insurers

Lawmakers from both parties are converging on pharmacy benefit managers as a rare point of bipartisan agreement. The middlemen who negotiate drug prices between manufacturers and insurers are facing growing scrutiny in Congress over their role in high medication costs, with proposals to increase transparency and reform their pricing practices gaining traction across the political divide.

Analysts surveyed by the Financial Times expect insurance premiums to increase again in 2026, continuing the upward trend in pricing across the sector. The outlook points to further cost pressure for households and businesses, with forecasters citing ongoing claims inflation and market conditions as reasons rates are unlikely to ease next year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed that OpenAI breached Medicare, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The claim suggests a data or security incident involving the US artificial intelligence company and Australia's public health insurance system. No further details are available about the nature, scale or consequences of the reported breach, and it is not yet clear what OpenAI has said in response.

The United States has helped double the volume of oil leaving the Gulf, with the US military now guiding tanker ships through the region in broad daylight. The move signals a more visible American security presence along key shipping lanes, reassuring exporters and insurers that vessels can transit safely despite ongoing regional tensions affecting maritime traffic.

A new study puts the annual cost of owning a new car at $12,863, covering expenses such as fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation. The analysis also breaks down which vehicle types are cheaper to run, drawing attention to wide cost differences between models at a time when drivers are feeling squeezed by rising prices.

New industry projections show global embedded finance revenue reaching $617 billion by 2031, with B2B embedded finance revenue forecast to surge 390% over the period. The figures point to rapid growth as companies across sectors integrate payments, lending and insurance directly into their products. Analysts highlight business-to-business applications as the fastest-expanding segment of the market.

A new study finds that insurers' own rebuild cost estimates are the main driver of underinsurance, meaning many policyholders are left with cover that falls short of actual rebuilding costs. The finding points blame away from consumers and toward the valuation methods insurers themselves use to set sums insured.

A Bloomberg opinion piece argues that universal public health insurance is the answer to the United States' ongoing healthcare crisis. The article contends that millions of Americans face unaffordable care and gaps in coverage, and that a publicly funded universal system would address these failures. The argument feeds into a long-running American debate over single-payer healthcare versus the current mixed public-private model.

Institutional investors raised $190bn for private credit funds, a 53% jump, even as retail-facing private credit products face turmoil and redemptions. The figures suggest large allocators such as pension funds and insurers are leaning further into direct lending and credit strategies, even as retail channels come under strain. Commenters in asset management circles are weighing what the divergence means for the market's next phase.

Hail is costing the United States billions of dollars a year in damage to roofs, crops, cars and infrastructure, and scientists warn the problem could intensify as climate change alters storm patterns. Hailstorms are among the costliest weather events, and insurers and homeowners are increasingly exposed. Discussion centres on why hailstorms may be growing more destructive and how communities can prepare.

The Wall Street Journal profiles Mark Walter, the financier who transformed a dull insurance business into a major lender willing to take on significant risk. The piece examines the strategy behind the shift, the growth it produced, and what the company's aggressive lending approach means for the broader financial sector as investors and analysts weigh the implications.

Ad-tech firm 33Across has relaunched as WealthStage, an advertising platform aimed at banks, trading apps, lenders, brokers and insurers. The company says its AI engine scores household wealth to help financial brands target customers, citing projections that $124 trillion in wealth will change hands by 2048. Industry watchers are questioning which data feeds the engine and what operations remain under the 33Across name.

A Lisbon-based startup is building insurance products for AI agents, aiming to cover the risks that arise when autonomous software acts on behalf of businesses. The company is positioning itself at the intersection of the AI boom and the growing need for liability protection as companies deploy agents in real-world operations.

German insurer ERGO Group has created a chief AI officer role, a senior position dedicated to steering the company's use of artificial intelligence. The move signals how insurers are formally embedding AI oversight at executive level as the technology reshapes underwriting, claims and customer service.

Humanos, a Lisbon-based startup, has raised $3.2 million in funding to build tools that score the risk of AI agents and provide insurance against their failures. The company aims to address growing concerns about accountability and liability as businesses increasingly deploy autonomous AI agents in critical operations.

Canada has updated its travel advisory for the United States, and insurance specialists point out it carries a coverage trigger most travellers don't know exists. Travellers may be unaware that their travel insurance terms can be affected by a government advisory change, potentially leaving trips to the US with gaps in protection.

North Dakota's Insurance Commissioner has ordered an artificial intelligence company to cease doing business in the state. The order was announced via local news in North Dakota. Details about the company's identity, the specific violations, or the reasons behind the directive have not been disclosed in the available reporting. The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of AI firms by state insurance regulators.

With US Treasury bond yields reaching the 5% mark, retail investors are turning their attention to financial stocks that could benefit from higher rates. Yahoo Finance highlights three names in the sector that individual investors are watching most closely, as rising yields tend to boost bank and insurer margins while pressuring other parts of the market.

A new report identifies the US states where home insurance is expected to become unaffordable in 2026, with coverage costs rising beyond what many homeowners can reasonably pay. The findings come as premiums climb sharply in states exposed to wildfires, hurricanes and other climate-related risks, putting strain on household budgets and raising concerns about whether some homeowners will be able to keep adequate coverage.

Tanzania will make travel insurance mandatory for visitors starting October 1, 2026. Under the new rule, travellers entering the country will need to hold valid travel insurance coverage, joining a growing number of destinations that have introduced similar requirements in recent years. Further details on coverage terms, cost and how the requirement will be enforced have not yet been announced.

Investment firm William Blair has appointed a new managing director focused on the insurance and financial services sectors. The move signals the firm's continued investment in its advisory capabilities in these industries, expanding its coverage as dealmaking and client demand in insurance and financial services remain active.

A membership-based clinic is promoting a model that combines cost sharing with stop loss insurance, claiming it reduces health care costs for members by roughly half. Under the arrangement, members pay regular fees into a shared pool, with stop loss coverage protecting against catastrophic claims. The approach is being highlighted as an alternative to conventional employer-sponsored health insurance as medical costs continue to rise.

Wisconsin farmers are calling on Congress to pass a new farm bill, saying they need certainty on crop insurance, support programs and long-term planning. With the previous legislation repeatedly extended, growers in the state say uncertainty over federal policy is making it harder to budget and invest. The issue is drawing attention in Washington as lawmakers face pressure to finalize the bill.

Relation Insurance Services has acquired LaPlaca Insurance, an agency based in Philadelphia, as part of a push to expand its presence in the city and surrounding market. The deal adds LaPlaca's book of business and local client relationships to Relation's growing national brokerage network. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in early coverage.

Washington state’s Department of Labor & Industries has proposed an increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates for employers. The proposal, reported in the Tri-Cities business press, would raise premiums that businesses pay to fund the state-fund workers’ comp system. Employers and business groups typically weigh in during the public comment period, arguing over costs versus benefit adequacy.

A family finance trend is gaining attention as households and advisors reframe money decisions around what a purchase or policy protects rather than what it costs. Outlets including ABC17News and News Channel 3-12 are covering the shift, which points to growing interest in insurance, estate planning and risk management as core parts of family budgeting conversations.