We recommend that consideration is given to urgently reviewing your current insurance arrangements as it is essential that cover is updated in conjunction with changes in risk profile.
In May 2021 the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority released its Quarter 1 statistics in respect to Australia’s general insurance industry performance. The March 2021 statistics affirm that the industry made a modest net profit of $19m which is an improvement on the net loss of $649m from the December 2020 quarter. The result, continues to be largely driven by legacy losses resulting from the catastrophic December 2019 / January 2020 bush fires, large falls in investment due to COVID-19, lower underwriting results and provisions for business interruption claims. The March 2021 results from a Year on Year perspective reflect the quarterly results but pronounce the deterioration in the market. By illustration, whilst insurers saw a slight improvement in Gross claims expense, the 20.8% reduction in investment income culminated in a 28.3% reduction in profitability across the Australian market.
Key performance statistics for the general insurance industry in the year ended 31 March 2021:
Chart 1 and Chart 2, extracted from the APRA March 2021 results, demonstrate that while insurer profitability has been decreasing since approximately 2018, the catastrophic claim events and a global pandemic have substantially reduced insurers profitability and the effects are still being felt in 2021.
As a result insurers have been required to re-evaluate how they offer insurance at a portfolio level in order to remain sustainable. These adjustments include blanket increases in premium, increases in minimum deductible structures, withdrawal of capacity and a narrowing of coverage terms and conditions. This is demonstrable through major insurers QBE and AIG reporting net losses after tax of USD 1.52 billion and USD 6 billion respectively for the 2020 financial year.
The impacts relating to the convergence of market pressures include:
The above chart represents the Global and Pacific region pricing increases per quarter from March 2017 to March 2021. As is demonstrated the hardening market cycle commenced and continued to harden from December 2017 onwards.
Looking at the domestic markets from a class perspective the market pressures have converged principally in three major classes:
In addition and in order to minimise exposure primary insurers have been reducing their line size and in doing so have placed pressure on excess lines resulting in pricing increases on the excess lines.
As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the downside of a truly globalised economy is that we all feel the effects when substantial events occur.
Over the next twelve months, what is certain is that we will see the global insurance markets continue to toughen their collective stance on underwriting discipline for consideration of new business opportunities, while bringing a level of scrutiny to their renewals at a level never seen before.
We anticipate that high-hazard, high-risk profiles will be generally shunned by the insurance market with all but the best risk managed businesses unable to secure viable insurance coverage at a commensurate premium, with mid-range risk profiles now becoming the new ‘high-hazard’ for insurance companies.
Prior to COVID-19, we expected the market trend to start stabilising in some pockets during 2020 with possible concessions considered by insurers in 2021. While concessions are not currently being provided by insurers there are pockets of stabilisation that have started to emerge.
Allegiant IRS will continue to underpin its advice based on the quality of the insurance cover and provider over cost – within reason. It is our experience in a hardening market that those insurers offering ‘cheaper premiums’ usually are not the better insurers and so it becomes an enormous problem when it comes time for the payment of claims.
Alternative risk transfer mechanisms and self-insured elements will be a feature for many clients moving forward as businesses will need to ‘back themselves’ in some areas to continue to be viable.
As the insurance market hardens it becomes even more critical that companies ensure they purchase the most appropriate insurance for the most cost effective price i.e. ensuring efficiency in premium and cover. Our unique service offering enables us to deliver this to our clients.
Strategy combined with a tailored, advice-based approach will ensure that our clients’ insurance programs will be as insulated as possible from the severe unpredictability anticipated in the current insurance market cycle.
¹Extract from the APRA Press Release and available at APRA website
²Marsh & McLennan, ‘Global Insurance Market Index Q1 2021, May 2021
Brad Russell
Partner
T +61 7 3233 8786 E brussell@mccullough.com.au
Ian Dobbs
T+61 7 3914 8301 E idobbs@allegiantirs.com.au
Cormack Hankinson
Account Manager
T +61 7 3914 8303 E chankinson@allegiantirs.com.au