How do insurance claims work for HCBC Members?

Acera Insurance – Kelowna BC, March 2023

At Acera Insurance, formerly CapriCMW, we have been proudly providing insurance products and risk management service to HCBC and its members for many years.

As we get ready for another active Summer season in 2023, I wanted to write about the claims process for the insurance policies you may have in place as a member of HCBC (that I hope you never have to deal with!)

Like the insurance policies we administer to protect you, your horse and other assets, there are a wide range of claim types that occur every day in our community. It won’t be a surprise that not all incidents that cause injury or loss are insured and it’s true that even with insurance in place, the loss itself may not be covered due to a unique circumstance. The fact is that all insurance policies have exclusions, and it is important that all policy holders take the time to understand the coverage provided so that if something bad happens, expectations for recovery can be met. As insurance brokers, we have a responsibility to do our best to help you understand the scope and limitations of the insurance products we sell. When a claim occurs, it is also our responsibility to advocate for you (our client) to ensure that the insurance company responds as it is legally required to do in the circumstances at hand.

The following are some general tips to help if/when a claim does occur.

1. Contact your insurance broker immediately. We offer 24/7 claims service and timely initial contact will be helpful to get initiate the claims process

2. Read the insurance documents you have been provided with, to see what coverages may be available.

3. Ask your broker as many questions as are needed to be clear on coverages.

4. Contact the police if there is vehicle involvement that has caused property damage or bodily injury.

5. If the claim involves your horse (injury or death), call a veterinarian immediately.

6. Take pictures, write down details of the loss, get witness names etc. – all while it is fresh in your mind.

7. Be prepared for lots of questions and the need to get paperwork together to establish proof of the loss.

8. Work with the claims adjuster to give them what they need to move the file forward.

9. Be patient. Insurance claims are subject to a process that takes time.

Finally, the best advice is to contact us if you have any questions about the insurance we administer for you - or the claims process, we are always here to assist.

Insurance for horses and their people – it’s what we do.