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Bill to Curb Staged Accidents Introduced in Senate

Article 0 Comments The industry trades have come out to support the latest effort on Capitol Hill to thwart staged accidents. Sen. Ashley Moody on July 22 introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act. About a year ago, Representatives Mike Collins and Brandon Gill unveiled a companion bill in the House. “Every day, staged accidents and fraudulent schemes put innocent lives at risk and raise costs for every American. The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act will help coordinate law enforcement in combatting these sophisticated crime rings and bring the weight of federal law to stopping them,” said Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, in Moody’s press release announcing the measure. Related: Viewpoint: Rampant Fraud in Staged Accidents The American Property Casualty Insurance Association also commended Moody, and urged Congress to advance the legislation. “Sophisticated ‘crash-for-cash’ rings intentionally orchestrate traffic collisions to exploit no-fault insurance systems, inflate property damage, and file fraudulent claims,” said Sam Whitfield, APCIA’s senior vice president of federal government relations and political engagement. “These schemes put innocent motorists and truck drivers at risk while driving up insurance costs for everyone. Strong enforcement tools are essential...

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Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation Announces Staff Changes

Article 0 Comments The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation announced leadership staff changes. DWC is launching a new program area, AI Innovation and Integration, focused on the responsible, mission-driven use of artificial intelligence to modernize processes and reduce administrative burdens, and evaluate how system participants are using AI services. Allen Craddock, formerly DWC’s chief administrative law judge, will serve as deputy commissioner for this new area. Craddock brings a strong record of operational improvements in Hearings and will apply that same focus to agency modernization. He is board-certified in workers’ compensation law, practiced in the field for 15 years before joining DWC in 2013, Gerri Thomas will now serve as DWC’s chief administrative law judge over Hearings. This program oversees the workers’ compensation dispute resolution process, including benefit review conferences, contested case hearings, and Appeals Panel review. Thomas joined DWC in 2012 and has served as regional director for the Northern and Western regions. Her legal, clinical, and operational background gives her deep insight into dispute resolution and system needs. Under the leadership of General Counsel Kara Mace, DWC has reorganized legal, communications, and external relations services into Legal and Communications Services. This program provides legal services,...

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People Moves: Shepherd Insurance Names Kleymeyer as President of Employee Benefits

Article 0 Comments Shepherd Insurance announced that Matt Kleymeyer has joined the firm as the President of Employee Benefits, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to delivering innovative employee benefits solutions and exceptional client service. Based out of Shepherd’s headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, Kleymeyer brings nearly 20 years of employee benefits experience to the organization. His career has spanned nearly every facet of the business across both small and large group markets, including sales, client service, operations, and leadership. Matt Kleymeyer Prior to joining Shepherd, Kleymeyer served as Area Executive Vice President and Indiana Market Leader at Gallagher, following the successful growth and sale of an employee benefits agency he co-founded. Throughout his career, Kleymeyer has built a reputation for fostering strong client relationships, developing high-performing teams, and helping organizations attract employees through benefits services. As President of Employee Benefits, Kleymeyer will partner closely with Employee Benefits leadership team members Steve Gregory, Shannon Russell, and Susie Brancheau to help drive the continued growth and evolution of Shepherd Insurance’s benefits practice. In this role, he will focus on strategic leadership, driving departmental growth, talent development, carrier relationships, and identifying opportunities to further enhance the firm’s employee benefits offerings. Topics Employee Benefits Was...

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Tesla Expands Robotaxi Service to Orlando, Tampa

Article 0 Comments Tesla this week expanded its robotaxi service to Orlando and Tampa, as the electric-vehicle maker races to prove that it can scale its autonomous ride-hailing business beyond its initial launch markets. The move comes a day before Tesla reports second-quarter earnings, with Wall Street closely watching the progress on robotaxis, which underpin much of the company’s valuation as CEO Elon Musk shifts focus toward artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and humanoid robots. Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin in June last year and expanded to Dallas and Houston earlier this year and Miami this month. The company has also been conducting supervised testing in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Investors have questioned the pace of the rollout after Tesla missed several expansion targets. In response, Musk has said the company was deliberately taking a cautious approach, and that rigorous safety testing was the main constraint to faster deployment of the service. Unlike rivals such as Alphabet-owned Waymo, which relies on lidar sensors, Tesla’s robotaxi system uses cameras and AI-based software to navigate. Tesla plans to eventually deploy its purpose-built Cybercab vehicle, which does not have pedals or a steering wheel. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing...

Sustainability gap: only one-fifth of execs are quantifying financial impact 0

Sustainability gap: only one-fifth of execs are quantifying financial impact

New KPMG research finds a disconnect between sustainability strategy and financial decision-making, leaving value at risk. 72 percent of executives understand their sustainability strategies but only 19% can quantify how it will impact their future performance Four in five companies are unable to measure how sustainability affects profits, cash flow or valuation, leaving risks and opportunities largely unpriced 60 percent say they factor sustainability into financial planning but very few can translate it into EBITDA, CapEx or balance sheet impacts Sectors leading on the use of advanced valuation methodologies include banking and capital markets (33 percent), energy and natural resources (31 percent), and automotive (27 percent)  Redmond, WA (July 10, 2026) – A significant gap remains between companies’ understanding of sustainability and their ability to translate it into financial value, according to a new global KPMG study. The study, Closing the Sustainability Valuation Gap, reveals that while 72% of executives say they understand their organization’s sustainability strategy, metrics and performance, only 19% apply robust quantification approaches to measure its financial impact, highlighting a critical disconnect at the center of corporate decision-making. Surveying over 2,000 executives across 19 countries and territories, the study finds sustainability is now firmly on the boardroom...

Eco-anxiety in the workplace: Beneva publishes guide for SMEs 0

Eco-anxiety in the workplace: Beneva publishes guide for SMEs

Quebec City, QC (June 30, 2026) – With climate change continuing to raise concerns, eco-anxiety is emerging as a key mental health issue in the workplace. Announced at the inaugural summit of Québec Capitale Climat in 2025, a study has since been conducted by the Université Laval’s Research Chair in Mental Health, Self-Management and Work, powered by Beneva. Based on responses from 2,020 employees and managers, this first large-scale analysis of SMEs reveals that environmental concern is high at 59.3 out of 100, while consequences on performance remain moderate at 28.7 out of 100. This gap provides a strategic window of opportunity to mitigate the negative effects on wellbeing and performance, especially since eco-anxiety has been added to the list of mental health risk factors in the workplace. At a recent business webinar on eco-anxiety in the workplace, the same conclusion was drawn by those in attendance: better understanding the issue is a step in the right direction. In addition to the phenomenon and the main findings of the study, it covered how this paradigm shift can serve as a catalyst for mobilization, discussion and sustainable engagement within organizations. “Eco-anxiety should not be seen solely as a risk, but as a sign...

New Statistics Canada report confirms extreme weather reshaping Canada’s home insurance market 0

New Statistics Canada report confirms extreme weather reshaping Canada’s home insurance market

Insurance Bureau of Canada calls on governments to take immediate action on resilience Ottawa, ON (June 30, 2026) – A new report by Statistics Canada underscores a growing reality for Canadians: Extreme weather is fundamentally reshaping the country’s home insurance market, driving higher claims costs, contributing to increasing premiums and leaving too many households exposed to the risk of catastrophic damage from extreme weather. The study, “Extreme weather impacts on consumers and insurers in Canada, December 2019 to December 2025: An updated analysis,” finds that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and more costly, placing sustained pressure on Canadian insurers and homeowners alike. Among the report’s highlights: Claims costs have surged dramatically. Since 2009, insurers have paid nearly $2 billion per year on average in catastrophic weather-related claims, up sharply from about $400 million annually between 1983 and 2008. In recent years, annual insured losses have reached unprecedented levels, including $3.4 billion in 2022 and a staggering $9.4 billion in 2024. Insurance premiums have increased faster than inflation in recent years, reflecting the growing cost of rebuilding homes and the escalating frequency of catastrophic events. “Natural disasters are reshaping the home insurance landscape for Canadians from coast-to-coast,”...

Ontario Home Insurance Premiums Rise 6.2% Year-Over-Year: Rates.ca Home Insuramap Report 0

Ontario Home Insurance Premiums Rise 6.2% Year-Over-Year: Rates.ca Home Insuramap Report

System backup and wind/hail put pressure on premiums as northern Ontario cities see the highest costs Toronto, ON (June 30, 2026) – Ontario home insurance premiums climbed 6.2% year-over-year in 2026 to $2,235, driven primarily by system backup (overwhelmed sewers, sump pumps or septic tanks), wind/hail damage and rebuild costs, according to the latest Rates.ca Home Insuramap report. The report draws on Rates.ca’s proprietary quoter data to measure estimated average premiums across Ontario cities and towns. An interactive map powered by data from a leading global insurance analytics provider displays peril risk scores across five categories at the neighbourhood and individual address level across 517 Forward Sortation Areas (FSAs – the first three characters of a postal code). “The biggest drivers of home insurance premium increases in Ontario are system backup and wind and hail damage,” said David Mayer, Director of Insurance and Underwriting, Rates.ca. “Neighbourhoods where multiple risks overlap often see premiums well above the provincial average. Every homeowner — or prospective homeowner — should understand their local risks so they can make informed decisions about their coverage, mitigating risk and protecting their homes.” Key Findings Cochrane topped the list of Ontario’s most expensive cities for home insurance, at $3,322...

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Root Expands Its Telematics Car Insurance to New Jersey, Its 37th State

Article 0 Comments Technology-driven insurer Root has launched its behavior-based car insurance in New Jersey, marking its 37th state. Using mobile telematics, Root calculates its rates primarily on actual driving performance, such as focused driving, smooth braking, and gentle turns. The system can financially reward safe drivers. Safe drivers in New Jersey stand to realize potential annual savings of up to $1,300, according to the insurer. Driver onboarding, customized coverage selection, policy management, and claims routing are handled entirely through Root’s mobile application. “Expanding to New Jersey is a massive milestone in our state expansion strategy as we accelerate toward our goal of coverage in the contiguous U.S. by 2027,” said Alex Timm, founder and CEO of Root. “By entering the Garden State, we’re expanding our reach to a market historically characterized by limited consumer choice. Our ability to scale our behavioral pricing model demonstrates the efficiency of our technology and positions us to capture more market share.” Root said it plans to further expand to Wyoming, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Michigan, Idaho, and Maine pending regulatory approvals. Root said it plans to expand its independent agent distribution channel to 100,000 eligible producers. Appointments can be made in 24 hours. Root...

The rise of the AI-empowered policyholder: What it means for insurance leaders 0

The rise of the AI-empowered policyholder: What it means for insurance leaders

By the ReSource Pro Editorial Team — For decades, insurers and intermediaries controlled most of the information flow in the insurance relationship. Policyholders relied on agents, adjusters, and carriers to interpret coverage, explain options, and guide decisions. That dynamic is beginning to shift. In a recent article published by The Insurance Lead, the concept of the AI-empowered policyholder takes center stage, highlighting how consumer access to artificial intelligence is reshaping expectations, behavior, and the balance of knowledge in insurance interactions. This shift matters because AI is no longer confined to carrier systems or broker platforms. Policyholders now have direct access to tools that can summarize policies, compare coverage, question exclusions, and generate follow-up questions in seconds. The result is a more informed customer who expects faster, clearer, and more collaborative engagement from insurers and their partners. When Information Asymmetry Disappears Historically, insurance operated on information asymmetry. Professionals understood policy language, underwriting logic, and claims processes far better than customers. AI tools are rapidly narrowing that gap. Policyholders can now upload documents, ask nuanced questions, and receive explanations that would have previously required an expert intermediary. This does not mean AI replaces professional judgment, but it does change the starting point...