UCC Protect

Effective December 1, 2022, The United Church of Canada launched an insurance program aimed at providing United Church ministries with more affordable and accessible property and liability insurance coverage. 

This program must be applied for directly as opposed to working with local brokers. UCC Protect United was developed for the sole purpose of helping congregations manage risk and control insurance costs. All policies renew annually on December 1. In the first year of the program, premiums for existing participants were rolled back, reversing increases from 2022 and 2023. Going forward, it is hoped that rate increases will be less than the broader market, but that will depend on actual claims experience.

To improve service, we ask that all requests reference your policy number (Hub 1925-xxxx) and location. (We have over 100 churches named St. Andrew's!)

Separate Assigned Mailboxes

We now have separate mailboxes to sort daily inquiries and requests:

• General Inbox, ucc@hubinternational.com: General inquiries about coverages, limits, policy changes, cancellation, wordings, etc.
• New Business, uccnewbusiness@hubinternational.com: New submissions/inquiries to receive a quote or set up a policy.
• Time Sensitive, ucctimesensitiverequests@hubinternational.com: Urgent requests required for deadlines quickly approaching. This could be a missing Cover Note or Proof of Insurance, correction of error, last-minute requirement by a third party to qualify for grants, etc. Note: The onus is on the client to provide exact requirements to ensure HUB has sufficient time to issue the documents: your policy number, location, limits, etc.
• COI requests/Proof of Insurance, uccproofofinsurance@hubinternational.com: Copy of COI = Cover Note (policy documents), Proof of Insurance required for third parties to confirm coverage is in place—e.g., for upcoming events where certain spaces are used by or involve a third party.

Difference between a Cover Note and Proof of Insurance

• Cover Note, also known as Certificate of Insurance, is a copy of your policy documents that states the coverages, limits, insured locations, policy premium, exclusions, etc. This is for you as the insured to understand the policy purchased and is not usually shared with a third party because it includes confidential information that is NOT necessary for that the third party.
• Proof of Insurance is a document that third parties require to confirm that the appropriate coverages and limits are in place. This is usually requested for events where you use/rent space or have a third party involved. This document shows limited information to simply confirm the necessary information to the third party.

Third Party (Renter) Insurance

Online direct purchase facility arranged through Instant Risk Coverage (IRC) where an account setup is required.

This insurance is now available to renters residing in Quebec who wish to use a Quebec church.

Claims Reporting

In the event of a claim, or any incident that might later give rise to a claim, please report to:

Adelaide Marquardt
Senior Claims Specialist at HUB 
Phone: 416-910-5861
E-mail: adelaide.marquardt@hubinternational.com

New claims are to be reported to:
ClaimsPro: uccclaims@claimspro.ca
Include your Cover Note number.

After-Hours Emergency Line for Property Claims
1-855-588-7612

New Entrants Seeking to Join UCC Protect United

New entrants previously required a current appraisal. Now the requirements are

• a fully completed UCC Protect: Application Form
• a copy of existing coverage summary including premium information, plus an appraisal if there is one

We ask for renewal premium because we want to offer a significant saving, but also to track the savings our program is delivering. Knowing this will help us better manage inflationary challenges and ensure sustainability.

UCC Protect United insurance offers coverage to address the unique needs of congregations and incorporated ministries such as camps, seniors’ homes, and education centres. 

This plan is the only insurance program endorsed by the General Council Office and is established solely for the benefit of participating United Church entities. HUB International has been the broker in the past but will now administer the arrangement for a fee, with brokers no longer involved. Currently about half of all United Church congregations have chosen this coverage.

Coverage Highlights

For more detail, refer to UCC Protect United: Coverage Overview and FAQs.

• Third Party Event Liability: Significant savings for our active congregations. This coverage is for groups and individuals holding meetings, events, or parties on the premises of churches/camps/outreach ministries. Contact HUB at 1-888-550-5458 or visit their website.
• Commercial General Liability (CGL): Coverage for personal injury, property damage, advertising, and tenants’ legal liability; includes abuse, harassment, and counselling coverage.
• Umbrella Liability: Provides increased liability limits above the Commercial General Liability coverage.
• Crime: Coverage for employee dishonesty, loss of money, counterfeit currency, and cheque and credit card forgery.
• Equipment Breakdown: Coverage for sudden and accidental breakdown of boilers, pressure vessels, air-conditioning units, heat pumps, wiring, etc.
• Property and Business Interruption: Coverage of all risks of direct loss or damage of property of every description, subject to exclusions. Gross earnings and payroll coverage is optional.
  Note: Property and Comprehensive General Liability insurance must be purchased by each church entity.
  There is now one specialty coverage applicable to all congregations in good standing on an umbrella basis that is funded nationally:
• Directors’ and Officers’ Liability (D&O): Find out about this coverage provided by The United Church of Canada for ALL congregations, and download the current year's insurance certificate as well as FAQs on the D&O Liability Insurance page. 
• Cyber coverage: A cyber response service is available for all congregations. This is not insurance but rather an advisory service. Cyber insurance coverage must be applied for separately.