News from January 2024
By Business Daily | Jan 31, 2024
The Zebra, a digital platform that facilitates comparison of insurance policies, has reported a nationwide increase in car insurance premiums by an average of 5% in 2023. Authored by insurance analyst Ava Lynch, The Zebra's report suggests that insurance rates can surge even if a driver maintains a clean record devoid of accidents and violations.
By Business Daily | Jan 31, 2024
The Cigna Group has announced its plan to sell its Medicare business, a move that industry analysts believe will position the managed care insurer for future acquisitions. The divestiture, in which Cigna will sell its Medicare businesses to Health Care Service Corp. for approximately $3.7 billion, comes at a challenging time for Medicare Advantage as insurers face growing medical costs associated with the plans due to delayed care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.According to S&P Global Ratings analyst Francesca Mannarino, Cigna's Medicare segment lacked the necessary...
By Business Daily | Jan 31, 2024
The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has released its 2023 Annual Report, showcasing the organization's achievements in a year marked by a record number of weather and climate disasters in the United States. These disasters resulted in at least $1 billion in damages.In his Annual Report letter, Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan emphasized the significance of climate risks and the insurance industry's response to them. He stated, "Triple-I is making clear how U.S. insurers and reinsurers have long been seeing the impacts of increased climate risk and are promoting a...
By Business Daily | Jan 31, 2024
The cyber insurance market is facing significant challenges due to the rapidly evolving information security landscape. In a recent episode of Next in Tech, analysts Thomas Mason, Dan Kennedy, and Scott Crawford discussed the complexities surrounding cyber insurance and the technologies associated with it.Insurers have traditionally played a crucial role in managing risk for businesses. However, the rise of cyberattacks, such as ransomware, has brought about a new kind of existential risk that has forced insurers to reevaluate their strategies. Thomas Mason, one of the...
By Business Daily | Jan 31, 2024
Texas regulators have approved several significant homeowners' insurance rate increases in the fourth quarter of 2023, making it one of the most impactful states in terms of rate hikes in the United States. According to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Texas regulators cleared 46 rate increases during the quarter, with 10 of them ranking among the most substantial in the country.One of the most significant rate hikes was granted to State Farm General Insurance Co. by California state regulators. The company's overall rate was increased by 20%, resulting in a...
By Business Daily | Jan 30, 2024
The property/casualty industry continues to face challenges in underwriting losses, according to the latest report from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Milliman. The 2023 net combined ratio for the industry is forecast to be 103.9, with commercial lines performing better than personal lines. Commercial lines have a net combined ratio of 97.7, while personal lines have a ratio of 109.9.The main driver of the adverse results is the record levels of severe convective storm losses. Despite this, the industry is experiencing growth, with a forecasted net...
By Business Daily | Jan 29, 2024
Progressive Insurance, the leading commercial auto insurer in the U.S., has announced a rebranding for its large fleet commercial line coverage. Formerly known as Protective Insurance, it will now be called Progressive Fleet & Specialty Programs (Progressive Fleet). This name change reflects the integration of businesses and highlights Progressive's expanded expertise in large fleet transportation and niche insurance programs for the transportation and delivery industries.Karen Bailo, Progressive's Commercial Lines President, stated, "This announcement was part of our...
By Business Daily | Jan 29, 2024
A new study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety sheds light on the alarming dangers faced by roadside assistance providers who risk their lives daily to help others. The study reveals that the number of fatal crashes involving these workers may be significantly higher than previously reported.According to the study, 123 roadside assistance providers were killed by passing vehicles between 2015 and 2021, a figure that dwarfs the approximate 34 noted in national crash data. This discrepancy is attributed to the failure of state police crash report forms to...
By Business Daily | Jan 26, 2024
The Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) revealed on Jan. 18 that the ten largest car insurance providers, by market share in Illinois, increased rates by a total of more than $1.25 billion last year. The year 2023 marked the second consecutive year that rate increases exceeded $1 billion in Illinois.
By Business Daily | Jan 26, 2024
Humana Inc. experienced a significant drop in stock value following the release of its fourth-quarter 2023 results, which revealed higher-than-anticipated costs associated with Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage refers to expanded versions of government-subsidized health plans aimed at seniors. The increased utilization of services led to elevated medical loss ratios, impacting managed care insurers throughout 2023.Humana's earnings call on January 25 highlighted the unexpected rise in Medicare Advantage medical costs, which reached 91.4%, surpassing the 89% estimate...
By Business Daily | Jan 25, 2024
CME Group has unveiled an advanced cross-margining arrangement with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), a move that is set to unlock capital efficiencies for clearing members involved in U.S. Treasury securities and CME Group Interest Rate futures trading. The new development is now live, extending these efficiencies to market participants.
By Business Daily | Jan 25, 2024
A group of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) players recently took part in a unique professional development program offered by Nationwide, the insurance and financial services company. Dorian Bailey, Shea Groom, Savannah Madden, Addisyn Merrick, and Cassie Miller spent two weeks at Nationwide's corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, as part of the program called "Experience Nationwide."During their time at Nationwide, the players had the opportunity to learn about various aspects of the company's business. They interacted with leaders and associates from...
By Business Daily | Jan 25, 2024
The US insurance technology, or insurtech, market is showing signs of recovery in 2024. Industry consolidation is well underway, and companies that have managed to weather the storm are making progress on their expense reduction plans. Public market investors are also showing renewed interest in growth stocks, leading to a rebound in insurtech stock prices.According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, insurtech stocks have performed well in 2023, with a market-cap weighted index of these companies up 22.2% compared to a decline of 54.0% in 2022. This recovery...
By Business Daily | Jan 24, 2024
David Williams, the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), a non-profit organization that provides analysis on the government's impact on the economy, has expressed concerns over mass tort litigation. In an opinion piece for the Washington Examiner, Williams noted that while such lawsuits can enrich lawyers, they ultimately cost the public money. He also pointed out that these lawsuits are increasingly being funded by third-party investors.
By Business Daily | Jan 24, 2024
The new year is a time for fresh starts and setting intentions for personal growth and well-being. According to Tina Thornton, a registered nurse and associate vice president of wellbeing and safety at Nationwide, creating a well-being vision involves thinking about who you want to be in the new year and setting intentions that are personal and meaningful to you.To begin, Thornton advises recording your vision by writing it down. This helps to solidify your ideas and give them more weight. By putting your vision on paper, it becomes a concrete goal rather than a vague...
By Business Daily | Jan 23, 2024
Nationwide's Medical Stop Loss (MSL) team is commemorating over 20 years of providing crucial protection to businesses with self-funded healthcare plans. As healthcare costs continue to rise in the United States, employers are exploring alternative methods to manage expenses. Self-funding health plans have emerged as a cost-effective solution, but they also carry the risk of businesses being liable for significant medical costs should their employees experience serious illnesses or catastrophic claims.Medical stop loss insurance serves as a safeguard for businesses,...
By Business Daily | Jan 22, 2024
Citi has recently revealed that LuminArx Capital is introducing Cinergy, a strategic financing vehicle designed to cater to the burgeoning private lending market. The initiative will offer private credit solutions to companies, extending its services to include Citi's global client base.
By Business Daily | Jan 22, 2024
The Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), a division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recently published a report detailing the rise in commercial tort costs from 2020 to 2021. The report, released in December 2023, found that these costs escalated from $291 billion in 2020 to $347 billion in 2021.
By Business Daily | Jan 21, 2024
BMO Financial Corp has announced that it has received an outstanding rating in the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Performance Evaluation, as assessed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC's evaluation is based on a bank's adherence to federal law requirements, which set a standard for commitment to community reinvestment.
By Business Daily | Jan 21, 2024
BMO has announced the expansion of its BMORE initiative, a program designed to eradicate employment barriers and bolster opportunities in banking and finance for historically marginalized communities. The initiative was launched three years ago in partnership with Cara Collective.