Insurtech XBuild raises $19 mn Series A to scale AI estimating for insurers
San Francisco-based insurtech XBuild secures $19 mn Series A led by N47 to expand its AI-native estimating platform used by contractors and insurers
🇺🇸 US Insurance News
Insurtech NEXT Insurance rebrands as ERGO NEXT under Munich Re integration
NEXT Insurance adopts the ERGO NEXT brand, deepening integration with ERGO and Munich Re as it scales digital small business insurance across the US
Gallagher Re: 2025 catastrophe losses stay manageable for insurers
Gallagher Re estimates $129 bn in insured catastrophe losses for 2025, with US storms dominating and capital levels reaching a record $838 bn
Greenland tensions raise geopolitical risk stakes for insurers and reinsurers
Tariff threats tied to Greenland sharpen geopolitical risk, forcing insurers, reinsurers, and brokers to reassess political violence, SRCC, and supply chain exposure
Virginia State Police warn of surge in staged crashes and auto insurance fraud
Virginia State Police report a sharp rise in fake crashes and insurance claims, with fraud investigations up 72% year over year.
Oregon weighs wildfire mitigation mandate for home insurance pricing
Oregon lawmakers consider a bill requiring insurers to reflect wildfire mitigation in rates and coverage as rural homeowners face rising costs and limited options
California blocks home insurance non-renewals after Gifford Fire
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara orders a one-year moratorium protecting nearly 150,000 homeowners from insurance non-renewals after the Gifford Fire
Crowded field emerges for California insurance commissioner race
More than a dozen candidates signal interest in the 2026 California insurance commissioner race as Ricardo Lara exits due to term limits
Michigan regulator sets AI governance expectations for insurers
Michigan’s insurance regulator issues guidance requiring insurers and financial firms to adopt written AI governance programs focused on consumer protection
Progressive to return up to $950 mn to Florida auto insurance policyholders
Progressive plans up to $950 mn in credits for Florida auto customers after quiet hurricane seasons and post-2023 insurance reforms lifted profits
US insurers back move to scrap Federal Insurance Office
Insurance regulators and trade groups support legislation to eliminate the Federal Insurance Office and reinforce state-based insurance regulation
AIG commits up to $3.5 bn to CVC in credit and PE secondaries deal
AIG strikes a strategic partnership with CVC, committing up to $3.5bn across credit strategies and a private equity secondaries evergreen platform
US homeowners face chronic underinsurance as LA wildfire losses mount
Wildfires expose decades of US home underinsurance, with studies showing most policies fall short of rebuilding costs as climate risks and prices rise
US P&C insurance returns peak in 2025 as growth slows into 2026
Swiss Re Institute says US P&C underwriting hit a cyclical peak in 2025, with ROE set to ease and premium growth slowing through 2026-2027
Professional Insurance Agents NY backs Gov. Kathy Hochul focus on rising insurance costs
PIA New York welcomed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State focus on P&C insurance, citing rising auto premiums, fraud, and outdated laws straining consumers
US Judge dismisses CrowdStrike shareholder fraud suit tied to 2024 global outage
A US federal judge dismissed a shareholder lawsuit accusing CrowdStrike of hiding software testing failures ahead of the July 2024 outage, allowing plaintiffs to amend
Berkshire Hathaway launches primary casualty policies as Italy expansion continues
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance expanded in Italy with modular primary casualty coverage for national and multinational risks, written on a net basis without reinsurance
Illinois Bill 4373 sharpens limits on auto glass insurance claims as ADAS rules expand
Illinois lawmakers are reviewing HB 4373, a proposal that would block assignment of rights in auto glass claims, restrict repair shop practices, and add ADAS calibration disclosures
Georgia fines health insurers $25 mn for mental health parity violations
Georgia enforcement follows a multi-year review process, with regulators citing systemic failures in coverage for mental health and substance use care
Illinois homeowners face renewed premium pressure after Allstate files $58 mn hike
A new Allstate rate filing affecting nearly 300,000 households revives debate over insurance oversight, market competition, and the role of state regulators
US auto insurers cut rates nationwide as claims retreat, gaps widen
Auto insurers across the U.S. are cutting vehicle insurance rates after a sharp pullback in claims, a reversal few predicted following years of post-pandemic premium hikes.
Commercial property rates fall double digits as capacity floods back
Buyers closed year-end renewals with sharp reductions as reinsurers cut pricing, catastrophe losses stayed muted, and insurers pushed for growth
U.S. Supreme Court leaves Boy Scouts $2.46 bn abuse settlement intact
Court refusal clears path for payouts to survivors while blocking new lawsuits against sponsoring organisations tied to historic abuse claims
Florida Citizens Insurance policyholders to see average 8.7% rate cut as enrollment drops
State-backed insurer posts its largest reduction in a decade, with South Florida homeowners seeing double-digit relief as policies shift back to the private market
Auto insurance premiums in California continue to climb
Auto insurance premiums in California continue to climb, placing the state third nationwide for rate increases despite a broader national slowdown in pricing
Illinois extends enrollment deadline for health plans as subsidy cliff hits
Illinois residents get extra time to enroll through the state marketplace as expired federal subsidies push 2026 premiums sharply higher nationwide
Insurtech Roots launches AI claims accelerator for Guidewire ClaimCenter
Roots releases a Guidewire-validated AI accelerator that automates claims document processing inside ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud
North Carolina’s insurance commissioner urges Trump not to pardon Greg Lindberg
North Carolina’s insurance commissioner presses the White House to reject a pardon for Greg Lindberg as GOP senators back opposition
Florida insurance broker gets 35 months for $134 mn ACA enrollment fraud
A federal judge sentenced a Pembroke Pines insurance broker to nearly three years in prison for a $134mn Affordable Care Act fraud scheme
California pushes AI rules despite Trump threats and tech pressure
California lawmakers press ahead with AI regulation despite Trump’s funding threat, as tech giants warn rules could drive companies out
InsureVision launched TeslaStick and FleetVision, video-based underwriting AI tools
InsureVision debuts video-based underwriting tools at CES 2026, targeting personal auto and fleet losses with contextual driving risk AI
Los Angeles wildfires drive $22.4 bn in claims as insurance losses mount
California insurers have paid $22.4 bn on wildfire claims, with insured losses projected up to $40 bn as rate hikes and regulatory battles intensify
New Jersey prosecutors charge four over $250k travel insurance fraud
New Jersey prosecutors indicted four people accused of filing fake travel insurance claims tied to trips and medical emergencies that never happened
Howden buys Atlantic Group in $500 mn US M&A insurance push
Howden agreed to acquire Atlantic Group for over $500 mn, strengthening its US M&A insurance business and expanding reach with private equity clients
AIG names Eric Andersen as CEO-elect as Peter Zaffino exits role
AIG says CEO Peter Zaffino will retire by midyear, handing leadership to Aon veteran Eric Andersen as shares slide on investor uncertainty
Aflac to notify 22.7 mn insurance customers after June cyber incident – Case study
Aflac has completed a review of files tied to a June cybersecurity incident and has begun notifying roughly 22.65 mn affected individuals
Allstate plans fresh Illinois home insurance rate hikes up to 10.4% in 2026
Allstate seeks new homeowners rate increases in Illinois, citing weather losses and repair costs, with some policyholders facing hikes above 10%
Tiffany Norman to lead Hannover Life Re US as President and CEO
Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America names Tiffany Norman as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026, following Pete Schaefer’s retirement
Warren Buffett stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO after reshaping insurance
Warren Buffett retires as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, closing a decades-long run that turned a small insurer into a $1 tn powerhouse
New York Court tosses $410 mn art insurance suit after fire damage
New York Supreme Court dismisses collectors’ $410 mn claim over alleged fire damage to major artworks; appeal is now pending
MetLife Investment Management closes PineBridge acquisition
MetLife Investment Management completes its PineBridge deal, lifting combined AUM to $734.7 bn and extending its global asset management reach.
Hanwha Life acquires Velocity Clearing, Korean insurer entry into U.S. securities market
Hanwha Life has completed the acquisition of a 75% stake in New York-based financial services firm Velocity Clearing, marking a strategic expansion into U.S. capital markets
Liberty Mutual upsizes Mystic Re catastrophe bond to $150 mn
Liberty Mutual secures $150 mn of per-occurrence cat bond cover via Mystic Re IV, expanding protection to severe weather and fire risks
Court voids residential exclusion in New York fire excess insurance coverage case
Federal court orders excess insurer to cover Manhattan fire losses, ruling a residential exclusion created illusory coverage due to mutual mistake
Alabama hospital blames BCBS Alabama underpayments for bankruptcy
Jackson Hospital sues Blue Cross Alabama for over $250mn, alleging monopolistic reimbursement practices drove it into bankruptcy
Trupanion-owned American Pet Insurance names Pawp as insurance agent
Pawp enters carrier distribution as American Pet Insurance appoints it as an agent, expanding beyond tele-vet into regulated pet insurance
US Department of Agriculture rolls out major crop insurance overhaul for 2026 season
USDA finalizes crop insurance reforms for 2026, easing rules, expanding access, and updating subsidies as part of a broader deregulation push
U.S. Senate bill would tighten FSOC steps before nonbank SIFI calls
A bipartisan Senate bill backed by insurers would raise the bar for FSOC before labeling nonbanks as SIFIs and expand state regulator inpu
North Carolina miner sues Zurich Insurance unit over $130 mn Hurricane Helene losses
Sibelco North America sues Zurich American for $130mn, alleging unpaid property damage and business interruption from Hurricane Helene
Wildfire cat bonds draw ILS investors as modeling improves, issuance jumps
Investors move into wildfire-linked cat bonds as modeling improves, driving over $5 bn in issuance and pushing the market toward $60 bn in 2025
Global M&A activity continued despite a broader global slowdown in 2025
European and Asia Pacific dealmakers outperformed global peers in the first half of 2025, as M&A activity continued despite a broader global slowdown and persistent market uncertainty
Aon adds ERN Latin America catastrophe models via Oasis LMF
Aon’s Impact Forecasting delivers ERN Latin America catastrophe models through Oasis LMF, expanding open modelling options for (re)insurers
Moody’s expects 15% drop in property cat reinsurance pricing in 2026
Moody’s Ratings sees property catastrophe reinsurance pricing falling about 15% as capital stays ample and buyers gain negotiating power in 2026
Experian warns of AI-driven cyber risks in 2026 breach forecast
Experian’s 2026 Data Breach Forecast points to AI-powered attacks, quantum risk, and rising identity fraud as cyber threats grow faster and smarter
US Labor Department sends fraud strike team to Minnesota UI
The US Labor Department will review Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance program after fraud findings raised concerns over system integrity
Cloudflare report shows AI bots driving traffic surge
Cloudflare data shows a 19% traffic jump, AI crawler dominance, post-quantum crypto growth, and rising attacks on civil society sites
President Trump’s AI order splits insurers and state lawmakers on regulation
President Trump’s AI executive order draws support from health insurers but sharp resistance from state insurance lawmakers over federal preemption
47% of Texas homeowners insurance claims closed with no payout
Texas insurers closed 47% of homeowners claims without payment in 2024, shifting more repair costs onto property owners as deductibles and denials rise
La Niña returns, driving floods, snowstorms, and rising global losses
A renewed La Niña is fueling floods in Asia, early US snowstorms, and mounting economic losses, with insurers and commodity markets bracing for impact
US senators press Trump administration on bird flu vaccine plan
Bipartisan senators urge the Trump administration to finalize a science-based bird flu vaccine plan for livestock amid rising outbreaks
Finding affordable health insurance in California can be overwhelming. You’re faced with dozens of plan options, unfamiliar terms and questions about whether you qualify for subsidies through Covered California
Health insurance is an integral part of employee benefits packages in the United States. However, any employer federally required to provide this compensation could admit that their costs can be burdensome
Fitch Ratings warns U.S. health insurers face a tougher 2026 as medical costs rise, ACA subsidies expire, and policy uncertainty weighs on margins
Providing health insurance in California is becoming a competitive necessity for attracting and retaining top talent, particularly in industries such as technology, finance, cyber