Insurance Legislation

Alberta's New Insurance Act

Changes to the Insurance Act came into effect July 1, 2012
Updates clarify and strengthen consumer rights

• Read the information bulletin (June 29, 2012)
• Dispute Resolution Process information added
• Click here for the updated Insurance Act.

Legislative changes have been implemented to amend the provisions of the Act applicable to the various types of insurance contracts such as: life, accident and sickness, liability, business and property.  These changes modernize the framework for insurance contracts, strengthen consumer protection, and address issues identified by stakeholders, including consumers, legal counsel and insurers.

The following information highlights some of the major changes in the Act and related regulations.

• Changes to the Act
• Changes to the Regulations
• Overall Summary (pdf - will open in a new window)

If you have questions regarding Alberta’s new Insurance Act, please contact the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, either by e-mail insurance@gov.ab.ca or by phone 780-427-8322.

Back to Top

Changes to the Act

• The legislation will require that statutory conditions to be incorporated into multi-peril property contracts. This will provide clarity for future claims.
  
  
• The timeframe to initiate an action has been increased from the current one year timeframe to two years. This is consistent with the Limitations Act.
  
  
• The dispute resolution process currently referred to as the Appraisal Procedure will be amended to strengthen consumer protection in a claims dispute.
  
  
• Electronic transactions will be allowed permitting insurers and policyholders to use modern business practices and technology. There will be some exceptions where written transactions will still be required to protect consumer interest. For example, the cancellation of an insurance policy or the change of a beneficiary.
  
  
• An individual insured under a group life or accident and sickness policy will be able to obtain a copy of the group insurance policy – excluding any parts containing confidential information. Currently, the individual can access a certificate with very limited information about the insurance.
  
  
• When an insurance company replaces another insurer’s existing group life insurance policy, they will have the option to automatically carry over the beneficiary designation instead of having everyone fill out new designation forms. However, if they do automatically carry it over, they will need to advise the insured.
  
  
• The regulatory process will be streamlined for hail insurers with the removal of the requirement to file hail insurance commission and premium rates.

Back to Top

Changes to the Regulations

• Classes of Insurance Regulation
  This regulation repeals and replaces the current Classes of Insurance Regulation. The change harmonizes Alberta’s Classes of Insurance regulation with other jurisdictions.
  
  
• Enforcement and Administration Amendment Regulation
  This amendment regulation currently outlines the various classes of insurance covered by the insurance industry’s Compensation Corporation when an insurance company is liquidated. Amendment to the current regulation is required as a result of the changes to some of the classes of insurance in the Classes of Insurance Regulation.
  
  
• Fair Practices Amendment Regulation
  This amendment regulation includes new consumer protection provisions that will require insurance companies, their agents and adjusters to provide full and clear disclosure of dispute resolution processes and limitation periods to clients who have initiated insurance claims. The regulation includes the permitted exclusions that can be included in property insurance policy wordings to exclude coverage for damages caused by a fire. It also includes a provision permitting a person to apply to a court for an order for an advance payment on a personal injury claim being negotiated with an insurance company.
  
  
• Miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Regulation
  This amendment regulation will name the additional insurance perils which, if written by an insurance company in Alberta, trigger a requirement that the company become a member of the General Insurance OmbudService. The regulation also outlines the kind of confidential or commercial information, within a group life and accident and sickness insurance policy, an insurance company may withhold when a person, insured by the policy, requests a copy of the policy wordings.
  
  
• Transitional (Insurance Amendment Act, 2008 – Part 5) Regulation
  This regulation will provide guidance to the insurance industry and the legal community as to how existing and new insurance contract insurance claims are handled under the previous and new provision of the Act. This regulation is still to be finalized.

Back to Top

Links to Applicable Insurance Legislation

Insurance Act	Order in Council or mm/dd/yy
Insurance Act	07/01/12
Insurance Act (Proclamation Order)	325/2011
Applicable Insurance Regulations (Alphabetical order)	Regulation No.
Classes of Insurance Regulation	144/2011
Enforcement and Administration Regulation (consolidated up to 147/2011)	129/2001
Fair Practices Regulation (consolidated up to 183/2011)	128/2001
Miscellaneous Provisions Regulation (consolidated up to 146/2011)	120/2001
Transitional (Insurance Amendment Act, 2008 – Part 5) Regulation	185/2011

Back to Top