Desjardins Insurance introduces new innovations

LÉVIS, QC, March 19, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Things are moving fast at Desjardins Insurance and that's good news for customers. Here are some of the new innovations from Desjardins that offer more simplicity and peace of mind.

Severe weather alerts
Starting in May, Desjardins members and clients across Canada who use the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto, State Farm or The Personal mobile apps will have access to a severe weather alert system for hail, windstorms, torrential rains and eventually, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Users will be notified if there's a severe weather event within 500 meters of any of five locations of their choice. These alerts give people a heads-up so they have the opportunity to take steps to protect their property from potential damage. Clients will also be able to notify us right away if they need to make a claim. Desjardins will be the first property and casualty insurer in Canada to offer this kind of detailed information alert service. 

If the system detects hail, not only will it alert you but it will also indicate the size of the hailstones. Hailstones the size of golf balls can damage cars, but hailstones the size of tennis balls can damage buildings.

Buying auto insurance online
Desjardins Insurance and The Personal clients in Quebec can now get their auto insurance 100% online?from viewing a quote, to choosing coverage, to buying a policy. And if they need help, an insurance agent is only a call or a few clicks away. It puts clients in control from start to finish. Clients are guided through the process with helpful pop-up windows and clear definitions of insurance-y terms. Questions are explained with examples, and users are told why they're being asked. Different coverage options are then presented, based on the client's needs and the information they provided. At this point, users still have the option to make changes and see how it affects their premium.

A simple and effective way to report an auto claim
Having a car accident is challenging enough. That's why Desjardins now offers clients the option of submitting a claim online on their own or with the help of a claims advisor. The service is offered across Canada for Desjardins Insurance, State Farm and The Personal. Clients can report their claim and have their coverage, liability, and deductible confirmed. They can even book an appointment with an auto repair shop for a damage appraisal?all online.

A picture is worth a thousand words
Depending on the extent of the damage to the vehicle, clients can now use the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto, State Farm or The Personal mobile apps to submit pictures of the damage after an accident. The pictures get sent directly to an auto appraiser, so the client only has to go to the repair shop once (for the actual repairs).

Celebrating one year of the Alert program and flood insurance
For over a year now, Desjardins has been part of the small group of insurance companies offering flood insurance across Canada (Endorsement 16d). It is the only insurance company that includes the coverage automatically and free of charge to clients who live in low-risk areas.

For the remainder of clients, one in five choose to add the coverage to their policy when it's offered. And while this is a good start, it's also a sign that we have work to do to raise awareness about flood risks.

Our Canada-wide water damage prevention program, Alert, continues to earn high satisfaction scores (86% to be exact). Subscribers like the peace of mind it offers, knowing their homes are protected.

About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fifth largest in the world, with assets of $275.1 billion. It has been rated one of the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world's strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

SOURCE Desjardins General Insurance