QBE has held pricing on SME and commercial motor insurance as part of its support for struggling clients battling coronavirus impacts.

Australia Pacific GM Sales & Relationship Management Elliot Hill says the insurer has “tried to be as practical as we can” as it responds to COVID-19.

“People have had to change so quickly and I think it’s so important for brokers and insurers to work together to look at those clients and to really understand how quickly they’ve pivoted and how quickly we need to pivot in order to be able to provide them with the type of insurance that they need,” he said.

“It’s important that we stay communicating around this. The impacts will go on for a long time and what we need to be able to do is keep that flexibility [and] communication going in order to assist and maintain those clients.”

QBE, Suncorp and Allianz are part of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission-approved support scheme that has been extended until the end of the year.

Measures include deferring premium payments for up to six months and refunding unused premiums on any cancelled policies without being charged administration or cancellation fees.

Other insurers including IAG, Zurich and Hollard have developed their own initiatives.