Japan shifts fully to My Number health ID despite low public adoption
Japan retires traditional insurance cards as the My Number system becomes mandatory, though distrust, errors and slow usage cloud the national rollout
News
Black Sea sanctioned tanker attacks push war risk premiums higher for shippers
Ukrainian drone strikes on two tankers near Novorossiysk drive up Black Sea war risk rates, widening exposure for vessels calling at Russian ports
ASR launches digital cyber insurance cover with $5 mn limits for African businesses
Africa Specialty Risks rolls out a Lloyd’s-backed cyber policy via ASR 24-7, offering digital quote-and-bind access for companies across key African markets
Convr marks 10 years of AI underwriting with expanded submission ontology
Convr celebrates a decade of its commercial P&C submission ontology, now powering unified data, workflows, and risk insights across underwriting teams
MCP-enabled AI tools triggers new systemic cyber threats for insurers
KYND warns MCP-enabled AI tools open hidden attack surfaces and demand continuous monitoring, richer data, and tighter AI policy wording
Wisconsin Bill 699 pushes new LTC guaranty fund funded by insurer assessments
A Wisconsin proposal would add an LTC guaranty account to the state security fund, backed by life and disability insurer assessments with targeted tax credits
Cuts to US social programs raise economic risks as 2026 ACA cliff nears
Reduced federal support, tariff pressure, and the 2026 ACA credit lapse threaten household stability and weaken local economies
Marsh McLennan buys Hawai‘i brokerages from Tradewind Group
Marsh McLennan Agency acquires Atlas, Pyramid, and IC in Hawai‘i, expanding its brokerage reach while keeping local teams and offices in place
MetLife declares preferred dividends and closes $10 bn annuity transfer
MetLife sets preferred dividends and completes a $10bn variable annuity risk transfer to Talcott, cutting legacy exposure and trimming hedge costs
AM Best warn rising protectionism reshapes global reinsurance
AM Best’s Angela Yeo and Mahesh Mistry say local reinsurance rules spread into developed markets, straining risk distribution and raising costs
PolicyMe and Embark link insurance and education savings for Canadian families
PolicyMe partners with Embark to connect RESP planning with digital life insurance, giving Canadian families a fuller approach to long-term financial security
Curative secures $150 mn Series B to scale its $0-cost insurance model
Curative raises $150mn at a $1.275bn valuation to expand its $0-out-of-pocket health plan, boost AI-driven member tools, and grow beyond Texas, Florida and Georgia
Carpe Data plugs its insurance fraud tools into Verisk ClaimSearch network
Carpe Data integrates its injury-claims fraud tools into Verisk ClaimSearch, giving insurers faster access to alerts, reports and automated monitoring
Piraeus Bank completes €600 mn takeover of Ethniki Insurance
Piraeus Bank closes its €600mn acquisition of Ethniki Insurance, adding scale in protection, investment and Greek insurance markets
BlueFive Insurance launches GCC platform for consolidation and expansion
BlueFive launches a GCC insurance platform targeting consolidation, digitisation, specialisation and regional expansion, backed by a new Oman legal entity
LifeSearch launches UK’s first fully digital in-journey life insurance trust
LifeSearch adds a digital trust engine to its online life insurance journey, aiming to place most policies in trust and close a major protection gap
Upbit’s self-insurance model faces new questions after $36 mn Solana hack
Upbit again absorbs losses after a $36mn Solana hot-wallet hack, showing how self-insurance works – and where it can break under stress
Lloyd’s clears Ariel Re to launch and run new Syndicate 2006
Lloyd’s approves Ariel Re’s Syndicate 2006, expanding its specialty and property reinsurance platform ahead of the 2026 account year
Insurers race to tackle “silent AI” exposures with new wordings, products
DAC Beachcroft says silent AI risk is reshaping policy wordings, products and reinsurance as agentic AI, fraud and regulatory gaps fuel 2026 challenges
ICA extends catastrophe declaration as storms in Queensland trigger 44k insurance claims
ICA broadens its Cat 255 declaration after severe storms and hail hit Qld and NSW, with 44,600+ claims and insurers deploying support across communities
Australia ranks second globally for extreme weather losses over 45 years
ICA data shows Australia has faced the world’s second-highest per-capita extreme weather losses for 45 years, urging major investment in resilience
K2 Rubicon launched $50 mn Sentinel facility for Ukraine marine war-on-land cover
K2 Rubicon unveils Sentinel, a $50 mn Lloyd’s-backed war-on-land facility for Ukraine, expanding cargo capacity and supporting reconstruction efforts
Medica to acquire UCare contracts, expanding coverage for 300k members
Medica will acquire key UCare contracts and assets in 2026, expanding coverage for 300k members as UCare exits Medicare Advantage and scales back Medicaid
NY court says insurers must pay no-fault benefits despite referral kickbacks
New York’s top court rules auto insurers can’t deny no-fault benefits for referral-fee misconduct unless providers fail core licensing requirements
Marsh names James Addington-Smith CEO of UK business from early 2026
Marsh appoints James Addington-Smith to succeed Chris Lay as UK CEO in early 2026, as Lay prepares to retire after four decades
Africa Specialty Risks launches Lloyd’s Syndicate 2454 to expand underwriting in South Africa
Africa Specialty Risks opens Lloyd’s Syndicate 2454 to write local South African risks, deepen specialty capacity and expand on-the-ground underwriting
US insurers add generative AI exclusions as regulators approve new forms
Filings show carriers adopting ISO-based generative AI exclusions in commercial policies, with regulators in multiple states signing off on the updates
Allianz Commercial sets Miami hub to fuel expanded Latin America growth
Allianz Commercial will open a Miami hub in February to boost Latin American business, expand facultative reinsurance and deepen its Americas footprint
Pine Walk launches Carnovis MGA to expand structured reinsurance reach
Carnovis Specialty debuts next month offering structured reinsurance, XOL and quota-share solutions with a global focus spanning the US, UK and beyond
Cowbell forecasts rapid cyber insurance growth and sharper threats in 2026
Cowbell sees fast 2026 cyber market growth, tougher controls, AI-fuelled attacks, data theft trends and rising risks for SMEs across key sectors
Decentralised reinsurance protocol Re unlocks $134 mn in on-chain reinsurance
Re authorises $134 mn in fully collateralised reinsurance across new and renewed programs, signalling deeper traction for its blockchain-backed model
Munich Re warns climate losses strain major economies as risks escalate
Munich Re finds rising weather-driven losses across major economies, with the US, Germany and India showing sharp jumps in climate-linked financial strain.
Radian secures $373 mn XOL reinsurance deal to scale capital protection
Radian Guaranty agrees to $373 mn excess of loss reinsurance on legacy books, extending its capital management and risk-mitigation strategy
Cyber insurance faces pressure as M&A tightens capacity and risk rises
Marsh Europe warns insurer M&A could shrink cyber capacity as systemic risk grows, though new entrants and soft reinsurance keep the market stable for now
MAPFRE RE issues €125 mn cat bond to boost European windstorm cover
MAPFRE RE prices a €125 mn catastrophe bond for European wind risk, expanding its capital markets strategy as climate-driven exposures rise
Allianz to cut 1,800 jobs as AI reshapes European insurance operations
Allianz plans 1,800 job cuts tied to AI automation, shifting from legacy staffing to tech-driven operations as European insurers face rising cost pressure
Kenya’s Insurance Regulator drafts tighter digital insurance rules as insurtech accelerates
Kenya’s IRA readies new cybersecurity and data rules, aligning with Africa’s broader insurtech push while supporting digital insurance for underserved groups
FSD Africa sets up $30 mn 3iF fund to back early African insurtech startups
FSD Africa launches a $30 mn Inclusive Insurtech Fund to boost early-stage African insurtech, expand access and spur climate, health and financial inclusion
Insurtech Roojai pulls in $60 mn Series C to scale Thai and Indonesian expansion
Roojai secures $60 mn in Series C funding from Apis Partners and Asia Partners to push regional growth, new products and strategic M&A
Humbrela secured €161 k to scale AI platform unifying insurance data
Swiss startup Humbrela raises €161k to enhance its AI platform that consolidates insurance and warranty data for brokers, MGAs and wholesalers.
Insurtech Majesco to acquire Vitech, expanding into pensions and boosting AI portfolio
Majesco will buy Vitech, adding pension and benefits tech and expanding its AI-driven platform across P&C and L&AH markets
US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp relaxed a key bank capital rule
US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has relaxed a key bank capital rule related to US sovereign bonds, proposing a change in the collective loan repayment ratio
Insurers move to ring-fence AI liability as systemic failure fears rise
AIG, Berkley, and Great American seek AI liability exclusions as high-profile failures fuel concerns over correlated, system-wide insurance losses
Xerox launched TriShield 360 with Hartford cyber insurance solution for SMBs
Xerox enters bundled security-plus-insurance with TriShield 360, pairing Cortex XDR, Lumifi SOC, and Hartford cyber coverage for SMBs and MSSPs
Insurtech Counterpart expands AI liability coverage as small-business risks climb
Counterpart adds affirmative AI and tech E&O coverage to close gaps left by traditional liability policies as AI use surges among small businesses
Six more states approve ZestyAI’s SCS risk models for insurer filings
ZestyAI’s hail and wind models gain approval in six states, expanding the company’s SCS Suite to 29 states for carrier rate and underwriting use
Medicare costs to rise in 2026, tightening pressure on senior budgets
Medicare premiums and deductibles will rise in 2026, prompting renewed questions over whether Medigap coverage remains cost effective for seniors
Insurity expands AI power with Andromeda release and $50 mn R&D push
Insurity launches its Andromeda release, adding new AI automation, transparency tools, and risk capabilities as part of its $50mn R&D investment
US severe convective storms caused $42 bn in insured losses in 9M 2025
US severe convective storms caused $42bn in insured losses in nine months, pushing Moody’s to launch a new high-definition SCS model.
European reinsurers pivot toward steadier earnings – J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan sees European reinsurers using mild catastrophe losses to build reserves, temper upside, and push the sector toward more stable results
Vienna Insurance Group posts Q1-Q3 growth and secures 98.4% of Nürnberger takeover
VIG lifts its 2025 outlook after strong Q1–Q3 results and confirms control of 98.38% of Nürnberger ahead of a planned 2026 closing
Lloyd’s Europe to introduce Reinsurance Collateral Deposit from 2026
Lloyd’s Europe plans to roll out a Reinsurance Collateral Deposit starting Jan. 1, 2026 for the 2026 Year of Account and beyond
Insurers hit by rise in digital manipulation tactics from litigation funders
NICB says TPLF marketers use impersonation, AI content, and search diversion to steer policyholders toward costly litigation and inflated claims
OpenIDL launches first open insurance data standard with industry backing
openIDL releases the free openIDS Homeowners Standard v1.0, aiming to unify insurance data and improve reporting, compliance, and interoperability
Atrium expands teams with motor, aviation, and credit risk leadership hires
Atrium promotes Gabrielle Griffith, adds aviation underwriter Mark Connellan, and launches a new credit and political risk team led by Richard Lamb
AIG pays John Neal $2.7 mn after mutually ending planned leadership move
AIG will pay former Lloyd’s CEO John Neal $2.7mn in foregone incentives after both sides agreed he would not join as president in December
State Farm seeks 6.2% auto insurance rate cut in California as losses ease
State Farm moves to trim California auto rates by 6.2% for early 2026 as comprehensive and collision losses fall across the state
Farmers Insurance seeks 7% rate hike, vows 5% policy growth in wildfire zones
Farmers Insurance plans a 7% rate increase and commits to expanding policies in California wildfire-hit regions while backing the state’s new insurance strategy
Sen. Rick Scott proposes Health Freedom Accounts and cross-state ACA sales
Sen. Rick Scott’s bill would create HSA-style ACA accounts, replace subsidies with direct funding, and let insurers sell ACA plans across state lines
Ontario’s proposed life and health MGA rules trigger pushback over cost and complexity
FSRA’s draft rules for life and health MGAs add fees and broad oversight, prompting warnings they could hurt small advisors and limit consumer access
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
U.S. life insurers posted modest Prism score gains, with resilient capital strength despite rising annuity volumes and investment risk pressures
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
US insurance sector outlook for 2025-2026: capital strength, social inflation risks, P&C returns peak, Florida reforms, life insurance resilience and alt capital trends