coronavirus business interruption News

Insurers, Agents Propose Pandemic Business Relief Plan; Plaintiffs Offer BIG Compromise

Key segments of the property/casualty insurance industry, which is facing mounting claims for business interruption losses from the pandemic, have thrown their lobbying weight behind a proposed federal program to replace revenues lost by businesses shut down during pandemics like …

Federal Coronavirus Business Interruption Suits Now Top 100; Many More Expected

A federal court has received notice that 101 lawsuits have been filed as of Wednesday seeking coverage from insurers for business interruption losses caused by COVID-19. Plaintiffs attorneys say they expect the number to rise into the thousands. “Ultimately, I …

UK’s Aviva Expects COVID-19-Related Claims of Nearly $200 Million

British insurer Aviva expects 160 million pounds ($195 million) in claims related to the coronavirus pandemic and weaker second quarter sales, it said on Thursday, as government lockdowns aimed at containing the virus hit the global economy. Insurers globally are …

Zurich Insurance Estimates Coronavirus Pandemic Claims to Hit $750 Million for 2020

Zurich Insurance estimates that the overall property and casualty (P&C) claims from the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the region of $750 million for 2020. To put that into context, Zurich’s CFO George Quinn said the expected COVID-19 claim level …

Insurers Must Re-Think Pandemic Response or Risk Reputational Damage: UK’s Airmic

Airmic, the UK association for risk and insurance professionals, has urged the insurance market to adopt a more responsible and business sensitive position on the COVID-19 pandemic or risk long-term damage to trust and reputation and loss of customers. “With …

For Global Insurers, Pandemic Likely to Erase Profits Until 2021 Second Half: Fitch

While insurance rates have risen for nine consecutive quarters due to large catastrophe losses and accelerating claims inflation, Fitch Ratings expects that technical profits won’t be seen until the second half of 2021 as a result of the effects of …

National Governments Must Help Provide Insurance for Future Lockdowns: EU Regulator

National governments must help provide insurance cover for future lockdowns, the industry’s European Union regulator said on Monday, as the private sector cannot afford to provide such broad coverage on its own. Countries have introduced lockdowns to fight the coronavirus …

UK Regulator Seeks Court Review in July to Resolve COVID-19 Insurance Dispute

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) aims to get business interruption insurance policies examined by a court as soon as July, a member of a policyholder action group said on Thursday. The Hiscox Action Group, which is seeking to sue Hiscox …

Willis Paints COVID-19 Insurance Loss Big Picture: It’s a Wash or Historic Catastrophe

If the novel COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control soon, the disease’s impact on the insurance industry as a whole may be pretty much a wash. It not, the industry may be on the verge of an historic catastrophe. A …

Forced Payouts of Pandemic Claims Risk Insurers’ Financial Stability: Regulators

Forcing retroactive payouts to cover business disruption losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic could ultimately put financial stability at risk, global insurance regulators said. Disputes over cover for businesses struggling to stay afloat during coronavirus lockdowns have erupted in countries …