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Insurance Industry

Insurers Respond to COVID-19 (4/24/2020)

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The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), announced today that it has raised nearly $500,000 in just over 3 weeks through its national fundraising campaign, the COVID-19 Crisis: IICF Children’s Relief Fund.

IICF’s crisis relief campaign enables donors to focus resources on children at risk of food insecurity, educational disruption, family homelessness and other issues exacerbated by COVID-19. With the support of insurance companies, associations and individual industry professionals, funds raised will benefit 14 nonprofit partners operating throughout IICF’s four U.S.-based divisions.

Overall, U.S. insurers and their charitable foundations have donated approximately $220 million in response to the COVID-19 crisis. And well in excess of $100 million has been contributed internationally, according to Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) estimates based on information collected by IICF.

Insurance industry contributions have gone beyond financial donations, as tracked by IICF. These efforts include:

  • More than 400,000 masks donated to frontline healthcare workers
  • An industrywide commitment to deliver more than 1 million meals to families in need
  • Hosting blood drives
  • Purchasing and donating to healthcare workers gift cards from small businesses
  • Offering no-cost life insurance policies to frontline healthcare workers
  • Providing additional time off to volunteer in the community
  • Increased matching of employee donations to local charities

In addition, insurance companies have made commitments not to furlough workers due to the pandemic. And U.S. auto insurers will return more than $10.5 billion to their customers nationwide as part of their COVID-19 response, Triple-I estimates.

To donate to the IICF Children’s Relief Fund, please visit the IICF website and designate the region of the country you’d like to support.

“For more than 25 years IICF has marshaled the philanthropic will and resources of the insurance industry in support of communities. By uniting philanthropically through the industrywide IICF Children’s Relief Fund, we’re able to help children across the country be safer and healthier. “

Bill Ross, CEO, IICF

Donations can also be made directly to IICF here to support the organization on a national level with its mission to help communities in need.

To view a list of insurance organizations that have made philanthropic contributions related to COVID-19 please click here and view IICF Children’s Relief Fund contributors.

Health & Safety, Insurance Industry, Life Insurance

Coronavirus wrap-up: life and health insurance (4/22/2020)

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Health insurance

Buying health insurance? What to know during the coronavirus pandemic

Care providers may need $100B more as industry faces further COVID-19 losses

What to Do if You Can’t Pay for Insurance Due to Coronavirus

Health Insurance Rates Could Be Weirdly Stable: Actuaries

How Will COVID-19 Affect the Health Care Economy?

Life insurance

Certain US life insurers suspend senior applications

Consumers Looking To Buy Life Insurance

More States Mandating Forgiveness On Life Insurance Premiums

Implications of coronavirus for North American life and annuities writers

What an Annuity Giant Is Telling Investors About COVID-19 Risk

Auto Insurance, Business Insurance, Business Risk, Insurers and the Economy, Legal Environment, Specialty Coverage, Workers Compensation

CORONAVIRUS WRAP-UP: PROPERTY AND CASUALTY (4/22/2020)

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Automobile Insurance
Erie Insurance Offering $200M dividend to Auto Insurance Customers Amid Pandemic
If Miles Driven Are Down, Why Are U.S. Auto Crashes Up?
Business Interruption
Federal Lawsuits Target Insurers Over COVID-19 Business Interruption Claims
Covid-Fueled Supply Chain Disruption a Crunch Point for Insurance Claims
Businesses Contemplating Reopening Fear Lawsuits From Sick Patrons
Cannabis
20 Ways to Address Marijuana Reform Amid COVID-19
Directors & Officers
Top Exec With Coronavirus a Reportable Event? It All Depends
Financial and Business Impact
A.M. Best Forecasts Hit to Insurer Capital from Equity Exposures
Fraud
Pandemic Has Scam Artists Out in Full Force
Litigation
‘Act of God’ Disputes Are on Upswing
Travelers Hits Back With COVID-19 Claims Denial Suit
Fed-up Nurses File Lawsuits, Plan Protest at White House Over Lack of Coronavirus Protections
Travel Insurance
Impact of Covid-19 on Corporate Travel, Recovery & Way Forward
Cruise Ship Virus Losses May Hit Marine Liability Insurers
Workers Compensation
CA Virus Comp Costs Projected to Reach as High as $33.6B
Employers May Exclude Payroll to Employees Not Working for Workers’ Comp: NCCI
COVID-19 Presumptions May Lead to Billions in Workers’ Comp Losses
Auto Insurance, Business Insurance, Business Risk, Cyber Risk, Industry Financials, Legal Environment, Specialty Coverage, Workers Compensation

CORONAVIRUS WRAP-UP: PROPERTY AND CASUALTY (4/21/2020)

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Automobile Insurance
Acting on ‘Thin’ Data, Auto Insurers Retain Flexibility With Premium Credits
Speeders Take Over Empty Roads — With Fatal Consequences
Business Interruption
Triple-I Economists: Enforced COVID-19 Business Interruption Payouts Would Damage Industry
Fight Over Pandemic Insurance Intensifies
Restaurants vs. Insurers Shapes Up as Main Event In D.C. Lobbying Fight
Cyber Risk
Hacking Against Corporations Surges as Workers Take Computers Home
Directors & Officers
D&O Insurance May Help Non-Public Companies With COVID-19 Claims
Financial Impact
Despite Recent Market Rally, Pandemic Will Continue to Hit Insurers’ Investments
COVID-19 to deter M&A activity in 2020: Conning
Kidnap & Ransom
Pandemic Exposes Organizations to Kidnap for Ransom Risk
Litigation
U.S. Businesses Bring Wave of Class Action Lawsuits Against Insurance Companies for Denial of Business Interruption Claims in Wake of COVID-19Pandemic
Hiscox Faces Legal Action From Chef Raymond Blanc: Reports
Ending Virus Shutdowns Too Soon Poses Legal Risk for Businesses
Reinsurance and Insurance-Linked Securities
Lack of Exclusions, Poor Wordings the COVID-19 BI Threats to Reinsurers & ILS
Workers Compensation
Utah Passes Bill to Provide First Responders With Comp for COVID
Comp Premiums Likely to Dip as Employment Declines: NCCI

From The Triple-I Blog:
MIXED REACTIONS TO WORKERS COMP COVID-19 EXPANSIONS
Business Risk, Health & Safety, Insurers and the Economy, Market Conditions

CORONAVIRUS WRAP-UP: Data and Visualizations (4/20/2020)

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The coronavirus crisis continues to generate data that can be valuable for understanding and decision making. Below are just a few resources that may be of interest to insurers and the people and businesses they serve.

COVID-19 Mortality Projections for U.S. States
Graphs from the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium show reported and projected deaths per day across the United States and for individual states.
The Verisk COVID-19 Projection Tool
The Verisk COVID-19 Projection Tool has been made available to enhanceunderstanding of the potential number of worldwide COVID-19 infections and deaths. It provides an interactive dashboard that leverages the AIR Pandemic Model.
How State Insurance Departments Are Responding to COVID-19
This interactive map from PC360 highlights bulletins and procedures released by state insurance departments as of April 15, 2020.
Tracking U.S. Small and Medium Business Sentiment During COVID-19
Small and medium-size businesses account for roughly 44% of the U.S. economy and provide employment to about 59 million people. McKinsey is tracking their sentiment to gauge how their views on economic activity, employment, and financial behavior—as well as their expectations about financial institutions and public authorities—change as a result of ongoing public and private interventions.
Workers Compensation

Mixed ReactionsTo Workers CompCOVID-19 Expansions

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State workers’ compensation boards around the country are amending rules for benefits payouts related to coronavirus, and several states have expanded or are considering widening access to workers comp coverage for COVID-19 beyond first responders and health care workers.

Kentucky and Illinois this week implemented emergency orders to provide access to public-facing essential workers, such as grocery, pharmacy, Postal Service and day care workers. And Minnesota’s legislature unanimously approved a bill that guarantees people in high-risk jobs who contract COVID-19 workers comp coverage without having to prove the infection was a direct result of their job. Most licensed peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, health care workers, correction officers, workers at secure state facilities, workers at long-term care facilities, and child-care providers are among the classes included in the Minnesota measure.

Lawmakers in Louisiana and New Jersey also have proposed legislation to expand COVID-19 coverage beyond first responders and health care workers, who traditionally are covered if they are exposed to a communicable disease in the course of their work.

While employee groups and unions applaud these moves, the changes could hurt the workers comp industry, some experts warn.

Robert Hartwig, clinical associate professor and director of the Risk and Uncertainty Management Center at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, said the changes present “a potentially enormous and unfair burden on workers compensation insurers that’s completely unprecedented in history.”

Hartwig pointed to the difficulty proving that the transfer of a communicable disease occurred on the job and added, “This is potentially extraordinarily costly to workers comp insurers, but also to many large employers who have either very high-deductible programs or are largely self-insured.”

He said these changes also could be “potentially catastrophic” to workers compensation state funds.

Auto Insurance, Business Insurance, Cyber Risk, Emerging Risks, Insurers and the Economy, Legal Environment, Regulation, Risk Management, Workers Compensation

CORONAVIRUS WRAP-UP: PROPERTY AND CASUALTY (4/17/2020)

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Auto Insurance
Stay-at-home Pandemic Orders Reduce Auto Claims Almost by Half
As Coronavirus Empties Streets, Speeders Hit the Gas
Business Interruption
UK Watchdog Orders Insurers to Pay Small Business Claims Quickly
Cannabis Insurance
Pandemic Could Shrink Cannabis Insurers’ Premiums, Market
Cyber Insurance
Preventing Losses Due to Growing Cyber Crime During Coronavirus Crisis
As Attacks Rise, Paladin Offers Cybersecurity Platform Free to Insurance Agencies
Disaster Preparedness
‘Uncharted Territory’ as Wildfire Fighting Adapts to Pandemic
Insurance-Linked Securities
Artemis Live: Interview with Tom Johansmeyer, Head of PCS
Litigation
Nashville Bar Sues Insurer Over COVID-19 Loss Claim. Experts Say It Won’t Be the Last
Businesses Warn Fear of Liability Lawsuits Could Stall Rebooting of Economy
P/C Industry Impact
Suddenly There is Big Demand for Pandemic Cover, Says Underwriter
Chubb CEO: Forcing Insurers to Pay Pandemic Loss Claims is ‘Plainly Unconstitutional’
Allianz CEO: Pandemic Hit “Like a Metororite”
From Hacker Attacks to Shareholder Lawsuits, Insurance Industry Braces for COVID-19 Fallout
Public Health and Safety
What FDA Says About Food Safety Amid COVID-19
Travel Insurance
Travelers Consider Their Risk Tolerance
HOLIDAY HELL How to Get a Refund on Your Holiday if it’s Cancelled and How Long Should it Take to Get Cash Back
Workers Compensation
Workers Compensation in Wake of COVID-19

From the Triple-I Blog:
INSURERS RESPOND TO COVID-19 (4/17/2020)
TRIPLE-I BRIEFING: SURPLUS IS KEY TO INSURERS KEEPING POLICYHOLDER PROMISES
PUTTING CAR INSURANCE PRICES INTO PERSPECTIVE
Auto Insurance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Insurance Industry

Insurers Respond to COVID-19 (4/17/2020)

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Auto insurance refunds

U.S. auto insurers will return more than $10 billion to their customers nationwide, according to an estimate released on April 11 by the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

We’ve listed many of the companies that are offering refunds in a previous post.  This week, several other auto insurers have announced refunds or credits. This is not an exhaustive list, so be sure to check with your insurer to see if they are offering refunds or credits. All premium and rate adjustments are subject to regulatory approval.

Chubb‘s auto insurance clients will receive a credit reflecting a 35% premium reduction for the months of April and May, with additional discounts for subsequent months, as the situation warrants, upon renewal. Across Chubb’s portfolio, the average credit is expected to be $110 per vehicle.

COUNTRY Financial announced that every client with a personal auto insurance policy as of April 1, 2020 will receive a 15% refund for two months of auto premium in anticipation of a decrease in driving activity in April and May.

CSAA Insurance Group is giving a 20 percent refund for two months of auto premiums, March and April 2020.

ERIE has announced that lowering personal and commercial auto rates would be the best option for providing additional relief to customers. The company estimates the total rate reduction impact to be approximately $200 million throughout the 12 states and District of Columbia where ERIE operates.

Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is offering personal auto premium credits on more than 80,000 personal auto policies for an estimated total of $6 million. Ohio Mutual is voluntarily providing a 25% personal auto premium credit that applies to an 11-week period (March 16 – May 31, 2020) for all policies in-force on May 31. Credits will be automatically applied to customers’ first invoice after June 1. Those with a balance less than the credit will receive a refund by check.

The Hanover Insurance Group announced it has created The Hanover CARES Refund, through which the company will return 15% of April and May auto premiums to its eligible personal lines customers, providing financial relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

MAPFRE Insurance announced its Staying Home Refund program, which will return 15 percent of April and May premium to its voluntary personal auto policyholders in Massachusetts, totaling over $30 million. On average, most policyholders will receive a credit of approximately $40.00. A similar credit will be provided to the company’s personal auto policyholders in its other states of operation for the same time period.

Westfield announced a 15 percent policy credit to their eligible personal auto insurance customers for three months.

Supporting communities

Chubb has announced a support program designed to help ease the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on its small business clients in the United States and provide direct support to healthcare workers and other front-line responders.

Chubb’s U.S. small business clients whose policies renew between April 1 and August 1, 2020 will receive an automatic 25% reduction in the sales and payroll exposures used to calculate their premium as well as a 15% reduction in premiums for their commercial auto insurance. In addition, Chubb will purchase $1 million in gift cards from small business clients around the country, which will be donated to healthcare workers and other first responders on the front lines of the pandemic in their communities.

Fundación MAPFRE, a global nonprofit foundation created by MAPFRE, announced it will donate $2.3 million to support urgent medical and community needs across Massachusetts, as the coronavirus continues to spread. The funding is part of a global $38 million aid package by the foundation for medical providers and communities around the world.

Hanover announced customer relief measures and a commitment to contribute $500,000 to nonprofits in local communities to address needs arising from the public health crisis.

State Farm has donated $1 million and partnered with Salesforce to provide one million masks and other protective equipment to healthcare workers in areas of urgent need identified by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Since the start of COVID-19, State Farm has provided about $5 million in neighborhood relief across the country.

Swiss Re Group pledged to donate CHF 5 million to support the needs of people and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Through its non-profit grant foundation, the Swiss Re Foundation, the funds will be distributed to organizations tackling the crisis, particularly in developing countries.

The Westfield Insurance Foundation is helping communities in Northeast Ohio and across the country by donating nearly $1.5 million dollars to nonprofit partners focused on family stability and disaster recovery. These dollars will help stabilize communities and help those who need economic support. 

Webinars

Triple-I Briefing: Surplus Is Key to Insurers KeepingPolicyholder Promises

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The insurance industry can meet its obligations to policyholders in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – but government interventions being discussed threaten to unravel this safety net and could make it impossible for insurers to affordably provide essential coverage in the future.  

These are among the conclusions shared by Triple-I chief economist Steven Weisbart and senior economist Michel Léonard in a briefing today that explained how the industry already has been affected by the pandemic and subsequent recession; how policyholder surplus ensures funds are available to cover claims; and how any attempt to retroactively apply this pandemic to business interruption policies would cause irreparable harm to the financial stability of the property-casualty insurance industry. 

“Insurers price their policies for expected claims, with additional monies set aside for unexpected claims, such as those which are filed during exceptionally severe hurricane seasons,” Dr. Weisbart said. “The policyholders’ surplus backs up every line of insurance each insurer writes. It is calculated as assets, minus liabilities, and rises and falls due to changes in asset values.”   

Dr. Weisbart and Dr. Leonard explained in detail how surplus works and showed how – under a variety of plausible scenarios – retroactively rewriting insurance contracts could make it impossible for insurers to play their critical role as financial first responders. 

“If insurers nationwide had to pay business interruption policy claims for which they collected no premium, it could cost the industry each month anywhere from roughly $150 billion to nearly as high as $380 billion,” said Léonard, noting that the smaller amount accounted for the U.S.’s small and medium-size businesses that currently have business interruption coverage and the larger amount includes those who do not. “Pandemic-caused losses are excluded from standard business interruption policies because they impact all businesses, all at the same time.”   

If you missed the briefing, you can view the presentation.  

Related Links: 

Coronavirus: Issues and impacts  

Triple-I Fact Sheet: Insurers Are Engaged In the COVID-19 Crisis
Triple-I Publication: A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports the Economy

Triple-I Publication: A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports the Economy

 
Triple-I Blog: 

COVID-19: Learning From History 

COVID-19: A Teachable Moment for Thinking About Risk 

Auto Insurance

Putting Car Insurance Prices Into Perspective

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As car insurers help their customers cope with the pandemic’s economic impact through premium refunds and other relief measures and some groups complain the efforts are insufficient and ask regulators to make insurers pay more, it’s worth noting that the cost of insuring motor vehicles  has grown more slowly than inflation over the past 12 months and well below prices for hospital services and car repairs – two key drivers of car insurance claims.

As the chart below shows, year-over-year increases in auto insurance prices have trailed growth in the Consumer Price Index, the most widely used measure of inflation. 

“Auto premiums are kept relatively low by competition among insurers,” explained Triple-I chief economist Steve Weisbart. “This has been happening even as two major contributors to claims have grown much faster. In the case of hospital services, prices have not just been rising – growth has been accelerating since last July.”

You read that right. Even as two of the biggest contributors to claims – the money insurers pay policyholders after accidents – have grown faster than inflation, the prices policyholders pay for coverage have grown more slowly than consumer prices generally.

Many factors come into play when an insurer determines an individual’s premium payment – age, driving record, where and how far one generally drives, and much more; and, let’s face it, no one likes to pay for insurance or to see their payments go up. 

But think about it: even though you might roll the dice if your state didn’t require you to have insurance, would that really be a wise move? Would you really want to be on the hook for the full cost of damage to your car or that of another driver? Or for the liability associated with someone’s injury or death?

That premium payment provides an awful lot of value in terms of peace of mind – IF you think about it.  And, if you think further about it, you have more control over how much you pay for car insurance than you do over other products and services.  You can shop around. You can change how much or what type of coverage you buy. You can bundle auto with other coverages. You can get fewer tickets and improve how you handle your credit.

And as usage-based insurance, powered by telematics, gains traction, your options will only increase.

Compare this with, say, cable and satellite TV. Your ability to shop around is quite limited (though improving with each new streaming opportunity that comes online). The products you really want come bundled with others you would never pay for if you had a choice.

And the prices of these services, as the chart below shows, continue to grow at rates well above both CPI and car insurance.

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