Virginia Advances Heat Illness Legislation While Other States Are Poised to Follow Suit
Virginia’s legislature has passed companion bills HB 1092 and SB 288 that would obligate the state Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt heat‑illness protection standards by May 1 2028. The measures require water, shade, acclimatization, training and emergency procedures for indoor and outdoor workers, with limited exemptions for emergency responders and exposures under 15 minutes. Colorado and Rhode Island are following suit, each proposing comprehensive TRIIPP‑style rules, data‑collection mandates, and, in Rhode Island’s case, prescriptive temperature thresholds and mandatory safety coordinators. Collectively, these initiatives aim to fill the regulatory gap left by OSHA’s unfinished federal heat rule.
AI Adoption in Property Claims Remains Fragmented Despite Rapid Growth
A Sedgwick report finds that while 82% of property insurers have deployed AI tools, only 7% have succeeded in scaling them enterprise‑wide. Investments are set to surge from roughly $10 billion in 2025 to $80 billion by 2032, yet legacy platforms, data...
Martin O’Connell: FCA Continues to Waste Opportunities to Reform the Protection Market
The Financial Conduct Authority published an interim report on the UK’s pure protection market, highlighting persistent consumer confusion and governance gaps. The paper received a muted response from insurers and advisers, with industry stakeholders showing little enthusiasm for change. Martin...
Stone Ridge Mutual Cat Bond and ILS Fund Assets Near $6.5bn, Highest Since Late 2018
Stone Ridge Asset Management reported that assets under management across its mutual catastrophe bond, insurance‑linked securities (ILS) and reinsurance fund strategies have climbed to roughly $6.5 billion, the highest level since late 2018. The High‑Yield Reinsurance Risk Premium Fund grew to...
Weak at the Seams
The article argues that cyber risk is no longer a collection of isolated silos but a systemic threat amplified by digital transformation across healthcare, finance and manufacturing. While global security spending is projected to exceed $212 billion in 2025, the exposure...
86% of Businesses Refused to Pay Cyber Ransoms in 2025 — Coalition Insurance
Coalition’s 2026 cyber claims report, covering over 100,000 policyholders in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and Germany, found that 86% of the 1,400 high‑signal ransomware claims from 2025 did not result in a ransom payment. Ransom demands surged 47% year‑over‑year,...
How Insurance Leaders Can Leverage AI Without Sacrificing Trust
Capgemini’s WNS unit outlines how insurers can embed control, privacy and compliance into AI deployments while still fostering cross‑jurisdiction collaboration. Techniques such as geographic data restrictions and federated learning enable model training without moving raw data. High‑impact AI use cases...
Cat Bonds – Maintaining an Equilibrium in Value, for Sponsors & Investors: ILS NYC 2026 Video
Artemis ILS NYC 2026 gathered over 450 market participants for a panel on catastrophe bonds, moderated by Philipp Kusche and featuring leaders from Schroders, the World Bank, Euler ILS Partners and SageSure. The discussion highlighted a record‑fast tightening of cat‑bond spreads...
New Consumer Protection Rules Will Make It Easier for Customers to Deal with Insurance Claims
The Central Bank’s revised Consumer Protection Code (CPC) took effect on March 24, 2026, introducing rules that make insurance claims and quoting more transparent for Irish consumers. A key change bans automatic renewal of travel, gadget, dental and pet policies unless customers...
PERILS Raises Windstorm Goretti Insured Market Loss Estimate to €479m
Catastrophe data firm PERILS raised its insured‑market loss estimate for the early‑January windstorm Goretti to €479 million (about $522 million), up from an initial €467 million figure. The estimate covers property and motor‑hull lines across southwestern England, northern France and Belgium, the regions...
How the Care Gap Fuels Claims and Costs in Long-Term Care
The long‑term care (LTC) sector faces a deepening staffing shortage that is now a balance‑sheet liability, driving higher claim frequencies and premium increases for insurers. Demographic trends predict that 20% of Americans will be 65 or older by 2030, while...
Human Risk in Geopolitical Conflict: Iran War Lessons
The Iran‑Israel war that erupted on Feb. 28 has disrupted oil markets, closed Gulf airspace and even knocked out three AWS data centers in the UAE. While organizations scramble over supply‑chain and energy‑cost exposure, Nisos warns that the real threat is...
Florida Peninsula Raises Palm Re 2026-1 Cat Bond Target Again, to $250m
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company has raised the target size of its Palm Re Ltd. Series 2026-1 catastrophe bond to $250 million, marking a second increase since the deal’s launch. The insurer also cut the price guidance for the Class A notes to...
For-Profit Hospital Chain Never Put Aside Money for Malpractice Insurance to Compensate Injured Patients
Prospect Medical, a private‑equity‑backed for‑profit hospital chain, filed for bankruptcy in January 2025 after a debt‑laden expansion left it unable to fund malpractice insurance. Court filings reveal the company never set aside reserves to cover legal defenses or settlements, leaving...
Cat Bonds & ILS Can Exhibit Positive Yield Sensitivity in Inflationary Environment: Leadenhall
Leadenhall Capital Partners explains that catastrophe bonds and private insurance‑linked securities (ILS) can generate higher yields in an inflationary environment. The floating‑rate component of these instruments is linked to base rates, which rise as inflation expectations increase. Higher replacement costs...
Weaker Economy Drives Surge in SMEs Seeking Protection Against Bad Debt
Bibby Financial Services reports a sharp rise in UK SMEs seeking Bad Debt Protection as unpaid invoice balances climb to an average of $83.5k, a 10% year‑on‑year increase. About 30% of firms have written off roughly $37.5k each due to...
OPM to FEHB Carriers: Cut Costs, MAHA Style
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent its 2026 call letter to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits carriers, urging a shift toward "well‑care" initiatives that emphasize preventive health, mental wellness, and patient‑centered decision‑making. The notice...
CMS Releases Guidance on Limits to Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Certain Noncitizens
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance on April 8, 2026 to implement a provision from the July 2025 reconciliation bill that limits federal matching funds for full Medicaid and CHIP benefits. Starting October 1, 2026, federal match will be available...
Insurer Can’t Sue Its Own Defense Lawyers for Malpractice: Court
A Washington appeals court ruled that a liability insurer cannot sue its own defense lawyers for malpractice. The decision reversed a lower court ruling, emphasizing that defense counsel’s duty lies solely with the insured, not the insurer. Great American E&S...
5 Stocks to Add From the Prospering P&C Insurance Industry
The Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance sector is entering a phase of softer pricing but remains buoyed by prudent underwriting, exposure growth, and rapid digital adoption. Despite a challenging catastrophe environment, insurers benefit from a favorable investment portfolio and a...
Insurer Must Cover Mental Health Facility in Sex Harassment Case: Court
A federal appeals court ruled that Allied World Specialty Insurance must defend American Behavioral Health Systems against sexual‑harassment allegations, rejecting the insurer’s claim that a policy exclusion for sexual abuse barred coverage. The 9th U.S. Circuit held that a complaint can...
Unpaid Tourist Medical Bills Push Thailand Toward Mandatory Insurance Rule
Thailand is weighing a rule that would require foreign tourists to carry accident insurance upon entry after public hospitals report growing losses from unpaid treatment costs. The Ministry of Public Health estimates unpaid bills from uninsured visitors exceed 100 million baht...
HaystackID Named Finalist for Intelligent Insurer’s Cyber Insurance Awards USA 2026 in Two Categories
HaystackID has been named a finalist in two categories of Intelligent Insurer’s Cyber Insurance Awards 2026, recognizing its VALID™ suite and overall cybersecurity solutions. The awards, now in their third year, spotlight firms that help insurers and insureds manage escalating...
Marsh Risk Raises Capacity in Excess Cyber Facility
Marsh Risk announced a $1.5 billion increase in capacity for its excess cyber insurance facility, expanding coverage for large‑scale cyber events. The boost, underwritten with Lloyd’s syndicate and Munich Re, adds a $250 million aggregate limit per event and targets mid‑size enterprises...
Ontario Moves to Expand Injury Coverage Under WSIB
Ontario’s government has tabled legislation to extend Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage to private residential care, retirement homes and group homes, adding roughly 29,000 frontline care workers to the safety net. The move would standardize protections for personal...
Most Owners Willing to Insure Less of Their Property to Cut Costs: Nationwide
Nationwide’s 2026 survey of commercial‑real‑estate owners reveals a growing willingness to trim coverage in order to curb soaring insurance premiums. More than half of respondents said they would consider insuring less of their property, up 13 points from the previous...
Another State, Tennessee, Warns Insurers About the Proper Use of Drone Images
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued a bulletin warning insurers that drone and satellite images cannot be the sole basis for claim or non‑renewal decisions. Insurers must verify roof conditions with physical inspections or other data when aerial...
Insurer Must Defend Doctor Accused of ‘Fertility Fraud’
A Connecticut appellate court reversed a lower‑court decision, requiring medical‑malpractice insurer Integris Insurance to cover the defense costs of Dr. Narendra Tohan, accused of using his own sperm in IVF procedures without patient consent. The court found the insurer had...
AI Training Surges Across Organizations, but Governance Frameworks Lag Behind
Organizations are rapidly scaling AI adoption, with 62% of global firms delivering AI training and 55% hiring AI‑focused talent, according to Gallagher’s 2026 AI Adoption and Risk Survey. Productivity gains are evident—86% of respondents say AI has boosted employee efficiency....
Skilled Nursing Facilities Get a Proposed 2.4% Increase
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a 2.4% increase to the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2027, derived from a 3.2% market basket adjustment offset by a 0.8% productivity factor. Facilities that...
National Emphasis Program for Heat Safety Expires
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s national emphasis program on heat safety will expire on April 8, ending a year‑long effort that generated roughly 7,000 inspections of high‑risk workplaces. The program, launched in 2022, allowed OSHA to target heat‑related hazards...
ICHRAs, a Growth Opportunity for Insurers, Face Uphill Battle
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) are gaining traction as insurers search for growth amid stagnant commercial plan enrollment. Adoption jumped 19% from 2024 to 2025, with a 34% surge among large employers, prompting payers like Centene and Oscar to...
India Plans $1.5B Reinsurance Cover for Ships in Conflict Zones
India’s government has announced a $1.5 billion reinsurance program to protect commercial vessels operating in high‑risk conflict zones such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Black Sea. The scheme will be underwritten by a mix of domestic insurers and...
Parametrix Delighted by Investor Support for Hannover Re Parametric Cloud Outage Cat Bond: Haran
Hannover Re has renewed its Cumulus Re (Series 2026-1) parametric cloud‑outage catastrophe bond, increasing retrocessional cyber‑reinsurance capacity to $35 million, up from $20 million in the 2025 issuance. The bond, designed by Parametrix Analytics, uses a parametric trigger based on sustained downtime...
US Cyber Breach Costs Hit Record $10.2 Million as AI Accelerates Attack Timelines
The 2026 Chubb Cyber Claims Report shows U.S. data‑breach costs soaring to $10.2 million on average in 2025, more than twice the global figure. AI‑powered malware now compromises networks in minutes, while AI‑driven defenses have kept incident frequency steady in some...
Franklin Templeton: No Evidence of Weakening Fundamentals in Cat Bonds, Stays Overweight
Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions kept its overweight stance on catastrophe bonds, noting that despite compressed yields and spreads, the asset class remains fundamentally sound. Q1 2026 saw a record $6.7 bn of cat‑bond issuance across 35 transactions, with new and repeat sponsors...
Jefferson Health Sues Aetna over Medicare Advantage ‘Downcoding’ Policy
Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital Organization have filed a federal lawsuit against Aetna, alleging that the insurer’s new “downcoding” policy unlawfully reduces Medicare Advantage inpatient payments. The policy classifies 1‑4 night admissions as low‑severity and reimburses them at...
Act-of-War Clauses Cloud Cyber Insurance Coverage
Geopolitical tensions are prompting insurers to insert act‑of‑war exclusions into cyber policies, a provision traditionally used in homeowners and travel insurance. The language lags behind the rapid evolution of cyberwarfare, leaving companies uncertain whether state‑sponsored attacks are covered. Lawyers and...
FTC Approves E. Sun Financial's Acquisition of Mercuries Life
Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission approved E. Sun Financial Holding's acquisition of Mercuries Life Insurance, concluding the deal poses no competition risk. The transaction, a share‑swap valued at roughly NT$48.3 billion (about US$1.52 billion), was announced in January and awaits closing in the...
Nick Abraham of Amwins Global Risks Talks to Risk & Insurance
Nick Abraham, CEO of Amwins Global Risks, said North American property insurance rates are dropping 15%‑20% after five years of gains, prompting clients to revisit coverage limits. He highlighted the London market’s syndicated capacity as a cost‑effective option for large,...
GAO: Wind Risk Linked to Larger Insurance Premium Jumps Than Wildfire
The Government Accountability Office released a report showing wind risk drives far larger homeowners‑insurance premium jumps than wildfire. Between 2019 and 2024, homes in severe or extreme wind zones pay about 58 % more—roughly $1,294 annually—than those in major wind areas,...
Strong Underwriting, Investment Income Bolster P/C Income in 2025, Says Moody’s
Moody’s analysis of twenty U.S. property‑casualty insurers shows net income surged 29% to $69 billion in 2025, driven by stronger underwriting and higher investment returns. The group’s combined ratio improved to 88.4 from 91.7, reflecting lower catastrophe losses that fell 9%...
From Volatility to Value: How Carriers Can Build Durable Growth
EY Americas insurance leader Jeff Gill warns that growth in today’s insurance market can no longer rely on cyclical upswings. Structural volatility—driven by softening P&C premiums, social inflation, tighter capital and regulatory pressure—requires carriers to make deliberate, disciplined choices. He...
Marine Insurers Say Heightened Risks Remain in the Gulf
Marine insurers welcomed the cease‑fire announced by President Donald Trump and Iran, but warned that normal shipping through the Gulf will not resume immediately. Lloyd’s Market Association’s Neil Roberts said underlying tensions remain, keeping the Strait of Hormuz at heightened...
AI and the Adjuster: Driving Efficiency Without Losing the Human Touch
AI is becoming entrenched in workers’ compensation claims, with carriers such as Liberty Mutual and MSIG deploying predictive models that flag severe or fraudulent cases. The technology automates routine tasks, freeing adjusters to focus on complex claims and relationship building....
Trump’s Personnel Agency Is Asking for Federal Workers’ Medical Records
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a notice demanding that 65 insurers provide monthly, personally identifiable health data for more than 8 million federal employees, retirees and their families. The request covers medical, pharmacy, encounter and provider information without...
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Understanding Insurance Underwriters: Their Role and Impact
Insurance underwriters evaluate and price risk for policies, using actuarial data and algorithms to set premiums. In investment banking, underwriters guarantee a minimum IPO price, assuming the risk of unsold shares. Commercial banking underwriters assess borrower creditworthiness and price loans...
Florida Appeals Court Rejects Rules Protecting Physician Dispensing in Workers’ Compensation Cases
The Florida First District Court of Appeal struck down two Department of Financial Services rules that had extended the workers’ compensation “absolute choice” provision to physicians and other dispensing practitioners. The ruling means insurers can now require injured workers to...
Protect Yourself From Rising Medicare Fraud
Medicare beneficiaries face escalating fraud schemes as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issues a new advisory urging vigilance. Expert Jae Oh stresses that fraud typically starts with stolen personal data, making beneficiaries the first line of defense. He recommends...
Parliament Passes New Statutory Licensing Exemptions for Foreign Financial Service Providers
On 1 April 2026 the Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance and Other Measures) Bill 2025 passed both houses of the Australian Parliament. Schedule 2 of the Bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 to create three statutory licensing exemptions for...