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Auto Insurers Offering $8-$10B in Discounts in Coronavirus Relief Effort; Updated List

The group of property/casualty insurers offering auto insurance premium discounts to recognize that insureds are driving less during the coronavirus crisis continues to grow, and now includes all major auto insurers. State Farm and Nationwide late last week joined the …

Anticipated Coronavirus Claims Scenarios Across Major Coverage Lines: Viewpoint

As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed over the past several months, participants in the insurance industry have recognized the likelihood of a resulting increase in claims volume. Much of the early focus has been on the ramifications to insurers that …

Lessons on Trade-Offs From the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Viewpoint

LONDON — Lockdowns have brought most of the world’s advanced economies to a near standstill as policymakers fight the coronavirus pandemic by banning all but essential movement outside the home. Tens of millions of employees across retail, entertainment, food services, …

‘Uncertainty Is the Only Certainty’ When it Comes to Pandemic Modeling

A statistical model cited by the White House generated a slightly less grim figure Monday for a first wave of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. – a projection designed to help officials plan for the worst, including …

How Agencies Can Manage Employees Working from Home During Coronavirus Crisis

Millions of Americans are currently subject to shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders as efforts to slow the spread of the current strain of coronavirus expand, thus requiring employees across all industries to shift to performing their jobs remotely. For many workers, …

Litigation Builds Against Insurers Over Coronavirus Business Interruption

Barbara Snowden dreamed of opening a wig shop to help women who’d lost their hair during chemotherapy feel better as they battled cancer. In November, she beamed at the grand opening of Hair Goals Club in the Houston suburb of …

Consumers Find Travel Insurance Policies Not Much Help in Coronavirus Crisis

Purchasers of travel insurance are finding their policies all but worthless as the global pandemic forces them to change their plans, or worse, leaves them sick at sea. Most travel insurance companies won’t provide reimbursements for canceled trips due to …

This Insurance Would Have Helped in Coronavirus Crisis But Nobody Bought It

Like everyone else, Peter Lacovara is coping with COVID-19, working at home to limit contagion to the coronavirus and stay healthy. He’s also plugging away trying to keep businesses healthy, as well. In his role as a senior vice president …

How Social Inflation May Affect Coronavirus Business Interruption Losses

COVID-19 could produce a big increase in social inflation, according to A.M. Best. The reason: expectations that businesses will sue their insurers in an attempt to access their business interruption coverage for losses relating to the coronavirus pandemic. A.M. Best …

Life-or-Death Decisions by Hospitals, Doctors Come With Threat of Lawsuits

Doctors and hospitals overwhelmed in the pandemic will have to make their excruciating life-or-death decisions meticulously or they risk being second-guessed by a jury when the onslaught is over. Lawyers who defend health care providers are already giving advice on …