The estimates of re/insurance industry losses from hurricane and superstorm Sandy continue to rise with the latest, and largest to date, loss estimate coming from independent reinsurance broker Holborn. So far the highest insured loss estimate has been from risk modeller RMS who said they believe Sandy will result in losses of $20 billion to $25 billion for insurers and reinsurers. Reinsurance broker Holborn believe that insured losses could be higher, saying they believe the toll could reach as much as $30 billion.
Holborn’s estimate is now the highest estimate of losses given by an organisation for the insurance and reinsurance industry from hurricane Sandy. Holborn explains the rational for the higher loss estimate as due to the unusual nature of the storm and the amount of unmodelled loss that will eventually hit the re/insurance markets. Holborn says Sandy is proving a challenge for risk modellers and that estimates of personal lines losses might be higher than reality, while estimates of commercial lines losses may be too low.
Holborn said that they believe that commercial flood insurance take-up is higher than modellers have allowed for so far. They also believe that personal lines losses may have been over exaggerated due to complicated fall-out post-Sandy and confusion over where some flood losses should be attributed.
Holborn also suggested it could be many months, or even over a year, before the final loss total from Sandy is known. They have seen a lot of complicated claims which will not settle quickly.
Out of the potential $30 billion in industry losses Holborn said that they believe that the reinsurance market will pick up between $5 billion and $10 billion of the bill while primary insurers will retain between $15 billion and $20 billion of losses.
Here’s a reminder of the other main insured loss estimates as they stand currently:
– EQECAT at $10 billion to $20 billion
– RMS at $20 billion to $25 billion
– PCS initial estimate at $11 billion
– AIR Worldwide at $16 billion to $22 billion
View all of our Artemis Live video interviews and subscribe to our podcast.
All of our Artemis Live insurance-linked securities (ILS), catastrophe bonds and reinsurance video content and video interviews can be accessed online.
Our Artemis Live podcast can be subscribed to using the typical podcast services providers, including Apple, Google, Spotify and more.
