1 / 78

The Legend of the Price-Gouging Insurer

Explore the truth behind common misconceptions about insurance cost hikes, investment impacts, and profitability in the market. Discover relevant industry data and insights.

tlucia
Download Presentation

The Legend of the Price-Gouging Insurer

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Legend of the Price-Gouging Insurer November 2002 Robert P. Hartwig, Ph.D., CPCU, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist Insurance Information Institute 110 William Street New York, NY 10038 Tel: (212) 346-5520 Fax: (212) 732-1916 bobh@iii.org  www.iii.org

  2. Presentation Outline • Overview • URBAN LEGENDS OF THE HARD MARKET • Insurers are Making a Killing • Commercial Insurance is More Expensive than Ever • Rate Hikes are to Make Up for 9/11 Losses • Rate Hikes are Mostly Due to Bad Investments • There’s No Connection Between Litigiousness & Rates • Insurers are Drowning in Capital • Insurers are “Redlining” Businesses post-9/11 • The Federal Terrorism Backstop will Solve Everything • Investors are Satisfied with P/C Stock Performance • Q&A

  3. PRICING:Past, Present & Future

  4. CIAB Rate Survey Third Quarter 2002 Rate Increases By Size of Account No Change Up 1-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-50% 50%-100% >100% Small (<$25K) 8% 17% 46% 19% 2% 0% 0% Med ($25-$100K)* 6% 8% 23% 44% 13% 2% 0% Large (>$100K)** 6% 6% 14% 38% 21% 2% 0% *1% indicated a decline of between 1% and 10%. **1% indicated a decline of between 10% and 20%; 12% indicated don’t know or don’t handle this type of account Source: Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers

  5. CIAB Rate Survey Third Quarter 2002 Rate Increases By Line of Business No Change Up 1-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-50% 50%-100% >100% Comm. Auto 6% 18% 37% 24% 12% 0% 0% Workers Comp 9% 16% 27% 23% 13% 2% 0% General Liability 8% 13% 38% 28% 9% 1% 0% Comm. Umbrella 4% 9% 12% 27% 27% 11% 5% D&O 4% 9% 21% 16% 18% 16% 3% Comm. Property 8% 9% 30% 23% 21% 5% 0% Business Interr. 13% 17% 31% 20% 6% 2% 0% Surety Bonds 16% 13% 17% 20% 2% 0% 1% Med Mal 5% 3% 5% 6% 17% 11% 19% Source: Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers

  6. Average Price Change of Commercial Insurance Renewals (Pre-9/11) Source: Conning

  7. Average Price Change of Commercial Insurance Renewals Source: Conning

  8. Rate On Line Index(1989=100) Prices rising, limits falling: ROL up significantly Source: Guy Carpenter * III Estimate

  9. DEBUNKING URBAN LEGENDS OF THE HARD MARKET

  10. Legend #1:Insurers are Exploiting the Current Hard Market and Making a Killing

  11. P/C Net Income After Taxes1991-2002 ($ Millions) • 2001 was the first year ever with a full year net loss • 2002 First Half ROE = 3.3% *I.I.I. estimate based on first half 2002 data. Sources: A.M. Best, ISO, Insurance Information Institute.

  12. ROE: P/C vs. All Industries 1987–2002* *2002 figures are estimates; p/c figure based on first-half 2002 data. Source: Insurance Information Institute; Fortune

  13. ROE: Financial Services Industry Segments, 1987–2001 P/C insurance has consistently underperformed other segments of the financial services industry Source: Insurance Information Institute; Fortune

  14. ROE vs. Cost of Capital: US Non-Life 1991 – 2002 There is an enormous gap between the industry’s cost of capital and its rate of return 7.9. pts 14.6 pts US P/C insurers have missed their cost of capital by an average 6.7 points since 1991 Source: The Geneva Association, Ins. Information Inst.

  15. World’s Most Dangerous Lines of Insurance(Combined Ratio + 1 Std. Deviation) 407.3 Source: Insurance Information Institute, calculated from A.M. Best combined ratio data.

  16. Real GDP Growth Economy is experiencing sluggish growth following the recession of 2001 (first recession since 1990/91) Source: US Department of Commerce, Blue Economic Indicators 10/02, Insurance Information Institute.

  17. Impact of Recession on P/C Premiums and Profitability (1970-2001) *GAAP return on equity, adjusted for inflation; Bank data 1952-2001; Div. Fin. 1987-2001 Source: Insurance Information Institute

  18. ROE for Major Commercial Lines (2001 vs. 2002E) Most major commercial lines lag well behind the Fortune 500 historical return of 13% -14% Source: Conning

  19. Legend #2:Insurance is More Expensive than Ever and is Squeezing Businesses and Families Alike

  20. Net Written Premium as % of GDP Insurance costs as a % of GDP shrank by 31% during the 1990s and remains at very low levels Sources: Insurance Information Institute, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and A.M. Best data.

  21. Commercial Lines Net Written Premium as % of GDP Commercial insurance premiums as a % of GDP fell 35% between 1988 and 2000 and remains far below late 1980’s levels More Cover for Less Money: Terms & conditions broadened significantly during the soft market, even as prices fell Sources: Insurance Information Institute, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and A.M. Best data.

  22. Cost of Risk per $1,000 of Revenues: 1990-2002E • Cost of risk to corporations fell 42% between 1992 and 2000 • Estimated 15% increase in 2001, 30% in 2002 • About half of 2002 increase due to 9/11 Cost of risk is still less than it was a decade ago! Source: 2001 RIMS Benchmark Survey; Insurance Information Institute estimates.

  23. *Insurance Information Institute Estimates/Forecasts Source: NAIC, Insurance Information Institute Average Expenditures on Auto Insurance: US Countrywide auto insurance are expected to rise 8-10% in 2003

  24. *III Estimates Source: NAIC, Insurance Information Institute Average Expenditures on Homeowners Ins.: US Average HO expenditures are expected to rise by 8-10% in 2003

  25. Auto & Homeowners Insurance Expenditures as a% of Median Household Income The cost of auto and homeowners insurance relative to the typical household’s income has remained stable over the years

  26. Homeowners Insurance Expenditure as a % of Median Home Price* The cost of homeowners insurance relative to the price of a typical home is falling! HO Expenditure as % of Sales Price Median Home Sales Price Source: Insurance Information Institute calculations based on data from National Association of Realtors, NAIC.

  27. Change in Cost of Homes vs. Change in Cost of Homeowners Insurance Recent increases in the cost of homeowners insurance are minuscule in comparison to the soaring cost of homes *August 2002 Source: Insurance Info. Inst. calculations based on data from Natl. Association of Realtors, NAIC.

  28. Legend #3:Insurers are Raising Rates to Make up for 9/11 Losses

  29. P/C Industry Combined Ratio Combined Ratios 1970s: 100.3 1980s: 109.2 1990s: 107.7 2000s: 110.4 2001 = 115.7 2002E = 105.0* *Based on first half 2002 results Sources: A.M. Best; III

  30. Combined Ratio: Reinsurance vs. P/C Industry 2001’s combined ratio was the worst-ever for reinsurers *First Half 2002 figures. Source: A.M. Best, ISO, Reinsurance Association of America, Insurance Information Institute

  31. Underwriting Gain (Loss)1975-2002* $ Billions P-C insurers paid $52 billion more in claims & expenses than they collected in premiums in 2001 *Annualized estimate based on first half 2002 data. Source: A.M. Best, Insurance Information Institute

  32. Outlook for Commercial Lines:2002 - 2004 Sources: A.M. Best, Conning & Co.

  33. 12% After Tax ROE Requires Underwriting Profit Source: Dowling & Partners

  34. Growth in Net Premiums Written (All P/C Lines) 2000: 5.1% 2001: 8.1% 2002: 12.0(est.) The underwriting cycle went AWOL in the 1990s. It’s Back! *Estimate based on first half 2002 results. Source: A.M. Best, Insurance Information Institute

  35. Reserve Deficiency, by Line(AY 1992-2001, as of 12/01) Estimated Deficiency Total Excluding A&E: $64 Billion A&E Deficiency: $55 Billion Total Including A&E: $120 Billion *Occurrence and claims made Source: Morgan Stanley

  36. Med Claim Costs Rising Sharply Health care inflation is affecting the cost of medical care, no matter what system it is delivered through Source: NCCI; William M. Mercer, Insurance Information Institute.

  37. U.S. InsuredCatastrophe Losses CAT Losses for 2001 Set a Record • 20 events (lowest since 1969) • 1.5 million claims • 9/11: $20.3B = 51,000 claims $ Billions *Estimate through October 2002. Note: 2001 figure includes $20.3B for 9/11 losses reported through 12/31/01. Includes only business and personal property claims, business interruption and auto claims. Source: Property Claims Service, Insurance Information Institute

  38. Legend #4:Insurers’ Reckless Investment Strategies are the Primary Reason Why Rates are Rising Today

  39. Net Investment Income Investment income in 2002 is expected to fall 5% due primarily to historically low interest rates Billions (US$) Facts 1997 Peak = $41.5B • = $40.7B • = $37.7B • E = $35.8B Source: A.M. Best, Insurance Information Institute

  40. Interest Rates: Lower Than They’ve Been in Decades • Historically low interest rates are the primary driver behind lower investment yields. Nevertheless, overall insurer investment performance outpaces all major market indices and almost every major category of mutual fund. • 66% of the industry’s invested assets are in bonds *Average for week ending November 1, 2002. Source: Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Insurance Information Institute

  41. Total Returns for Large Company Stocks: 1970-2002* • Headed for 3rd consecutive year of decline for stocks • Last happened 1939-1941 • Stocks account for just 21% of p/c insurer investments *As of November 1, 2002. Source: Ibbotson Associates, Insurance Information Institute

  42. P/C Industry Investments,by Type (as of Dec. 31, 2001) Common stock accounts for about 1/5 of invested assets Bond Holdings, by Type Industrial & Misc. 32.5% Special Revenue 30.5% Governments 18.0% States/Terr/Other 15.4% Public Utilities 3.1% Parents/Subs/Affiliates 0.5% Source: A.M. Best, Insurance Information Institute

  43. Investment Gain, by Segment* Investment returns have shrunk, but are still important. “Heavy Lifting” must be done through underwriting & pricing Investment gains returning to pre-bubble levels *As a % of net earned premium. Investment gains consists primarily of interest, dividends and realized capital gains and losses. Source: A.M. Best; Insurance Information Institute estimate

  44. Property/Casualty Insurance Industry Investment Gain* Investment gains are simply returning to “pre-bubble” levels *Investment gains consists primarily of interest, stock dividends and realized capital gains and losses. Source: Insurance Services Office; Insurance Information Institute estimate

  45. Institutional Investor Market in Corporate Equities by Market Value of Holdings, as of December 31, 2001 Total: $7,534.7 billion Insurers, like all large institutional investors, have significant stock holdings Source: Insurance Information Institute from Federal Reserve Flow of Funds Report

  46. Crisis in Corporate Governance Affecting Even Blue Chip Portfolios • Crisis has affected both equity and bond markets

  47. Legend #5:There is No Relationship Between Litigiousness and Rising Insurance Costs(A Trial Lawyer Favorite)

  48. Average Jury Awards1994 vs. 2000 Source: Jury Verdict Research; Insurance Information Institute.

  49. Cost of U.S. Tort System($ Billions) Tort costs consumed 2.0% of GDP annually on average since 1990, expected to rise to 2.4% of GDP by 2005! Tort costs equaled $636 per person in 2000! Expected to rise to $1,000 by 2005 Source: Tillinghast-Towers Perrin; Insurance Information Institute estimates for 2001/2002 assume tort costs equal to 2% of GDP. 2005 forecasts from Tillinghast.

  50. Commercial Lines Tort Costs($ Billions) Total $85.4 Billion Billions Total $22.0 Billion Source: Tillinghast-Towers Perrin

More Related