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		<title>How Trade Credit Insurance Can Safeguard Your Business Cashflow</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-trade-credit-insurance-can-safeguard-your-business-cashflow/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-trade-credit-insurance-can-safeguard-your-business-cashflow</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tara Burke]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:41:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=18590</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Why Trade Credit Insurance Can Protect Your Business Cashflow The cashflow problem nobody talks about You've done the work. You've delivered goods or services to a customer. The invoice is issued, terms are agreed, and you expect payment. Then it doesn't arrive. It sounds straightforward: chase it up, follow payment terms, and move on. But [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2><strong>Why Trade Credit Insurance Can Protect Your Business Cashflow</strong></h2>
<h3><strong>The cashflow problem nobody talks about</strong></h3>
<p>You&#8217;ve done the work. You&#8217;ve delivered goods or services to a customer. The invoice is issued, terms are agreed, and you expect payment. Then it doesn&#8217;t arrive.</p>
<p>It sounds straightforward: chase it up, follow payment terms, and move on. But sometimes a customer becomes insolvent or stops paying, and no amount of chasing gets the money back. When that happens, it affects your cashflow and ties up money you&#8217;d otherwise have available for your business.</p>
<p>This is where trade credit insurance comes in. It&#8217;s a practical tool for businesses that extend credit as part of their normal operations, which is most businesses.</p>
<h3><strong>What trade credit insurance actually does</strong></h3>
<p>Trade credit insurance helps protect your business when a customer can&#8217;t pay their invoice. If the claim is accepted, the insurer may reimburse part of the invoice amount, which helps your cashflow.</p>
<p>The cover works for both local customers and overseas buyers. If you export, it can also cover risks like currency problems or government actions that prevent payment.</p>
<p>When you purchase trade credit insurance, you get access to the insurance protection plus you may have access to complementary services from the insurance provider. These typically include credit information services, credit assessment, monitoring alerts, and support tools. Together, these elements help you manage the risk of unpaid invoices.</p>
<h3><strong>When cashflow really matters</strong></h3>
<p>For any business that gives customers time to pay, cashflow matters. You&#8217;re paying your team and suppliers now, but getting paid later. When a customer doesn&#8217;t pay as expected, that gap gets tighter.</p>
<p>Some sectors feel this pressure more acutely:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Building and construction</strong>:</span> You may pay for materials and labour upfront while waiting weeks for your customer to pay.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Manufacturing and distribution</strong>:</span> You may hold stock or manage production for customers who may not pay on time.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Labour hire</strong>:</span> You may be paying staff weekly but invoicing customers monthly.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Professional services</strong>:</span> Invoices may sit unpaid for months while you&#8217;ve already delivered the work.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Food and hospitality supply</strong>:</span> You may work on tight margins, so a customer not paying can significantly impact operations.</li>
</ul>
<p>Industry data shows that certain sectors see higher volumes of trade credit claims. Building and hardware, along with food and provisions, are among the sectors where customer payment issues are more commonly reported. This reflects the nature of how these industries operate, with extended payment terms and cashflow timing challenges.</p>
<h2><strong>Five reasons to consider trade credit insurance</strong></h2>
<p>Your debtors ledger is often one of your largest business assets. Trade credit insurance helps protect it by addressing five key business concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong> Preserve profit. </strong></span>When a customer doesn&#8217;t pay, that invoice value disappears from your bottom line. Trade credit insurance can help by providing reimbursement if an unrecoverable debt occurs, subject to your policy terms.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong> Protect liquidity and cashflow. </strong></span>If a significant customer default occurs, a claim under your trade credit insurance policy may inject funds back into your business, helping you to maintain operations and meet your payment obligations.</li>
<li><strong><span style="color: #008c95;"> Extend credit with confidence.</span> </strong>When you have insurance protection in place for customer defaults, you may feel more confident extending credit terms to customers. The insurance helps manage the financial impact if a debt becomes uncollectable.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong> Strengthen credit management. </strong></span>Trade credit insurance providers offer credit information services, analysis, and monitoring alerts. This supports better credit decisions based on sound analysis and real-time information about your debtors&#8217; financial position.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong> Add security for your bank. </strong></span>Insuring your debtors ledger provides a source of security that you may be able to offer your banks when discussing facilities. The specific implications would depend on your bank&#8217;s requirements and your individual circumstances.</li>
</ol>
<p>These benefits depend on your specific policy terms, the cover you select, and your individual circumstances.</p>
<h3><strong>Understanding the full service</strong></h3>
<p>When you purchase trade credit insurance, you&#8217;re typically getting access to more than just claims protection. Insurance providers offer complementary services that work alongside the insurance itself:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Credit information services</strong></span> help identify customer details and provide information about potential payment risks before you extend credit</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Credit assessment</strong> </span>analyses customer information to help inform credit limit decisions</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Ongoing monitoring alerts</strong></span> notify you when information about your customers changes</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Support tools and advice</strong></span> can help you understand credit management practices</li>
</ul>
<p>These services are part of a complete offering. What&#8217;s included depends on your specific policy and provider.</p>
<p>Whether trade credit insurance is the right fit depends on your individual circumstances, your existing credit policies, and your specific needs. These are matters worth discussing with your risk and insurance adviser so you can understand exactly what&#8217;s included with your cover and how it aligns with your business situation.</p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-18596 size-full" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs.webp" alt="Business owners deciding if Trade Credit Insurance suits their business needs" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-100x67.webp 100w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-200x133.webp 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-300x200.webp 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-400x267.webp 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-600x400.webp 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-768x512.webp 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs-800x533.webp 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Business-owners-deciding-if-Trade-Credit-Insurance-suits-their-business-needs.webp 900w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3><strong>What&#8217;s covered and what&#8217;s not</strong></h3>
<p>Trade credit insurance policies are designed to cover specific scenarios. However, the exact cover depends entirely on your policy wording and the underwriter.</p>
<p><strong>Common scenarios that may be covered include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Customer insolvency or bankruptcy</li>
<li>Protracted default (customer stops paying over an extended period)</li>
<li>Political risks affecting overseas customers, such as currency inconvertibility, cancellation of import or export licences, contract cancellation or repudiation due to government action, and contract frustration due to war, civil war, riots or commotions</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Common exclusions typically include:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Disputed invoices where the customer contests that goods or services meet the contract requirements</li>
<li>Invoices for goods or services that weren&#8217;t delivered or rendered</li>
</ul>
<p>What is and isn&#8217;t covered under your specific policy depends on your individual policy terms and conditions. Before purchasing cover, it&#8217;s essential to discuss with your risk and insurance adviser exactly what scenarios your policy will and won&#8217;t cover. Your adviser can explain the specific inclusions, exclusions, limitations, and conditions that apply to your situation.</p>
<h3><strong>How much does it cost?</strong></h3>
<p>Premium rates for trade credit insurance vary significantly depending on multiple factors, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your industry and sector</li>
<li>The level of turnover to be insured</li>
<li>The level of deductibles you choose</li>
<li>The credit terms you extend to customers</li>
<li>The geographic spread of your buyer and country risks</li>
<li>The quality of your debtors</li>
<li>Your claims history</li>
<li>The type of policy you select (whole-of-portfolio, single-buyer, or other arrangements)</li>
<li>Coverage options and limits</li>
</ul>
<p>Because premiums depend on all these factors, there is no single &#8220;standard&#8221; rate. Your risk and insurance adviser can provide specific premium information based on your individual business circumstances and the cover you&#8217;re considering.</p>
<p>Importantly, premiums paid for credit insurance coverage are tax deductible. Premiums can typically be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your arrangement with your underwriter.</p>
<p>To understand what trade credit insurance would cost for your specific business, it&#8217;s essential to discuss your situation with your risk and insurance adviser.</p>
<h2><strong>Is trade credit insurance right for your business?</strong></h2>
<p>Every business is different. Some are actively managing customer credit risk and may have never had a significant unpaid invoice. Others operate in sectors where customer defaults are more common and cashflow management is critical.</p>
<p>Trade credit insurance is available to businesses of all sizes across most industries. The cost and the benefit depend on your specific situation: your customer base, your margins, your industry, and how much risk you&#8217;re comfortable carrying yourself.</p>
<p>At the same time, the market for trade credit insurance in Australia has become more accessible and competitively priced in recent years. Underwriters are actively writing cover. Policy terms have become more policyholder-friendly, with lower deductibles and higher indemnity levels now more common.</p>
<p>Whether it makes sense for your business is a conversation worth having with your risk and insurance adviser. Clear Insurance can help you to understand if the protection aligns with your specific situation and risk profile.</p>
<h2><strong>What comes next</strong></h2>
<p>If trade credit insurance sounds relevant to your business, the first conversation is straightforward. You can contact Clear Insurance for advice. We will typically discuss:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your customer mix and geographic footprint</li>
<li>Your current credit terms and payment history</li>
<li>Your largest customer concentrations</li>
<li>Whether you have overseas customers or are looking to export</li>
</ul>
<p>From there, we will work with insurers to assess what cover makes sense, what it would cost, and what coverage limits and deductibles suit your business. Some businesses find whole-of-portfolio protection makes sense. Others prefer single-buyer cover for their largest accounts. Others might add political risk cover for export sales.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right cover depends on your business.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like to discuss whether trade credit insurance makes sense for your situation, <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">contact Clear Insurance</a>. We can help you understand what&#8217;s available, what it costs, and what cover options suit your needs.</p>
<p><strong>___________________________________________</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Sources and further reading</em></strong></p>
<p><em>This article is based on:</em></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Published market commentary and updates from trade credit insurance industry participants including Lockton Australia (February and March 2026 market updates), Grand View Research, and Securitas Global</em></li>
<li><em>Public information about trade credit insurance products and services from Australian underwriters and brokers</em></li>
<li><em>Trade credit claims and industry data from National Credit Insurance and other public market sources</em></li>
<li><em>Australian economic data from the Reserve Bank of Australia and Australian Bureau of Statistics</em></li>
<li><em>Policy information from publicly available insurance product documentation and underwriter guides</em></li>
</ul>
<p><em>Trade credit insurance is offered by multiple underwriters in Australia including National Credit Insurance, Allianz Trade, Atradius, Coface, QBE, and others. Policies and terms vary by underwriter and by your specific situation.</em></p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;"><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN. 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-trade-credit-insurance-can-safeguard-your-business-cashflow/">How Trade Credit Insurance Can Safeguard Your Business Cashflow</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Equipment Breakdown – What’s Covered by Warranty vs Insurance?</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/equipment-breakdown-whats-covered-by-warranty-vs-insurance/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=equipment-breakdown-whats-covered-by-warranty-vs-insurance</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clear Insurance]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 03:36:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=18006</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[When equipment breaks down, it can be useful to know what is covered by the warranty, maintenance contracts or insurance to get back up and running quickly. Considerations for Equipment Breakdown You may find the following quick reference guide useful. However, before using the guide, please note the following: Always check the small print Refer [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<style><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span><br />
.table-header {<br />  color: #ffffff;<br />}</p>
<p><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start">﻿</span></style>
<p>When equipment breaks down, it can be useful to know what is covered by the warranty, maintenance contracts or insurance to get back up and running quickly.</p>
<h2>Considerations for Equipment Breakdown</h2>
<p>You may find the following quick reference guide useful. However, before using the guide, please note the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<blockquote><p><strong>Always check the small print<br />
</strong>Refer to the terms and conditions, inclusions, exclusions and sums insured limits set out in the manufacturer&#8217;s warranty, maintenance contracts and insurance product disclosure documents provided to you at the time of purchase. They are a helpful guide as to what is and is not covered or included as part of your warranty, insurance contract or service agreement.</p></blockquote>
</li>
<li>
<blockquote><p><strong>Keep your insurance adviser informed<br />
</strong>Inform your insurance adviser of equipment purchases to ensure you have the cover you need. It may not be covered by your existing policy. Your insurance adviser can help ensure your cover remains adequate for your specific business needs.</p></blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<h2>A Quick Reference Guide for Machinery Breakdown</h2>
<div class="table-2">
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<th><span class="table-header">Breakdown Cause</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Typical Manufacturer&#8217;s Warranty</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Typical Full Maintenance Contract</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Equipment Breakdown Insurance</span></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left">Faulty materials or workmanship</td>
<td align="left">Yes</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Accidental Breakdown</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Sometimes</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check exclusions)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Operator error of equipment misuse</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">External Power Surge</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check exclusions / inclusions)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<hr />
</div>
<div class="table-2">
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<th><span class="table-header">Typical Reimbursement Inclusions</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Typical Manufacturer&#8217;s Warranty</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Typical Full Maintenance Contract</span></th>
<th><span class="table-header">Equipment Breakdown Insurance (subject to specified policy limits and inclusions/exclusions)</span></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left">Direct Damage to Surrounding property</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check cover)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Lost refrigerant</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check cover)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Refrigerant lost through leakage</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Labour Cost to repair/replace parts</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Sometimes</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check cover)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Business interruption losses</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (optional, check inclusions)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Extra expense of rental equipment, rental facilities and/or temporary repair</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (optional, check inclusions)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Spoilage of perishable products</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No (can be optional inclusion)</td>
<td align="left">Yes (optional, check inclusions)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Ammonia contamination cleanup</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (optional, check inclusions)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Full repair or replacement cost of parts and property</td>
<td align="left">Sometimes</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check cover limits)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Expediting expenses of overtime, labour, fast freight etc.</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes (check cover)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Oil, clean, adjust, change filters – maintenance</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Repair and replace worn parts</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
<td align="left">Yes</td>
<td align="left">No</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>The information provided in the table is based on factsheets by Underwriting Insurance</em></p>
</div>
<p><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-18320 aligncenter" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17.jpg" alt="construction-worker-using-tools-equipment-breakdown-whats-covered-by-insurance-vs-warranty" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-100x56.jpg 100w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-200x111.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-300x167.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-400x222.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-600x333.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-768x427.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17-800x444.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/17.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h2>Advice on machinery breakdown cover</h2>
<p>If you need to speak to an insurance adviser about your risks and insurance program, <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">contact our friendly team</a> today.</p>
<p>You can also take advantage of our no-obligation <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/clear-services/risk-insurance-review/">risk and insurance review</a> for complete peace of mind.</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN. 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/equipment-breakdown-whats-covered-by-warranty-vs-insurance/">Equipment Breakdown – What’s Covered by Warranty vs Insurance?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>Is Your Business Underinsured?</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/is-your-business-underinsured/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=is-your-business-underinsured</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/is-your-business-underinsured/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tara Burke]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=15820</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Could your business be underinsured? Do you feel your business has the necessary insurance to protect its success? As a business owner, your enterprise is one of your most valuable assets. Therefore, it makes sense to take the necessary steps to protect it. In Australia, inadequate cash flow is the primary reason small businesses fail. [1] [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Could your business be underinsured? Do you feel your business has the necessary insurance to protect its success?</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">As a business owner, your enterprise is one of your most valuable assets. Therefore, it makes sense to take the necessary steps to protect it.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In Australia, inadequate cash flow</span> is the primary reason small businesses fail<span data-preserver-spaces="true">. <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="#_ftn1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[1]</a></span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Which highlights the importance of having a robust risk transfer strategy in place, which may include transferring risks to insurance to safeguard against financial losses. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><strong><em>“1 in 10 Australian small businesses with insurance don’t have enough cover to protect themselves.”</em></strong></p></blockquote>
<h2>The importance of a comprehensive risk transfer strategy</h2>
<p>Insurance is a risk transfer tool that businesses can use to safeguard against financial losses when the unexpected occurs, such as loss of income due to equipment breakdown or storm damage. A well-designed risk transfer and insurance program can help safeguard your business against unexpected financial losses and build resilience for your business during challenging times.</p>
<p>Did you know that &#8216;<span data-preserver-spaces="true">one in ten Australian businesses with insurance </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">don’t</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> have enough coverage to protect the business from the losses associated with business disruption, legal liabilities, or loss or damage to assets </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="#_ftn2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[2]</span></a>? It highlights the potential risks associated with underinsurance.</p>
<h2>Understanding underinsurance: Is it a risk you can afford?</h2>
<p>Underinsurance refers to having inadequate insurance cover for your business, increasing the risk of severe financial strain if something goes wrong. The temptation of low premiums can lead business owners to overlook adequate insurance protection.</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Outdated Coverage:</strong></span> If you have not updated your insurance to reflect recent or future business growth, you may make your business vulnerable.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Inaccurate Replacement Valuations:</strong></span> Underestimating the repair or replacement of equipment or other business assets can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses following a storm, fire or other claimable event.</li>
<li><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Inadequate Sums Insured:</strong></span> If financial limits (sums insured) are inadequate, it may expose the business to financial losses following management or legal liability claims, or business interruption events.</li>
</ul>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15841 size-large" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-1024x683.jpg" alt="Destroyed house underinsurance Clear Insurance" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-400x267.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-600x400.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-768x512.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-800x533.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/destroyed-house-russian-s-war-ukraine-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<h2>The impact of proper insurance cover</h2>
<div class="table-2">
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Type of Cover</span></th>
<th align="left"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Scenario</span></th>
<th align="left"><span style="color: #ffffff;">With Insurance</span></th>
<th align="left"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Without Insurance</span></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Business Interruption</strong></span></td>
<td align="left">A major storm severely damages a dental clinic&#8217;s ceiling, forcing the business to close for two months for repairs.</td>
<td align="left">The owner&#8217;s Business Interruption insurance can cover lost income during repairs, ensuring financial stability.</td>
<td align="left">Without adequate insurance, the business may face significant revenue loss, hindering its ability to recover lost income.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Professional Indemnity</strong></span></td>
<td align="left">An architecture firm provides a flawed design, requiring the building to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. The client sues the architect for these costs.</td>
<td align="left">With adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance, the firm can effectively manage the cost, plus legal expenses.</td>
<td align="left">The firm may struggle to cover its expenses, which may force the business into liquidation.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Property</strong></span></td>
<td align="left">Vandals target a community organisation, breaking a window to enter the building and stealing computers.</td>
<td align="left">With property insurance cover, the organisation can repair the damage and replace the computers with new ones.</td>
<td align="left">The organisation may lack the necessary funds for repairs and computer replacements and could be forced to close.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Management Liability</strong></span></td>
<td align="left">An agency terminates the employment of a worker, due to serious misconduct. He sues for unfair dismissal, resulting in a large payout.</td>
<td align="left">The agency can be covered for the damages and most legal costs by Management Liability insurance.</td>
<td align="left">The agency directors may have to liquidate the company to fund the payout.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Are you at risk of being underinsured?</h2>
<p>You may be at risk of underinsurance if:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have not updated your risk and insurance program to account for business growth.</li>
<li>You are relying on outdated insurance replacement costs for business assets.</li>
<li>You have cover for property damage, but have overlooked other important areas of financial loss, such as business interruption or management liability.</li>
</ul>
<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15853 size-large" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-1024x683.jpg" alt="Business women stopping dominoes falling that are sitting on top of underinsurance paperwork on desk" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-400x267.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-600x400.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-768x512.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-800x533.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/businessman-office-with-wooden-blocks-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<h2>How can we help you secure your business?</h2>
<p>Sorting out your insurance cover often falls to the bottom of a busy business-owners to-do list. That’s where we come in.</p>
<p>At Clear Insurance, we specialise in <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/clear-services/risk-insurance-review/">reviewing your risk transfer and insurance</a> strategy. We ensure you understand the risks unique to your business and ensure you have the information you need to make informed decisions on whether to keep, mitigate or transfer risks to insurance. We tailor cover to your specific needs and ensure that you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is adequately protected.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t leave your business&#8217;s future to chance. <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">Contact Clear Insurance</a> to ensure your risk transfer and insurance program protects your success for years to come.</p>
<h3></h3>
<p><a style="font-size: 16px;" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a><span style="font-size: 16px;"> ASIC, Insolvency statistics: External administrators’ reports (July 2017 to June 2018).</span></p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> Insurance Council of Australia, Non-insurance in the small to medium-sized enterprise sector, July 2015.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN. 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/is-your-business-underinsured/">Is Your Business Underinsured?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>Good Governance: A Guide for Business Leaders</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/good-governance-a-guide-for-business-leaders/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=good-governance-a-guide-for-business-leaders</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clear Insurance]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:13:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=18029</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Good governance and regular evaluation of business risks are essential to steer your business towards a secure and prosperous future.    Why is it important to understand your financial risks? A good understanding of your operational and governance risks enables you to make informed decisions regarding whether to transfer risk to insurance to safeguard your organisation [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="TextRun SCXW211603147 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW211603147 BCX8">Good governance and regular evaluation of business risks are essential to steer your business towards a secure and prosperous future</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW211603147 BCX8">.  </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW211603147 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<h2><span class="TextRun SCXW107097609 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW107097609 BCX8">Why is it important to understand your financial risks?</span></span></h2>
<p><span class="TextRun SCXW233671341 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233671341 BCX8">A good understanding of your operational and governance risks enables you to make informed decisions regarding whether to transfer risk to insurance to safeguard your organisation from financial losses. Potential risks that can impact your insurance cover may include new business activities, contracts, property damage, liability claims, or operational disruptions. </span></span></p>
<h2><span class="TextRun SCXW203223267 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW203223267 BCX8">What protective role can insurance play for businesses? </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW203223267 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-18323 aligncenter" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20.jpg" alt="couple-discussing-business-good-governance-a-guide-for-business-leaders" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-100x56.jpg 100w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-200x111.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-300x167.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-400x222.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-600x333.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-768x427.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20-800x444.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<p><span class="TextRun SCXW28396186 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW28396186 BCX8">Insurance acts as a risk transfer mechanism, providing financial protection against unforeseen events. However, simply having insurance is not enough; it must be specific to your needs, and you must consider insurance as one element of your overall approach to risk management and mitigation. </span></span></p>
<p><span class="TextRun SCXW28396186 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW28396186 BCX8">Risk management specialists can advise on the most appropriate risk mitigation strategies for your business operations, while insurance advisers can explain the options available for risk transfer to insurance. With clarity on your risk transfer and insurance needs, you can make informed decisions. </span></span></p>
<h2>How can you evaluate the risks in your business for insurance? <span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">It&#8217;s prudent to consider the following: </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="TextRun SCXW62590023 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW62590023 BCX8">What are the <strong><span style="color: #008c95;">challenges and opportunities</span></strong> in your business?</span></span></li>
<li><span class="TextRun SCXW120945214 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW120945214 BCX8">Are there any <span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>gaps or exclusions</strong></span> in your insurance program that could leave your business vulnerable?  </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW120945214 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span class="TextRun SCXW75990171 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW75990171 BCX8">Are the <strong><span style="color: #008c95;">insurance policy limits</span></strong> sufficient? If not, does this place pressure on your cash flow and reserves?</span></span></li>
<li><span class="TextRun SCXW226641749 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226641749 BCX8">Are you confident that your<span style="color: #008c95;"><strong> insurers </strong></span></span><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226641749 BCX8">comprehend</span></strong></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW226641749 BCX8"> the <strong><span style="color: #008c95;">unique needs of your business</span></strong>?  </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW226641749 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<h2><span class="TextRun SCXW8525425 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW8525425 BCX8">Is Underinsurance an Issue? </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW8525425 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW8525425 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Underinsurance is prevalent in Australia. Underinsurance occurs when businesses set sums insured that are not adequate to cover potential claims. As insurance advisers we encourage you to understand your insurance program and the sums insured thoroughly. If a claim exceeds the insurance limit, your business may face significant out-of-pocket expenses and may expose Directors to personal liability.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For property owners, obtaining independent insurance replacement valuations from qualified valuers can clarify replacement values, reinstatement costs, and time frames, thereby determining the appropriate sums insured. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<h2><span class="TextRun SCXW35151279 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW35151279 BCX8">What can you do if you have concerns about your insurance program? </span></span></h2>
<p><span class="EOP SCXW35151279 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"><span class="TextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8">If you would like advice on transferring risk to insurance, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8">it&#8217;s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8"> advisable to reach out to your insurance adviser without delay. For </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8">additional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8"> support, Clear Insurance provides a no-obligation <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/clear-services/risk-insurance-review/">risk and insurance review</a> for peace of mind, delivering a detailed gap analysis report that provides the insights you need to make informed decisions regarding your insurance program. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span class="EOP SCXW35151279 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"><span class="TextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8" lang="EN-AU" xml:lang="EN-AU" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW194321601 BCX8">To schedule a consultation, contact Lisa Carter at <a href="mailto:lisa.carter@clearinsurance.com.au">lisa.carter@clearinsurance.com.au</a> or call 1300 721 132. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW194321601 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}"> </span> </span></p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN. 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/good-governance-a-guide-for-business-leaders/">Good Governance: A Guide for Business Leaders</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
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		<title>How to Avoid Underinsuring Your Professional Services</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsuring-your-professional-services/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-to-avoid-underinsuring-your-professional-services</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsuring-your-professional-services/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tara Burke]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 05:42:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[underinsurance]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=16895</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[When you provide professional advice or services, underinsurance isn't just about having too little cover. It's about how that underinsurance is penalised under the terms of your policy. Many professional services businesses discover too late that their Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance includes an Average Provision clause that significantly limits what the insurer will pay when [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you provide professional advice or services, underinsurance isn&#8217;t just about having too little cover. It&#8217;s about how that underinsurance is penalised under the terms of your policy. Many professional services businesses discover too late that their Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance includes an Average Provision clause that significantly limits what the insurer will pay when a claim exceeds the sum insured. Understanding this clause is critical to protecting your business.</p>
<p>For a comprehensive overview of Professional Indemnity insurance, what it covers, who needs it, and the claims-made basis, see our <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/clear-services/professional-indemnity-insurance/">Professional Indemnity Insurance page</a>. This article focuses specifically on sum-insured sizing and the Average Provision clause, which are key to ensuring your coverage protects you when it matters most.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-18537 aligncenter" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services.jpg" alt="How to Avoid Underinsuring Your Professional Services Clear Insurance" width="864" height="480" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-100x56.jpg 100w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-200x111.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-300x167.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-400x222.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-600x333.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-768x427.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services-800x444.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/How-to-Avoid-Underinsuring-Your-Professional-Services.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></p>
<h2><strong>What is the Average Provision?</strong></h2>
<p>The Average Provision is a clause in your PI insurance policy that reduces your claim payout if your sum insured turns out to be inadequate. It&#8217;s sometimes referred to as an underinsurance penalty or co-insurance clause. Here&#8217;s the principle: if your policy limit is insufficient to cover the full value of a claim, the insurer calculates what percentage of the claim falls within your limit and then pays only that percentage of both your settlement and defence costs.</p>
<p>In practice, this means if you&#8217;ve underestimated your exposure and set your limit too low, you won&#8217;t just lose money on the gap in coverage, you&#8217;ll also lose money on the defence costs the insurer would otherwise cover.</p>
<h3><strong>When Does Average Provision Apply?</strong></h3>
<p>Average Provision applies to Professional Indemnity policies that include a &#8220;defence costs exclusive indemnity limit.&#8221; This means the policy includes provision for the insurer to cover reasonable costs such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Legal costs for defending and responding to claims</li>
<li>Claim investigation expenses</li>
<li>Settlement and negotiation costs</li>
<li>Expert fees and assessments</li>
</ul>
<p>If your policy instead has &#8220;defence costs within the limit,&#8221; the mechanics differ; you should confirm with your broker which applies to your cover.</p>
<h3><strong>Will the Average Provision Apply When I Make a Claim?</strong></h3>
<p>The Average Provision applies when the compensation payment you must make to resolve a claim exceeds your policy&#8217;s sum insured limit. At that point, the insurer calculates the percentage shortfall and applies it to both settlement and defence costs.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Example: A Real Scenario</strong></p>
<p>Imagine your business has a PI policy with a defence costs exclusive indemnity limit set at $1m, and it includes an Average Provision clause.</p>
<p>A client takes legal action against you. Your legal defence determines the claim should settle at $2m compensation to the client.</p>
<p>Your policy limit of $1m covers only 50% of the settlement amount. The Average Provision states that the insurer will therefore pay only 50% of all costs, both the compensation and the defence costs.</p></blockquote>
<p>Here&#8217;s what that looks like in practice:</p>
<div class="table-2">
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">Your Policy Limit</th>
<th style="text-align: right;" align="left">$1,000,000</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left"><strong><span style="color: #008c95;">Third Party Compensation Payment</span></strong></td>
<td align="right"><strong><span style="color: #008c95;">$2,000,000</span></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Limit minus compensation amount</td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #ff0000;">-$1,000,000 (or 50%)</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><strong>Average Provision for the Insurer</strong></td>
<td align="right"><strong>50%</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"></td>
<td align="right"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Insurers 50% Average Provision contribution to Third Party Compensation</td>
<td align="right">$1,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><strong>Your Gap Payment to Third Party Compensation Payment</strong></td>
<td align="right"><strong>$1,000,000</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"></td>
<td align="right"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Your Total Costs to Defend the Claim</strong></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>$750,000</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Insurer&#8217;s50% contribution to your defence costs</td>
<td align="right">$375,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><strong>Your Gap Payment for your defence costs</strong></td>
<td align="right"><strong>$375,000</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"></td>
<td align="right"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>Total Out of Pocket Costs to You</strong></span></td>
<td align="right"><span style="color: #008c95;"><strong>$1,375,000</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left"></td>
<td align="right"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>In this scenario, despite having insurance, your business must cover $1.375m of the total $2.75m in costs, over 50% of the financial impact.</p>
<h3><strong>How to Address Average Provision Risk</strong></h3>
<p>The best way to manage this risk is to work with an experienced insurance adviser to assess your actual professional exposure and ensure your sum insured reflects realistic claim scenarios for your business. This assessment should consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your revenue and the value of client relationships at risk</li>
<li>The typical financial impact if advice or services resulted in client loss</li>
<li>Industry-specific claim patterns and settlement ranges</li>
<li>Contractual requirements your clients may impose on your coverage limits</li>
<li>Your financial capacity to absorb an uninsured gap</li>
</ul>
<p>Setting a higher sum insured does increase your premium, but it replaces that additional cost with financial protection rather than personal financial exposure. Your adviser can help you model different scenarios and find a balance that protects your business without over-insuring.</p>
<h3><strong>Review Your Current Coverage</strong></h3>
<p>You don&#8217;t need to wait until renewal to review your sum insured. If your business has evolved, if you&#8217;ve taken on larger clients, higher-value engagements, or expanded your service offering, your coverage should evolve too. Your adviser can:</p>
<ul>
<li>Explain how your current policy calculates claims payments</li>
<li>Assess whether your sum insured aligns with your current business exposure</li>
<li>Model claim scenarios specific to your profession and client base</li>
<li>Help you adjust coverage mid-policy if needed (usually with a pro-rata premium adjustment)</li>
</ul>
<p>A professional adviser relationship provides ongoing reassurance that your insurance protects your business as your circumstances change.</p>
<h2><strong>Professional Indemnity Underinsurance:<br />
Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>
<h3><strong>What exactly does the Average Provision clause do?</strong></h3>
<p>It penalises underinsurance by reducing the insurer&#8217;s payout if your policy limit doesn&#8217;t cover the full claim. If you&#8217;re underinsured by 50%, the insurer pays only 50% of both settlement and defence costs. You pay the gap.</p>
<h3><strong>How do I know if I&#8217;m setting my sum insured correctly?</strong></h3>
<p>There&#8217;s no universal formula. It depends on your revenue, the type of advice you provide, the financial scale of client engagements, and what a realistic worst-case claim scenario looks like for your profession. Your adviser can help you think through realistic exposure scenarios specific to your business.</p>
<h3><strong>Does every PI policy have an Average Provision clause?</strong></h3>
<p>No. Some policies are structured differently. The clause typically applies to policies with a &#8220;defence costs exclusive indemnity limit.&#8221; Always confirm with your broker whether your policy includes this clause and how it operates.</p>
<h3><strong>What if a claim comes in and I discover I&#8217;m underinsured?</strong></h3>
<p>You&#8217;ll be responsible for the shortfall, both the settlement amount beyond your limit and a proportionate share of defence costs. This can mean substantial out-of-pocket expense even when you thought you were covered. It&#8217;s not a theoretical risk; it happens.</p>
<h3><strong>Can I increase my cover mid-policy?</strong></h3>
<p>Generally, yes. If your business has grown or taken on more significant engagements, talk to your adviser about adjusting your limit. You&#8217;ll pay an additional premium, but it&#8217;s protection against future underinsurance exposure.</p>
<p>Are there other ways to manage underinsurance risk besides higher limits?</p>
<p>Your adviser can discuss the full range of coverage options available, including policy structure, excess levels, and extensions specific to your profession. The key is ensuring your coverage reflects your business exposure.</p>
<h2><strong>Next Steps</strong></h2>
<p>Professional Indemnity insurance is one of the most important decisions a service-based business makes. Getting the sum insured right is essential to ensuring that coverage protects you when it&#8217;s needed most.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like to discuss your current professional indemnity insurance or assess whether your sum insured aligns with your business exposure, contact our team for a confidential review. You can call Clear Insurance on 1300 721 132 or email <a href="mailto:info@clearinsurance.com.au">info@clearinsurance.com.au</a>.</p>
</div>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN. 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>
<p><em>Last Updated: 26 August 2026</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsuring-your-professional-services/">How to Avoid Underinsuring Your Professional Services</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>How to Avoid Underinsurance in Business</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsurance-in-business/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-to-avoid-underinsurance-in-business</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsurance-in-business/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tara Burke]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=11409</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[We often hear heart-wrenching stories about the devastation uninsured businesses suffer following major weather events such as floods or cyclones. Particularly, the stories we hear from business owners who thought they were adequately insured but weren't. In other words, underinsurance.   What is Underinsurance? Underinsurance occurs when the amounts listed on your insurance policy are [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We often hear heart-wrenching stories about the devastation uninsured businesses suffer following major weather events such as floods or cyclones. Particularly, the stories we hear from business owners who thought they were adequately insured but weren&#8217;t. In other words, underinsurance.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-11645 aligncenter" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="374" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/stressed-male-massaging-nose-bridge-suffering-from-headache-1-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px" /></p>
<h2><strong>What is Underinsurance?</strong></h2>
<p>Underinsurance occurs when the amounts listed on your insurance policy are inadequate. In other words, it&#8217;s not enough money to cover the total cost of rebuilding, repairing or replacing buildings, equipment, contents, loss of income or other business assets.</p>
<h2><strong>The numbers are alarming.</strong></h2>
<p>A 2019 study by one of Australia&#8217;s largest insurers, QBE, suggests that 62% of all Australian Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are probably underinsured. A further 87% of small business owners felt a large liability claim could put them out of business or cause them to lose significant revenue or dry up cash flow.</p>
<p>Shockingly, the Insurance Council of Australia&#8217;s report found that 26% of SMEs operate without general insurance – including a whopping 40% of sole traders.</p>
<p><em>Source: QBE SMEs and Insurance Report 2019 (Pg 10)</em></p>
<div id="attachment_11646" style="width: 571px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11646" class="wp-image-11646" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="374" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-400x267.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-600x400.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-768x512.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-800x533.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sorry-we-re-closed-still-life-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px" /><p id="caption-attachment-11646" class="wp-caption-text">87% of small business owners felt a large liability claim could put them out of business</p></div>
<blockquote>
<h3><strong>Did you know?</strong></h3>
<p>In 2020, reports revealed $US268 billion in economic losses globally. However, only US$97 billion were covered by insurance, leaving a staggering gap of US$171 billion, or 64% not protected by insurance.​​​​​​​</p>
<p><em>Source: Aon Weather Climate &amp; Catastrophe Insight Report 2020.</em></p></blockquote>
<h2><strong>Why are so many businesses underinsured?</strong></h2>
<p>There will always be businesses that actively choose to have no insurance. However, data shows that many companies don&#8217;t even know they are underinsured.</p>
<p>Typically, it&#8217;s because business owners choose to &#8216;go it alone&#8217; without the aid of an experienced risk and insurance adviser.</p>
<h2><strong>Are you at risk of underinsurance? </strong></h2>
<p>Knowing if your business insurance is adequate for your operations and industry can be tricky without expert advice. However, with a knowledgeable insurance adviser, you can dive into your insurance coverage to identify any issues.</p>
<p>Knowing the accurate replacement values for your business assets ensures the sums listed on your policy are accurate. Independent assessors can work with you to create an accurate asset schedule with replacement costs for your business.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_11648" style="width: 571px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11648" class="wp-image-11648" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="370" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-200x132.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-300x198.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-400x263.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-600x395.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-768x506.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-800x527.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-1200x790.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-1536x1011.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/man-woman-winemaker-giving-tour-new-employee-learning-logistics-winery-wood-barrel-distillery-business-owner-ceo-working-alcohol-manufacturing-vineyard-startup-warehouse-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px" /><p id="caption-attachment-11648" class="wp-caption-text">A knowledgeable insurance adviser can dive into your insurance coverage to identify any issues.</p></div>
<h2><strong>The benefits of checking your insurance cover.</strong></h2>
<p>We help clients identify their underinsurance exposure. The table below shows four real-world underinsurance examples that our risk reviews and independent professional rebuilding valuations uncovered in the last 12 months.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<table style="height: 358px;" border="#008996 3px solid" width="1124">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="115"><strong>Client</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="154"><strong>Underinsurance for Material Damage</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="160"><strong>Underinsurance for Loss of Profits</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="115">Case Study 1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="154">Shortfall $ 12.2m or 20.75%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="160">Shortfall $3.8m or 10.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="115">Case Study 2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="154">Shortfall $ 5.3m or 33.69%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="160">Shortfall $ 3.1m or 29.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="115">Case Study 3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="154">Shortfall $ 1.9m or 4.91%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="160">Shortfall $ 10.5m or 27.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="115">Case Study 4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="154">Shortfall $ 13.6m or 23.4%</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" width="160">Shortfall $ 22.3m or 44.78%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>On average, the businesses were underinsured for material damage by 20% and loss of profits by 28%. The companies would have to pay the financial gap to rebuild or cover losses following a business interruption event.</p>
<p>With expert advice, these clients now have appropriate sums insured and adequate cover for their business needs.</p>
<h2><strong>Always know your cover.</strong></h2>
<p>They say, &#8216;ignorance is bliss&#8217;. However, when it comes to underinsurance, knowledge counts. Therefore, it&#8217;s vital to start understanding the risks unique to your industry and business operations and how to mitigate them.</p>
<p>At Clear Insurance, we take the time to get to know you and your business. We build your understanding of risk and review your insurance program against your risk appetite. We&#8217;ll recommend the necessary steps you can take to ensure you are and remain adequately protected.</p>
<p>If you would like to gain a better understanding of your current insurance program and any gaps in coverage you can ask about our no-obligation risk and insurance review. You can contact Clear Insurance on 1300 721 132 or <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">complete our online enquiry form</a> and an adviser will be in touch.</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/how-to-avoid-underinsurance-in-business/">How to Avoid Underinsurance in Business</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>Business Interruption Test Case Appeal</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/business-interruption-test-case-appeal/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=business-interruption-test-case-appeal</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/business-interruption-test-case-appeal/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tara Burke]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 05:10:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=8291</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Businesses across Australia are feeling the impact of Covid-19, some more than others. However, for those with business interruption insurance and covid-19 related claims, the test cases appeal in the Full Federal Court of Australia set a precedent for future claims. The Background Business disruption cover kicks in when events affect your business operations. It [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Businesses across Australia are feeling the impact of Covid-19, some more than others. However, for those with business interruption insurance and covid-19 related claims, the test cases appeal in the Full Federal Court of Australia set a precedent for future claims.</p>
<h2><strong>The Background</strong></h2>
<p>Business disruption cover kicks in when events affect your business operations. It helps your business to recover fast and keep moving forward.</p>
<p>In 2021 two test cases were put before the courts to provide clear guidance on how to interpret business interruption policies in the context of covid-19.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the outcome ensures that all insurers considered any business disruption claims due to covid-19 claims fairly and consistently.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8916" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-scaled.jpg" alt="Business interruption test case appeal" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-400x267.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-600x400.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-768x512.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-800x533.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/auto-mechanic-closing-his-workshop-due-coronavirus-pandemic-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<h2><strong>The Business Disruption Test Cases</strong></h2>
<p>The test cases considered two critical aspects of the policies, Quarantine Act exclusion and policy wording interpretation.</p>
<h3><strong>1. The Quarantine Act</strong></h3>
<p>The first case covering the Quarantine Act sought to tackle the many business interruption policies attempting to exclude cover for pandemics through a reference to the Quarantine Act.</p>
<p>In 2020, the court ruled in favour of policyholders. The NSW Court of Appeal upheld the judgement in June 2021. The High Court determined that insurers cannot rely on references to the Quarantine Act to deny liability in policies.</p>
<h3><strong>2. The Policy Wording for Business Interruption and Covid-19</strong></h3>
<p>The second test case sought to resolve the meaning and interpretation of policy wording. It includes disease definition, covid-19 outbreak proximity and government mandate impacts.</p>
<p>In October 2021, the Judge concluded that in 9 out of the 10 cases, the insuring clauses did not apply and proposed declarations that the insurers are not liable to indemnify the policyholders.</p>
<h2><strong>The Appeal</strong></h2>
<p>Appeals were lodged against the judgments by policyholders and insurers. All class action cases were adjourned until resolution of the test cases. Insurers have committed to follow the appeal court rulings.</p>
<h2><strong>The Outcome of the Appeal</strong></h2>
<p>On Tuesday, 22 February 2022, the Full Federal Court of Australia handed down its appeal decision on test cases regarding policy wording.</p>
<p>The Judge substantially agreed with the October 2021 judgements and found in favour of insurers on most policy wording questions.</p>
<p>In 4 out of the 5 cases appealed, the Judge agreed the insuring clause did not apply. The 5th case favoured the insurer and determined that the insured did not suffer a loss.</p>
<p>The judgements ruled that insurers should not consider JobKeeper payments when assessing a loss. Instead, the ruling determined that insurers should calculate interest payments on a different basis.</p>
<p>The parties have 28 days to appeal; otherwise, the judgement is final.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8918" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-scaled.jpg" alt="Business interruption test case appeal" width="2560" height="1641" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-200x128.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-300x192.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-400x256.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-460x295.jpg 460w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-600x385.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-768x492.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-800x513.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-1024x656.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-1200x769.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-1536x985.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/court-hammer-books-judgment-law-concept-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<h2><strong>What does this mean for me and my business?</strong></h2>
<p>The outcome of the test cases attempts to make policy wording straightforward for policyholders and insurers. It ensures that claim decisions are consistent and helps you understand when and how business interruption insurance protects your business.</p>
<p>The outcome of the test cases provides critical information to risk advisers, like Clear Insurance, who advise on risk mitigation. Most importantly, the outcome ensures we can determine the most appropriate risk and insurance packages for your business needs.</p>
<h2><strong>Need advice on the risks of business interruption?</strong></h2>
<p>Risk and insurance advisers, such as Clear Insurance, help you develop a good understanding of your business risks and how to mitigate them.</p>
<p>So, their advice guides you on the most appropriate ways to protect your business. Moreover, it helps you reduce the impact of business disruption and maintain critical cash flow.</p>
<p>In other words, it gives you complete peace of mind at claim time.</p>
<p>Start your risk discovery journey with Clear Insurance and <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">contact us</a> today.</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/business-interruption-test-case-appeal/">Business Interruption Test Case Appeal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>Investigating Risk Pooling to Insure Against Pandemics</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/investigating-risk-pooling-to-insure-against-pandemics/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=investigating-risk-pooling-to-insure-against-pandemics</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/investigating-risk-pooling-to-insure-against-pandemics/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lisa Carter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2021 02:56:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=2088</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Is a Pandemic Risk Pool the solution? Covid-19 has no doubt left a devastating impact on the world, with more than 1.6million deaths and more than 72million cases. Equally this pandemic is severely impacting the global economy. The Asian Development Bank estimates losses of up to US$8.8trillion - or almost 10% of global gross domestic [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Is a Pandemic Risk Pool the solution?</h2>
<p>Covid-19 has no doubt left a devastating impact on the world, with more than 1.6million deaths and more than 72million cases. Equally this pandemic is severely impacting the global economy. The Asian Development Bank estimates losses of up to US$8.8trillion &#8211; or almost 10% of global gross domestic product &#8211; as a direct result of Coronavirus. As many as 242million people worldwide could lose their jobs with overall income reduced by $1.2trillion.</p>
<p>While a terrorist attack might cripple part of a city or a cyberterrorism attack impact a few countries, neither are likely to affect the entire globe as we have seen with Covid-19. That puts the sheer size required for a pandemic pool into perspective.</p>
<p>Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor of Strategic Management at the City, University of London Business School and the University of Queensland Business School, has published extensively on the topic of public-private partnerships in the event of catastrophe.</p>
<p>&#8220;Policyholders or businesses could be levied for a business interruption product and the premiums all passed into the pool, which would then build up a pot of capitol with a backdrop from the government&#8221;.</p>
<p>She adds that we need to remember that not all pandemics will present like this one and we should &#8216;begin to understand what degree to type of pandemic the private market could take&#8217;. A risk pool is a very good way to go about establishing an insurance product that can gradually be shared with the private market&#8217;.</p>
<p>You can read more about risk pooling in the full ANZIIF journal article titled, &#8220;<a href="https://issuu.com/marketing-anziif/docs/__journal_issue04_2020/6">In Search of Resilience Re</a>&#8220;.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like to your insurance program or request a <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/clear-services/risk-insurance-review/">risk and insurance review</a>, contact the Clear Insurance team on 1300 721 132, email <a href="mailto:info@clearinsurance.com.au">info@clearinsurance.com.au</a> or <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">complete our online enquiry form</a> and an adviser will be in touch.</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/investigating-risk-pooling-to-insure-against-pandemics/">Investigating Risk Pooling to Insure Against Pandemics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>Are you ditching insurance due to affordability concerns?</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/are-you-ditching-insurance-due-to-affordability-concerns/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=are-you-ditching-insurance-due-to-affordability-concerns</link>
					<comments>https://clearinsurance.com.au/are-you-ditching-insurance-due-to-affordability-concerns/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lisa Carter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2021 05:08:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://clearinsurance.com.au/?p=1902</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Is insurance becoming so expensive that you are thinking of self-insuring? The recent devastating blaze in Perth, Western Australia, which started on February 01 but spread until it scorched 9,000 hectares and destroyed 71 homes – has left affected residents to face enormous costs. Many have been forced to stay in evacuation centres, despite Perth’s [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Is insurance becoming so expensive that you are thinking of self-insuring?</h2>
<p>The recent devastating blaze in Perth, Western Australia, which started on February 01 but spread until it scorched 9,000 hectares and destroyed 71 homes – has left affected residents to face enormous costs. Many have been forced to stay in evacuation centres, despite Perth’s strict COVID-19 lockdown.</p>
<h3>Are you ditching insurance due to affordability concerns?</h3>
<p>According to a study from the University of Tasmania, up to 10% of homeowners do not have home insurance and 40% of renters do not have contents insurance.</p>
<p>With climate change causing more frequent and intense natural disasters, the affordability challenges in insurance look set to continue – but some insurers are working to address the issues.</p>
<p>Working with an insurance adviser means they can highlight areas where your business and property portfolio may be underinsured and work with you to obtain affordable insurance. This is just one of the areas an insurance broker can assist you with their expertise.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like to discuss your insurance program, contact the Clear Insurance team on 1300 721 132, email <a href="mailto:info@clearinsurance.com.au">info@clearinsurance.com.au</a> or <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">complete our online enquiry form</a> and an adviser will be in touch.</p>
<p>Read more about the article &#8220;<a href="https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/breaking-news/perth-bushfires-shine-spotlight-on-australias-underinsurance-problem-245588.aspx">Perth bushfires shine spotlight on Australia&#8217;s underinsurance problem</a>&#8220;.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/are-you-ditching-insurance-due-to-affordability-concerns/">Are you ditching insurance due to affordability concerns?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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		<title>The importance of ‘Sums Insured’ for your SME</title>
		<link>https://clearinsurance.com.au/the-importance-of-sums-insured-for-your-sme/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-importance-of-sums-insured-for-your-sme</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Clear Insurance]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2020 05:10:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Cash Flow & Financial Risk]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://ci.whitespacemarketing.com.au/?p=780</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Understanding your Sums Insured is essential. 'Sums Insured' may seem a confusing term. However, we'll explain why they are essential and make it easy to understand. After all, the 'Sums Insured' can be the difference between having the appropriate insurance coverage and being underinsured. Imagine for a moment that your warehouse is burning to the [...]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Understanding your Sums Insured is essential.</h2>
<p>&#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; may seem a confusing term. However, we&#8217;ll explain why they are essential and make it easy to understand. After all, the &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; can be the difference between having the appropriate insurance coverage and being underinsured.</p>
<p>Imagine for a moment that your warehouse is burning to the ground. After a quick check of your insurance policy, you realise you have insurance coverage for $500,000 (as stated in your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217;). However, you now know that it’s going to cost $1,000,000 to replace the building and contents. Therefore, you now have a $500,000 shortfall. This shortfall is the amount you will have to pay, known as &#8216;underinsurance&#8217;.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why ensuring that your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; are accurate and stay accurate is crucial.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What does &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; mean?</h2>
<p>&#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; is the maximum amount of money your insurance provider is willing to pay on a claim for your business. It includes payouts for your buildings and their contents, equipment and other business-related assets as set out in your policy.</p>
<p>Whatever policies you have for your business, each policy sets out the maximum amount of money the Insurer will pay for each loss, called the &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217;. Therefore, you must accurately assess the replacement value of the buildings and other assets you want to insure. Using your best guess for Sums Insured may leave your business underinsured.</p>
<h2>Ensure that your Sums Insured are always accurate.</h2>
<p>The best way to ensure that your Sums Insured are appropriate is to value your business assets regularly. Professional valuations provide accurate information that you can use to make relevant changes to your policies.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-16019" src="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1703" srcset="https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-200x133.jpg 200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-300x200.jpg 300w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-400x266.jpg 400w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-600x399.jpg 600w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-768x511.jpg 768w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-800x532.jpg 800w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://clearinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/medium-shot-man-holding-tablet-scaled.jpg 2560w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
<h2>The Co-insurance Clause</h2>
<p>If you fail to keep your Sums Insured up to date, the <strong>co-insurance clause</strong> may activate, making matters worse.</p>
<p>The co-insurance clause comes into effect if you make a claim and the &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; is less than the &#8216;actual replacement value&#8217;.</p>
<p>The threshold for the Sums Insured varies depending on the policy and insurer. However, for most property insurance policies, the &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; must be at least 80% of the &#8216;actual replacement value&#8217;. If it&#8217;s below 80%, the insurer will only pay up to the percentage of your cover for partial loss claims.</p>
<p>For example, say the actual replacement value of your building is $1,000,000. Your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; must be at least 80% of this value, so $800,000 or more. If your Sums Insured are only $500,000, you are in effect 50% underinsured.</p>
<p>Of course, the greater the &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; amount, the higher the premiums, which is why businesses are underinsured.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Making Insurance Claims</h2>
<p>When you set <strong>&#8216;Sums Insured</strong>&#8216; below the recommended threshold, problems may arise when you make a claim.</p>
<p>For example, say the actual replacement cost for your building is $1,000,000, and your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; is $500,000. Your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; is only 50% of the <strong>Actual Replacement Value</strong>, which tells the Insurer you are self-insured for the remaining 50%.</p>
<p>If your Insurer decides to activate the co-insurance clause because your &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217; are below their recommended threshold, they will only pay up to the % insured.</p>
<p>For example, say the roof of your building is damaged and requires replacement for $300,000. If your Sums Insured are only 50% of the Actual Replacement Value, the insurer will only pay 50% of the repair costs for the roof.</p>
<h2>What can you do?</h2>
<p>We recommend seeking professional insurance replacement valuations for your property and assets at least every three years.</p>
<p>Why? It gives you an accurate idea of replacement costs that differ from the current market value to meet the minimum threshold for Sums Insured. There may be the option to cover buildings and assets for an Agreed Value, provided you meet specific requirements.</p>
<p>An insurance adviser can guide you through your risk exposure and highlight where you may be underinsured. They can work with you to organise replacement valuations to help you set accurate &#8216;Sums Insured&#8217;.</p>
<p>These are merely a couple of ways an insurance adviser can use their expertise to help protect your business.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;d like to discuss whether your business needs professional indemnity protection, contact the Clear Insurance team on 1300 721 132, email <a href="mailto:info@clearinsurance.com.au">info@clearinsurance.com.au</a> or <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/contact-us/">complete our online enquiry form</a> and an adviser will be in touch.</p>
<div style="padding: 20px 20px 10px; border: #7dc0c3 1px solid; margin-top: 60px;">
<p><strong><em>General Advice Warning: </em></strong><em>This advice is genehttps://advisr.com.au/lisa-carterral and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.</em></p>
<p><em>Clear Insurance Pty Ltd. ABN 41 601 916 689. AFSL No. 548953.</em></p>
</div>The post <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au/the-importance-of-sums-insured-for-your-sme/">The importance of ‘Sums Insured’ for your SME</a> appeared first on <a href="https://clearinsurance.com.au">Clear Insurance</a>.]]></content:encoded>
					
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