payment plan will work to be sure you are comfortable with the terms.

 

Can You Cancel Your Recreational Vehicle Insurance Policy?

If you have a boat, jet skis, off-road vehicles, fifth wheel or RTV, travel trailer or other type of seasonal recreational vehicle that you are not able to use right now, you may also be wondering if there are any auto-related insurance discounts for these.

While the auto insurance industry has been releasing some funds back to policyholders due to COVID-19, the same is not true for the recreational vehicle insurance industry.

Depending on how your policy is structured, it may be possible to reduce coverage based on reduced use. But here again, you want to make sure you retain coverage for damage or destruction due to events outside of your control such as weather or theft.

 

How to Find Out What Financial Support May Be Available to You

Right now, with the possible exception of auto insurance providers, it is pretty much up to each individual insurer whether to offer any type of financial support to customers hit hard by COVID-19.

The best way to find out what, if any, financial relief may be available is to reach out to your Mackay broker directly.

Together, you can review your coverage and identify where you may be able to cut back on coverage, apply for premium payment deferment or consolidate due to reduced use rates.

 

Get in Touch With Mackay Insurance 

Here at Mackay Insurance in Belleville, Ontario, our offices are open by appointment only to serve you. Our brokers and support staff are also available by email and phone to support you in any way we can.

Contact us online or give us a call at 888-853-5552.

 

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