California Is Renegotiating Rate Rules in Every Forum at Once
On April 20, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara submitted the first overhaul of Proposition 103’s intervenor compensation mechanism in 35 years, triggering a 30‑day review by the Office of Administrative Law. Three days earlier Consumer Watchdog filed a trial brief challenging more than $420 million in FAIR Plan surcharge allocations, with trial set for June 30. The state’s rate‑control architecture is being renegotiated simultaneously through rulemaking, litigation, legislation and the ballot, forcing P&C carriers to reprice policies before July 1. The new rules tighten eligibility, limit compensation for non‑substantive work, and require detailed funding disclosures.
Washington State Updates, Clarifies Captive Oversight
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner has issued revised rules that clarify reporting requirements for captive insurers operating in the state. The update follows a protracted regulatory dispute between former Commissioner Mike Kreidler and large Washington‑based corporations from...
When Algorithms Decide Who Gets Health Care
Law professor Jennifer D. Oliva warns that AI‑powered coverage algorithms used by insurers to approve, deny, or limit care operate without FDA‑type safety testing. Her analysis shows that nearly one‑in‑five insured Americans experience claim denials, with 82% of physicians observing...
War Overtakes Civil Unrest as Top Political Violence Concern
A recent InsuranceERM survey shows war has eclipsed civil unrest as the leading political‑violence concern for insurers. More than half of respondents now rank war risk above civil unrest, driving a 22% year‑over‑year rise in war‑related premium volumes. The shift...
US Personal Motor and Home Insurance Rate Changes Ease Towards Pre-Pandemic Patterns in 2025: AM Best
AM Best reports that U.S. private passenger motor and homeowners insurance rate hikes eased in 2025, moving toward pre‑pandemic levels. Homeowners premiums rose 8.3% year‑over‑year, a 5.2‑point drop, while motor rates increased 3.7%, down from 9.7% in 2024. The moderation...
Parts of England Could Become "Unviable" Without Flood Resilience Reform
A new analysis warns that without accelerated flood‑resilience reform, large swathes of England could become financially unviable. Climate‑driven flood frequency is set to double by 2050, pushing insurance premiums up to 30% in high‑risk areas. The report, citing Pensions Insurance...
Excellent Insights From a New Risk Survey
Gartner’s Quarterly Emerging Risk Report surveyed 337 ERM leaders and senior executives, revealing a shift toward technology‑driven threats. The top five emerging risks for Q1 2026 include information‑integrity risk, US‑policy‑induced investment uncertainty, heightened financial exposure from disasters, agentic AI, and an...
Premium Renewal Rates up YoY Across Nearly All Major Commercial Lines: Ivans
Ivans, a division of Applied Systems, released its April 2026 Ivans Index showing year‑over‑year premium renewal rates rising for Commercial Auto, Business Owner’s Policy, General Liability, Commercial Property and Umbrella, while Workers’ Compensation declined. Commercial Auto’s YoY renewal rate climbed...
Lloyd’s Warns AI Is Amplifying Evolving Cyber Risk Vectors and Uncertainty in Coverage Exposure
Lloyd’s Q2 Market Message flags the cyber line as “Marginal,” indicating that current pricing margins are under significant pressure. The insurer warns that artificial intelligence is adding new threat vectors and deepening uncertainty around policy coverage, especially regarding liability exposures....
Sixfold Expands Distribution of AI Underwriting Platform Through Microsoft Marketplace
Sixfold, an AI underwriting platform for insurers, is now offered through Microsoft Marketplace, enabling direct purchase and deployment within Azure. The integration aims to streamline procurement, shorten implementation cycles, and leverage insurers' existing Azure investments. Sixfold says the marketplace listing...
Willis and Cornell University Collaborate on Research Into Correlated Catastrophe Risk
Willis, the global insurance broker, has launched a one‑year research partnership with Cornell University and the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future to study correlated natural catastrophe risk. The project will examine whether perils such as hurricanes, wildfires and severe...
Statewide Captive Insurance Review Could Reshape Maryland’s Regulatory Landscape
Maryland lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 890, directing the Maryland Insurance Administration to conduct a comprehensive study of captive insurance arrangements owned by state‑based entities. The review will examine how captives are used, regulated, and taxed, with particular attention to...
Alternative Capital Just Decided Who Can Grow Property in 2026
Q1 2026 saw cat bond and insurance‑linked securities issuance reach $6.7 billion across a record 35 transactions, with $7.3 billion of maturities slated for April‑June. Guy Carpenter’s U.S. Property Catastrophe Rate‑on‑Line Index fell 14% year‑to‑date, underscoring pricing pressure. A historic $785 billion pool...
How ERM Leaders Are Reframing Risk in Complex Systems
At the 2026 ERM Roundtable Summit, enterprise risk leaders emphasized a shift from checklist compliance to a central, integrative role across the organization. Speakers from Exxon Mobil and Westinghouse described frameworks like aligned assurance and rapid, cross‑functional threat assessments that embed...
U.S. Treasury and Insurance Regulators Discuss Evolving Risk Oversight
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with NAIC members to discuss the growing overlap between private credit markets and insurers. State regulators highlighted their coordinated oversight of insurers’ risk management and investment practices. The Treasury affirmed support for the state‑based...