National Underwriter P&C January 9, 2012
Cover Story
Goodbye, Soft Market
The soft-market cycle has come to an end, at least according to Dallas-based insurance exchange MarketScout—which declared so in its November Market Barometer.
Market Report
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Hard-Market Forecast? Not So Fast
One reason observers may be a little hesitant about conclusively calling a hardening market today is due to incorrect predictions of a market turn in 2008, when the financial crisis hit.
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2011 Catastrophe Events Inch Market Upward
High losses from 2011 are producing greater underwriting discipline among reinsurers when it comes to catastrophe-exposed renewals, according to a major insurance broker.
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Winds of Change
As both the price for and controversy around fossil fuels continue to grow, renewable-energy risks are becoming an increasingly standard part of many insurers’ portfolios—with wind and solar leading the green-power pack, far ahead of biomass production and hydroelectricity.
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China Set to Dominate Wind Market
Wind energy in general is evolving into a product that will soon be dominated by the Chinese—so American insurers will need to adapt and learn about these foreign manufacturers to effectively compete in this segment, says Camilo Posada, assistant vice president and senior underwriting specialist at Chubb Commercial Insurance in...
Special Report
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Risk Management in 2012: ERM Programs, Cyber Risk, Accessing the C-Suite Top the List of Concerns, Opportunities
With the New Year upon us, NU spoke with some of the top players in risk management to discover where the greatest challenges and opportunities are in 2012. Some common themes that emerged: the increasing attention being paid to cyber liability; the ever-growing importance of developing, or further refining, an...
News
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2011 9-Month Results Show Weakening Underwriting Performance
The U.S. P&C insurance industry saw its net income after taxes fall to just under $8 billion for January through September 2011—compared to net income of just over $27 billion for the same period in 2010, according to a report by ISO, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)...
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Jan. 1 Reinsurance Renewals Show Market Changing, But Not Yet Hardening
Only catastrophe-exposed and loss-affected reinsurance contracts experienced any significant upward movement in rates at the Jan. 1 renewals, according to one top executive.
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NFIP Gets Extension to May 31
The National Flood Insurance Program was finally provided breathing space until May 31 through one of President Obama’s last actions of 2011.
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Allstate Reduces Planned Cut to Agent Commissions
Allstate says it will not cut agents’ base commissions as deeply as it originally announced, but the head of an agents’ group says the rank-and-file is still not pleased with the company’s move.
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Allstate Introduces ‘Claim Satisfaction Guarantee’
Allstate has introduced a program called Claim Satisfaction Guarantee, which promises customers that they will be satisfied with their auto claim service or get a credit to their auto policy.
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Police: Man Gave Up Own Hand for Insurance Money
Give Hu Chi-yang a hand. After all, he needs one after allegedly severing his own to collect on his insurance.
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Florida to Feds: We’re Already Damaged by Agent Commissions in MLR
The state of Florida continues to carry the banner of agents on the medical-loss ratio issue and has petitioned federal health regulators to review the decision not to exempt Florida from the rule.
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Aon Scores Another Victory in Alliant Hiring Dispute
Insurance broker Aon won another round in its ongoing dispute with Alliant Insurance Services Inc. over the poaching of business and employees, which allegedly did serious harm to Aon’s Construction Services Group.
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Power Move: Deborah Luthi Takes the Helm as RIMS President
As enterprise risk manager for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Deborah Luthi’s day starts with a 5:45 train to San Francisco, where the organization is involved in several billion-dollar projects.
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Moody’s Report: Reserve Releases Slow in 2011
Reserve releases for U.S. P&C insurers through 2011’s third quarter totaled $11.4 billion—a 14 percent decrease compared to the same time period in 2010, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
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Willis: Underwriting Discipline Comes to P&I Coverage
The Protection and Indemnity (P&I) market, a broad type of Marine Legal-Liability coverage, delivered a blockbuster financial performance last year—but predicted poor investment returns and increased claims will spell premium increases for 2012.
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Med Mal Insurance May Evolve to More Institutional Health Care System
The shift from single or small groups of physicians’ practice to multispecialty and multistate physician networks and hospitals will likely drive a change in the Medical Professional Liability (MPL) insurance sector, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
Opinion
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Some Tweaks for 2012
Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to the first issue of NU in 2012.
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Does Your Legislator Understand You?
Let’s gather together 38 mayors; 24 health-care professionals, including veterinarians, dieticians and pharmacists; three organic farmers; three ranchers; three vintners; two former pro athletes; six scientists; five accountants; four ministers; and four sheriffs.
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The Secret to Selling Multiple Lines
For decades, diversified insurers have doggedly pursued the Holy Grail: getting customers to purchase from them multiple types of coverage.
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