Business interruption
Policymakers 'fundamentally' mischaracterising pandemic insurance problem, OECD conference hears
Policymakers have mischaracterised the pandemic business interruption problem leading to a solution stalemate, virtual attendees of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development event heard.
Court case thwarted BI claims solution that was just two weeks away, says Ardonagh’s Ross
A coalition of brokers working with Hiscox was just two weeks away from solving the problem of Covid-19 business interruption claims but the court case cut the legs off the solution, Ardonagh CEO David Ross has claimed.
Big four reinsurers look to hardening market after Covid bites to the tune of £6.5bn
The big four reinsurers believe they are poised to take advantage of the hard market in 2021, with all but Swiss Re reporting profit in 2020 despite a combined property and casualty pandemic hit of £6.5bn.
Pandemic business interruption risks uninsurable, says Scor's Kessler
Pandemic-related business interruption is “not insurable”, Scor CEO and chair Denis Kessler has said, likening the risk to that of property damage suffered during a war.
Insurer test case BI claims payouts to March revealed
Data released by the Financial Conduct Authority shows that up to 3 March insurers had paid out £192m towards interim payments and £279m to settle Covid-19 related business interruption claims affected by the regulator’s test case, with Covéa leading the…
Insurance lives in the Covid era – 12 months on from the first National Lockdown: Part Five
On the 23 March 2020 as Covid-19 infection rates soared Prime Minster Boris Johnson told us to “stay at home” triggering the first National Lockdown. One year on Post spoke to a host of insurance workers - the loss adjusters, the HR boss and the IT boss …
Insurance lives in the Covid era - 12 months on from the first National Lockdown: Part Four
On the 23 March 2020 as Covid-19 infection rates soared Prime Minster Boris Johnson told us to “stay at home” triggering the first National Lockdown. One year on Post spoke to a host of insurance workers - the insurer boss, the broker boss, the insurer…
Government's understanding of how BI claims are calculated contains 'fundamental flaw'
The government’s understanding of insurance contracts is fundamentally flawed and endangers the chances of its expectations with respect to Covid-related business interruption claims being met, claims dispute expert Roger Flaxman has said.
Insurance lives in the Covid era – 12 months on from the first National Lockdown: Part Three
On the 23 March 2020 as Covid-19 infection rates soared Prime Minster Boris Johnson told us to “stay at home” triggering the first National Lockdown. One year on Post spoke to a host of insurance workers - the contact centre managers and the claims…
Briefing: Covid BI claims and indemnity period clawbacks
Businesses due Covid payouts with longer indemnity periods must be aware of clawbacks – and why it is a gamble whether they accept a full and final settlement now or let their cover run.
BI claims deductions should not leave businesses at 'an overall financial disadvantage', says HMT
Exclusive: Insurers should not make deductions from business interruption claims because insureds received government support during the pandemic if doing so leaves businesses at “an overall financial disadvantage”, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury…
Mishcon de Reya sees instructions in Covid-19 reinsurance disputes
Law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represented the Hiscox Action Group in the business interruption insurance test case, has revealed it has seen instructions concerning the emergence of disputes in the global reinsurance market.
Brightside’s Brendan McCafferty on digital, scale and success
The Covid-19 crisis has turbo charged the market to make digital changes in months rather than years but there is still more to be done for brokers to stay relevant, says Brendan McCafferty, CEO of Brightside Group.
Hiscox under fire from photographers for 'intolerable' BI claims delays
Photographers have criticised Hiscox for the way in which the insurer has handled lockdown-related business interruption claims, with the head of a professional association calling the continued delay of settlements "intolerable".
Insurer results directory 2020
Updated: Post tracks the 2020 insurer results season including gross written premium and combined operating ratio - detailing the impact of UK business interruption, weather, motor, home, non-business interruption Covid-19 claims, as well as mergers and…
Aviva confirms £84m Covid hit as commercial lines book surpasses £2bn
Aviva has posted a combined operating ratio of 98.5% for its UK general insurance business in 2020, reporting growth across commercial lines and progress on its pledge to slash its available personal lines products by 80%.
'No magic bullet' to fix Covid-19 reputation hit, says Hiscox as it posts $268m loss
There is “no magic bullet” Hiscox can use to remedy the hit to its reputation suffered through the long-running disputes over business interruption cover, the insurer’s global retail CEO Ben Walter has said.
£77m Covid impact drives RSA UK loss
Scott Egan, RSA’s UK and international CEO, has said the division delivered a “strong” performance in 2020, despite the impact of Covid-19 bringing a halt to its return to profitability in the UK.
Trade Voice: Biba's Steve White on why insurance-bashing headlines won't help small businesses
Steve White, CEO of the British Insurance Brokers' Association, argues that sweeping headlines in the wake of last month's Supreme Court business interruption test case judgment haven't helped anybody.
Interview: Rob Gibbs, RSA
Having worked at RSA for more than two decades, commercial managing director Rob Gibbs has certainly seen his fair share of the business, both in the UK and overseas. He speaks to Jonathan Swift about his latest challenge, navigating a newly combined…
Exclusions will widen the expectation gap, FOS chief warns insurers
Financial Ombudsman Service CEO Caroline Wayman has cautioned insurers that adding exclusions to policies which have generated claims during the pandemic would widen the gap between policyholder expectations and the reality of their cover.
John Glen MP says more 'clarity' around insurance contracts needed following BI crisis
The insurance industry will play a significant role in supporting economic recovery as the United Kingdom emerges from lockdown, Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen MP has said, as he urged for more "clarity" around what insurance covers going…
Vital that valid BI claims are settled quickly after test case, ABI chair Jon Dye tells insurers
The dispute over business interruption cover has undoubtedly been difficult and most people will have only seen one set of headlines about the insurance industry during the pandemic, Allianz UK CEO and Association of British Insurers chair Jon Dye told…
Allianz BI claims came from broker wordings says CEO Jon Dye as insurer reveals 2020 results
Allianz was hit by £175m of UK Covid-19 business interruption claims in 2020, net of reinsurance, the insurer has said, as LV confirmed 300 redundancies from its Legal & General integration.