Let’s Make Insurance Simple!

How Clear Is Your Insurance Contract?

How many pages does your insurance contract have? When you read it, do you understand it? Does your insurance company promise “plain language” but fail to deliver?  Why can’t we make insurance simple?

The photo above shows a high-value asset—worth $500,000 or more. Beyond its value, its primary function is to generate revenue. If it’s damaged, your business income suffers. Does your farm insurance policy cover that risk? You want the answer to be yes, and you should be able to quickly find out what your coverage includes. No one wants to sift through endless pages of legal jargon just to understand their protection.

Why Are Insurance Contracts So Complicated?

Regulations and statutes govern insurance policies. Years of litigation have shaped the language, forcing insurers to include or exclude specific wording. The result? Pages of confusing text that leave policyholders uncertain about their coverage.

After more than 30 years in the industry, I still don’t understand why we make policy interpretation so difficult. We have the power to simplify contracts, yet we don’t.

At a presentation by International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) CEO Shawn Tarbuck, I learned that some European countries have reduced insurance contracts to just one page. One page! Canada’s insurance industry could do the same—despite regulations. A clear, concise contract could reduce litigation and ensure consumers know exactly what they’re purchasing.

Trillium Mutual’s Commitment to Clarity

In my last blog, I discussed how fine print damages the insurance industry’s reputation. At Trillium Mutual Insurance, we are on a mission to make insurance simple, clear and more transparent. Our goal is to provide certainty for our Members while making policies easier for our Broker Partners to explain and sell.

Our latest step? Revamping our Master Farm Product. Watch this video to see how simple it can be: Watch Now. We still have work to do, but we’re committed to getting there.

What We’ve Changed So Far

• Master Loss Limit – One all-inclusive limit for buildings, equipment, livestock, and produce.
• Blanket Machinery Coverage – Includes five-year replacement cost.
• Simplified Building Settlement – If you choose not to rebuild, settlement follows a clear depreciation schedule—not vague, post-loss negotiations.

This is just the beginning. We are committed to providing complete, transparent insurance solutions for farms and farmers—today and in the future. Peace of mind starts with clarity.

Mike Virley

VP Member Services

Trillium Mutual Insurance