News and Bulletins
NOTICE TO GENERAL INSURANCE AGENTS - COVID-19
Mar 18, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions during COVID-19
The Insurance Council of Manitoba has been monitoring and assessing developments with COVID-19. The health and safety of the public, our licensees and our staff is our priority. Council is taking special measures to ensure that we continue to provide services and carry out our role as a regulator.
Effective March 17th, 2020, the ICM offices are closed to the public. ICM will continue its business via telephone, email and online. The vast majority of licensing transactions can be submitted and completed on ICM’s online licensing portal. Please visit your dashboard in ICM’s licensing portal regularly for additional ‘News and Bulletins’ that may relate to your licence class.
Effective March 17th, 2020, the ICM offices are closed to the public. ICM will continue its business via telephone, email and online. The vast majority of licensing transactions can be submitted and completed on ICM’s online licensing portal. Please visit your dashboard in ICM’s licensing portal regularly for additional ‘News and Bulletins’ that may relate to your licence class.
EXAMS:
Effective March 17th, 2020, all exams written in the ICM office are suspended for a 30-day period, up to and including April 16th, 2020. No new exam registrations are being accepted until further notice. If you have already registered for an exam, you will be contacted to re-schedule. Your exam fees will be available to you to re-schedule and attend an exam at a later date. Council will be assessing the situation on an ongoing basis, and will determine whether new exam dates may be scheduled after April 16th, 2020. Please visit the ICM website for further information regarding exams, or if you have specific questions, please contact our Exam Coordinator.
Effective March 17th, 2020, all exams written in the ICM office are suspended for a 30-day period, up to and including April 16th, 2020. No new exam registrations are being accepted until further notice. If you have already registered for an exam, you will be contacted to re-schedule. Your exam fees will be available to you to re-schedule and attend an exam at a later date. Council will be assessing the situation on an ongoing basis, and will determine whether new exam dates may be scheduled after April 16th, 2020. Please visit the ICM website for further information regarding exams, or if you have specific questions, please contact our Exam Coordinator.
LEVEL 1 GENERAL INSURANCE AGENTS:
Under Manitoba’s General Insurance Licensing Rules, Level 1 general agents are required to work inside the office of a general insurance agency and under the supervision of a Level 2 or 3 licence holder. Recognizing work from home plans and protocols being put in place by agencies, the following plan has been made to assist industry with business continuity. The plan is for a 30-day period, up to and including April 16th, 2020, and will be reviewed and communicated as circumstances change.
The Superintendent of Financial Institutions has approved that the requirement for Level 1 general licence holders to only work inside the office of a general insurance agency will be suspended for a 30-day period with the following restrictions:
Under Manitoba’s General Insurance Licensing Rules, Level 1 general agents are required to work inside the office of a general insurance agency and under the supervision of a Level 2 or 3 licence holder. Recognizing work from home plans and protocols being put in place by agencies, the following plan has been made to assist industry with business continuity. The plan is for a 30-day period, up to and including April 16th, 2020, and will be reviewed and communicated as circumstances change.
The Superintendent of Financial Institutions has approved that the requirement for Level 1 general licence holders to only work inside the office of a general insurance agency will be suspended for a 30-day period with the following restrictions:
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That Level 1 general agents working from home may only deal with processing renewals that do not have any amendments to coverage; any changes to coverages or remarketing of policies for Manitoba clients must be referred to a Level 2 or 3 agent for action; AND
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That the Operating Agent must attest to the ICM (on a form that will be emailed directly to the Operating Agent) that the agency has an appropriate supervision plan in place for all Level 1 general agents working from home, and that the agency agrees that the Level 1 agents' business activity will be restricted to processing renewals as outlined above. Although the supervision plan does not have to be filed, ICM may at any reasonable time request a copy of the supervision plan.
ICM will not be processing any new applications for new (i.e. never licensed) Level 1 general agent applicants during the 30-day period; reinstatements, amendments and other licensing transactions will continue.
Operating agents are advised to log in to ICM’s licensing portal on an ongoing basis for additional ‘News and Bulletins’ that may relate to licensing matters.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE:
Errors and omissions insurance for licence holders is a critical component to public protection. It is essential that agents and agencies continue to ensure that their E&O insurance is current and provides appropriate levels of coverage. Licensees should plan for timely completion of E&O renewals to ensure there are no gaps in coverage. Due to the changing nature of the business environment, it is strongly recommended that licensees review with their E&O provider any conditions or changes that would affect their current coverages.