> ARE YOU STILL WELL INSURED DESPITE THE INCREASING INFLATION?

> ARE YOU STILL WELL INSURED DESPITE THE INCREASING INFLATION?

inflatie_resized

The restart of the economy after the Covid lockdown, the stimulation packages from the Central Banks, … have all led to an unprecedented level of inflation.

This is clearly reflected in the ABEX index, which follows the rise in the cost price of building materials: an increase of almost 25% over the last 5 years.

This may also have consequences for your insurance contracts. Are you still well or sufficiently insured today?

Underinsuranced

If the insured capital is insufficient, the insurer may invoke underinsurance. The compensation paid may then be reduced in the same proportion as the under-insurance of the insured capital, which we call the proportionality rule.

If a valuation report has been drawn up by a specialized party, the insurer cannot invoke underinsurance for a period of 5 years insofar as indexation is provided and renovations of more than 10% of the estimated value are included in the contract.

If the insured capitals are indexed annually (ABEX), the chance of underinsurance is more limited. The indexed capital may also be lower than the effective recovery cost.

Partial damage

If the total capital insured is correct, the risk of inflation mainly lies with the insurer. A damaged part that has doubled in value since the last due date will have to be reimbursed by the insurer up to a maximum of the total insured capital.

Total damages

This brings us to an important danger for the insured in the event of total damage. Due to the large fluctuations in the cost price of the building materials, the effective repair cost may still be higher than the indexed amounts or the capitals from the valuation report. However, the insurer never pays more than the insured capital.

Example:
A building that was valued at 10 million euros, but whose current reconstruction value has risen to 12 million euros -> the insurer pays a maximum of 10 million euros.

Inflation after the date of damage

A less exposed danger is inflation after the damage date. The damage estimate is based on a repair cost on the day of the claim. However, in the case of complex claims or the intervention of a court expert, a lot of time can elapse between the date of the claim and the moment of effective recovery. In the event of a sharp rise in inflation between the day of the claim and the actual repair of the claim, the inflation cost may end up with the insured.

Source: Amlin

Do you want to know if you are still properly insured?

Please contact your account manager or via the general information. 

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