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30 September 2022News

Ian will not credit for rated re/insurers: Fitch

Hurricane Ian, which made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is expected to generate substantial economic and insured losses – but it is not likely to affect credit for rated property/casualty (PC) re/insurers given ample capital levels and the ability to increase premium rates, Fitch Ratings has said.

However, it also noted that Florida insurance specialists that are unrated by Fitch have suffered financial losses and diminished capital in recent years remain vulnerable to large catastrophic events that generate losses in excess of reinsurance limits.

Florida is expected to have substantial economic and insured losses from hurricane Ian from heavy rainfall, storm surge and flooding. Based on its initial analysis, Fitch suggests insured losses could range from $25 billion-$40 billion for Florida, which could increase depending on the effect of the storm in the Carolinas.

This compares to Hurricane Katrina’s $65 billion in 2005, winter storm Uri - $15 billion in 2021 and Hurricane Ida - $36 billion in 2021.

Most large national underwriters do not have substantial market share in Florida and have cut policies in force via non-renewals to manage balance sheet exposure and cost of their reinsurance programs.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which has leading market share in both personal and commercial lines, continues to increase exposure from expansion of policies in force and by assuming business from other Florida specialists.

Despite having the capacity to absorb losses from this event, strain on Citizens and its continued growth adds to the vulnerability of the insurance market to the next catastrophic event, Fitch warned. Citizens has stated that Ian will be a reinsurance loss event to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, but not a significant event for its private market reinsurers.




More on this story

article
29 September 2022   The hurricane made its Florida landfall at Category 4 status.
article
18 October 2022   The ILS market will assume a "fair share" of losses from Hurricane Ian, with Fitch estimating total insured losses of $35 billion-$55 billion.

More on this story

article
29 September 2022   The hurricane made its Florida landfall at Category 4 status.
article
18 October 2022   The ILS market will assume a "fair share" of losses from Hurricane Ian, with Fitch estimating total insured losses of $35 billion-$55 billion.