What are the age limits for Full Mortality Coverage?

Your horse must be between the ages of 48 hours through 16 years to insure for Full Mortality. If your horse is age 17 or older, Specified perils coverage is available. If the insured has been continuously insuring the horse on the HEP plan when it turns 17 years of age, and the horse meets the criteria; not retired, no claims, currently healthy free of sickness, disease, injury, lameness, the insured can APPLY for full mortality at an increased rate by supplying a satisfactory veterinarian certificate, declaration of health form and justification of value, to the MGA.

How much can the insured insure their horse for?

On a new purchase you can insure your horse for the purchase price, plus directly related costs to the purchase, such as Tax, pre purchase exam, transportation, coach’s commission. If your horse is not a recent purchase but has been in training or competing, then your horse’s Actual cash market value may have increased. A higher value can be requested pending underwriting approval, by providing justification of value, show records, and/or other documentation to support the increase. Generally on a new insurance policy the insured can apply to insure for more than the purchase price within 6 to 12 months of ownership, depending on the reason for the increase.

What documents are required to insure my horse?

For a new purchase, the Horse Mortality Application and a copy of the pre-purchase exam report (if one was performed in the last 30 days) or insurance veterinarian certificate, however if your are applying for insurance for $20,000.00 under a Declaration of health can be submitted, if the horse is over 1 year of age, purchased within Canada and free of any ailments, at the discretion of the MGA. If you have owned the horse a minimum 6-12 months and want to apply for a higher limit of mortality than your initial purchase price an increase can be applied for by submitting satisfactory forms. Forms that may be required are: “Justification of value”, “Professional justification of value”, “Performance record.”

How do I increase the insured value of my horse after I have a policy?

If you have owned the horse for a minimum 6-12 months, limit of insurance increase can be requested during the current policy term. The MGA requires submission of Statement of Health (either a Declaration of health or veterinarian certificate form depending on the increase, along with any of the following: show records (including results/size of classes), breed registration number, letter from your trainer stating the reasons for the increase in value, summary of training expenses, winnings, and/or breeding history. Once submitted and approved by the MGA, the increase in value and the additional premium is pro-rated through the end of the existing policy.

How can the insured request cancellation of the HEP policy?

Requests must be made in writing, either by email, fax or mail. If the horse was sold more than 30 days prior to your cancelation request, a copy of the Bill of Sale is also required to make the cancelation effective on the date of sale. Please note that a policy is fully earned at ten months.

Do we need to notify Aviva if the insured horse will be traveling or residing in another country?

Yes, the territorial limits of the HEP policy is anywhere in Canada and Intercontinental United States of America. Therefore we you must always notify the MGA if travelling abroad to add Air Trip Transit, Berserk and worldwide coverage, and advise the approximate time the horse will be out of country. If the horse is travelling to Intercontinental United States, and will be there for an extended period of time (over 4 months) then the MGA must be notified, for the opportunity for full understanding of the scenario. It is possible the horse may not be eligible for the HEP program or you may need to change HEP plans.

What is the 12 month Extension Coverage?

Full Mortality policies include the 12 month Extension coverage at no additional cost. This coverage provides that in the event of a condition occurring and reported during the policy period, mortality coverage will automatically continue for up to 12 months after the expiration date of the policy for that specific condition. For example, if your horse experienced laminitis during the policy period and you reported the condition promptly during the policy period, the mortality coverage is extended for up to 12 months after the expiration date of the policy in the event your horse dies as a result of laminitis.

The 12 month Extension coverage does not require you to renew your policy for mortality coverage to continue for the reported condition.

What happens if the horse develops a health problem or lameness during the policy? Will the company renew the coverage?

In the majority of cases, the company will offer renewal with an exclusion for the specific problem depending on its severity.

Remember that you still have mortality coverage for a reported condition under the 12 Month Extension for an additional 12 months following the policy expiration date.

Can the exclusion ever be removed:

It depends, if the exclusion is on ailment a horse can fully recover from or not. If the horse can recover and there has been no surgical intervention, after the exclusion has been on the policy for at least one full policy term, or if there has been surgical intervention after two full policy terms you can apply to have the exclusion removed. To apply submit a satisfactory Declaration of health form noting there has been no further concerns related to (whatever the ailment was), along with a satisfactory veterinarian certificate with the vet referring to the excluded ailment. Once applied to have the exclusion removed by submitting the forms to HEP – MGA the exclusion may or may not be removed at that time depending of the circumstances and the discretion of the HEP – MGA.

There are some ailments that cannot be removed as the horse would never fully recover.

Can I purchase more than one medical or surgical coverage?

There are optional medical and surgical coverages, you can pick one coverage on any one horse (i.e., you cannot have two separate $10,000 Medical/surgical and surgical only coverage on the same horse).

What is the eligibility for Medical or surgical coverage:

Horses must be 6 months of age and under 17 years of age. Note eligibility for different limits of coverage:

  • $2,500.00 and $5,000.00 all horses are eligible if insured for Full mortality coverage
  • $10,000.00 the horse must carry a minimum of $5,000.00 Full mortality
  • $15,000.00 limit the horse must carry a minimum of $15,000.00 Full mortality
  • $20,000.00 limit the horse must carry a minimum of $20,000.00 Full mortality

As veterinary costs continue to climb, consider recommending more coverage to protect your clients in the event your horse has medical/surgical claims.

Who Needs Commercial General Liability Coverage for Equestrian Activities?
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What about personal liability?

If the client owns or leases horses that are for their own personal pleasure or show use, and are not involved in their business, we can add farm liability to the CGL policy. It protects the client in the event one of their personal horses injures a third party or damages their property and the client is sued. As with the CGL coverage, it will pay for your defense costs for all insured claims in addition to the policy limits.

What if my client has a boarding facility and allows several independent instructors and trainers to freelance on their facility?
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My client is an Independent Instructor and teaches out of many facilities. What kind of a policy do I recommend?
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When do I ask for copies of agreements, waivers and/or safety standards?
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When is equine Care, Custody or Control (CCC) coverage necessary?
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If my client only wants liability coverage for a specific event, can I get just a single event policy?
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What do Equine Clubs and Associations require?
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