2024 U.S. Reinsurers is based on survey responses from reinsurance organizations in the United States. The premium data relates to a company’s reinsurance premiums written but, in some cases, other metrics will include both primary and reinsurance business.
The main group and country listing for each entity surveyed is representative of that group or company’s total reinsurance business written, whether it be life, non-life, or a combination of both.
Largest reinsurers in United States have responded to the increase in natural catastrophes with significant premium rate increases, reflecting a sector-wide reassessment of catastrophe risk following several consecutive years of bigger than expected claims.
TOP 30 Largest Reinsurers in the U.S.
| Reinsurer | Net Re premiums written, $mn | Change % |
| 1. Re Group of America | 12,513.0 | 7,0 |
| 2. Swiss Re America | 8,293.4 | 6,9 |
| 3. Everest Re | 7,736.5 | 16,1 |
| 4. Swiss Re Life & Health America | 7,176.9 | 29,1 |
| 5. National Indemnity | 5,995.7 | -4,7 |
| 6. Munich Re America | 5,571.2 | 49,1 |
| 7. Transatlantic Re | 5,013.5 | 11,5 |
| 8. General Re Corporation | 4,099.0 | 8,2 |
| 9. Odyssey Group | 2,708.9 | 27,6 |
| 10. Partner Re of United States | 2,268.0 | 9,0 |
| 11. Renaissance Re United States | 2,056,9 | 60,6 |
| 12. SCOR Re | 2,052.7 | 0,4 |
| 13. General Re Life | 1,554.1 | 10,8 |
| 14. Markel Global Re Company | 910.7 | 29,1 |
| 15. Arch Re | 853.6 | 21,4 |
| 16. W.R. Berkley Corporation | 827.1 | N,A, |
| 17. Axis Re Company | 786.8 | 18,0 |
| 18. Toa Re Group of America | 629.4 | 8,6 |
| 19. Munich American Reassurance | 539.0 | 5,3 |
| 20. General Star Indemnity | 528.7 | 19,2 |
| 21. National Liability & Fire Company | 418.8 | 103,0 |
| 22. SCOR Global Life USA Re Company | 302.4 | -2,9 |
| 23. SCOR Global Life Americas | 225.8 | -1,1 |
| 24. Columbia Insurance Company | 184.9 | -14,2 |
| 25. SiriusPoint America Insurance Company | 142.2 | N,A, |
| 26. SCOR Global Life Re Company of Delaware | 70.6 | -20,1 |
| 27. National Fire & Marine Insurance Company | 57.4 | -17,9 |
| 28. General Star National Insurance Company | 35.6 | 12,3 |
| 29. Genesis Insurance Company | 21.2 | 9,3 |
| 30. Aspen American Insurance Company | 17.7 | -92,2 |
| Total | 73,592 | 15 |
According to Beinsure review Reinsurance Rates for U.S. & Florida, reinsurers in particular are feeling the heat as they accumulate losses from primary companies. To counter this, many are raising prices, limiting coverage and even exiting some markets to improve returns.
U.S. reinsurance rates for policies which previously faced claims for natural catastrophes rose 30-50%. Reinsurance rates for similar policies in Florida rose 30-40%
Losses and the changing view of risk has been a particular driver for this renewal with reassessments of risk resulting in some drawbacks of capacity after derisking exercises or complete withdrawals of capacity.
The U.S. reinsurance market is one of the largest and most sophisticated in the world, home to a mix of domestic and international companies that offer a wide range of reinsurance products and services.
TOP 20 Reinsurance Companies in the U.S.
The bar chart illustrating the reinsurers by their net reinsurance premiums written, measured in millions of dollars. This visualization provides a clear comparison of the reinsurers in terms of the volume of their net reinsurance premiums.
Major U.S. Reinsurance Companies
- Munich Re America: The U.S. subsidiary of Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurance companies, offers a broad spectrum of reinsurance coverage across various lines of business.
- Swiss Re America: Swiss Re is another global giant in the reinsurance industry, providing comprehensive reinsurance and insurance-based risk transfer services to clients in the U.S.
- Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group: Owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., this company is known for its financial strength and ability to take on large-scale risks. It offers reinsurance and retrocession arrangements across a wide range of property and casualty risks.
- Reinsurance Group of America (RGA): Specializing in life and health reinsurance, RGA is one of the largest life reinsurers in the world, providing products and services in the U.S. and internationally.
According to the Reinsurance Association of America, premiums reinsured in the American market by offshore companies are constantly increasing at the expense of those accepted by local players.
The U.S. share of direct premiums as a percentage of those accepted by U.S.-domiciled reinsurers has declined significantly over the past years. It went from 55.7% in 1999 to 39.5% in 2023.
A total reversal of cessions, to the benefit of foreign reinsurers whose share in direct American business has risen from 44.3% in 1999 to 60.5% in 2023.
Size of reinsurance carrier market in the United States
Ongoing aim in producing this data is to provide market participants with an indication of the ongoing reinsurance capacity available in each market. Hence, we try to exclude intragroup reinsurance, as far as possible. Companies that have not been able to exclude intragroup reinsurance are highlighted in the footnotes.
Reinsurance companies in the United States play a crucial role in the insurance industry by providing insurance to insurance companies.
This practice, known as reinsurance, helps insurers manage risk and stabilize their finances by spreading the potential financial burden of claims across multiple parties.
Types of Reinsurance Provided
Reinsurance companies in the U.S. offer various types of coverage, including:
- Property and Casualty Reinsurance: Covers risks related to property damage and liability claims.
- Life Reinsurance: Focuses on life insurance and annuity products, helping life insurers manage their risk exposures.
- Health Reinsurance: Offers reinsurance for health insurance products, including medical, disability, and long-term care coverages.
Regulation of the U.S reinsurance market
American reinsurance is not as regulated as direct insurance. In the early 1980s, the regulatory authorities focused on the solvency problems of reinsurance companies and their ability to meet their obligations.
In consequence, in June 1982, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) created an advisory committee to better regulate reinsurance transactions. In the wake of this, a model law on credit reinsurance was adopted in 1984.
The regulatory system put in place resulted in the creation of an open but secure reinsurance market. A market where more than half of the reinsurance premiums ceded by direct insurers are placed outside the country.
This regulation introduced a separation of treatment between reinsurers. A foreign company can operate in the U.S. market by obtaining a license in the State or States where it wishes to underwrite.
Foreign reinsurers licensed by a U.S. jurisdiction (a State) are subject to the same regulations as their U.S. counterparts. Reinsurers that are not licensed in the United States, known as “alien” or offshore companies, are subject to additional requirements. They must have guarantees in the form of letters of credit or escrow funds in favor of the American cedants, to guarantee any reinsurance transaction.
U.S. Reinsurance Market Dynamics
The U.S. reinsurance market is influenced by several factors, including:
- Regulatory Environment: State-based insurance regulation in the U.S. affects reinsurance practices and agreements. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) plays a significant role in setting standards and coordinating regulatory oversight.
- Catastrophic Events: Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires can have a significant impact on reinsurance demand and pricing, particularly in property and casualty reinsurance.
- Technological Advancements: Innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology are transforming how reinsurance companies assess risk, price policies, and manage claims.
Challenges and Opportunities
U.S. reinsurance companies face challenges such as regulatory changes, competition from alternative risk transfer mechanisms (such as insurance-linked securities), and the need to adapt to the changing climate and its impact on insurable risks. However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation, growth into new markets, and the development of new products that address evolving risks.
Overall, reinsurance companies in the United States are integral to the stability and health of the broader insurance industry, providing essential capacity and risk management solutions that enable insurers to serve their customers effectively.
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Fact-checked by Oleg Parashchak – Editor-in-Chief Beinsure Media, CEO Finance Media Holding
