Live Insurance News

Why AM Best Predicts a Profitable 2025 for US Commercial Insurance Market

December 4, 2024December 4, 2024 Angela Linders

AM Best Maintains Stable Outlook for U.S. Commercial Insurance in 2025 AM Best has reaffirmed its stable market segment outlook for the U.S. commercial insurance sector heading into 2025. This positive assessment is attributed to the segment’s strong underwriting performance and better investment returns, contributing to solid operating profitability. While challenges persist, insurers in this sector demonstrate resilience and adaptability, supported by sound risk-adjusted capitalization. Strong Underwriting Performance and Reserve Adequacy The U.S. commercial lines segment has benefited from favorable underwriting results, with combined ratios averaging in the mid-90s over…

State Farm Faces Unprecedented Claims Surge as Hurricane Beryl Breaks Records

July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 Marc

State Farm Claims soar from hurricane damage

Hurricane Beryl Smashes Records, Unleashing Insurance Claim Surge Hurricane Beryl has left an unprecedented mark in its wake, driving State Farm to handle over 16,000 insurance claims—a record for the company. This surge in claims was set off when Beryl struck Texas, marking the first U.S. landfall of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, according to a report by AM Best. The financial fallout from this historic storm is projected to reach into the billions, reflecting widespread damage to properties and vehicles across multiple states. Initially impacting the U.S. as a…

State Farm General Downgraded by AM Best Amidst Weakening Balance Sheet

April 3, 2024April 2, 2024 Live Insurance News

State Farm Insurance Building - A downgrade to B

Overview of State Farm Downgrade In a move that has caught the attention of policyholders and investors alike, AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of State Farm General Insurance Company (State Farm General). This marks a significant shift from an ‘A’ (Excellent) rating to a ‘B’ (Fair) classification, while the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) dropped from “a” (Excellent) to “bb+” (Fair). Implications of Ratings – Balance Sheet Strength Assessed as Weak The Credit Ratings issued by AM Best take into account a variety of factors…

Global insurance industry will feel “substantial impact” from Russian invasion of Ukraine

March 3, 2022March 2, 2022 Nordstrom

$Global insurance industry - Globe - fracture$

AM Best has released a forecast regarding the effect the invasion is expected to have worldwide. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is expected to have a “substantial impact” on the global insurance industry, according to a forecast by AM Best. The invasion is expected to add to the already existing inflationary pressures economies worldwide are facing. The AM Best rating agency recently announced that the global central banks’ efforts, joined by those of the United States Federal Reserve, for controlling inflation will face additional challenges due to Russia’s invasion of…

Terrorism insurance program overdependence not recommended by A.M. Best

October 15, 2013January 7, 2014 Julie Campbell

The rating agency has said that this tendency could lead to a considerable problem in the United States. A.M. Best, the large rating agency, has provided insurers with a bold recommendation, which is not to build an overreliance on whether or not there is a reauthorization of the terrorism insurance program in the United States. The future of that program remains up in the air and A.M. Best feels that it is wiser not to completely rely on it. The agency feels that insurers should not count on the Terrorism…

A.M. Best to re-evaluate Florida insurance companies

June 5, 2012 Nordstrom

Rating revisions due to financial troubles with state’s Cat Fund Florida home insurers could soon be seeing revisions made to their ratings as A.M. Best, one of the largest rating firms in the world, announces that it will be reviewing the state’s insurance companies due to the financial troubles of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. The Cat Fund, as it is called, is meant to provide insurance companies with $17 billion in reinsurance coverage each hurricane season. With two consecutive years of powerful natural disasters behind it, the Cat Fund…

Canadian Solar renews warranty-insurance policy

June 3, 2012April 30, 2013

Product warranty insurance policy renewed through April 1, 2013 Canadian Solar, a leading solar energy company, has announced that it has successfully renewed its product warranty insurance policy. The company introduced this policy in 2010 and became the first in the solar energy industry to offer such coverage. The policy includes a product and performance warranty that is supported by a non-cancellable insurance plan. The insurance policy is underwriting by several leading insurance companies in the U.S. and Europe. The warranty policy was renewed through April 1, 2013. Policy honored…