Natural disasters caused an estimated $112 billion in losses in the first half of 2026, with only $44 billion insured, leaving a 60% protection gap, according to Munich Re.

Global insured natural catastrophe losses totaled at least $46 billion in the first half of 2026, 28% below the 10-year average, Gallagher Re reports.

Insurers posted a $431 million underwriting loss in 2025 as incurred losses and expenses reached 102% of earned premium, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California found.

Aging poles and overland lines pose billion-dollar liability and business interruption risks that often fall hardest on companies that do not own the failing infrastructure, according to Allianz Commercial.

From transparency and collaboration to proactive problem solving, Jeni VerMeulen explains the qualities that distinguish true partnerships in today’s evolving workers’ compensation landscape.

While technology increasingly automates routine claims evaluation, the future of the profession relies on leadership actively upskilling existing teams in uniquely human, higher-order capabilities like AI literacy, negotiation science, data interpretation, and emotional influence.

Unlimited payroll, the near-universal exposure base for workers’ compensation insurance, may not scale proportionally with expected losses across wage levels, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Claim assignments dropped nearly 9% year-over-year in Q1, but maturing severity figures could push average losses toward record territory, according to Verisk Property and Restoration Solutions.

Organized criminal networks are increasingly using digital tools and impersonation tactics to steal high-value freight, according to BSI Consulting and Munich Re Specialty.

High-cost claim frequency has nearly tripled over five years and severity accelerated sharply in 2025, according to QBE North America’s 2026 Accident & Health Market Report.

AI has accelerated cybercriminal capabilities while non-malicious incidents now account for a quarter of all cyber incidents, according to Lockton report.

The Strait of Hormuz blockade, aging fleets, and persistent claims inflation are among the mounting pressures transforming maritime risk, according to Allianz Commercial.

Ransomware remains the costliest category of cyber event while third-party vendor incidents are responsible for a growing share of losses, according to Willis.

Cumulative trauma claims in California have more than doubled in cost since 2021, according to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California.

A workplace violence product is a standout among new products at The Hartford.

Accelerating claim frequency, catastrophic condition costs, and specialty pharmacy inflation are pressuring rates in the medical stop loss market, according to Tokio Marine HCC.

The biggest fraud threats today aren’t isolated incidents — they’re sophisticated networks designed to blend seamlessly into legitimate business operations.

Data center projects are more technical, the equipment is more sensitive, and the schedule has less give in it.

Technology is shifting from digitizing processes to actively shaping claim outcomes.

AI is no longer a future promise but a present force reshaping claims — where faster care, smarter early decisions, and scalable innovation are redefining outcomes and costs across the industry.