UK targets Russian shadow fleet with boarding powers in home waters
The UK will board Russian shadow fleet vessels in its waters, tightening pressure on oil shipments tied to Moscow’s war funding and sanction evasion
Insurance News
Illinois bill to review home and auto insurance rates moves ahead
Illinois lawmakers advanced a bill giving regulators power to review home and auto insurance rates, with insurers warning the overhaul would raise costs
Senate bill would cap insulin costs at $35 for private insurance plans
A bipartisan Senate bill would cap insulin at $35 for privately insured Americans and launch a pilot to extend the same limit to uninsured patients
Hail now rivals major hurricanes in insured loss potential in the US
Cotality says hail has become a major insured loss driver, with modern storms causing damage on par with a Category 4 hurricane in the US
AI is reshaping life underwriting workflows, Pacific Life survey shows
Pacific Life’s underwriting survey shows wider AI use, stronger demand for structured health data, and growing concern over underwriting talent
Agent-based AI will change cyber offence and defence, Munich Re says
Munich Re says agent-based AI will change cyber offence and defence, widening attack surfaces, pressuring trust, and raising the pace of cyber threats
Munich Re says cyber insurance needs wider uptake as threats intensify
Munich Re says cyber risks are widening beyond ransomware and calls for stronger resilience, broader cyber insurance uptake, and closer market collaboration
MSIG Asia backs insurtech Ancileo to expand travel insurance across Asia
MSIG Asia made a strategic investment in Ancileo and formed a regional partnership to grow digital travel insurance across Asia’s fast-moving travel market
Meta and Alphabet’s Google verdicts put Section 230 appeals fight in motion
Jury verdicts against Meta and Google in child harm lawsuits set up appeals over Section 230, with wider consequences for social media and other online platforms
AccuWeather sees slightly softer 2026 Atlantic hurricane season
AccuWeather forecasts 11-16 named storms in 2026 as El Nino may suppress activity, though warm Atlantic waters still raise rapid intensification risk
Lloyd’s keeps Hormuz insurance cover available as war risk rates jump
Lloyd’s will keep insuring Strait of Hormuz voyages, though shipowners stay away as war risk premiums jump and underwriting shifts to case-by-case review
Delaware court says insurers don’t have to defend Meta Platforms in lawsuits
Delaware judge ruled Meta insurers owe no duty to defend social media harm lawsuits, citing intentional conduct not covered under liability policies
Fannie Mae updates property insurance standards and condo project rules
Fannie Mae revises condo review, reserve, and insurance rules, giving lenders more flexibility while tightening standards for long-term project stability
Fannie Mae opens door to crypto-backed mortgages with Better, Coinbase
Fannie Mae will accept crypto-backed mortgages through Better and Coinbase, letting buyers pledge bitcoin and other holdings for down payments
First Mutual Insurance extends AI home inspection deal with Chrp to cut risk costs
First Mutual expands Chrp AI inspections, speeds underwriting, cuts review time 50%, and flags home risks across NC, SC, TN markets
Allianz reshuffles Board of Management as Tomas Kunzmann joins in 2027
Allianz announced board changes effective 2027, including Tomas Kunzmann’s promotion, new regional responsibilities, and a CFO mandate extension
Vienna Insurance Group reports record 2025 profit and proposes 12% dividend increase
Vienna Insurance Group posted strong 2025 growth, lifted profit above EUR 1 bn, and proposed a 12% dividend increase as expansion plans continue
Neptune Flood launches ChatGPT quoting app as growth accelerates
Neptune Flood introduced a ChatGPT quoting app, extending automated flood insurance access while reporting strong 2025 growth across revenue and written premium
Oklahoma Senate advances bill mandating liability insurance for events
Oklahoma Senate passes bill requiring $1mn liability coverage for special event alcohol licenses, raising concerns over costs for small businesse
P&C insurers using AI outperform peers on profitability and growth
WTW survey shows North American insurers investing in AI and analytics achieve lower combined ratios and stronger premium growth
North Carolina court backs insurance firm in agent exit dispute
North Carolina Court dismisses most counterclaims by former agents in dispute over client poaching, leaving wage claim as sole surviving issue
US vehicle thefts fall 23%, National Insurance Crime Bureau data shows
Vehicle thefts fall to multi-decade lows in the US, with sharp declines across states and cities, NICB reports
US urges tighter Microsoft Intune security after Stryker cyberattack
CISA warns firms to secure endpoint systems after cyberattack disrupted Stryker operations and exposed risks in Microsoft environments
Florida mitigation program faces scrutiny over roof funding and limited insurance savings
Florida’s My Safe Florida Home program draws criticism over roof funding, limited insurance savings, and inspection challenges
Florida bill easing permit rules raises risks for insurers
Florida lawmakers approve bill exempting small projects from permits, prompting concerns over inspections, contractor practices, and insurance claims
Virginia ruling expands workers comp insurance coverage for incidental workplace acts
Virginia commission awards benefits for injury during workplace courtesy, reinforcing broad interpretation of employment scope
Tesla sued over Cybertruck crash linked to electric door failures
Lawsuit alleges Tesla door systems trapped occupants in fatal Cybertruck crash, adding to growing scrutiny over electric door safety risks
US $20 bn maritime reinsurance plan may fall short without liability cover
Moody’s warns US maritime reinsurance program lacks liability coverage, limiting impact on Strait of Hormuz shipping risk
Federal lawsuit accuses CVS Health and CaremarkPCS over drug pricing practices
Lawsuit claims CVS Caremark steered drug rebates through affiliate, raising costs for health plans and members
NAIC launches working group to tackle rising health care costs
NAIC forms working group to address health care costs and premiums, aiming to deliver policy solutions for states by late 2026
Washington requires life insurers to add lapse notices and third-party alerts
Washington mandates insurers notify policyholders and third parties before life insurance lapses, adding delivery proof rules from 2027
Ohio auto insurance drops 6% in 2025 but remains up 44% since 2021
Ohio auto insurance costs fall slightly in 2025, though long-term increases persist, with urban drivers and litigation costs driving pricing trends
Iowa advances HMO tax hike to cover Medicaid funding gap
Iowa lawmakers push HMO tax increase to 3.5% to address Medicaid shortfall, sparking insurer backlash over rising costs
Delaware primary healthcare reform bill advances after lengthy hearing
Delaware lawmakers debate primary care reform bill after 3-hour hearing with strong turnout from health systems and providers
Trump administration probes states over abortion insurance mandates
HHS investigates 13 states requiring abortion coverage, citing Weldon Amendment disputes and renewed federal enforcement stance
ACA insurance premium hikes strain US households as subsidies expire
Rising ACA costs force US households to cut essentials, switch plans, or drop coverage after subsidy expiration, new KFF survey shows
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updates reduce insurance costs, ease condo access for US homeowners
FHFA updates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac insurance rules, lowers costs, but stricter condo reviews raise concerns over loan delays
Hippo partners with Progressive to expand homeowners insurance reach
Hippo teams up with Progressive to distribute homeowners insurance across eight US states, expanding reach through tech-driven underwriting
Louisiana captive insurance bills reshape regulation and market risks
Louisiana reviews three captive insurance bills affecting flexibility, trucking risks, and regulatory structure ahead of the 2026 session
US unemployment insurance rules shift access and eligibility across states
US unemployment insurance access shrinks as states cut benefit weeks and adjust earnings rules, leaving gaps for many workers seeking support
HSB launches AI liability insurance for SMEs amid rising legal risks
HSB introduces AI liability cover for SMEs, addressing gaps in general liability policies linked to AI-driven claims and exposures
Brookings proposes US Re to stabilise homeowners insurance market
Hamilton Project outlines US Re federal reinsurer to address climate-driven losses, rising premiums, and volatility in US homeowners insurance
Fitch flags Iran conflict risk for Lloyd’s and specialty insurers
Fitch warns Iran conflict could hit marine, aviation, and energy lines, with indirect risks from inflation, asset declines, and defaults
AM Best: US P&C insurance upgrades exceed downgrades in 2025
AM Best reports more upgrades than downgrades in US P&C insurance, driven by commercial lines while personal lines face pressure
Certua Life launches as first new UK protection insurer in 20 years
Certua Life enters the UK market with embedded life insurance products, targeting unmet demand through fintech, benefits, and wealth platforms
Insurance Europe pushes simplification agenda to defend EU competitiveness
Insurance Europe urges EU leaders to cut regulatory burden, strengthen capital markets, and expand insurers’ role in long-term investment
Insurance Europe backs EU Digital Omnibus to cut regulatory load
Insurance Europe outlines its stance on the EU Digital Omnibus package, pushing targeted rule changes to ease compliance and reduce complexity
Marsh rolls out BX1 Bermuda facility with $50 mn excess casualty capacity
Marsh introduces BX1 in Bermuda, offering $50 mn excess casualty capacity for US clients with streamlined claims and broader punitive damages cover
Tennessee court denies workers’ comp benefits in Kroger back injury case
The Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims denied benefits to a grocery employee who alleged a gradual back injury tied to increased job duties
Kansas moves to modernize children’s health insurance eligibility rules
Kansas lawmakers approved legislation updating income eligibility rules for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, ending a formula tied to federal poverty levels from 2008
Texas Supreme Court allows insurer and contractor to seek recovery from subcontractor
The Texas Supreme Court ruled that a contractor and its insurer can pursue recovery from a subcontractor following a multimillion-dollar workplace injury settlement
California bill proposes statewide rules for wildfire smoke insurance claims
California lawmakers introduced legislation designed to standardize how insurers handle wildfire smoke damage claims. The proposal follows major fires that contaminated thousands of homes
Farmers Insurance sues former Oklahoma agent over alleged client diversion
Farmers Insurance filed a lawsuit accusing a former Oklahoma agent of redirecting customers and policies to competing insurers before leaving the company
Iran-linked cyberattack on Stryker raises geopolitical risk for US companies
A cyberattack that disrupted operations at Stryker is drawing attention from U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts who see the incident as a significant escalation in Iran-linked cyber operations
Steadily launches landlord insurance quoting inside ChatGPT
Steadily introduced a quoting tool available through the ChatGPT platform, allowing landlords to estimate insurance premiums for rental properties without leaving the AI interface
Hawaii insurance regulator urges quick claims after severe storms
The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and its Hawaii Insurance Division are urging residents to review insurance coverage and report storm damage quickly after recent high winds
Outdated flood maps drive debt in US National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program provides flood coverage to households and businesses across the United States
Former Louisiana insurance commissioner Jim Donelon joins Middleberg Riddle Group
Jim Donelon joined Middleberg Riddle Group as of counsel, where he will advise insurers, agencies, producers, and other insurance market participants on regulatory issues
Former NBA player Glen Davis released after serving time in insurance fraud case
Former NBA player Glen Davis was released from prison on March 12 after serving 17 months for his role in a fraud scheme involving the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan
Oklahoma homeowners insurance market faces lawsuits and rate scrutiny
Homeowners insurance pricing in Oklahoma is drawing growing political, legal, and regulatory attention. Premiums in Oklahoma rank among the highest in the United States
US private flood insurance market is expanding, addressing the nation’s substantial gap between economic and insured losses from flood events
Six months after wind-driven wildfires killed 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in and around Los Angeles, the scenes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades remain severe
Inland areas are increasingly vulnerable to flooding from both tropical storms and severe convective storms, yet the number of homeowners who purchase flood insurance
The rise in U.S. homeowners insurance costs have been driven by a combination of increasing natural catastrophe losses and extraordinary inflation