Verisk estimates Kumamoto earthquake insured losses at $2.1 bn
Verisk estimates insured losses from the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake at JPY 220 bn to JPY 340 bn, or about $1.4 bn to $2.1 bn
News
American Family Mutual Insurance to buy Bowhead in $1.2 bn cash deal
American Family will acquire remaining Bowhead shares for $34.00 each, valuing the specialty insurer at about $1.2 bn
Three Washington wildfires destroy more than 700 homes and businesses near Spokane
Three Washington wildfires destroy more than 700 homes and businesses near Spokane, forcing 60,000 evacuations as insurers prepare claims teams
Green Shield expands home insurance program and launches Compass agent portal
Green Shield expands Guardian Elite Home in California and Colorado and launches Compass, a digital portal for high-value homeowners insurance agents
Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters urges adjusters to submit fire and flood loss data
As the UK experiences one of its most severe wildfire seasons on record the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) has called for loss adjusters to submit large loss data
Gradient AI refreshes brand for insurance decision intelligence
Gradient AI updates its brand as its insurance AI platform expands across underwriting, claims and actuarial decision workflows
Cowbell launches OMNI for AI-native specialty insurance
Cowbell launches OMNI, an AI-native decision system for specialty insurance underwriting, claims, cyber services and product development
Delaware Life Insurance case puts insurer governance in focus
Fitch says Delaware Life’s investment reclassification shows governance pressure as U.S. life insurers add private credit and affiliated exposure
AI, IoT reshape corporate risk and insurance tools
RiskScan respondents rank AI, smart devices and IoT as the most influential technologies changing corporate risk management
Cyber and climate risks reshape insurance priorities
Cyber incidents, climate losses and liability pressures reshape corporate insurance risk as organizations face connected threats across value chains
Economic pressure is reshaping the risk environment
RiskScan data shows inflation, economic decline and property insurance costs pushing insurers to reassess pricing, claims severity and capital strategy
Flood and storm risks reshape catastrophe insurance
RiskScan data shows flood, winter storms and thunderstorms driving concern as localized disasters pressure P&C pricing and preparedness
Munich Re Specialty launches Japan earthquake cover
Munich Re Specialty launches parametric earthquake insurance in Japan through Lloyd’s Japan, targeting corporate liquidity after seismic events
ChipAgents raises $60 mn as chip AI agents gain traction
ChipAgents adds $60 mn to its Series A, taking the round to $134 mn as Micron, MediaTek and B Capital back its chip design AI agents
EXPAS turns explosion risk evidence into insurance intelligence
EXPAS converts operational safety evidence into measurable explosion risk intelligence for operators, insurers, reinsurers and brokers
Verisk acquires McKenzie Intelligence Services for catastrophe risk analytics
Verisk buys MIS to add real-time geospatial intelligence, catastrophe response data and political violence risk analytics for insurers
Insurtech Lemonade Q2 2026 revenue rises 79.4% to $294.4 mn
Lemonade beat Q2 revenue estimates as net premiums earned reached $252 mn, but softer second-half guidance sent LMND shares lower
Insurtech Ominimo reaches $1.6 bn valuation after Series B
Ominimo raises $22.5 mn from EBRD as the Serbian-Hungarian insurtech grows its premium run-rate 12x and expands across Europe
Health insurance job lock hits 24% of U.S. workers
About 23 mn U.S. workers stay in jobs they want to leave to keep health insurance, as healthcare costs and chronic disease risks shape career choices
Cyclone Harry caused over €1 bn in Sicily losses and exposed NatCat insurance gaps
Cyclone Harry caused over €1 bn in Sicily losses and showed why Italy’s mandatory disaster insurance leaves firms exposed to storm surge risk
Insurtech Klaimee secures $5.5 mn to certify autonomous AI agents
Insurtech Klaimee secures $5.5 mn to certify autonomous AI agents and insure enterprise clients against AI-specific liability risks
Cytora adds InformData people data to insurance workflows
Cytora partners with InformData to bring verified people data into commercial insurance submissions, renewals, claims and risk monitoring
New York expands auto insurance fraud crackdown
New York is widening its campaign against auto insurance fraud after a sharp rise in suspected fraud incidents and rising pressure on vehicle owners
Insurtech Coverwatch raised $4.5 mn in pre-seed to build AI insurance broker
Insurtech Coverwatch raised $4.5 mn in pre-seed funding to expand its AI-native commercial insurance platform for risk review, carrier bids and flat-fee brokerage
New York approved a 22% workers’ comp loss cost cut for October
New York approved a 21.9% workers’ comp loss cost cut for Oct. 1, with projected employer savings above $1 bn
Lloyd’s says ex-CEO John Neal breached compliance rules
Lloyd’s found former CEO John Neal breached compliance rules over an undisclosed close relationship and whistleblowing process failures
Global commercial insurance rates fell by an average of 6% in Q2 2026
Global commercial insurance rates fell 6% in Q2 2026 as property pricing softened and casualty costs rose in the US
AI insurance fraud cases in the U.S. nearly triple in two years – Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
AI-generated receipts, photos and documents are driving new insurance fraud risks as Oklahoma warns policyholders and insurers
EIOPA presses private equity on long-term European insurer ownership
European supervisors want PE buyers of insurers to prove long-term support for policyholders, with scrutiny on private credit and affiliated deals
Cyber insurtech BOXX adds AI deepfake cover to Cyberboxx Business
BOXX Insurance adds affirmative AI and deepfake coverage for commercial cyber clients as social engineering fraud accelerates
Mike Mazzei attacks Oklahoma Attorney General lawsuits against insurers
Mike Mazzei says Oklahoma should focus on insurance reform, not lawsuits against State Farm and Allstate over storm claims
Genki buys insurtech Wave Claims to add AI claims software
Genki acquires Cologne insurtech Wave Claims and Claim OS to bring AI claims handling closer to its health insurance products
Startup Arrakis raises $38 mn for industrial AI software
Arrakis exits stealth with $38 mn to build agentic AI software for aerospace, energy, logistics and manufacturing companies
European insurers’ premiums reach €923 bn in 2025
European insurers maintained steady growth in 2025, according to the latest Mapfre Economics report. The continent’s 20 largest insurance groups recorded €922.8 bn
Contents acquires fintech Balio to expand enterprise AI in Spain
Contents buys Barcelona-based Balio, its sixth acquisition, as the Milan company expands AI workflow tools across European enterprise software
Xentra raises £2.7 mn from Maven VCTs and NPIF II for SME cyber services
Leeds-based Xentra secures £2.7 mn from Maven VCTs and NPIF II to expand cyber, safeguarding and regulatory services for SMEs
Allstate wins jury trial right in New Jersey insurance fraud case
New Jersey Supreme Court says Allstate fraud and RICO claims against medical providers belong in court, not PIP arbitration
Red Sea war insurance premiums rise after Houthi blockade threat
War risk premiums for Red Sea shipping rose after Yemen’s Houthis threatened a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising risks for oil and trade routes
Insurtech Qumis launches AI agents for P&C insurance coverage analysis
Qumis launches certified AI agents for commercial P&C insurance, giving brokers and carriers faster citation-backed coverage analysis
New Yorkers lose Essential Plan health insurance coverage after eligibility cut
New York’s Essential Plan change leaves 450,000 residents seeking new health coverage as marketplace premiums replace low-cost insurance
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner is urging insurance checks before Gulf storm
Louisiana residents are being urged to review home and flood cover as Tropical Depression Two moves toward the Gulf Coast
Connecticut reverses insurance denial for rare transplant
Connecticut officials reverse a third coverage denial for a man needing a multivisceral transplant after doctors gave him a 10% survival chance
Cross-border eVTOL insurance clears Hong Kong hurdle – Yivtol secured the first policy
Yivtol secures Hong Kong-compliant eVTOL cover underwritten in Shenzhen, giving its S-Zero aircraft access to the city’s aviation market
New Jersey insurance brokers face Consumer Fraud Act liability after Lowe ruling
New Jersey Supreme Court rules insurance brokers, producers and agents face CFA claims tied to insurance sales, marketing and coverage advice
NAIC weighs template for felon insurance license requests
NAIC reviews how states treat felony convictions, sealed records and consent requests for insurance producer licensing
Insurtech Lemonade brings renters insurance to Nebraska
Lemonade launches renters insurance in Nebraska, with app-based quotes, policy management and claims handling from $5 per month
Dubai airline returns slow as war insurance tightens
Dubai Airports says some European carriers face insurance hurdles as US-Iran strikes and travel advisories keep Gulf routes under pressure
Delaware Life Insurance faces scrutiny over Mark Walter-linked credit bets
US prosecutors examine whether Walter-controlled life insurers disclosed private credit investments tied to affiliated ventures
California telematics bill could reshape auto insurance pricing
California AB 311 would let auto insurers price optional telematics data, raising safety claims, privacy concerns and Prop. 103 objections
California FAIR Plan now insures more new home loans
California FAIR Plan coverage now appears in 5.6% of new California home loans as wildfire risk and insurance availability pressure buyers
Asia-Pacific insurance M&A slows despite India and Malaysia deals
India and Malaysia posted large insurance M&A deals in Q2, though Asia-Pacific activity fell to its lowest level in five quarters
New Jersey e-bike rules add registration and insurance
New Jersey riders now need licenses, registration and insurance for some e-bikes as the state tightens rules after fatal crashes
Aon adds $5 bn capacity to data center insurance program
Aon expands its data center insurance program with $5 bn in capacity as AI, cloud and hyperscale projects raise demand for risk cover
Insurtech Corgi launched an Artist Residency Program for artists, illustrators, writers
Corgi Insurance launches an artist residency at Corgi Cafe, giving San Francisco creators workspace, tools and access to its startup network
Deepfake hiring insurance fraud and shadow AI use are testing cyber and crime policies
Deepfake hiring fraud and shadow AI use are testing cyber and crime policies as insurers reassess insider risk, verification rules and claims wording
Carpe launches AI claims suite for P&C insurers
Carpe Claims combines case management, image forensics, ad monitoring and claims intelligence for U.S. property and casualty carriers
White House builds AI cybersecurity clearinghouse GOLD EAGLE
Gold Eagle will let US agencies and AI firms share vulnerability data, scan open-source software and review advanced models voluntarily
Trump administration prepares new safety rules for robotaxis
NHTSA is preparing behavioural safety standards for autonomous vehicles after robotaxi incidents involving construction zones, school buses and first responders
Xeneta lifts 2026 air freight rate forecast after Middle East shock
Shipper long-term rates to raise 5% to 15% during 2026 after the escalation of conflict in the Middle East changed the rate, demand and supply picture for global cargo markets
Lloyd’s expands multinational insurance access in India
Lloyd’s signs ICICI Lombard as its local partner in India, giving managing agents a route to local policies for selected business lines
Global economic losses from natural disasters in 9M 2026 were estimated at $204 bn, which was 31% below the long-term average since 2000 ($296 bn)
Homeowners insurance typically covers lightning damage to houses, belongings and detached structures, but coverage for power surges depends on policy terms
Life insurance customer trust fell in 2026, particularly among Gen Z and financially vulnerable consumers, despite stable overall satisfaction
67% of US independent insurance agents use AI, while trust and innovation drive carrier partnerships and satisfaction diverges across P&C insurance lines