The beginning of the year was punctuated with a rash of insurance rate increases coming from many of the nation’s insurance companies. Insurers had defended their weighty rate proposals with the claim that the cost of medical care was rising out of control. Higher rates may also be due to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires insurers pay no less than 80% of their collected premiums on health care. While insurers have been quick to propose rates that are, in some cases, astronomically high, industry experts believe…
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Insurance risk research shows industry struggling with growth and reserve risks
Aon Corporation’s capital adviser and global reinsurance intermediary, Aon Benfield, has released a report containing the results of its annual study – called the 2011 Insurance Risk Study – which is used by the industry to benchmark underwriting risk, and for modeling through the risk parameters it provides. This research – which is the sixth that has been published by the company – offers volatility benchmarks for underwriting, which are used by the industry’s professionals in economic capital modeling, such as chief risk officers and actuaries. It also provides the…
Read MorePost 9/11 insurance industry is vastly different, says report
This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks which brought down New York City’s World Trade Center. Since the attack, the political landscape has changed dramatically, a shift that has been mimicked throughout society as terrorism more people became aware of terrorism. Many things changed in the wake of 9/11, and while many of these changes resided within the boundaries of the nation, the entirety of the world’s insurance industry underwent a drastic shift. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I) has been studying the changes in the worldwide…
Read MoreInsurers unlikely to raise rates in the wake of Hurricane Irene, according to Allianz
Despite fears that disaster-prone 2011 will incite higher insurance rates in the future, Allianz, one of the largest commercial insurance companies in the world, says that the toll of the damage caused by natural disasters throughout the year will not prompt widespread hikes in premiums. Jay Ralph, a board member of Allianz in charge of the North American insurance market, spoke with reporters concerning the issue, noting that the excess capacity of the insurance industry is enough to weather the storm without any major changes in policies. However, insurers should…
Read MoreInsurance company coming to the Middle East to offer coverage to Palestinians
A new insurance company is being formed in the Middle East to cater to the Arab sector. Businessmen from Israel and Palestine have come together to create the company, which will compete in Israel’s insurance market. The as-yet-unnamed company is currently ramping up funds to meet Israeli regulations. Observers expect that the company will be fully operational by the end of next year. Thus far, the company has garnered a wealth of support from the Arab community. At launch, the company will offer elementary insurance as well as car and…
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