Toward a Safer Workplace

AM Best TV & Audio: AI Emerging as Powerful Tool in Life Insurance Underwriting, Swiss Re Executive Says: Professionals also discuss geographic disparities in the recovery of the insurance market and explore key trends and changing dynamics in the industry.

AM Best Webinars & Briefings: Panelists To Discuss Legal System Abuse and Explore Trends in Insurance Panel Counsel: Professionals also examine the state of the global reinsurance sector and review the U.S. surplus lines market.

Academic Research: Study Uses Real-World Data To Prove Effectiveness of Fortified Standards: The effectiveness of lab-tested Fortified building standards was uncertain until Hurricane Sally gave researchers the opportunity to test them against real-world data, according to a University of Alabama study.

App Store: NYSIF Workers’ Compensation App Provides Answers for Injured Employees: Gaurav Vasisht, CEO and executive director of NYSIF, said the workers’ comp provider launched an app to address injured employees’ most frequently asked questions and help manage their coverage.

Artificial Intelligence: AI: Technology Reshapes Workers’ Compensation Coverage: Streamlined operations, better injury prevention and improved underwriting are some of the changes cited by large language artificial intelligence programs.

Best's Calendars: NAIC Meeting To Cover Finances, Mental Health Parity: AM Best will attend the gathering of state insurance commissioners, who are expected to address a variety of topics that include catastrophes and technology-related issues such as cyber and artificial intelligence.

Best’s Rankings: Largest Caribbean Insurers – 2025 Edition: Non-IFRS 17 companies ranked by 2023 gross premiums written. IFRS 17 companies ranked by 2023 insurance service revenue.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US Life Reinsurers by Group Life Insurance In Force – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 total group amount in force.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US Life Reinsurers by Individual Life Insurance in Force – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 total individual amount in force.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US P/C Dental Only Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US P/C Disability Income Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US P/C Long-Term Care Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Largest US P/C Medicare Supplement Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Top 25 US Homeowners Multiperil Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Top 25 US Life/Health Insurers’ Investment Returns – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 total admitted assets.

Best’s Rankings: Top 25 Writers – US Private Flood – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: US Homeowners Multiperil – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: US Life/Health Asset Distribution – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 total admitted assets.

Best’s Rankings: US Life/Health – Pre-Tax Investment Total Returns – 2025 Edition: Investment returns from 2015 to 2024.

Best’s Rankings: US Property/Casualty Asset Distribution – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 total admitted assets.

Best’s Rankings: US Workers’ Compensation – 2024 Direct Premiums Written – 2025 Edition:

Bookstore: Author: Embracing Change, People-First Leadership Drives Industry Transformation: “Innovation isn’t about perfection—it’s about clarity, action and learning from failure,” says innovation and transformation coach Ibeth Ayala.

Caribbean Insurers: Economy Vulnerable to Weather Risk, Catastrophes in Cayman Islands: A Best’s Country Risk Report says the Cayman Islands’ reliance on tourism, coupled with its exposure to natural disasters, heightens its vulnerability to external shocks.

Claims Adjusters: As Risks Evolve, Property Claims Adjusters Turn to New Tools, Techniques, Strategies: The adoption of AI is significant, adjusters say, as is the use of drones and other technology. The human element, however, is still considered necessary.

Corporate Changes: Georgia’s Superior Court of Fulton County Orders Liquidation of Medicare Advantage-Focused Sonder Health Plans: Regulators had determined that the company couldn’t operate without possibly putting policyholders and health care providers at risk.

Corporate Changes: Mergers, Acquisitions, State Actions and Name, Ownership and Domiciliary Changes: Bestow Life, MedMal Direct and Wolverine are among the U.S. life/health and property/casualty insurers that have experienced a corporate change.

Executive Changes: Corebridge Announces Replacement as CEO Prepares To Step Down in December: Axa XL appoints global chief underwriting officer, casualty, SiriusPoint hires global head of claims and Everest Re taps CUO for global reinsurance.

From the Editor’s Desk: Workers’ Comp Underwriting Results Lead the Major Lines of US P/C Business: Best’s Review examines workers’ compensation as well as trends in property claims. Rankings include U.S. P/C and L/H asset distribution.

Insurance Industry Research: Verisk Advises Industry: Gird for Annual Catastrophe Losses Exceeding $152 Billion: The share of “frequency perils,” historically referred to as secondary perils, rose 12% in the new model, with severe thunderstorms accounting for 42% of the share, according to Verisk’s report. Tropical cyclones are the second-highest annual insured loss at a 25% share of frequency.

Insurance Professional Resources: Legal Panel: Characteristics, Situation, Communication Skills Are Key for Expert Witness Effectiveness: Panelists detail what makes for an effective expert witness, when not to use an expert and the impact of artificial intelligence.

Issues & Answers: Workers’ Compensation: A Safer Future at Work: Dale Hoppe, Vice President, Workers’ Compensation Programs, Nationwide E&S/S said that partnering with return-to-work experts has shown that getting an employee back to work quickly and safely is both psychologically and economically beneficial after an injury.

Life Insurance: Insurers Face Double-Edged Sword From Declining All-Cause Mortality in US, UK Due to Weight Loss Drugs: GLP-1 drugs could be the medical innovation needed to reshape mortality trends and help insurers engage in shaping healthier, more resilient populations, according to a Swiss Re report.

Preferred Bloggers: Workers’ Compensation Blogs Pitch for Safety, Security at the Job Site: Online content and information covering workers’ compensation may display a local flavor, but the themes around injury prevention are universal.

Preferred Influencers: Tech Influencer Says Breadth of Experience Built Trust Within Insurtech Sector: Sabine VanderLinden, co-founder of Alchemy Crew Ventures, says her hands-on approach to building insurtechs combines thought leadership and execution.

Preferred Podcasters: Insurance vs. History Showcases the Industry’s Long-Standing Impact: Long-time insurance veteran Meredith Brasher uses her podcast to highlight the industry’s history and why it matters today.

Preferred Publishers: Focus on Independent Brokers and Younger Agents Sustains Rough Notes: Rough Notes, which was founded in 1878, expands its presence with newsletters and a monthly podcast featuring the magazine’s cover story.

Social Inflation and Claims: Quicker Claims Resolution Helps Reduce Loss Adjustment Expenses: Social inflation is having a great impact in terms of how long claims are staying open, according to David Blades, associate director, AM Best.

State Rate Filings: Mississippi Commissioner: Auto Rates Coming Down; Windpool Rates Going Up: Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said rates for the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association for Gulf Coast properties will increase 16% starting Jan. 1, 2026.

State Rate Filings: Mississippi Private Passenger Auto Approved Rate Filings by Overall Effect With Decreases of 7.50% or Greater: Based on an effective date beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025.

Trending: Best’s News: Top Stories Include ‘Standing the Test of Time’ and a Feature About Surplus Lines Insurance: Other popular stories include a feature on mutual insurers and on casualty reinsurance.

Trending: Best’s Research: Trending Research Includes Reports on US Commercial Auto and Personal Auto: Other trending research includes reports on reinsurers’ return on equity and the U.S. surplus lines market.

Underwriting & Loss Control: Oil and Gas Well Drilling Poses Workers’ Compensation Dangers: Best’s Underwriting Reports and Best’s Loss Control Reports provide insights into the risks and lines of coverage for oil and gas well drilling contractors.

Web Traffic: Web Traffic: Visits to Largest Caribbean Insurers’ Sites: London Life and Casualty Reinsurance Corp. leads web analytics provider Semrush’s ranking of most-visited Caribbean insurer websites.

Web Traffic: Web Traffic: Visits to Largest Workers’ Compensation Insurers’ Sites: Liberty Mutual Insurance Cos. leads web analytics provider Semrush’s ranking of most-visited workers’ compensation insurer websites.

What AM Best Says: AM Best: US Health Insurance Outlook Revised to Negative: The industry entered into 2025 with higher-than-expected medical and pharmacy expenses or trends. In the first quarter of 2025, the industry reported an elevation of respiratory claims driven by flu, COVID and pneumonia, according to AM Best analysts.

Workers’ Compensation: New Technology Helps Prevent Workplace Injuries as Claims Frequency Declines: Workers’ comp insurers say their insureds are using smart cameras and taking a hands-on approach to loss control to prevent accidents at job sites.

Workers’ Compensation: Workers’ Compensation Continues With Strong Profits, Despite Pricing Cuts: Workers’ compensation insurance continues to outperform all other major property/casualty lines, and recent increases in medical inflation are not expected to have a big impact on the system, according to an AM Best Market Segment Report.