Each section also includes ‘other signals on our radar.’ Write back and let us know if you’d like to see more detail on any of those.

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On September 16, 2025, Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant issued a draft bulletin clarifying that insurers must disclose their use of claims history in cancellation or non-renewal decisions across all property/casualty lines, not just personal auto and homeowners coverage. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) explicitly rejected an "unofficial position" that had limited the disclosure requirement under statute § 27-501(n)(2) to only personal lines. The bulletin requires insurers to disclose this practice at policy inception and each renewal for all P&C lines, including commercial coverage. MIA is accepting comments on the draft bulletin through October 13, 2025.

The bulletin extends disclosure requirements to all property/casualty lines in Maryland, removing the prior distinction between personal and commercial coverage. Insurers must revise policy forms and update systems to include claims history disclosures at both inception and renewal across all lines. This creates consistent consumer protection standards statewide and may require operational adjustments for carriers. It also reflects a regulatory focus on greater transparency in insurance decision-making that other states could adopt.

Last week J.D. Power reported that 47% of U.S. homeowners experienced at least one rate increase in the past year, the steepest surge in over a decade. Among high lifetime value customers (multiple policies, higher coverage amounts), 49% reported increases. Inflation, severe weather losses, and tighter reinsurance markets were cited as drivers. J.D. Power’s Craig Martin warned that repeated premium hikes are eroding trust and pushing customers to shop.

Retention risk is rising sharply, especially among profitable multi-policy households. Nearly half of high-value customers unlikely to renew cite repeated increases as the reason. Transparent explanations and options correlated with much higher satisfaction scores, underscoring the importance of communication and proactive retention strategies.

On September 18,, The MEMIC Group announced an agreement to acquire The Dakota Group, including Risk Administration Services and four affiliated insurance services companies. The transaction, expected to close in January 2026, will create the third-largest multi-state workers’ compensation specialist in the U.S., with projected 2025 writings of over $600 million covering more than 25,000 employers. The deal also brings OHARA LLC, TLC Advantage LLC, and Precision Bill Review LLC, which provide coverage and cost-containment services in the Midwest. The Dakota Group is the leading voluntary workers’ compensation writer in South Dakota and ranks among the top 15 in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.

The acquisition increases concentration in the workers’ compensation segment and extends MEMIC’s reach from the Eastern seaboard into the Midwest. The combined company gains scale, operational synergies, and a broader geographic base. For industry executives, the transaction underscores how size and regional diversification influence competitiveness in workers’ compensation, a line shaped by regulatory demands and claims management requirements.

On September 22, Arctic Wolf released its Cyber Insurance Outlook report showing 70% of insurance professionals expect cyber claims to rise, driven by growing threat activity. Brokers estimate only 47% of organizations have adequate coverage, compared to 65% of businesses that believe they are covered. In the past year, 12% of cyber-insured clients filed claims, with ransomware accounting for 18% of those. Over half of insurers reported cyber rate increases in the last 12 months, while claimants often faced higher renewals (66%) and stricter underwriting scrutiny (56%).

The 18-point gap between broker assessments and business perceptions highlights widespread underinsurance. This misalignment risks significant uncovered losses when incidents occur and creates both advisory and product opportunities. Rising claim expectations and post-claim rate actions signal a tougher market, with underwriting discipline and pricing sophistication now front and center.

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