Manitoba livestock producers are getting new offline options to sign up for price insurance coverage.
Until recently the only way to buy a Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) policy was to go on the Internet, activate an account through an online portal and buy a policy online, paying with a credit card.
Now that’s changing, according to the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), who administers the provincial crop insurance program.
“Producers now have the ability to fax or scan the paperwork to our contact centre and then we activate the policy once it is paid,” said Jason Dobbin, MASC’s livestock price insurance co-ordinator.
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It won’t affect any other aspects of the program, and the policies remain available through the online option. The move is intended to make life easier for producers without Internet access.
“Now, people who don’t have a computer or an email address are able to apply with a fax number,” said Dobbin.
WLPIP has also added new payment options. Previously, the organization accepted credit card payment only but producers now have the option to pay by cheque or telephone and online banking.
“There is a two-week time frame to get the policy paid to allow for producers to mail in cheques to our contact office.”
While it is acceptable to mail in payment to the MASC contact office, Dobbin clarifies that mailing in the paperwork is not an option.
“The paperwork is time sensitive, so when applying you still need to have either a fax or a scanner to transfer the paperwork back and forth in a timely manner. It needs to be completed within the 3-1/2-hour time period that we allow for buying.”
According to Dobbin, the change comes as a response to producer requests.
“This is something that we heard producers wanted. They wanted different options to purchase and to pay and so we listened. This is a pilot program and part of that pilot is trying to adjust the program to make it as convenient for producers as possible.”
For more information call 1-844-782-5747 or visit wlpip.ca.
