Insurance Level News and Press

AM Best Rating Acitivity and News

Cyber Insurtech Cowbell Names Chief Commercial Officer
Cowbell has appointed Simon Hughes as chief commercial officer. Hughes previously senior vice president, global distribution and general manager, United Kingdom, will oversee Cowbell's global ...
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Source: BestWire

Aon Appoints Enterprise Client Leader, Asia-Pacific
Aon has appointed Kulshaan Singh as enterprise client leader, Asia-Pacific, effective immediately. Singh will focus on building strategic partnerships and unlocking new opportunities supporting ...
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Source: BestWire

Talcott Financial Group Enters Retail Annuities Market
Life insurer Talcott Financial Group said it has entered the retail annuities market with three products and created a technology-focused distribution system to market them as demand for the products ...
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Source: BestWire

Asta Launches Financial Lines MGA, Secures Approval From UK's Financial Conduct Authority
Asta, a provider of specialist underwriting platforms and services to the insurance industry, said it has received regulatory approval and launched a managing general agent focused on financial ...
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Source: BestWire

Workers' Comp Writer Stonetrust Expands to South Carolina
Workers' compensation writer Stonetrust Commercial Insurance Co. said it has expanded to South Carolina — its second new state in two months. As part of the move, it is accepting submissions ...
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Source: BestWire

Darag Closes on Two European Runoff Deals
Runoff insurance specialist Darag Group said it completed a portfolio transfer agreement for Danish workers' compensation business with Protector and signed a loss portfolio transfer and PTA ...
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Source: BestWire

Gryphon to Acquire Specialty Lines Carrier PrimeOne
Gryphon Holdings LLC said it agreed to acquire PrimeOne Insurance Co. for an undisclosed amount. A privately held specialty commercial lines carrier, PrimeOne supports program administrators and ...
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Source: BestWire

UnitedHealth: US Senate Committee Report Mischaracterizes Medicare Advantage Practices
UnitedHealth Group Inc. says a United States Senate committee report alleging the carrier is "gaming" the Medicare Advantage program does not accurately characterize its coding practices and other ...
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Source: BestWire

New Jersey Governor-Elect Makes Insurance Commissioner Nomination
New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has nominated Susan Ochs to serve as commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance. Ochs currently serves as chief executive officer of Ochs ...
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Source: BestWire

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Health Care Service Corporation Group Members and Health Care Service Corp Medicare & Supplemental Group Members
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “aa-” (Superior) of the members of Health Care Service ...
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Source: BestWire

AM Best to Host Webinar on the Responsible Use of Data in the Insurance Industry
AM Best will host a complimentary webinar, titled, “The Responsible Use of Data in the Insurance Industry,” sponsored by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.( EST). ...
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Source: BestWire

Markel Insurance Promotes Executive to Director, Energy and Power
Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc., promoted Ben House to director, energy and power, effective immediately. In his newly expanded role, House will oversee ...
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Source: BestWire

HDI Global Canada Says It Accelerates Marine Growth Under Head of Marine's Leadership
HDI Global Canada said it is accelerating its marine growth under Michael Wright’s leadership as head of marine. Wright joined the company in 2025 as head of marine for Canada, according to a ...
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Source: BestWire

Allstate Fourth-Quarter Pretax Catastrophe Loss Estimate Drops to $209 Million
Allstate Corp.'s fourth-quarter pretax catastrophe losses dropped to an estimated $209 million from $410 million in the prior-year period. Included in the number are pretax December catastrophe ...
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Source: BestWire

SiriusPoint Unveils Partnership With Program Administrator ISC
SiriusPoint Ltd. announced a strategic partnership with program administrator Integrated Specialty Coverages to support ISC's expansion in specialty lines. The group's partnership with ISC ...
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Source: BestWire

Small Business Insurer Next Rebrands as Ergo Next Insurance After Munich Re Integration
Next Insurance has rebranded as Ergo Next Insurance following its integration with Ergo, the primary insurance group of Munich Reinsurance Co. Ergo Next combines the financial strength of Ergo ...
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Source: BestWire

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Insurance Information Institute News (IIHS & HLDI)

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Insurance Journal News

New York State Police Report 30-Car Pileup on I-81 Near Syracuse
On Thursday January 15, at about 2:20 p.m., New York State Police responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash on I-81 southbound, south of Exit 73 in the town of LaFayette, a rural community about 15 moles south of …
Date: Friday, January 16, 2026

The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think
There has been no shortage of analyses and reporting released for the one-year anniversary of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, which destroyed more than 16,000 properties and have generated more than $22 billion in claims so far. A one-year …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Food Distributor to Pay $1.1 Million Over Deadly Ammonia Release
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a $1.1 million civil penalty settlement with a wholesale food and snack distributor in Massachusetts. The EPA said Home Market Foods violated federal Clean Air Act (CAA) chemical safety requirements at its …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Minority Leader Proposes Insurance Reform Bills
An Oklahoma state senator has proposed a package of insurance reform bills she says will tackle the state’s skyrocketing insurance costs. Democrat Sen. Julia Kirt, the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate, has pre-filed three insurance-related bills ahead of the …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Kansas Department of Insurance Recovers $56M in 2025
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced the Kansas Department of Insurance recovered $56.7 million for Kansans in 2025 Funds considered “recovered” are calculated when Department staff assists individuals in need of support during their insurance claims process. If a dispute …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Immigration Officers Descend on Meta Data Center, Arrest Drivers
Federal immigration officers targeted a construction site in rural Louisiana where Meta Platforms Inc. is building its largest data center, leading to the arrest of two individuals, according to local law enforcement. US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement arrested two individuals …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Trump Nominates WeatherTech’s MacNeil to Be FTC Commissioner
President Donald Trump nominated David MacNeil to be a US Federal Trade Commissioner, according to statement posted on the White House website. MacNeil is the Chief Executive Officer of WeatherTech, an Illinois-based company selling automotive accessories. He will replace Melissa …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

People Moves: SCOR Names Swiss Re’s Forgeron as P&C Chief Underwriting Officer; Hamilton Re Promotes Steinhoff to CUO
This edition of International People Moves details CUO appointments at SCOR and Hamilton Re. A summary of these new hires follows here. SCOR Names Swiss Re’s Forgeron as P&C Chief Underwriting Officer SCOR announced that Laure Forgeron has been appointed …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Georgia Lawmakers Move to Strike Savannah Ban on Guns in Unlocked Cars
Georgia lawmakers on Tuesday gave final passage to a bill that aims to void a city of Savannah ordinance that imposes fines and possible jail time for leaving guns in unlocked cars. The state Senate gave final approval to the …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Registration Open for Florida OIR Insurance Summit in April
Registration is now open for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s Insurance Summit, set for April 15-16 in Tallahassee. Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said the registration closes March 30 for the conference that will include a number of state regulators, …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Proposed California Billionaires’ Tax Rattles Silicon Valley, Entangles Governor
A proposed billionaires’ tax in California has ignited a political uproar in Silicon Valley, with tech titans threatening to leave the state while Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom maneuvers to defeat a levy that he fears will lead to an exodus …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Markets/Coverages: Berkshire (BHSI) Enhances UK D&O Liability Offering
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced the launch of Executive First D&O Liability+, its enhanced UK D&O offering for large commercial and financial organizations trading their securities on US exchanges. Key features of the coverage include: Broad, simply worded coverage …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

DeSantis Amplifies Warning on ‘Real Perils’ of AI, Data Centers and Pushes Regulation
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is ratcheting up a campaign against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and data centers, resisting President Donald Trump’s effort to block states from meddling with Big Tech. DeSantis, a two-term governor who’s barred from seeking …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

AI Is the Biggest Mover on Allianz Risk Barometer; Cyber Takes Top Spot for Fifth Year
Cyber once again ranked as the top global risk in 2026, according to the latest Allianz Risk Barometer, coming in No. 1 in every region and across all company sizes. Artificial intelligence took the No. 2 spot, up from tenth …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Surging Oil Tanker Insurance Points to Growing Black Sea Chaos
The cost of insuring ships sailing through the Black Sea is surging again, as spiraling attacks on vessels underscore the growing risk of hauling commodities through the region. Underwriters are now charging about 1% of the value of a ship …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

People Moves: Mosaic Builds Out Global Transactional Tax-Risk Team; The Hartford Names Hill CUO of Small Business
Mosaic Insurance, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, has expanded its North America and international transactional tax-liability teams to meet heightened demand in the sector, with the recent addition of four tax-risk specialists and the promotion of another. Mosaic’s tax team now …
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

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