The China Mail - Quebec Brokerage Qubit Insurance Announces New Data on Coverage Shortfalls as Rebuilding Costs Rise

According to Qubit Insurance, this discrepancy can trigger a co-insurance clause built into many home insurance policies, potentially reducing claim payouts even on partial losses. Many homeowners assume their insurance will cover the full cost of rebuilding after a loss, such as a fire or flood. However, if a home is insured for less than its true rebuild cost, an insurer may only pay out a percentage of a claim that matches the percentage of coverage carried. For example, a homeowner insured at 70% of their home's actual rebuild value could see a routine claim reduced by nearly 30%, regardless of the damage's actual repair cost.

The problem has grown more common as rebuilding costs have climbed. The Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ) estimates that construction costs have risen by roughly 18% cumulatively since 2023, driven by inflation in materials and skilled labor. A policy that accurately reflected a home's rebuild cost three years ago may now be underinsuring that home by a significant margin.

"We're seeing this constantly in client feedback right now: people who haven't touched their property coverage limits in years, even though the actual cost to rebuild their home has increased substantially," said Manjot Singh, Insurance Broker at Qubit Insurance, who specializes in commercial and personal lines insurance. "The frustrating part is that it's invisible until there's a claim; nobody gets a warning that their coverage has fallen behind."

"In a review of 1200 new client policies this year, Qubit Insurance found 38% were underinsured relative to current rebuild cost, by an average of 16%." 

To help mitigate the risk of underinsurance and reduced payouts, Qubit Insurance recommends that Quebec homeowners:

• Have their home's reconstruction cost re-evaluated at least every two years, or after any major renovations.
• Review their dwelling coverage limit at every renewal rather than letting the policy auto-renew without adjustments.
• Confirm with their insurer or broker whether their policy applies a co-insurance clause, and at what percentage.
• Work with a broker who can compare reconstruction-cost estimates and coverage terms across multiple carriers.

About Qubit Insurance

Qubit Insurance is an independent, AMF-licensed insurance brokerage based in Saint-Laurent and Montreal, Quebec, serving individual and business clients across the province. Qubit compares more than 20 insurers to help clients find home, auto, tenant, and commercial coverage, with service available in English, French, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu.

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Source article: https://financewire.com/2026/09/12/quebec-brokerage-qubit-insurance-announces-new-data-on-coverage-shortfalls-as-rebuilding-costs-rise/

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