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CEDAR KEY, Fla. — As cleanup begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, the storm has served as a stark reminder that Florida's insurance industry remains in flux. But many of those homeowners face uncertainty amid the upheaval that has emerged in Florida's insurance industry in recent years. A thinning insurance market that is beset by more regular hurricanes has caused insurance policy costs to skyrocket. The state's insurance industry is preparing to lose four insurers since last year — Farmers Insurance, Bankers Insurance, Centauri Insurance and Lexington Insurance. Aggravating the problem, 82% of Floridians do not have flood insurance, which is typically operated by the National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Persons: Idalia, Chris Draghi, That's, Gregory Buck, Buck, Aimee Firestine, Firestine, Amy Bach, United, Bach, Mark Friedlander, Friedlander, Gabe Gutierrez, Phil McCausland, Melissa Chan Organizations: Insurance Information Institute, U.S, — Farmers Insurance, Bankers Insurance, Centauri Insurance, Lexington Insurance . Farmers Insurance, National, Experts Insurance, Homeowners, Insurance, Property Insurance Corp, National Flood Insurance, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Congress, First Street Foundation, FEMA, Cedar Key Locations: Fla, Florida's Big Bend, Florida, Georgia, Florida , Georgia, South Carolina, Cedar, America, Taylor County, Bend, New York City

☆ How to buy a home insurance policy in era of climate risk and more frequent disasters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Frequent weather catastrophes, induced in part by climate change, are bearing down on homeowners and would-be buyers. Here's how consumers can navigate the home insurance market amid increasing climate-driven weather risks:The home insurance market disruption is going to get worseThings are likely to get worse for homeowners and would-be buyers. Also in June, Farmers Insurance became the latest insurer to pull out of Florida, a market that's been roiled with turmoil for many years. Policyholders should expect to pay moreThe average cost of homeowners insurance nationwide is $2,777 a year, with rates varying by state, according to Insurance.com, a consumer comparison service. Already, some homeowners are choosing to roll the dice on ownership without insurance rather than pay increasing premiums.

Persons: Hurricane Ian, Idalia, Ian —, John Dickson, David A, Sampson, —, George Hosfield, Rich Sorkin, Stephen Bennett Organizations: Global, Aon, American, Casualty Insurance Association . Insurance, LexisNexis, Allstate, Farmers Insurance, Jupiter Intelligence Locations: Pine, Hurricane, Matlacha , Florida, Florida, California, Cuba, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Arkansas, Louisiana , Nebraska , Iowa , Kansas , Oklahoma , Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee

☆ Florida’s already-volatile insurance industry is bracing for Hurricane Idalia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —As it churns toward the disaster-prone Sunshine State, Hurricane Idalia could be a litmus test for Florida’s increasingly volatile and expensive insurance landscape. Despite several insurance companies exiting Florida, experts say the state’s residents are still mostly covered this hurricane season. “Florida’s property insurance market remains very volatile, but the insurance industry is well-capitalized to pay Idalia claims,” he added. Enrollment in flood insurance has seen a steady uptick every month since October 2022, according to the latest FEMA data. While Florida has the highest flood insurance enrollment rate of any state, Friedlander said only 18% have flood insurance through either federal or private insurers.

Persons: ”, Matthew Carletti, It’s, Hurricane Ian, Ian, Mark Friedlander, Friedlander Organizations: New, New York CNN, JMP Securities, Jacksonville —, CNN, Hurricane, Swiss, Insurance, Institute, Insurance Information Institute, Farmers Insurance, Farmers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Locations: New York, Sunshine State, Hurricane, Florida, Tampa, Gulf Coast, Gainesville, Jacksonville, “

☆ Insight: Insurers poised for US break on investment losses from high rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Koh Gui Qing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

A negative IMR forces insurers to tap pots of money they would have otherwise spent on their business or returned to shareholders. Among those insurers are Prudential Financial (PRU.N), OneAmerica Financial Partners, Principal Financial (PFG.O) and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, according to Fitch. That compares to $1.8 billion in net fixed income-related losses Prudential recorded in 2022. They do not give banks the option of deferring interest rate-related losses, fearing excesses that led to the 2008 financial crisis. DEFERRING LOSSESFollowing the rule change, insurers will be allowed to amortize interest rate-related losses over time equivalent to 10% of their statutory surplus.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fitch, Edward Stone, Stone, Ken Tanji, MassMutual, OneAmerica, Steven Zabel, Zabel, Koh Gui Qing, David French, Greg Roumeliotis, Anna Driver Organizations: Prudential Financial, REUTERS, SEATTLE, Sunday, National Association of Insurance, Reuters, Federal Reserve, OneAmerica Financial Partners, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance, Prudential, Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic Bank, Insurance, American Council of, Equitable Holdings, MetLife, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, MassMutual, OneAmerica, Financial, Unum, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, Seattle, Fitch, Silicon, New York

☆ Insurer’s Retreat in Florida Signals Crisis With No Easy Fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Emily Flitter | More About Emily Flitter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Insurers are trapped in a riddle: In a world where the risk of costly disasters is rising but high premiums are squeezing policyholders and angering state regulators, how can they continue to make money? Farmers, one of America’s biggest home insurers, didn’t say what specifically led to its decision. Was the cost of payouts too high in recent years, which saw record-setting numbers of billion-dollar disasters, just as rates charged by reinsurers, which sell insurance to insurers, were rising? Or is Farmers playing a game of chicken with state regulators, hoping that walking away now will give it leverage to charge customers more in the future? “A lot of insurers have been losing a lot of money in Florida and they’ve been threatening to leave for years,” said Daniel Schwarcz, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who specializes in insurance.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Daniel Schwarcz Organizations: Farmers Insurance, reinsurers, Farmers, University of Minnesota Law School Locations: Florida

☆ Farmers Insurance pulls out of Florida, affecting 100,000 policyholders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Farmers Insurance will stop offering its policies in Florida, including home, auto and umbrella policies, in a change that will force thousands of people to change their insurance provider. Farmers serves 100,000 customers in Florida but said there will be no impact to customers who use Farmers’ owned subsidiaries like Foremost Signature and Bristol West. “Such policies will continue to be available to serve the insurance needs of Floridians,” Farmers Insurance spokesperson Trevor Chapman said in a statement. Florida requires affected policyholders to receive a 120-day notice that their policies aren’t being renewed. Earlier this week, Farmers limited new homeowners insurance policies in California because of high costs and wildfire risks.

Persons: Trevor Chapman, don’t, aren’t, ” Mark Friedlander, ” Friedlander, hasn’t, ”, Friedlander, It’s, Hurricane Ian, Harvey Organizations: New, New York CNN — Farmers Insurance, Farmers, Bristol West, ” Farmers Insurance, ”, Insurance Information Institute, CNN, Insurance, Institute, Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Farm, Allstate Locations: New York, Florida, California

☆ Ghost of Silicon Valley Bank turns up in Italy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The rapid collapse of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this year was largely down to an ill-advised bond portfolio and liabilities that were less sticky than assumed. While Italy’s Eurovita isn’t a bank, its demise has some similarities with events across the Atlantic. Eurovita, whose 2022 balance sheet was only about 15 billion euros, chiefly offered life insurance products that guaranteed policyholders’ invested capital and a fixed annual return. Follow @LJucca on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSItaly’s top four insurers and Germany’s Allianz have agreed a multibillion-euro rescue deal for ailing life insurer Eurovita, industry supervisor IVASS said on June 30. The deal also involves banks that sold the insurance products through their networks.

Persons: policyholders ’, Cinven, Intesa, redemptions, Eurovita, Marco Sesana, weren’t, IVASS, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: MILAN, Reuters, Banco, Reuters Breakingviews, Allianz, Germany’s Allianz, Thomson Locations: Silicon, Eurovita

☆ Fireworks cause $59 million of property damage a year. Your insurance policy may cover it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Renphoto | E+ | Getty ImagesWhat homeowners and renters insurance likely coverThe typical homeowners insurance policy has two coverage areas. The second is for liability; this covers you if you're liable for injury or property damage to another person, perhaps a friend or neighbor harmed by an errant firework. Fireworks caused $59 million in direct property damage in 2021, according to the most recent data from the National Fire Protection Association. Homeowners policies generally cover fire damage, whether to the house, patio furniture or other property, Passmore said. Insurance policies generally carry exclusions.

Persons: Robert Passmore, Passmore, they're, Kochenburger, Peter Kochenburger Organizations: National Fire Protection Association, American, Casualty Insurance Association, NFPA, University of Connecticut Locations: U.S

☆ Term life insurance is often best, financial advisors say — but most people buy another kind
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Supersizer | E+ | Getty ImagesHow term and permanent life insurance differLife insurance is a form of financial protection that pays money to beneficiaries, such as kids or a spouse, if a policyholder dies. Term insurance only pays out a death benefit during a specified term, perhaps 10, 20 or 30 years. By contrast, permanent insurance policies — such as whole life and universal life — offer continuous coverage until the policyholder dies. Most people just need term insurance. Carolyn McClanahan founder of Life Planning PartnersSome shoppers buy permanent life insurance for the cash value, thinking they can borrow against that cash value or use it as a retirement savings account.

Persons: They're, Marguerita Cheng, McClanahan, Carolyn McClanahan Organizations: Planning Locations: Gaithersburg , Maryland

☆ MOVEit hack claims Calpers and Genworth as millions more victims impacted
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

News reports said information from more than 700,000 Calpers members and retirees was taken. The MOVEit software is widely-used by organisations around the world to share sensitive data. Genworth Financial was harder hit, saying personal information of nearly 2.5 million to 2.7 million of its customers was breached. "The personal information of a significant number of insurance policyholders or other customers of its life insurance businesses was unlawfully accessed," Genworth said. The MOVEit hack has hit several state and federal agencies.

Persons: PBI, Calpers, Genworth, Niket, Chris Sanders, Maju Samuel, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Genworth, PBI Research Services, U.S . Department of Energy, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Calpers, Burlington , Massachusetts, Russia, Bengaluru, Washington

New York CNN —Homeowners insurance is becoming more expensive and, in many places, more difficult to find. The companies also blame limits placed on insurance premiums in some states, including California. Insurance premiums nationwide aren’t up significantly – only 1.6% in the last 12 months according to the Consumer Price Index, the government’s main inflation measure. For instance, in Louisiana, 17% of homeowners insurance policyholders had their policies canceled last year, according to an annual report from Louisiana State University. Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of policyholders said homeowners and flood insurance are more expensive in Louisiana than other states.

Persons: Ian, ”, Matthew Carletti, “ They’ve, it’s, ” Carletti, Dave Jones, ” Jones, policyholders, Carletti, Frank Frievalt’s, ” Frievalt, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN — Homeowners, Farm, Allstate, JMP Securities, Consumer, State Farm, State, Louisiana State University, Citizens Property Insurance, UN Locations: New York, Florida, California, California , Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, , California

Companies Prudential Financial Inc FollowJune 13 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday partly revived a shareholder lawsuit against Prudential Financial Inc (PRU.N) alleging the insurer concealed a shortfall with its individual life insurance policy reserves in 2019. A spokesperson for Prudential did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While it revived investors' allegations over the mortality statements, the Philadelphia-based appeals court agreed that the adequate level of reserves was a matter of opinion, affirming dismissal of those claims. V. Prudential Financial Inc et al., No. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Persons: Jody Godoy, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Prudential Financial, Prudential Financial Inc, U.S, Circuit, Prudential, Warren Police, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, Jersey, Philadelphia, New York

☆ Florida’s homeowner insurance rates are four times the national average. That’s not getting better anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But no matter how many storms hit Florida this year, the state’s residents are already struggling as they try to get homeowners’ insurance. But in Florida, State Farm has about 7% of the market, according to the Insurance Information Institute, an industry trade group. Just more than half of insurers based in Florida are on the state insurance regulator’s watch list due to their financial health. Homeowners in the state pay private insurers about $6,000 a year, compared to a national average of $1,700. But wind damage to homes and roofs are covered under homeowners’ insurance policies.

Persons: ”, Mark Friedlander, hasn’t, Friedlander, It’s, Hurricane Ian, Harvey, “ We’ve, shortchanging policyholders, Stephen Cain, “, Matthew Carletti, “ They’ve, ” Carletti, There’s Organizations: New, New York CNN — Hurricane, State, Insurance Information Institute, Homeowners, Atlantic, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane, NOAA, National Flood Insurance, Insurance, Property Insurance Corp, Citizens Property Insurance Corp, Citizens, Dade, JMP Securities Locations: New York, Florida, South Florida, Miami, Broward, Monroe County, South, Atlantic Coast

☆ A 'Big Short' investor who called the 2008 housing-market collapse warns about another big threat to home prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"Big Short" investor Dave Burt said people don't see how the climate crisis will hurt home values. He told CNBC that that mortgage lenders aren't taking into account climate risk, like flooding. He warned that the housing market is in for a 2008-level price correction if the pattern continues. "Ultimately, until people have good information about what these climate-related costs are going to look like, we're creating new problems every day," Burt told CNBC. If this does not change, he warned, the housing market is in for another crash: a 2008-level price correction.

Climate change drove heat in the city to a record-breaking 48C (118F) in 2016. While traditional insurance can take months to pay, with so-called "parametric" insurance there is no need to prove losses. At annual climate talks in Egypt last year, nonprofits urged richer nations to help finance parametric insurance as a way of compensating victims of worsening weather extremes. At the moment, insurance schemes in the developing world are largely subsidized by nonprofit groups, national governments, or wealthy countries. Insurance payouts allow them to buy things like gloves to protect their hands from scorching hot metal tools, or fans to stay cool and avoid heat exhaustion.

☆ Florida. Arizona. Climate Change Is Coming for Home Values. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Benjamin Keys | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And that is pocket change compared with the impact climate change may ultimately have on the value of your home. We have reached a turning point: Climate risk is driving insurer decisions like never before. Both private and government-backed insurers are undercapitalized for dealing with the potentially massive disasters we could be facing in coming years. They are up even more in parts of Florida and the Southwest that are predicted to suffer significant impacts from a warming climate. Last summer, the water level in Lake Mead, a critical source of water for 25 million people in the Southwest, reached its lowest level since the reservoir was filled in 1937.

☆ Car Insurance Rates Are Going Up Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Leslie Scism | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The rate increase comes amid inflation, higher claims costs and rising prices for auto parts, insurers say. Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesAllstate and Progressive , two of the nation’s biggest car insurers, say inflation continues to hurt their auto-insurance businesses, and are pushing ahead with additional premium-rate increases for vehicle owners. The two giants, and many other big car insurers, say higher claims costs continue to dent their results, despite slowing inflation. Prices continue to rise for auto parts, they say, and vehicles are taking longer to be repaired than in past years due to shortages of workers. Those delays, in turn, lead to extended rental-car use by policyholders, at the insurers’ expense.

[1/3] Dominion lawyers embrace after Dominion Voting Systems and Fox settled the defamation lawsuit over Fox's coverage of debunked election-rigging claims, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., April 18, 2023. At least 31 lawyers from nine different law firms worked on the case, court filings show. It was not immediately clear how large a share of the settlement the firm would receive in legal fees. The filings do not include recent costs associated with preparing for trial or the success fees lawyers could earn from the settlement. Fox News also hired Paul Clement and Erin Murphy, top appeals court lawyers who have advocated for conservative causes at the U.S. Supreme Court.

☆ UK growth hinges on more than a new pension giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Francesco Guerrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Politicians and financiers think a consolidation of the country’s pension funds would breathe new life into its stocks, startups and infrastructure. Meanwhile, there is no doubt that UK defined-benefit pension funds, company-sponsored plans that promise a specific payment upon retirement, have moved away from UK equities. The proposals also entail creating a 100 billion pound pension fund, modelled on the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a retirement giant with $536 billion assets under management. Overall, some 19% of these funds’ assets are in UK stocks, according to the Pensions Policy Institute. If UK assets can yield the risk-adjusted returns offered by other assets, pension funds will join in too.

It also partners with Costco to offer Canadian members discounts on any Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance plan. Types of Pet Insurance Plans from Pets Plus UsPets Plus Us coverage is offered in a few different tiers, which include a starter tier of accident-only coverage. To file a claim with Pets Plus US, you can:Submit a claim online at Portal.PetsPlusUs.comBegin a claim by emailing submissions@petsplusus.comFax claims information to 1-855-456-PETS (7387)You can also file a pet insurance claim through the mail using the following address:Pets Plus UsSuite #400, 710 Dorval DrOakville, ON L6K 3V7Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance FAQsDoes Pets Plus Us offer pet insurance plans in the United States? Methodology: What Went into Our Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance ReviewBefore we wrote this Pets Plus Us review, we gathered information from more than 20 pet insurance providers offering similar pet health coverage. Pets Plus Us Pet Insurance Competitors PetSecure Pet InsurancePHI Direct Pet InsuranceFetch Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

☆ Exclusive: India's LIC plans investment exposure caps post Adani share rout
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Nikunj Ohri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After the Adani group lost over $100 billion in valuation post scathing allegations by U.S.-based Hindenburg Research, state-run LIC was criticized for having over $4 billion exposure to companies from the group. "LIC is looking to have 'boundary conditions' on its investments that would limit its exposure to scrips," said the source. The caps, once approved by the LIC board, would further limit the insurer's exposure. The move is aimed at strengthening investment strategies, and fence LIC from public criticism of its investment decisions or exposure to entities like the Adani group, the second source said. LIC had invested 301.2 billion rupees in shares of Adani group companies, and has a debt exposure of 61.82 billion rupees.

Most carmakers said their battery packs are repairable, though few seem willing to share access to battery data. Lauterwasser said access to EV battery data is part of that fight. EV battery problems also expose a hole in the green "circular economy" touted by carmakers. Hill estimated at least 95% of the cells in the hundreds of EV battery packs - and thousands of hybrid battery packs - Synetiq has stored at Doncaster are undamaged and should be reused. 'PAIN POINTS'The British government is funding research into EV insurance "pain points" led by Thatcham, Synetiq and insurer LV=.

Flood insurance is expensive because flood recovery costs are expensiveOn average, most homes' flood insurance premiums fall between $700 and $800 annually for flood insurance. "It provides insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, a partnership between private insurers and the federal government," says Evan W. Walker, an attorney who regularly litigates flood insurance issues. However, a condo association's master insurance policy (the insurance covering the whole building) includes flood insurance. The NFIP might lower your flood insurance premiumsLight may be on the horizon if you've paid expensive flood insurance for your dream home. The National Flood Insurance Program is using a new way of calculating flood insurance costs as of 2021.

Generali Travel Insurance is a reputable travel insurance provider offering generous tiers of travel insurance coverage at reasonable rates. Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance FAQsIs Generali Global Assistance a trustworthy travel insurance company? You can file your travel insurance claim with Generali travel insurance through the company's eClaims portal. Compare Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel InsuranceAllianz Travel Insurance is another reputable insurance company that has been in business since 1890. Compare Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance vs. InsureMyTripInsureMyTrip.com is an insurance broker using your travel details to collect insurance company bids on your behalf.

☆ Bank of England says insurers more likely to fail if capital cut rule goes ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Britain's proposals to loosen capital rules for insurers will increase the chances of an insurance company failing by 20% in a given year, the Bank of England has told lawmakers, reiterating its caution over the government's plan. Following Britain's departure from the European Union, its finance ministry has proposed easing capital requirements for insurers to unlock billions of pounds for investing in infrastructure to boost the economy. Easing the so-called Solvency II rules inherited from the EU is seen as a key "Brexit dividend" for the financial sector, and the ministry overrode warnings from the Bank of England, saying policyholders would still be protected. The BoE will implement the ministry's proposed reforms of Solvency II if approved by parliament, Bailey said. ($1 = 0.8335 pounds)Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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