AA Insurance is welcoming calls for Kiwi homeowners to check their sum insured after survey data from CoreLogic revealed almost 30% of respondents are not confident their property has enough cover.
“Sum insured” refers to the maximum amount a homeowner would be paid out by their insurance company in the event of a “total loss”, such as in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster.
The survey findings state 38% of homeowners don’t know what the sum insured amount on their policy is.
Chris Taylor, Head of Pricing and Underwriting, AA Insurance said, “We know Kiwis’ inboxes and letterboxes are bombarded with correspondence from service providers like insurance, telcos, energy companies and councils, and it can be a challenge to keep up.
“Today’s CoreLogic data shows us why it’s so important for Kiwis to take time out every year at renewal time to check their sum insured amount is up-to-date. With the current inflationary environment impacting everything from labour to building products, making sure you are comfortable with the amount your home is insured for has never been more critical,” Mr Taylor said.
AA Insurance is one of the only insurers offering replacement cover for fire, flood or storm related claims. This means that if the customer takes reasonable steps to provide accurate sum insured and size of home figures, AA Insurance will cover the full cost of rebuilding the property, even if the costs come in above the sum insured figure.
AA Insurance supports customers to set an adequate sum insured figure in a range of ways, including:
Underwriting rules are in place to ensure the sum insured figures chosen by customers align with the data from the Cordell Sum Sure calculator.
If the sum insured figure chosen by a customer does not match the criteria, a senior member of the underwriting support team will contact the customer to find a suitable, acceptable level.
If customers are unsure about the sum insured process, we are here to help. Contact us at 0800 500 231.
The Cordell Sum Sure calculator is used by AA Insurance employees to assist customers selecting their Home Sum Insured and is available via www.aainsurance.co.nz should customers want to check their sum insured. Customers can use the calculator to check their sum insured any time without changing their policy (this happens annually at renewal time, or when the customer contacts their insurer).
About AA Insurance
AA Insurance is an independently operated, New Zealand-based joint venture between the New Zealand Automobile Association Limited (NZAA) and Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited (VINZL). Since 1994 we have demonstrated trusted expertise in home, contents and car insurance in New Zealand, and in 2018 introduced commercial small business insurance. We underwrite our own policies and sell direct to New Zealanders. Our 1000+ employees look after 500,000+ customers with more than 1,000,000 policies.
We proudly partner with Variety New Zealand – the Children’s Charity (as the lead partner of its Beds for Kids programme), Student Volunteer Army and support grassroot school sports via our Big Little Sponsorship sports grant in partnership with Eden Park. We are consistently recognised in industry awards and honours, including being voted the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted General Insurer for 13 years running, named Canstar’s 2023 Home and Contents Insurer of the Year and Outstanding Value Award winner, and currently ranked 7th amongst 100 of New Zealand’s most successful companies in the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index (since 2015).
Find out more at www.aainsurance.co.nz
For more information please contact:
AA Insurance Media Team
mediacontact@aainsurance.co.nz