A number of recent natural catastrophic, and man-made events has helped propel uncertainty in the insurance market to an all-time height. Carriers are getting hit from all different directions and on a global level. These costly events include Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria; a catastrophic 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City; devastating wildfires in California; even property claims as a result of cyber-attacks on companies such as Merck. Insured loss projections and trending toward one of the worst years ever for catastrophe losses for the P&C industry.
While there were hopes that these events would be contained as “earnings” events, it has been clear that the quantity and magnitude have led to the transition to a “capital” event, with increased pressure to sell off assets to generate money to pay claims. Carriers have blown through their catastrophe reinsurance treaties, incurring significant additional expenses to replenish their reinsurance. Those without reinsurance are facing financial pressure for their net exposure from the events.
Here are some statistics for the insurance market in 2017:
- The P&C market was already seeing losses prior to hurricane season.
- Higher loss ratio and less interest from the marketplace were already leading to rate tightening.
- Hurricane Irma losses are projected between $32B and $50B.
- Hurricane Harvey losses will cost at least $10B and there is still much uncertainty for the commercial flood market.
- AIR Worldwide estimates insured loss for Hurricane Maria to range between $40B and $85B.
- The National Flood Program has hit its debt ceiling.
- A cyber-attack on Merck has led to a $1.5B property claim.
- Moody’s rating agency projects insured losses from wildfires in California wine country to be at $4.6B.
- This year’s annual total losses are estimated at $137B.
- Upwards of 85% of those losses are expected to come from Puerto Rico.
- Commercial insurers are expecting losses as a result of Maria’s impact on Puerto Rico’s well-developed business community.
According to President and CEO of Scor US, Jean-Paul Conoscente, in an article by The Insurance Insider “The industry writes about $150B of reinsurance worldwide – so basically we wiped out one year of premium for the whole reinsurance industry.” There is no doubt that as a result of this tumultuous year, the industry is facing a hike in rates and deductibles as well as reduced loss limits and tighter coverage terms. In fact, a recent article indicates that US underwriters are already beginning to demand rate increases at renewal.
It is critical for organizations to evaluate how these circumstances will affect their insurance program; especially those who did not experience a claim this year, and may expect the recent year’s downward rate trend to continue. Please contact me at goffner@rcmd.com or at 484.581.2813 if you would like to learn more or to discuss your own insurance concerns.