Today's Insurance Pulse
Heritage trims reinsurance program, saving $63M on $2.2B renewal
Heritage Insurance Holdings renewed its 2026 reinsurance and catastrophe‑bond program with a total limit of $2.2 billion, down from $2.5 billion placed the year before. The renewal includes $712 million of multi‑year coverage, $550 million from cat bonds and $162 million from private markets. Soft pricing allowed Heritage to cut renewal costs by $63.2 million.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Korean Re raises $75M via cat‑bond retrocession
New Report Calls on Alberta to Reverse Insurance Changes
A new Brownlee LLP report urges Alberta to scrap its upcoming “Care‑first” no‑fault auto‑insurance regime, slated for Jan. 1 2027, arguing it strips victims of the right to sue and limits compensation. The report highlights that UCP AGM members voted to retain the fault‑based system and warns the insurer‑funded tribunal may lack independence. Critics doubt the legislation will lower premiums and contend it shifts liability onto injured parties. Legal experts say the plan favors insurers over Albertans’ rights.
The List Is Growing: More Insurance Apps on ChatGPT
Neptune Flood debuted a flood‑insurance app inside ChatGPT, joining Steadily’s landlord‑insurance tool, Jerry.ai’s car‑insurance and repair estimator, and earlier entrants Insurify, Tuio and Experian. The apps deliver real‑time, preliminary quotes via conversational AI while clearly stating they cannot bind coverage....
Westfield Specialty’s Kevin Koehler on Financial Sector Risk
Kevin Koehler, SVP of Financial Institutions at Westfield Specialty, emphasized that brokers who deeply understand their financial‑services clients and act additively secure better pricing and coverage. He warned that AI usage and model risk are top emerging concerns, with regulators...
Business Leaders Face Major Blindspot on Risks That Could End Their Companies
U.S. executives enter 2026 optimistic, yet a stark gap exists between perceived threats and risks that could shut down their firms, according to Sentry Insurance’s 2026 C‑Suite Stress Index. While 54% expect growth, only 17% rank lawsuits—a danger that 93%...
Episode 60 - Stop Loss Insurance: What Employers Should Know
In this episode, host Mike Stahl talks with Ryan Seamers, founder of Aegis Risk and a leading expert on self‑funded health plans and medical stop‑loss insurance. They discuss the 2026 stop‑loss renewal cycle, noting a sharp premium increase driven by...
Intel Derivative Suit Tests Governance Implications of Government Equity Stakes
On March 5 2026 a Intel shareholder filed a sealed derivative complaint in Delaware alleging that the company’s board breached fiduciary duties by accepting a roughly 9.9% equity stake from the U.S. government. The stake, part of an $11.1 billion federal investment tied...
Affordable Housing Operators Have an Insurance Problem
New York City’s affordable‑housing operators are hit by soaring insurance costs and a disproportionate share of lawsuits. Although they represent only 20 % of the city’s multifamily stock, affordable and rent‑stabilized buildings account for 56 % of personal‑injury claims, making them three...
Insurance Coverage for Waterfront Properties: What Every Investor Needs to Know in 2026
Waterfront short‑term rentals command premium rates but face heightened liability and environmental risks. Standard landlord policies often exclude off‑premises liability, amenity coverage, business activity, and accurate business income protection. Specialized short‑term rental policies, such as Proper Insurance’s Commercial Homeowners, address...
Jamaica Plans to Renew CCRIF Parametric Coverage in 2026, but No Mention of Cat Bond
Jamaica announced it will renew its Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF‑SPC) parametric coverage in May 2026, but gave no indication that the World Bank‑backed $150 million catastrophe bond will be reissued. The renewal follows a record $91.9 million payout from CCRIF...
The AI Route to Improved Underwriting
A new report highlights how artificial intelligence is reshaping underwriting across finance and insurance. AI-driven models ingest alternative data—such as transaction streams, social signals, and IoT metrics—to augment or replace traditional credit scores. Early adopters report faster risk assessments, lower...
Innovators Unite to Advance ACORD and DTCC Data Standards
Technology data standards ACORD and The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) - A group of innovators: Yolanda Austin, Ken Leibow, Stephen Kilbon, Megan Cahill, Lisa Cavaliere, Patti Elliott, Jon Volper, Bali Bodeddula
Capability Intelligence: Mapping Resilience Across the Enterprise
Enterprises now face a flood of risk signals—from cyber threats to supply‑chain shocks—but data alone does not guarantee resilience. The article introduces "capability intelligence" as the missing link that gauges how an organization actually performs under stress. By leveraging digital...
In Trump’s World, Companies Seek Insurance Against Political Risk
President Donald Trump’s recent military actions in Iran, a rapid raid on Venezuela, and broader geopolitical tensions have prompted multinational corporations to reassess exposure to political upheaval. Companies across energy, finance, and logistics are increasingly turning to political risk insurance...
Tokio Marine Targets Mid-Guidance Pricing for $100m Kizuna Re Quake Cat Bond
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire is targeting mid‑guidance pricing for its $100 million Kizuna Re III catastrophe bond, which provides earthquake reinsurance for the Tokio Marine group. The bond, issued through a Singapore‑based SPV, carries a three‑year rolling aggregate trigger and a...
PERILS Finalises Industry Loss Estimate for Cyclone Alfred at Almost AU $1.88bn
Catastrophe data firm PERILS released its final industry loss estimate for Cyclone Alfred at AU $1.877 billion, making it the costliest insured Australian cyclone since 2017. The figure represents a steep decline from the initial $2.568 billion estimate, after successive adjustments of 12%,...
MAS Unveils Climate Transition Planning Rules for FIs
Singapore's Monetary Authority (MAS) has issued new Environmental Risk Management guidelines that focus on climate transition planning for banks, insurers and asset managers. The rules require firms to embed forward‑looking climate risk assessments, governance structures and client engagement into their...
Legislature Rejects Hochul's Surprise Billing Reforms, Siding with Doctors and Hospitals
New York lawmakers rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to reform the state's surprise billing arbitration system. The governor's budget aimed to save $56 million by exempting Medicaid and lowering benchmark rates, aligning them with average private insurer payments. The legislature...
Anthem Expanding Policy that Punishes Hospitals Who Use Out-of-Network Radiologists
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, operating as Elevance Health, is extending its "non‑participating care providers" policy to California, marking the 12th state to face a 10% administrative penalty on hospital claims that involve out‑of‑network radiologists. The policy, first rolled...
Cat Bonds Offer Path to Better Diversification Under Total Portfolio Approach: WTW
WTW argues that catastrophe bonds are a prime asset for a Total Portfolio Approach, delivering returns that are uncorrelated with traditional markets and improving diversification. The cat‑bond market is expanding as disaster frequency and severity increase, pushing premiums higher while...
AI Rebuilds Trust by Linking Evidence, Not Surveillance
AI could become one of the most powerful tools in the fight against financial crime, not by expanding surveillance, but by rebuilding integrity into digital systems. If AI can create stronger evidence chains that connect documents, actions and transactions, it can...
Congressional Advisers Urge Curbing Medicare Advantage Costs
Congressional advisers call to rein in Medicare Advantage spending amid industry pressure https://t.co/15NkEfHtqV via @bobjherman @statnews
Hannover Re Shared 20% of Large Losses with ILS Investors in 2025, Retro Support Evident as Well
Hannover Re posted a 13.4% rise in 2025 net income to €2.6 billion, driven by 4.7% higher reinsurance revenues and a 21.4% return on equity. Property‑casualty (P&C) results improved, with the combined ratio falling to 84% and service result reaching €2.6 billion....
Protection Costs Near Historic Peaks, Raising Sustainability Concerns
The cost of protection is near the most expensive levels in history. *Is it sustainable? / What happens next? https://t.co/c2ruCJC9SP
Hong Kong Risk Managers Attend Exclusive PARIMA Masterclass
Hong Kong @PARIMAorg Masterclass kicked off this morning with closed door session for risk managers only co-hosted with my friend Antonio Kam https://t.co/z4hOcuXEvv
P/C Statutory Results: The Highs and The Lows
S&P Global Market Intelligence reported that U.S. property‑casualty insurers posted a record $67.9 billion net underwriting gain in 2025, driving the combined ratio just under 93.0 – the strongest underwriting performance in 19 years. Personal lines such as homeowners (53.7 loss ratio)...
AI-Underwriting,-a-New-Generation
Edge Focus CEO Elliott Lorenz discussed a new generation of AI underwriting that transforms asset‑backed finance. By applying advanced machine‑learning algorithms to securitisation, lenders can more accurately price and structure credit for esoteric assets such as royalties, aviation leases, and...
U.S. Appoints Chubb to Head $20B Hormuz Shipping Insurance
U.S. Taps Chubb to Lead Trump's $20B Insurance Plan for Hormuz Shipping. What will $20bil do? https://t.co/hZKhxZDvON
Creating Universal Financing Infrastructure for Open Underwriting
"We want to build financing infrastructure ... that allows anyone to underwrite anyone" @PaulFram https://t.co/Cc4ufu0Lcr
Report Finds Medicare Premiums Are Higher Due to MA Overpayments
A recent report reveals that Medicare Advantage (MA) overpayments are driving higher premiums for traditional Medicare beneficiaries. The analysis shows that excess payments to private MA plans have been passed on to the broader Medicare pool, inflating costs for all...
Objective-Centric Risk & Resilience Management
The article argues that strategy alone is insufficient; it must be broken down into concrete objectives such as growth, service availability, sustainability, and operational performance. By anchoring risk and resilience practices to these measurable objectives, organizations can move from aspirational...
Zhibao Technology Launches Drone Insurance Solution for Individual Operators, Strengthening Position in China’s Low-Altitude Economy
Zhibao Technology Inc. has partnered with Sichuan Fanmo Technology to launch China’s first online insurance product aimed at individual drone operators. The policy, priced at CNY 395 (USD 57) per year, offers full‑value coverage and can be activated within 15 minutes via...
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WEATHERING STORMS: OUTsurance Says War May Bruise Growth, but Its Risk Engine Is Built for Turbulence
Outsurance Holdings posted a 7.7% rise in normalised earnings to R2.324 bn for the six months to 31 December 2025, while its return on equity improved to 32.3%. The insurer’s claims ratio jumped to 58.6% as natural‑perils losses in Australia doubled, yet cost...
U K Insurance (UKI Limited) Solvency II Ratios and Capital 2016 – 2024
U K Insurance (UKI Limited) published its Solvency II capital ratios from 2016 through 2024, showing fluctuations in the Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR) and steady compliance with the Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR). Eligible own funds and total assets grew overall, despite...
Chubb Becomes Primary U.S. Insurer for Gulf Shipping
Chubb set as main U.S. insurer for Persian Gulf shipping amid Iran war: CNBC $USO $XLE
DSLD Homes Ready to Utilise Captive Higher up Its General Liability Tower
DSLD Homes, a leading privately‑held home builder in the Gulf South, is evaluating the use of its South Carolina‑domiciled captive insurance company at a higher tier within its general liability insurance tower. The move would shift more liability exposure onto...
CVS to Pay $118M to Settle Medicare Advantage Fraud Allegations
CVS Health’s Aetna Medicare Advantage subsidiary agreed to pay $117.7 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it submitted inaccurate diagnosis codes to boost risk‑adjustment payments. The Department of Justice accused Aetna of running a chart‑review program that added unsupported...
Captives Can Generate Profits Through Third-Party Business: Panel
Captive insurers are increasingly being used to underwrite third‑party programs such as extended warranties, delivering underwriting profits of 20‑30% and additional investment income from premiums held. Manufacturers like Subaru and Harley‑Davidson have built captives to reinsure service contracts, achieving risk,...
Fidelis Enhanced Aggregate Protection at January Renewal, Saw Rates Down ~20%: Strickle
Fidelis Insurance Group secured a roughly 20% reduction in reinsurance rates during its January 2026 renewal, while enhancing aggregate protection across multiple classes. The firm leveraged long‑standing relationships with top‑tier reinsurers and opportunistic purchases to broaden coverage and improve terms....
IFC Targets $50m Guarantee Support for African Reinsurer ZEP-RE
The International Finance Corporation is arranging a guarantee facility of up to $50 million to cover the reinsurance credit risk of ZEP‑RE, Africa’s leading reinsurer based in Nairobi. The guarantee, paired with advisory services, will enable ZEP‑RE to underwrite more profitable,...
Bill Would Add Parkinson’s Disease to Firefighter Occupational Illness List
Alabama lawmakers introduced H.B. 466 to add Parkinson’s disease to the state’s list of recognized firefighter occupational illnesses. The bill creates a presumption that the disease stems from job‑related toxin exposure, provided the firefighter has a clean pre‑service physical and...
The Fidelis Partnership Announces Underwriting Leadership Promotions
The Fidelis Partnership (TFP) announced a series of senior promotions, naming Grahame Dawson as Head of D&F – London, Mel Puskar as Group Head of Credit, Oliver Searles as Head of Energy, and Jamie Graham as Head of Cargo. Additional promotions include...
Insurance Impacts in the Presence of High Subsidy – High Coverage Products: A Case Study of STAX
Since its 2015 launch, the STAX high‑coverage, 80%‑subsidy area‑add‑up insurance has become a cornerstone of the U.S. upland‑cotton safety net, covering 29% of insured cotton acres. Over 2015‑2024, STAX‑linked indemnities offset 97% of the sector’s $11.5 billion market loss, contributing $1.8 billion...
CRC Group CEO on Casualty: ‘It’s More About the Coverage’ Than Price
CRC Group CEO Dave Obenauer told Zywave’s Casualty Insights Conference that insurers should prioritize coverage over price, especially as AI and data analytics reshape underwriting. He noted that while casualty rates have moderated, loss trends driven by large settlements and...
The Freight Market’s New Reality: More Risk, Fewer Signals
The freight market is confronting a multi‑layered risk environment as cargo theft shifts from opportunistic grabs to organized fraud, with incidents up 93% since 2021 and strategic theft soaring over 1,400%. Shippers and 3PLs are moving from one‑time carrier checks...
Singapore Shipowners Face War Risk Policy Cancellations
Singapore’s major shipowners are confronting a wave of war‑risk policy cancellations as insurers pull back coverage linked to heightened Red Sea tensions. The move leaves vessels without protection against hostile acts, forcing operators to seek costly alternatives or self‑retain risk....
Emotional Intelligence Is Essential for ERM Leadership
KeyBank CRO Mo Ramani says emotional intelligence is as vital as analytical skill for modern risk leaders. He argues EQ drives transparent communication, stronger collaboration, and better decision‑making across the enterprise. Ramani also stresses that risk executives must act both...
Marine War Risk Market ‘Operating as Expected’ Amid Middle East Hostilities: IUA
The International Underwriting Association (IUA) says the marine war‑risk market is functioning as expected despite the escalating hostilities involving Iran. Insurers continue to provide coverage across multiple lines, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has stalled for safety reasons...
The Shifting Landscape of Workers’ Compensation Pain Management
The National Council on Compensation Insurance reports that opioid costs in workers’ compensation fell an average 2.8% annually from 2012 to 2023, dropping median claim expenses from $188 to $105. Meanwhile, topical medication spend rose from $38 to $62 per...
Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan ILS Allocation Value Rises 9% in 2025, to US $1.44bn
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) reported its insurance‑linked securities (ILS) portfolio grew 9% in 2025, reaching CAD $1.97 billion (approximately US $1.44 billion). The ILS assets now represent about 1.49% of the fund’s total CAD $132 billion AUM, slightly lower than...
Employee Crime Poses Growing Threat to Large Enterprises
A QBE Insurance survey finds 80% of risk managers at large U.S. firms faced employee crime in the past year, with billing fraud leading at 36%. Incidents often involve multiple perpetrators and senior staff, while 41% of managers express very...