The commercial insurance market began to harden around 2019, after years of gradual shifts that lead to higher premiums and reduced capacity. The overall hard market is expected to remain for the better part of 2024. Prior to the current conditions, the commercial insurance sector long enjoyed smooth sailing, with stable premiums and expanded coverage that continued...
The construction industry has encountered volatility and uncertainty in recent years, brought on in part by fluctuating consumer behaviors, material procurement difficulties, project delays, high interest rates and inflation. Such trends have been vital to monitor, as doing so has helped industry employers create strategies to adjust and remain successful despite these uncertain circumstances. This...
This year’s January reinsurance renewals were described by brokers as “stable,” “predictable,” “orderly,” “calmer,” “disciplined,” with “increased appetites” and a return to supply/demand balance. What a difference in tone from last year’s grueling January renewals. “In a marked change on a year ago, the supply of property catastrophe reinsurance capacity at the January 1 renewal was...
The evolving workplace and role of the worker are top of mind for workers’ compensation stakeholders. One of the rising industry concerns about the shifting workforce and workplace is the potential impact to the frequency and severity of on-the-job injuries. As part of its ongoing dialogue with workers’ compensation stakeholders around the country, NCCI is often asked...
On Nov. 22, 2023, OSHA provided a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) on the use of safety helmets in the workplace. The SHIB provides the key differences between safety helmets and traditional hard hats. The SHIB also describes the advancements in design, materials, and protective features that help to protect a worker’s entire head....
As technology such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles abound, consumers will increasingly seek out and support brands that highlight the facets that make humans unique, according to market research firm Mintel Group Ltd. This desire to balance human emotions and skills with emerging technologies is among the biggest marketing trends Mintel expects for the coming...
Market Outlook Profitable underwriting results have generated favorable conditions across the workers’ compensation insurance segment for nearly a decade. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the segment produced a combined ratio of 87 in 2022, demonstrating continued profitability. These conditions pressed on in 2023, but industry experts reported that reserve redundancies stemming...
Market Outlook Rising claim frequency and severity have generated hardening conditions across the general liability insurance segment in recent years, prompting ongoing rate increases, stringent underwriting standards and limited capacity. Fortunately, insurance carriers experienced slightly better underwriting results in 2022-23, paving the way for rate moderation. Nonetheless, several concerning trends across the segment—including rising litigation...
The concept of working from home isn’t entirely new. In fact, it’s been around since well before the digital age, although most “work from home” jobs back then were agricultural or artisan in nature. Over time, as technology advanced to allow people the ability to connect without being in the same physical space, working from...
More than half of consumers feel stressed when paying their medical bills, and more than 9 in 10 say these payments have impacted their physical and mental health, according to a study from health care payment processing company PayMedix. Unaffordable medical bills, higher deductible health plans and confusing bills have increased physical and mental health...