Today's Insurance Pulse
Heritage trims reinsurance program, saving $63.2M
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 in 2025. The renewal includes $712 million of multi‑year coverage, $550 million from cat bonds and $162 million from private markets. Pricing softness allowed Heritage to cut renewal costs by $63.2 million.
Also developing:
RGA Posts $611 M Q1 Adjusted Income, Boosts Share Buybacks Amid 5% Premium Growth
Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) announced Q1 2026 results with pretax adjusted operating income of $611 million and adjusted EPS of $6.97. The company posted 5% traditional premium growth, returned $50 million via share buybacks, and signaled continued capital deployment and debt reduction plans.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Remains Unsafe, Normalcy Delayed
Economist Jeff Currie on reopening of the Strait of Hormuz: “If I’m the crew guy, I’m not getting on that boat. If I’m the insurance guy in London, I’m not underwriting one of these ships going through there either.” STRAIT TRAFFIC WILL...
Policy Of Auto-Enrolling Seniors In Medicare Advantage Could Backfire
The Trump administration is weighing a rule that would auto‑enroll newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries into Medicare Advantage plans or Accountable Care Organizations, replacing the current default of traditional fee‑for‑service Medicare. Proponents argue it could streamline coverage, but critics warn it...
Connecticut Condo Market Splits: Prices Rise in Some Areas, Reprice in Others
Justin Bette of Century 21 Bette Real Estate says Connecticut's condominium market is experiencing a sharp divergence: limited‑inventory regions are seeing price gains, while many communities face repricing as HOA fees, insurance premiums and loss of FHA eligibility squeeze demand.
Medicare Launches $50‑per‑month GLP‑1 Pilot, Reshaping Weight‑loss Drug Coverage
Medicare will offer a $50 monthly copayment for select GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs in a pilot program beginning July 2026. The short‑term bridge, running through Dec. 2027, targets beneficiaries with BMI 27+ and related health conditions, potentially shifting cost dynamics for insurers...
Mahathi Infotech and Intrepid Risk Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Integrated Services to P&C Insurers
Mahathi Infotech and Intrepid Risk announced a strategic partnership to deliver integrated technology, AI, and business services to property‑and‑casualty insurers. The collaboration merges Mahathi’s deep P&C tech expertise—core system modernization, AI‑driven workbenches, and rapid app development—with Intrepid’s carrier‑focused consulting, vendor‑panel...
Shipping Firms Warn of Heightened Risks as Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
Global shippers say the prolonged shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz is driving soaring insurance costs, weekly losses of $60 million for carriers like Hapag‑Lloyd and a backlog of more than 1,500 vessels, while diplomatic talks stall.
Arisa Health Withdraws From Arkansas Statewide Mental Health Contract Over $4.4 M Funding Cut
Arisa Health announced it will not submit a bid to continue its statewide community mental health contract after a $4.4 million funding cut made the program financially untenable. The withdrawal threatens services for uninsured, Medicaid and other vulnerable populations across 41...
Politics Controls Medicare Drug Coverage, Shapes Private Insurers
Politics does determine which drugs Medicare &Medicaid pay for, and through those decisions, most private insurers. Wake up dude.
Safepoint Holdings Files for US IPO, Reporting $48M Q1 Net Income
Safepoint Holdings Inc., a Tampa‑based underwriter of specialty homeowners and commercial policies, filed a registration statement for an initial public offering on Friday. The filing disclosed a surge in Q1 net income to $48 million on $168 million revenue, more than double...
North Carolina Medicaid Autism Therapy Billings Surge 47,000%, Sparking Fraud Probe
North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek has uncovered a 47,000% increase in Medicaid autism therapy billing, from $1.4 million to over $660 million, prompting a statewide audit and calls for stricter oversight. Similar billing explosions in Ohio and other red states are...
Behind DP World’s Geopolitical Act of War Insurance
DP World has introduced a war‑risk insurance product that goes beyond a typical commercial offering, positioning the UAE‑based port operator as a de‑facto insurer of record. The move is framed as a geopolitical instrument, intertwining the company’s operational footprint with...
Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath Flags ULIP, Endowment Traps; Says Health Policies Remain Complex
Nithin Kamath of Zerodha warned Indian investors that they continue to buy Unit‑Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) and traditional endowment policies despite widespread expert criticism. He emphasized that information is now readily available through online comparisons and AI tools, yet sales of...
Corgi Secures $160 Million Series B, Valued at $1.3 B, to Scale AI‑Native Insurance for Tech Risks
Corgi announced a $160 million Series B round led by TCV, pushing its valuation to $1.3 billion. The capital will accelerate the AI‑native platform’s move beyond startup insurance into trucking, payroll and other B2B verticals. The raise brings total funding above $268 million,...
The PPLI Opportunity Affluent Families Are Exploring — Are You Missing It?
Family Enterprise USA and Winged Keel Group are hosting a free webcast on May 28, 2026 to demystify Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) for affluent families. The session will cover how PPLI works, its tax‑advantaged investment options such as insurance‑dedicated...
Florida Enforces NIST‑Level E‑Signature Rules for Salvage and Destruction Titles
Florida’s legislature approved CS/HB 961, a bill that raises electronic‑signature standards for insurers handling salvage certificates of title and certificates of destruction. Effective July 1, 2026, carriers must meet NIST SP 800‑63‑3 Level 2 assurance for identity, authentication and federation, adding new audit and...
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Understanding Care, Custody, or Control (CCC) in Insurance Policies
The care, custody, or control (CCC) exclusion is a common clause in liability insurance that bars coverage for damage to non‑owned personal property the insured oversees. It typically applies to rented equipment or goods in transit, while owned or real...
Will Insurance Cover Neck Surgery Implants? Spine Societies Speak Out
A growing number of insurers are refusing to reimburse interbody spacers used in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), labeling them experimental despite a quarter‑century of clinical use. Major spine societies—including AANS, CNS, NASS and SRS—have issued a unified statement...
HIV Advocates Ask Regulators In Multiple States To Probe Highmark’s ‘Copay Armor’ Policy
The HIV+HEP Policy Institute has asked insurance regulators in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to investigate Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s 2026 exchange plans. The group alleges the plans use a “Copay Armor” or copay‑maximizer program that raises out‑of‑pocket costs...
Cigna Getting Out of Individual ACA Market
Cigna announced it will wind down its individual ACA exchange business by the end of 2026, citing a shrinking customer base and a need to concentrate on core growth platforms. The insurer’s enrollment fell to 355,000 this quarter, down from...
NY Governor Hochul’s $268 B Budget Touts Auto‑Insurance Reforms Amid Legislative Dispute
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $268 billion 2026‑27 budget that includes auto‑insurance reforms aimed at lowering premiums, capping excess profits and ending rating by zip code. The proposal faces pushback from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who says a final deal has...
Georgia's Uninsured Drivers Near 18%—Get UM Coverage
1/8 drivers in Georgia in uninsured. New data shows it’s even closer to 18% If you want to stay protected, you need UM coverage.
Why Cook County Health’s Medicaid Coverage Loss Strategy Is Drawing Attention
Cook County Health, one of the nation’s largest public health systems, launched the Get Medicaid Facts microsite and a free communications toolkit to help Illinois residents navigate upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes. The initiative targets roughly 400,000 potential coverage losses projected...
UBS to Pay $1.2M Over Widow’s Variable Annuity Claim
UBS Wealth Management USA was ordered by a FINRA arbitration panel to pay $1.17 million in compensatory damages, plus $36,300 in costs, after a Florida widow alleged a broker improperly recommended a variable annuity using retirement funds. The panel also assessed...
5 Things to Know About the Converging Medicaid Funding Crisis
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will slash federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over the next decade, forcing state budgets to shrink by $664 billion and capping managed‑care rates at 100% of Medicare in expansion states and 110% elsewhere. States are expected to lower...
Hurricane Season 2026 Looms as Insurers Brace for Flood Claims Amid Texas Legislative Gaps
AccuWeather predicts 11‑16 named storms and up to four major hurricanes for the 2026 Atlantic season, prompting insurers to urge policy reviews. In Texas, decades of rejected flood‑safety bills have left 650,000 structures exposed, driving the state’s flood‑insurance payouts to...
Guest Post: Middle East D&O Claims Exposures in a Time of Tension
The guest post by Shabnam Karim and Simon Lamb of Norton Rose Fulbright explains how the ongoing Iran‑related conflict is reshaping directors‑and‑officers (D&O) liability across the Middle East. They highlight supply‑chain disruptions, share‑price volatility, insurance gaps, economic distress, cyber attacks...
Credit Score Influences Home Insurance Like Disaster Location
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
Earth Observation for Parametric Insurance
Parametric insurance now relies on Earth Observation (EO) data to trigger automatic payouts when satellite‑measured variables cross predefined thresholds. The model proved its speed when Mozambique’s government received $5.4 million within days after a drought‑cyclone event, based solely on satellite rain...
Fatigue the Hidden Factor in Shipping Casualties, Warn Researchers
New research from the Sustainable Shipping Initiative highlights seafarer fatigue as a largely hidden driver of maritime accidents. While human error accounts for most claims, existing reporting systems fail to capture the impact of long shifts and chronic sleep loss....
76% of Reinsurers Delivered Double-Digit Capital Growth in 2025: Gallagher Re
Gallagher Re’s 2025 Reinsurance Market Report shows 76% of reinsurers achieved double‑digit capital growth, pushing total dedicated capital to a record $648 billion, up 11% from 2024. Traditional reinsurance capital drove 68% of the expansion, rising 10% to $513 billion, while non‑life...
Aon Says Middle East Conflict Is Reshaping Risk, Insurance and Supply Chains
Aon warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict is permanently reshaping risk, insurance and supply‑chain dynamics for multinational firms. In a May 7 webinar, Aon executives said volatility has shifted from an occasional tail‑risk to a baseline planning assumption, driving higher...
Engine Room Fire Risk Growing with Ageing Fleet, Says Insurer Group
A new Cefor study finds engine‑room fire incidents are rising as the global merchant fleet ages, with vessels older than 15 years accounting for the majority of cases. Passenger ships are identified as the most vulnerable segment. Insurers have described...
DP World Expands Into War‑Risk Shipping Insurance
DP World moves into shipping war risk insurance. Includes Middle East. Covers thru to inland delivery. https://t.co/ADghHSU8zY
Solar Insurance Carriers Take on Project Risk to Keep Plants Producing and Improve Product Technology
kWh Analytics, an Oregon‑based renewable energy insurer, launched a pilot with tracker maker Nextpower to stream real‑time operational data into its underwriting models. The program aims to create evidence‑based risk assessments that more accurately price hail and other weather‑related losses,...
LA Fire Survivors Face Financial Crisis as Insurance Payouts Run Dry
A new Department of Angels survey shows almost 50% of Los Angeles fire survivors have run out of temporary housing insurance payments, with rebuilding gaps averaging $600,000 to $1.73 million. The findings highlight widening equity gaps and pressure on insurers and policymakers.
Legal Challenges to Motor Finance Compensation Scheme – Update for Firms and Consumers – Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued an update on the motor‑finance compensation scheme, noting that several legal challenges have been lodged against the fund. The scheme, valued at roughly £1 billion (about $1.25 billion), was created to redress consumers harmed by...
Most Executives Fear a Single Lawsuit Could End Their Business, Yet Few Rank Litigation as a Top Risk
The 2026 C‑Suite Stress Index, based on a survey of 1,250 U.S. executives, reveals a stark disconnect between the risks leaders fear and those that could instantly destroy a business. While supply‑chain, economic and tariff concerns dominate, only 17% rank...
UCITS Cat Bond Fund Assets Rise 6.5% YTD in 2026, Near $20.5bn After April
UCITS catastrophe bond funds added $650 million in April, pushing total assets under management to $20.5 bn, a 6.5% year‑to‑date increase. The sector, now composed of 20 pure UCITS funds, has grown 133% since the end of 2022 and accounts for roughly...
Managing and Pricing Data Centre Risk Remains a Key Challenge: Holmes, Moody’s
Brandan Holmes, senior credit officer at Moody’s, warned that insurers struggle to assess and price data‑centre risk because of scarce loss data, short equipment lifespans and a mix of physical and cyber hazards. He highlighted the geographic concentration of high‑value...
PIAM: Motor Insurance Posts RM289.3 Mil Loss in 2025, More and Costlier Claims, Notably with Proton Models
Motor insurance remains Malaysia’s largest general‑insurance line, delivering RM10.9 bn (~$2.4 bn) in 2025, or 45% of total premiums. The segment posted an underwriting loss of RM289.3 mn (~$64 mn) with a 103% combined ratio, as claim frequency stayed above 7% and severity jumped...
Why More Texas Small Businesses Are Switching From Group Plans to Association Plans
Texas small businesses are grappling with traditional group health insurance that averages $7,000‑$9,000 per employee annually, making coverage for a 10‑person team comparable to a full marketing budget. To curb these costs, many are turning to association health plans (AHPs),...
The Insurance Affordability Squeeze: Why Auto Carriers Are at an Inflection Point
Auto insurers are confronting a structural affordability squeeze as volatile weather, rising repair costs and a tougher litigation climate lift loss severity. Premiums have surged to record levels, leaving consumers sensitive to value and threatening carrier retention. To counteract, carriers...
New Federal Insurance Law Could Kill US Passenger Rail Within Weeks
The U.S. Department of Transportation is set to enforce a new passenger‑rail liability cap that could reach roughly $400 million. Under the rule, every passenger‑rail operator has 30 days to obtain the required insurance or suspend service. The cap, which has risen...
Aon Launches Updated Climate Risk Monitor
Aon has refreshed its Climate Risk Monitor (CRM) by adding heat‑stress analytics and a cooling‑demand module, expanding the platform’s ability to quantify physical climate threats. The new features assess temperature, humidity, and exposure impacts on health, productivity, and energy use,...
SEADRIF & WFP Launch US$1.1m Parametric Policy to Boost Disaster Resilience in Lao PDR
SEADRIF Insurance Company and the UN World Food Programme have launched a US$1.1 million parametric insurance policy in Lao PDR. The policy provides pre‑arranged financing for floods, tropical cyclones, earthquakes and landslides, triggering payouts when at least 200,000 people are affected....
Blue Cross Reverses In‑Network Kidney Transplant Denial Amid Contract Dispute
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan approved a kidney transplant that it had initially denied, after a Detroit Free Press story sparked public scrutiny. The reversal underscores a broader contract fight with Michigan Medicine that could push 250,000 members out...
Iran War Slashes Hormuz Traffic, Sends U.S. Gas Prices 50% Higher
Iran’s war with Israel and the United States has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, collapsing tanker movements by more than 80% and driving U.S. gasoline prices up 50% to $4.48 a gallon. The disruption threatens to remove over 600 million...
AI Sprawl: Why Your Productivity Trap Is About to Get Expensive
The article warns that AI adoption is outpacing governance in insurers, creating an "AI sprawl" of isolated models and agents. Rapid, low‑cost tools let claims, underwriting and customer‑service teams launch independent solutions without shared data or oversight. This fragmentation drives...
Insurance Coverage and Provision of Opioid Disorder Treatment
Older‑adult opioid overdose deaths have surged, prompting policy action. In 2020 Medicare began covering methadone, the first FDA‑approved medication for opioid use disorder available only through opioid treatment programs. Using a difference‑in‑differences design, researchers found that OTPs quickly expanded Medicare...