Don’t speak insurance? Learn the lingo with Brio Insurance.

Anyone who owns property or requires coverage from liabilities. (Which is a fancy way of saying anyone).

Why do you need insurance? The short answer is to protect yourself and what you own.

You can get insurance for all sorts of things and depending on what you get, it can protect you in a few different ways. One major way is from loss.

For example, say someone breaks into your home and steals your TV, all your shoes, and your laptop. It could take a few thousand dollars to replace that all. However, with personal property insurance, you would get money to replace what was stolen.

Insurance can also protect you from being liable.

If you invite people over for dinner and someone slips on ice on your front step, breaking their ankle, you could be sued. But with personal liability insurance, you would likely be covered. Although insurance would probably cover you for this, we suggest trying to avoid the whole friend getting injured thing by sanding your walkway.

There are three main forms of insurance. Within each of these there are different policies you can get depending on the risk. For specific details on types of coverage (like home, auto, or business), browse our insurance pages.

1. Liability insurance: protection given to you by the insurance company that covers you if you’re sued for bodily injury or property damage.
2. Property insurance: protects your physical assets (from your home to that shirt on your back).
3. Professional insurance: this is insurance for certain professions, like a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. It protects them in case they give poor advice that affects a client.

From your friends at Brio Insurance, of course! Our staff are all trained and knowledgeable about the different kinds of insurance out there. They’re great at finding the best rates too.

Come see us at one of our locations, give us a call, or send us an email to get started. Once we receive your request, we’ll follow up and get the ball rolling.

When you’re ready to get your insurance, you’ll need to bring information on yourself (so we can verify who you are) and some background on what you’re insuring. Before we can insure property, a replacement cost evaluation will be done to establish a premium.

For house or property insurance, you’ll need to provide information about the property. Here’s some examples of things we look for:

• Year it was built
• Square footage
• Stories
• Bathrooms
• Updates / age of roof, furnace, plumbing, electrical

We sure do! Between our branches, we can help you in sixteen different languages:

• Steinbach – High German, Low German, French, Housa
• Beausejour – French
• La Broquerie – French
• Winnipeg, St. Mary’s – Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, Kirundi
• Winnipeg, Leila – Hindi, Punjabi, Ukrainian, Russian, Afrikaans
• Winnipeg, Riverbend – Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi
• Winnipeg, Goulet – French, Spanish, Tagalog
• Gimli – Polish, Ukrainian, Russian

Contact your Brio Insurance broker first so they can gather the details and submit the claim on your behalf. If it’s an emergency and your broker isn’t available, call 1.204.318.2001 or contact your insurance provider directly.

You’ll typically need your policy number, details of what happened, and any supporting information like photos, receipts, or third-party details. Having this ready helps avoid delays.

Yes. MPI claims can be made by calling 204.665.2410.

Once your claim is reported, it’s reviewed and assigned to an adjuster who investigates the situation, confirms your coverage, and guides next steps like repairs or documentation.

Timelines vary depending on the type and complexity of the claim, but your adjuster will keep you informed throughout the process.

The different pieces that make up the insurance policy. These include standard coverages that are included in a package (such as dwelling, contents, or legal liability) and any optional coverages you purchase (such as sewer back-up or liability extensions).

A deductible is the amount you need to pay when you make an insurance claim. The basic deductible with MPI is $500. When you register your car (or motorcycle, off-road vehicle, or camper for that matter), you have the opportunity to select a lower one.

Extension deductibles are usually $300, $200, or $100, but can vary based on what you’re insuring. When you choose a lower deductible, your premium (or the amount you pay for insurance) will go up, but some claims will have the deductible waived. Basically, you pay a bit more now, which could save you some cash later.

Check out this handy deductible fact sheet to see what claims have a waived deductible. In the end, what deductible you should pick is up to you.

The amount of money you pay for your insurance policy.

The personal liability included in your policy protects you in the event that you should be found legally liable for damages.

Things that are specifically not covered by an insurance policy. These are usually factors that would increase the risk associated with your policy.

A change or addition to an insurance policy that that either expands or limits the coverage and benefits of the policy. A rider or endorsement can be purchased at the beginning of the policy term, or added later.

All perils coverage means (almost) anything bad that can happen to your home, whether it’s listed in your policy or not, is covered. The only exception is if something is listed as being excluded, like overland flooding.

A broad home insurance policy covers your house for all perils, but only covers your personal property for the losses listed in your policy.

A comprehensive policy protects both your home and your personal property for all perils*. So if your house burned down in a fire, your house will be rebuilt and the contents of your home would be covered by insurance. Comprehensive house insurance also includes mysterious disappearance. We know your house isn’t likely to disappear, but if you lose the pretty stone in your engagement ring you can get it replaced.

*A comprehensive home insurance policy does not provide coverage for flooding. You can purchase overland water coverage separately, but make sure to check the details when you do. There may be restrictions if you live in an area prone to flooding.

Sewer back-up and overland water can cause damage to both a dwelling and its contents.  While your landlord will be responsible to ensure proper coverage for the building, you are responsible for ensuring you have proper coverage for your contents.  If you cannot stay in the apartment during repairs, this coverage can also provide coverage for additional living expenses.

When it comes to insurance, it is important to ensure that your home is covered to its replacement cost. The replacement cost will consider the cost to rebuild the same home today. It will consider various factors including material costs, debris removal, accessibility, and labour to name a few. A couple factors included in the market value or tax assessment of your home would be the value of the land and what other homes are selling for in your location.

There are regular adjustments to insurance rates year to year. This comes down to many factors such as overall claims, costs of providing insurance as well as the rising rebuilding costs. Insurance rates are determined based on various factors including the details of your home and insurance history information. It is important to have regular conversations with your insurance broker and advise them of any updates or changes as certain updates can result in additional savings.

Fire & E/C relates to Fire and Extended Coverages. This is a type of policy that primarily covers your property against the peril of fire but also includes some additional extended coverage (i.e wind, hail, falling object…). As the list of extended coverages can vary between insurance providers, it is best to reach out to your insurance broker for full details.

Any change in occupancy needs to be reported to your insurance broker to ensure appropriate coverage. With vacant properties, there are exclusions and limitations that are specified on all policies. Your insurance broker will be able to let you know what exclusions/limitations exists and whether a vacancy permit is required for any coverage to exist on your property.

You can switch insurance providers midterm but most companies apply a short rate cancellation fee. This fee depends on where you are in your policy term. It is best to speak to your broker about this prior to cancelling.

This will depend on which insurance company you are with so it is best to contact your broker to discuss this.

this depends on the insurance company that you are with as they all have different rules and stipulations. Please check with your broker on this.

Insurance policies are unique, and coverage will vary between insurance providers. While your items, like hearing aids jewelery and bicycles included, are covered under your policies personal property coverage, there may be limitations on your policy relating to the cause of the loss and/or its value. When limitations are present, it may be possible to schedule the item to provide all-risk coverage as well as lowering your deductible for the scheduled item. Please contact your insurance broker to discuss your options.

Manitoba Heath will cover you when out of province but only up to the limit that you would have been covered to should the claim have happened in Manitoba. For example, if an ambulance costs $500 in Alberta and it only costs $250 in Manitoba, Manitoba Health will only pay $250 and the other $250 will come out of your pocket.

Life insurance from Brio Insurance:

• The policy pays a death benefit to your estate, providing funds for children or dependents
• Insurance stays with you
• You can adjust your coverage over time to fit your needs
• Term or permanent
• Premiums guaranteed with a term
• Underwritten before your policy is issued
• Get advice whenever you need from the team at Brio Insurance

Insurance from a mortgage broker:

• Coverage is for the balance of your mortgage and paid to the broker
• If you move, your coverage ends and you need to re-qualify
• Your coverage decreases as you pay off your mortgage
• Decreasing term
• Carriers can change premiums anytime
• Underwritten when you make a claim
• Coverage is joint for spouses

• Alzheimer’s
• Organ transplant
• Bacterial meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Benign brain tumour
• Occupational HIV
• Cancer (life-threatening)
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Heart attack
• Severe burns
• Kidney failure
• Stroke
• Loss of limbs

All illnesses must meet the description in the policy in order to be covered. That’s why it’s important to understand exactly what your policy does and does not cover. If you’re considering purchasing critical illness insurance, we recommend buying early as premiums go up with age. With a 20 or 30-year term, you can protect yourself against rapidly rising rates.

Motorcycle insurance in Manitoba is structured as year-round coverage, but premiums are primarily charged during the riding season (May 1 to September 30). Your policy remains active all year, so your bike is protected even in storage.

The Basic Motorcycle policy policy includes:

• Collision and upset coverage (up to $70,000 insured value)
• $500,000 third-party liability coverage
• Standard $1,000 deductible

You can add optional extensions for greater protection based on your motorcycle type and usage.

Comprehensive coverage protects against fire, theft, vandalism, and weather damage. If your motorcycle is stolen and you’ve chosen the $200 or $500 deductible option, the deductible is waived.

Basic Autopac only covers loss of use if your motorcycle is stolen. With an extension, you can get immediate access to a rental or alternative transportation while your bike is being repaired—ideal for riders who depend on their motorcycle.

With Hagerty classic car insurance, you’ll receive ‘agreed value.’ In case of a covered total loss, you are guaranteed to be paid the full agreed-upon value (as stated on your policy). No deductible is applicable in total loss claims.

Nope. With expert advice, combined with data from auctions and private sales, we’ll give you the most accurate and up-to-date values, eliminating the need for those darn expensive appraisals.

Yes! Since Hagerty Insurance only protects good drivers and classic vehicles that aren’t driven every day, you’ll get lower rates as an added benefit.

It is important that your insurance broker is aware of all heat sources used in your home as there are different requirements with each insurance provider when it relates to heating. When it comes to wood heat, many insurance companies will require a solid fuel questionnaire or a WETT inspection to be completed. Please contact your broker to discuss.