May 21, 2026 Small businesses are increasingly becoming targets for cyberattacks, phishing scams, ransomware, and data breaches because they often lack dedicated IT teams or formal cyber protections. For insurance agents and brokers, this creates an important opportunity to educate clients about cyber risk while helping them strengthen protection with cyber insurance coverage. At Coterie Insurance, eligible businesses can add a cyber insurance endorsement to qualifying policies, helping provide an additional layer of financial protection against today’s evolving cyber threats. Below are six simple cybersecurity tips small business owners should implement today — plus why cyber insurance matters even when…
Author: Awais
Howden US is again being sued by a rival broker over another group of new employees who are alleged to have breached loyalty and post-employment contractual obligations. According to a lawsuit filed May 19 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by Willis Towers Watson Northeast, former members of its marine team specializing in broking insurance for high net-worth owners and managers of high-end yachts all resigned to join Howden US “consistent with Howden’s playbook of hiring entire teams from other insurance brokerage companies and having those former employees violate their duties of loyalty while still employed…
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has parents who lack legal residency worried about the welfare of children left behind. Some jurisdictions are taking action. Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., allow families to name temporary guardians if a parent is detained or deported. KFF Health News correspondent Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez appeared on WAMU’s May 13 Health Hub segment to explain why keeping the children of immigrants out of foster care can increase the likelihood of families reuniting and reduce the health impacts of a traumatic separation.
War has overtaken civil unrest as the political violence exposure that companies fear most, as conflicts in Europe and the Middle East disrupt global trade flows, strain political alliances, embolden adversarial powers and heighten risks to business assets, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2026. War was identified as the political violence exposure most feared by companies, surpassing civil unrest to garner 53% of the votes in the 2026 Allianz Risk Barometer, climbing from 48% in 2025. Allianz noted political risks and violence climbed to number seven in the Risk Barometer, its highest position ever (compared to number 9 in…
When deciding whether to access insurance-linked securities (ILS) and non-traditional sources of reinsurance capital, the question is no longer whether to engage. Rather it has shifted to identifying how to bring it into your capital model effectively and meet medium to long-term strategic goals, Jason Bolding, CEO of Gallagher Securities has said.Bolding believes that insurance and reinsurance companies are faced with a unique funding environment in 2026, with growing investor appetite to deploy capital to the sector. Writing in the recently published report about Gallagher Securities’ institutional investor survey, Bolding said, “There is no shortage of investors keen to put…
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on AI and cybersecurity as soon as Thursday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as pressure grows from parts of his political base to increase oversight of new AI models, such as Anthropic’s Mythos. The White House was working to get AI company CEOs to a signing ceremony with President Donald Trump, another source familiar with the planning said. The order would create a voluntary framework for AI developers to engage with the U.S. government about the public release of covered models, the sources said. Under the…
A court was right to acknowledge an insurance company’s settlement of a claim and dismiss the lawsuit against its insured without the insured’s approval, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled. The insured, Patrick O’Brien, objected to the settlement and dismissal of a complaint alleging that he trespassed. Why? Because he wanted to establish a claim of wrongful use of civil process against the woman who accused him. A lower court declined to keep the legal case alive after the insurer settled. O’Brien appealed, arguing that the court abused its discretion in dismissing the complaint with prejudice against him. Now…
The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry is expected to see underlying growth decrease 3.7% for the first half of 2026 as it deals with economic uncertainty. The industry grew 1.6% in 2025, but a report from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Milliman said replacement costs are projected to grow 2.1% for the first half 2026. Replacement costs are forecast to exceed U.S. inflation by 2028, “reinforcing the need for continued price discipline across P/C lines,” according to the report. The look-ahead hinges on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions, with a holding pattern currently in place as the market monitors…
Containment has continued to increase on the Sandy fire in Simi Valley, which prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people in Ventura County earlier this week. Though fire activity has slowed, the blaze still poses danger, fire officials said. The fire is 22% contained and has burned 2,115 acres. It had been only 15% contained on Wednesday morning. Evacuation orders are still in effect for several areas. Despite continued warm temperatures and gusty winds, overall fire activity currently remains minimal, according to CalFire. “Firefighters continue to make strong progress on the fire by utilizing direct suppression tactics to…
Current rules permit, but do not require, states to impose cost sharing on certain populations, within limits designed to protect Medicaid enrollees who have low incomes from high out-of-pocket costs. States have flexibility to impose cost sharing on certain populations. Cost-sharing is generally limited to nominal amounts but may be higher for those with incomes above 100% FPL. Certain populations and services are exempt from cost sharing requirements (Table 1). Total out-of-pocket costs for premiums and cost sharing for all individuals in a Medicaid household are capped at 5% of monthly or quarterly household income. States are required to establish…
A U.S. jury found Takeda Pharmaceutical liable for causing about $885 million in damages by delaying a generic version of its constipation drug Amitiza through an anticompetitive scheme. Jurors in federal court in Boston, following a five-week trial, sided with wholesalers, insurers, health funds and retailers including CVS and Walgreens who said the delay forced them to overpay for the drug. The award could rise to several billion dollars. Federal antitrust law that covers the bulk of the plaintiffs’ claims allows damages to be automatically tripled, meaning $821.7 million of the jury’s award could swell to $2.47 billion. Japan-based Takeda…
The Archdiocese of New York (ADNY) has received the go-ahead to depose Chubb Insurance CEO Evan Greenberg in the ongoing legal dispute over liability insurance coverage for clergy sex abuse claims. Chubb sought to block the ADNY from deposing Greenberg, arguing that his testimony is unnecessary and irrelevant because the desired information could be gathered from other officers in the company. However, a court appointed special referee has denied Chubb’s request to preclude Greenberg’s deposition. The ADNY is suing Chubb insurers over their refusal to cover any of the thousands of clergy sex abuse claims it has faced since the…
In response to abrupt and politicized changes to federal vaccine policy, concerned Coloradans have taken several steps to shore up support for vaccine science. A bill passed by the state legislature in March then signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis allows Colorado to further uncouple itself from federal guidance. The law allows health officials to follow the recommendations of national medical groups when making decisions such as purchasing bulk vaccines for the Medicaid program. “We are insulating our state from the dysfunction coming out of Washington,” said Democratic state Sen. Kyle Mullica, a co-sponsor of the bill and…
Sands Point Risk, a multi-program managing general agency platform, has acquired Launch Environmental Underwriters, a provider of environmental general liability insurance. Jersey City, New Jersey-based Launch focuses on complex risks across the energy, infrastructure, construction, chemical, mergers and acquisition, and industrial sectors. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Stamford, Connecticut-based Sands Point said Launch will serve as the cornerstone of its environmental practice. Sands Point Risk was itself launched in 2024 to serve the transaction liability insurance sector with the support of private equity firm Avesi Partners. Dennis Kearns, who founded the transaction risk program at DUAL, is…