Live Insurance News

Will heat insurance help protect the poor against extreme temperatures?

May 24, 2023May 23, 2023 G. Turner

As climate change makes the world hotter, the poorest workers in the world might benefit from coverage. By April near Ahmedabad, India, temperatures had already reached 100ºF, an extreme being linked to trends relating to climate change, and one against which heat insurance has the potential to protect affected workers. Everyone from physical laborers to people selling products affected by heat could potentially benefit. Last year, temperatures there reached 114.8ºF, at a peak becoming increasingly commonplace, as 2016’s peak was an even higher 118ºF. That location is far from the…

Insurance industry climate needs spur new NOAA and NSF research center

May 22, 2023May 20, 2023 Marc

Insurance industry Needs and Climate Change -

A new agreement between the NOAA and NSF will support the creation of the new facility. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) have reached an agreement to establish a research center in order to help meet the changing needs of the insurance industry due to climate change. Insurers and reinsurers are among those experiencing the earliest repercussions of climate change. Moreover, the reinsurance and insurance industry are also among those who must develop a specific response to climate change. It must adapt to rapidly…

Boat insurance companies release hurricane season preparedness tips

May 16, 2023May 15, 2023 Julie Campbell

The Atlantic hurricane season starts in June and insurers want watercraft owners to keep their property safe. As boating season begins, hurricane season is also approaching, so boat insurance companies are issuing reminders to owners to make some simple changes to protect their property. Many of the tips are straightforward and should be a part of annual maintenance for watercraft. Though it is difficult to predict whether there will be an active season for hurricanes and tropical storms, it is always a good idea to take the right steps to…

Congress considers 17 changes to flood insurance program

May 8, 2023May 5, 2023 Marc

Flood insurance - Home Floating in Water - Changes

The proposed changes are expected to reduce the cost of coverage to low-income homeowners. Low-income homeowners stand to pay less for coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) proposed 17 changes are implemented. NFIP has been struggling with its finances amid more frequent and severe storms due to climate change. FEMA is seeking to create a more thinly spread risk by drawing more property owners to purchase flood insurance policies. The agency’s goal is to implement a number of changes in federal…

Florida insurance adjustors alleging fraud in Hurricane Ian payments

May 4, 2023May 3, 2023 Nordstrom

Independent licensed professionals are providing evidence of fraud among certain insurers. Independent licensed insurance adjustors in Florida have been providing state regulators with evidence of alleged fraud relating to payouts made following Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Ian was the third most costly storm in the United States and the most expensive ever for Florida. The storm caused about $109 billion in damage in Florida. Field insurance adjustors are providing evidence to state regulators of allegedly fraudulent conduct by insurers which would affect thousands of homeowners in central and south Florida. Some…

Tornado insurance claims from Mississippi approaching $100 million

April 24, 2023April 22, 2023 Marc

The twister in March left a lengthy path of destruction through several parts of the state. The tornado insurance losses from the twister that ripped through parts of Mississippi in March are rapidly climbing, to the point that they are now nearing $100 million. Uninsured losses from the damage are expected to be even greater than those that are covered. The Mississippi Delta experienced particular damage from the storm, and it is among the poorest regions of the United States. As a result, tornado insurance coverage in the area hardest…

State Farm says hail insurance claims rose by $1 billion in 1 year

March 29, 2023March 28, 2023 G. Turner

The insurer has released its annual claims figures showing the impact of increased filings and inflation. State Farm recently released its hail insurance claims data, revealing that there was a $1 billion increase in filings for damage from that cause in 2022 when compared to the figure for 2021. The insurer has pointed to more claims and rising inflation to explain this massive spike. Compared to 2021, the number of hail insurance claims rose by nearly 45,000 in 2022. That said, as large as that jump may be, it wasn’t…