Wondering if premiums will increase or if changes to terms and conditions are coming? Curious about which lines of business may have limited markets or excess capacity? Here’s what clients can expect to see in the 2022 marketplace, all in an easy-to-read quick reference guide.

In today's economic environment, many companies have difficulty hiring and retaining sufficient staff to operate. More small and mid-sized companies without dedicated internal administrative or HR staff partner with Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) to help offload administrative burdens. In addition to providing HR, benefits, and payroll administration, PEOs often offer Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage to protect client companies against employee claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, or other workplace claims.

Clients who want to better manage the costs of their property programs often look to higher deductibles as an attractive option, but their lenders may not allow it. Higher deductibles can bring significant cost savings on property insurance programs, particularly for higher hazard risks or accounts with unfavorable loss histories. Taking higher deductibles provides access to more competitive markets and can lead to the most cost-effective property program. Clients willing to take a $100,000 deductible, for instance, will draw far more interest from more markets than those insisting on a $10,000 deductible.

A few weeks ago, the global economy appeared to be on track to prevail against lingering pandemic effects. However, Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine and mounting sanctions against the country are pushing the needle back, creating new supply chain and logistical problems, especially when it comes to transporting goods near the war zone.

Follow-form policies are meant to help simplify and provide consistent coverage for excess liability programs. Ideally, follow form policies would provide excess coverage under the same terms and conditions as the underlying policy, that is follow the underlying form. In the real world, such policies often fall short of that ideal. Even though the coverage is labeled follow form, it’s not safe to assume that the policy actually provides the same coverage.

The deadly collapse of a 12-story beachfront condominium north of Miami Beach sent shockwaves through the Florida insurance market. One wing of the 40-year-old Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida, crumpled to the ground suddenly on June 24, 2021, killing 98 people. Several carriers have exited the Florida property market as total settlements rise to more than $130 million, and others are pulling back on property and liability coverage. Faced with the potential for steep losses, insurers are raising rates and deductibles and becoming much more selective. In such a challenging market, it’s crucial to work with experienced, knowledgeable brokers who can provide guidance through a more complex, demanding placement process.

Flooding continues to be the most expensive and the most common natural disaster in the United States, resulting in billions in economic losses every year. According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), 90% percent of all U.S. natural disasters involve flooding.

Over the last decade, third-party litigation funding (TPLF) has evolved into a $17 billion industry worldwide, and 52% of that money is being spent in the U.S., making TPLF a key contributor to social inflation, hiking up jury awards and claim settlements that may have a significant impact on insurance prices and coverage availability.

When faced with the promise of a new year, many people look ahead – leveraging lessons from the prior year to chart a path forward, overcome obstacles, and reach for a new goal. The best in the insurance industry often do the same thing as they examine market conditions and strive to meet client needs in an ever-evolving landscape.

The REDY Index leverages CRC Group’s collection of actionable data – the wholesale industry’s largest. It provides critical pricing analysis monthly, giving you a snapshot of the marketplace. The REDY Index generates instant intelligence on pricing trends by industry or coverage, enabling our retail partners to set accurate data- driven expectations with their clients. Removing the guesswork empowers CRC team members to negotiate competitively, consistently producing better outcomes, better deliverables, and better results.

The REDY Index leverages CRC Group’s collection of actionable data – the wholesale industry’s largest. It provides critical pricing analysis monthly, giving you a snapshot of the marketplace. The REDY Index generates instant intelligence on pricing trends by industry or coverage, enabling our retail partners to set accurate data- driven expectations with their clients. Removing the guesswork empowers CRC team members to negotiate competitively, consistently producing better outcomes, better deliverables, and better results.

The REDY Index leverages CRC Group’s collection of actionable data – the wholesale industry’s largest. It provides critical pricing analysis monthly, giving you a snapshot of the marketplace. The REDY Index generates instant intelligence on pricing trends by industry or coverage, enabling our retail partners to set accurate data- driven expectations with their clients. Removing the guesswork empowers CRC team members to negotiate competitively, consistently producing better outcomes, better deliverables, and better results.

Over the last few years, the rate of ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes have skyrocketed in both frequency and
severity. As employees continue working from home due to the lingering pandemic, they create, access, and share more data
remotely, causing the number of security blind spots to balloon and creating space for costly attacks.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) reports that there are around 1.3 million U.S. contractors with annual revenues of less than $5M. While virtually all are protecting their businesses with General Liability, Workers Compensation, and other insurance coverages, many have failed to consider purchasing professional/pollution liability insurance, even though both are not covered under a typical commercial general liability (CGL) policy.

For many insurance buyers, placements today seem far more fraught than in the soft market of just a few years ago, when it was a smoother and easier process. It’s a bumpier ride now, and insureds should expect detours and delays. More placements seem to be closing at the last minute, even though a lot of work happens behind the scenes. The uncertainty adds anxiety about binding policies and programs.