Live Insurance News

Insurance Niches That Are Booming: Opportunities for Forward-Thinking Agencies

July 19, 2025 John Bowers

Not All Policies Are Created Equal As the insurance landscape shifts alongside changing lifestyles, technologies, and business models, niche markets are stepping into the spotlight. Agencies that pay attention to these emerging segments have a chance to gain a competitive edge—not by chasing the biggest pie slice, but by owning the most overlooked ones. Niche doesn’t mean small. It means focused. And in many cases, these focused markets are seeing growth rates that outperform broader lines. Let’s look at some of the segments turning heads right now. Cyber Liability Insurance:…

No Rate Hike Yet: Texas Windstorm Insurance Board to Make Final Call

July 18, 2025 H. Cutner

TWIA Committee Recommends No Rate Hike for Coastal Texans In a surprising turn, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) committee has voted to recommend no rate increase for coastal property owners. As per KRIS news report, the decision made yesterday, came after a 5 to 2 vote, despite reports showing that current rates are slightly below recommended levels. The full TWIA board will make the final call on August 6, 2025, when they vote on whether to adopt the committee’s recommendation or pursue a rate hike. A History of Rate…

Disaster Insurance in America: Can the INSURE Act Fix the System?

July 18, 2025July 17, 2025 Marc

Disaster Insurance in America - INSURE Act

Schiff Reintroduces INSURE Act to Protect Homeowners and Stabilize Insurance Market What’s the INSURE Act? Senator Adam Schiff (D-California) is back with a bill he’s calling the INSURE Act—short for Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergencies. The goal? To tackle the growing insurance crisis in disaster-prone areas like California, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Here’s the gist: The bill would create a federal reinsurance program. This program would require insurance companies to cover natural disasters like floods and wildfires. It would also cap how much insurers have to pay…

California Insurance – The Battle Over Drone Insurance Practices

July 18, 2025July 17, 2025 Ester Adams

California’s Insurance Drone Bill Aims to Balance Transparency and Innovation Drones surveying your roof? Satellites snapping photos of your backyard? It’s happening—and not everyone is thrilled about it. California’s Assembly Bill 75 (AB 75) is in the spotlight, tackling how insurance companies use aerial images in their decision-making. Intrusive surveillance or valuable innovation? Depends who you ask. AB 75’s Timeline The bill’s journey started in March 2025, introduced by Assembly member Lisa Calderon with backing from Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. By May, it passed the Assembly Insurance Committee with unanimous…

The Psychology of Risk: How Insurers Are Getting Inside Your Head

July 17, 2025July 17, 2025 Nordstrom

Risk. It’s everywhere. Crossing the street. Starting a business. Even deciding whether to buy insurance. But here’s the thing: not everyone sees risk the same way. Some people are thrill-seekers. Others? They won’t even jaywalk. And that’s where behavioral science comes in. Insurers are now diving deep into the psychology of risk. Why? To understand how we think, act, and make decisions. It’s changing everything—from how policies are priced to how they’re marketed. Let’s break it down. What’s Risk Tolerance, Anyway? Risk tolerance is basically how much uncertainty you’re willing…

The End of Quiet Renewals – A Look at Louisiana’s New Insurance Rules

July 17, 2025July 17, 2025 Logan B.

Louisiana Insurers Must Disclose Prior Premiums Under New Law Big Changes for Louisiana Insurance Starting January 1, 2026, Louisiana insurers will have to play by new rules. A controversial law, House Bill 148, now requires them to disclose prior policy premiums when issuing renewal policies. What does that mean for you? Transparency. Under the law, your renewal documents will clearly show what you paid last year right next to what you’re being asked to pay this year. No more guessing. No more digging through old paperwork. But not everyone’s thrilled.…

From Blue Cross to Priority Health: Who’s Asking for the Biggest Hikes in Michigan

July 16, 2025July 16, 2025 Live Insurance News

Michigan’s Health Insurance Rate Hikes: What’s Happening? Michigan health insurers are asking for big rate increases for 2026. The numbers? Eye-watering. Blue Cross Blue Shield wants an 18.2% hike for individual plans. Priority Health? A 14.4% jump. Even smaller players like McLaren Health Plan are in the mix, asking for a 19.2% increase. Why? Rising drug costs, more people using healthcare, and the looming expiration of federal tax credits. How Do These Increases Compare to Previous Years? Let’s rewind. In 2025, Michigan insurers requested an average 10.9% increase for individual plans and 11.3%…