Insurance (World) 

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Latest news on insurance, providing comprehensive coverage of insurers, reinsurance, Lloyd's of London, claims, premiums, underwriting, motor insurance, home insurance, life insurance, health insurance, cyber insurance, catastrophe bonds (cat bonds), InsurTech and the major names including Aviva, Allianz, AXA, Aon, Swiss Re, Munich Re, Zurich, Prudential and Legal & General.

Insurance spreads risk. Policyholders pay premiums, insurers pay valid claims, and reinsurers such as Swiss Re and Munich Re insure the insurers themselves. Global groups include Allianz, AXA, Generali, Zurich, AIG, Allstate, Berkshire Hathaway, Aegon, Ageas, ING and China Pacific (CPIC), while the UK market features Aviva, Admiral, Direct Line, Churchill, Bupa, Amlin and Endsleigh.

The sector faces rising catastrophe losses from storms, floods and wildfires, which affect pricing, affordability and what can be insured at all. Cyber risk, artificial intelligence in underwriting and claims, and the rise of InsurTech are reshaping the business. Catastrophe bonds and other insurance-linked securities now bring capital markets into reinsurance, while regulators and supervisors keep a close watch on solvency and fair treatment of customers.

For most people, insurance is personal: car, home, travel, health and life cover, plus annuities and pensions from names such as Legal & General, Prudential, Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Friends Provident, Old Mutual, Sun Life and RBS. Brokers, loss adjusters and claims teams are the human face of the industry, and disputes over refused claims or rising premiums regularly make headlines.

The roots are old. Marine insurance contracts were written in Genoa in the 14th century, the Great Fire of London in 1666 spurred fire insurance, and underwriters gathered at a London coffee house that grew into the Lloyd's market. Modern scandals, including payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling and the Equitable Life affair, led to tougher regulation and still shape public trust today.

Staying informed matters to policyholders, advisers, businesses and investors alike. Our NewsNow insurance news feed brings together the latest headlines on insurers, reinsurance, Lloyd's, claims, premiums, cyber risk and the big names above, giving you comprehensive, up-to-date coverage from reliable sources.