New Brunswick

New Brunswick does not have a separate, detailed unfair-claims-settlement-practices regulation with fixed acknowledgment or denial-letter deadlines. Core rules come from the Insurance Act statutory conditions, the Uninsured Automobile Coverage Regulation, and a general prohibition on unreasonable delay or resistance to fair claim settlement.

Key Requirements

Acknowledgment

No express statutory acknowledgment deadline. Prompt acknowledgment is advisable to avoid unfair/deceptive practice exposure under ss. 369.1–369.4.

Denial

No express denial-letter deadline. Consistent unreasonable delay or resistance to fair settlement is an unfair/deceptive insurance practice.

Payment Timing

• Property: 60 days after completed proof of loss
• Accident-and-sickness (non-loss-of-time): 60 days after proof of claim
• Initial loss-of-time benefits: 30 days after proof, then at least every 60 days
• Auto physical damage: 60 days after proof, or 15 days after appraisal award
• Uninsured auto: Notice within 30 days; proof within 90 days

Bilingual Requirement

All forms and documents relating to an insurance contract provided to an applicant, insured, beneficiary, or claimant must be provided or made available in both official languages (English and French). Noncompliance is an offence.

Property Election

Repair/rebuild/replace election notice must be sent within 30 days after receipt of proof of loss; work must commence within 45 days.

Research Notes

New Brunswick's key compliance feature is the bilingual documentation requirement under s. 20.1. Administrative penalties can reach $100,000 for individuals and $500,000 for non-individuals. The insurer must also retain counsel who uses the insured's chosen official language when acting on behalf of a defended insured.