The beginning of the year was punctuated with a rash of insurance rate increases coming from many of the nation’s insurance companies. Insurers had defended their weighty rate proposals with the claim that the cost of medical care was rising out of control. Higher rates may also be due to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurers pay no less than 80% of their collected premiums on health care. While insurers have been quick to propose rates that are, in some cases, astronomically high, industry experts believe…
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Insurance risk research shows industry struggling with growth and reserve risks
Aon Corporation’s capital adviser and global reinsurance intermediary, Aon Benfield, has released a report containing the results of its annual study – called the 2011 Insurance Risk Study – which is used by the industry to benchmark underwriting risk, and for modeling through the risk parameters it provides. This research – which is the sixth that has been published by the company – offers volatility benchmarks for underwriting, which are used by the industry’s professionals in economic capital modeling, such as chief risk officers and actuaries. It also provides the…
Read MorePost 9/11 insurance industry is vastly different, says report
This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks which brought down New York City’s World Trade Center. Since the attack, the political landscape has changed dramatically, a shift that has been mimicked throughout society as terrorism more people became aware of terrorism. Many things changed in the wake of 9/11, and while many of these changes resided within the boundaries of the nation, the entirety of the world’s insurance industry underwent a drastic shift. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I) has been studying the changes in the worldwide…
Read MoreInsurers unlikely to raise rates in the wake of Hurricane Irene, according to Allianz
Despite fears that disaster-prone 2011 will incite higher insurance rates in the future, Allianz, one of the largest commercial insurance companies in the world, says that the toll of the damage caused by natural disasters throughout the year will not prompt widespread hikes in premiums. Jay Ralph, a board member of Allianz in charge of the North American insurance market, spoke with reporters concerning the issue, noting that the excess capacity of the insurance industry is enough to weather the storm without any major changes in policies. However, insurers should…
Read MoreInsurance and business executives gather in New York City to examine the insurance industry
This week, leaders from the insurance, financial services, legal and media industries gathered in New York City for the annual New York City Dinner at the St. Regis Hotel. The dinner serves a form of intimate conference catering to the executives that run the numerous industries. This year, the event held particular meaning as the leaders of the two most influential and successful insurance corporations spoke about the state of the world’s insurance industry. Lloyd’s of London CEO Lord Pete Levene was joined by Brian Duperreault, CEO of Marsh &…
Read MoreGlobal insurance industry may be in for change as regulators come together to draft new rules
In the wake of major natural disasters and allegations of corruption, the world’s insurance industry is set for change. Insurance regulators from several nations have begun drafting new rules to present to political leaders in time for the 2012 G20 summit .These new rules are being tailored to ensure that the actions that spurred the 2008 economic recession cannot be repeated in the future. Both the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are playing a major role in drafting the new rules. Overall, the…
Read MoreFEMA seeks to partially privatize National Flood Insurance
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has had a troubled history. The program is meant to provide affordable home insurance coverage to those that live in areas prone to flooding either from hurricanes or other storms. Thousands take advantage of the program, but it has suffered shortfalls in funding, putting NFIP $18 billion in debt. Congress has been debating solutions to this problem. Legislators have until September 30th to figure it out or the program will be abolished. FEMA administrator Craig Fugate may have a plan that could offset NFIP’s…
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