Know What's Happening in Insurance
Know What's Happening in Insurance
Delaware Supreme Court Lets Insurers Pursue Blackbaud Cyber Breach Claims
The court reversed lower‑court dismissals, permitting insurers to bring breach‑of‑contract actions against Blackbaud over its 2020 ransomware incident. Blackbaud had earlier paid a $3 million SEC fine and $49 million to state attorneys general for misleading breach disclosures. The ruling may shape future cyber‑insurance coverage disputes.
Insurance Europe, the EU’s leading insurance trade body, has responded to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority’s (Eiopa) draft consultations on the Insurance Distribution Directive (IRDD). While it endorses the overarching consumer‑protection and market‑integrity objectives, the association warns that several proposed measures could be disproportionate, especially for smaller insurers. It urges a proportionality‑based, tiered regulatory approach to avoid excessive compliance burdens and to preserve competition. The feedback highlights the tension between tighter oversight and maintaining a dynamic insurance market across Europe.
Bermuda’s insurance regulator, the BMA, is overhauling its supervisory framework to better manage asset‑intensive reinsurance, the surge in private‑credit fund participation, and the growing use of artificial intelligence. The new rules tighten capital adequacy, demand granular asset reporting, and introduce...
WTW says the prolonged Middle East conflict is establishing a new baseline for terrorism and political violence reinsurance. Insurers are now offering reduced line sizes, tighter terms, and higher rates. Capacity outside the MENA region remains near $8.5 billion, with only...
Aon has broadened its Automated Event Response (AER) platform to cover U.S. severe convective storms (SCS), adding daily loss modeling and real‑time analytics. The move follows 2025 data showing SCS generated $52 billion in U.S. insured losses, the highest‑cost peril of...
AM Best removed the under‑review status and affirmed an A+ (Superior) Financial Strength Rating for Sompo Japan Insurance, with a stable outlook, alongside an aa‑ Long‑Term Issuer Credit Rating carrying a positive outlook. The agency also affirmed an a‑ rating...
Specialist insurer Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) has appointed Francesca Kevill as an underwriter on its Cyber & Enterprise Risk team, reporting to Head of Delegated Cyber & IP Ellie Webb. Kevill brings extensive cyber underwriting experience from Tokio Marine Australia,...
Hartford HealthCare and KHealth introduced PatientGPT, a generative AI chatbot that plugs into Epic’s MyChart platform and can route patients to clinicians 24/7. The tool arrives as 32% of adults already turn to AI for health advice, raising questions about...
The Florida 6th District Court of Appeals struck down a 62‑year‑old procedural rule that forced parties to hire expert witnesses for attorney‑fee awards. The decision, described as a “sea change,” could slash defense costs for insurers and streamline fee‑shifting disputes...
Moody’s has kept a negative outlook on the U.S. health‑insurance sector, citing persistent medical‑cost inflation that is crushing profit margins. EBITDA margins have slipped into the low‑single‑digit range as loss ratios climb faster than premium hikes. Insurers are expected to...
Aon’s latest catastrophe report estimates that the back‑to‑back Kona storms that battered Hawaii in March 2024 will generate at least $1 billion in combined economic and insured losses. The two‑week deluge produced record rainfall—over 52 inches at mountain peaks—the heaviest event...
Louisiana lawmakers have introduced three bills aimed at modernizing the state’s captive insurance framework, with a particular focus on entities that underwrite commercial trucking risks. House Bills 936 and 904 would tighten capital requirements, impose stricter governance standards, and broaden...
The Wren Insurance Association Limited, a mutual insurer that provides professional indemnity coverage for architects, will cease writing new business on 1 July 2026. The decision follows a surge in cladding‑related claims that have strained the mutual’s capacity. Wren remains...
In this March 2026 news blast, hosts Jared and Ben discuss three major reinsurance trends: the controversial $20 billion U.S.-backed Hormuz Strait reinsurance plan announced by Donald Trump, the surge in secondary perils driving 92% of 2025 losses according to Swiss...
The Lagos State government has launched a parametric flood‑risk insurance policy covering up to 4 million vulnerable residents, with a maximum payout of $7.5 million for flood response and recovery. The product is part of the Tripartite Agreement Programme, a public‑private partnership...
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against NewYork‑Presbyterian Hospital, alleging the health system leverages its 30% Manhattan market share to compel insurers into costly, all‑or‑nothing contracts. The suit says the practice inflates premiums for millions of...
GAM Investments announced that its catastrophe bond and insurance‑linked securities (ILS) partnership with Swiss Re’s SRILIAC subsidiary is now fully activated, bringing together multi‑billion‑dollar ILS assets. The co‑management arrangement grants GAM access to Swiss Re’s underwriting expertise, risk management and...
Recent conflicts, from the US‑Israel war on Iran to the Russia‑Ukraine crisis, have highlighted China's dependence on foreign maritime insurance providers. Expert Chen Jihong warned that while China excels in shipbuilding hardware, its "software"—legal and financial services like insurance—remains underdeveloped....
The Trump administration touts recent reductions in Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment fraud while unveiling a sweeping set of 2027 regulations aimed at tightening eligibility verification and curbing broker misconduct. Complaints about unauthorized enrollments climbed to 341,906 in 2025, prompting...
Global risk isn’t evenly distributed. In 2026, a small group of countries - including Belarus, Lebanon, Sudan, and Venezuela - sit at the top of the global risk ranking, with premiums around 30.9%. At the other end, only 19 countries globally have risk levels below...
Your credit has as much of an impact on your homeowners insurance premium as whether or not you live in a disaster-prone area. https://t.co/PQ2K1kvGSE
A risk prioritization matrix transforms vague risk lists into a structured grid that plots likelihood against business impact, enabling teams to spot the most threatening issues at a glance. The guide outlines a seven‑step process—from building a clean risk inventory...
is there any rationale for allowing anti-tiering, anti steering, and "all or nothing" clauses in hospital contracts with insurers? Barring these was one of the centerpieces of our healthcare competition policy recommendations almost a decade ago https://t.co/8PPf8H5iMw
The Policy Design Lab released interactive county‑level visualizations of USDA’s crop insurance data for 2014‑2024, highlighting stark geographic imbalances. Midwest counties, such as those in Illinois, consistently pay more in premiums than they receive in indemnities, while counties like Gaines...
Law firms are rapidly adopting generative AI for tasks ranging from client chatbots to document drafting, prompting insurers to reassess professional indemnity coverage. While AI promises efficiency, it introduces liability exposures such as hallucinated content, confidentiality breaches, IP infringement, and...
Retirees and policy analysts are voicing alarm over announced Social Security benefit cuts, yet the latest reports provide no concrete figures or timelines. The uncertainty underscores broader debates about the sustainability of public insurance programs.
Isar Aerospace halted its second test flight over Norway after a fisherman entered the launch safety zone, while Japan's startup Space One scrapped a Kairos No. 3 launch seconds before liftoff. The twin incidents underscore growing reliability worries for fledgling launch...
China’s rapidly expanding multinational corporations are creating a fertile market for captive insurance structures, with Hong Kong positioned as the regional hub. Yves Betz, head of AXA XL Multinational Solutions, highlighted this emerging opportunity in an exclusive Global Captive Podcast...
The No Surprises Act, enacted in 2020 to shield patients from unexpected medical bills, relies on an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process when insurers and providers cannot agree on payment. Health‑care leaders now warn that the IDR system is being...
The American Hospital Association (AHA) warns that Anthem’s new facility administrative policy forces hospitals in 12 states to guarantee every physician treating an Anthem enrollee is in‑network. Non‑compliance could cut hospital reimbursements by roughly 10% or result in removal from...
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. insurance and naval‑escort program for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will launch imminently, aiming to revive oil and gas flows that account for roughly one‑fifth of global supply. The initiative, run...
A U.S. District Judge in Georgia ruled that ALPS Property & Casualty Insurance Co. has no duty to defend attorney Jeremy Cohen in a trade‑secret theft lawsuit because the alleged conduct does not fall within the scope of legal services....
The Utah Supreme Court narrowed a century‑old rule barring employer liability waivers, limiting its reach to injuries that occur within the scope of employment. In Deer Valley Resort Co. v. Olson, the court upheld dismissal of vicarious liability claims but...
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) reports that hiring slowed dramatically in 2025, with only 116,000 net job gains—the weakest pace outside a recession since 2003. Despite the weak labor market, rising wages kept workers‑compensation payroll growth near pre‑pandemic...
Surety underwriters are tightening criteria as U.S. contractors chase larger megaprojects and face rising labor and material costs. They focus on three pillars—capital, capacity, and character—requiring strong profitability, liquid balance sheets, and disciplined growth. Digital tools are helping evaluate smaller...
Axa XL introduced an environmental combined form that bundles pollution insurance with general liability coverage. The package offers primary limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with optional excess up to $25 million for certain businesses. It includes lead excess,...
Aon Affinity’s Nurses Service Organization and CNA have introduced a professional liability policy specifically for certified midwives and certified nurse‑midwives. The coverage protects prenatal, postnatal, gynecological, and labor‑and‑delivery services performed in hospitals or clinical settings. Limits are set at $1 million...
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, has secured a $7.5 million flood insurance policy so some of its poorest residents can access relief when disaster strikes https://t.co/7NhRHv6Ors
Aviva announced it will launch a U.S. surplus lines business in the second quarter of 2026, operating from a new New York hub. The venture, led by former Everest Insurance CEO Mike Karmilowicz, will underwrite property, casualty and specialty risks through...
A federal judge ruled that Old Republic’s directors‑and‑officers insurance does not cover the antitrust lawsuit against Supernus Pharmaceuticals over its 2020 acquisition of USWM Enterprises. The court held that the policy only applies to securities issued by Supernus or its...
Totalis Program Underwriters has acquired ShoreOne Insurance Managers, a niche provider of homeowners insurance with integrated flood coverage. The deal terms were undisclosed, and ShoreOne will operate as an independent business unit under Totalis, with Cameron Rhodes taking over as...
Hawaii Senate Bill 2950 authorizes captive insurers to write catastrophic property and casualty risks, provided they obtain approval and remain under the ongoing supervision of the state insurance commissioner. The legislation defines catastrophic risk as exposures that could generate severe,...
Markel International has named Camilla Roughan as Senior Underwriter – Energy, effective immediately. Based in London, Roughan will lead underwriting for the firm’s upstream and midstream energy portfolio, focusing on tighter risk selection and stronger broker relationships. Her 20‑plus years...
On 26 March 2026 the European Parliament approved the crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) package, bundling the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation and the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive. The reforms broaden the resolution framework...
European weather risk assessments now highlight extreme heat and drought as the primary threats for the continent. Recent climate data shows record‑breaking temperatures and prolonged dry spells across major economies, raising concerns for agriculture, energy, and public health. Insurers and...
A new CB Insights report identifies the 25 most active investors in UK insurtech, who together completed 97 equity deals between 2021 and 2025. Despite a broader slowdown in venture capital, 11% of UK insurtech equity deals involved companies ranked...
Gordon Graham credits the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as the foundation of his 30‑year law‑enforcement career, from a childhood ride‑along to senior leadership roles. His tenure was defined by mentors who prioritized caring for officers, shaping his people‑first leadership style....
Amwins reports that the public‑entity property insurance market stays favorable for buyers, with strong carrier competition, ample capacity and innovative pricing. However, casualty coverage is under pressure from rising nuclear verdicts, reviver statutes and aggressive litigation funding. Proposed FEMA Public...
hyperexponential (hx) has partnered with MGA Banyan Risk to become the first managing general agent to deploy hx’s full agentic underwriting suite across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Bermuda. The hx platform will sit at the core of...
Direct primary care (DPC) practices have exploded, growing 83 percent since 2018 to over 2,700 sites serving roughly 250,000 patients, and the global market is projected to reach $93 billion by 2034. While DPC delivers longer visits and lower utilization, the migration...
Munich Re’s 2026 cyber‑insurance report warns that agentic AI will soon automate multi‑stage attacks, generate hyper‑personalised phishing, and manipulate AI models through prompt injection and data poisoning. The technology expands the attack surface while also offering defenders autonomous tools to...
