Business urged to challenge rises in insurance premiums
Global assurance and risk management consultancy The Lion Partnership is urging businesses to challenge rises in insurance premiums before accepting them.
Global assurance and risk management consultancy The Lion Partnership is urging businesses to challenge rises in insurance premiums before accepting them.
Partnership New Zealand manager John Prendergast said a clear idea of the impact of recent disasters on premiums would not be known until December 31, the date when the industry globally renegotiated and renewed reinsurance treaties.
In the meantime, businesses should not accept rises without challenging them, he said.
"Premiums are going to increase, but it shouldn't be necessarily through the roof, and it shouldn't be across the board."
Businesses with a good risk profile and a good claims history were an attractive proposition for an insurer, and may still be able to make savings on premiums, Mr Prendergast said.
Global benchmarking showed businesses may be paying on average 22 percent more for their insurance than they needed to, especially if they were spending $150,000 or more annually on premiums.
Following the Queensland floods and Christchurch earthquakes, many businesses had become more focused on business risk programmes, he said.
Business interruption or continuity insurance was a particular concern, and businesses may be discovering their risks were not covered effectively.
NZPA and NBR staff
Thu, 31 Mar 2011
Thu, 31 Mar 2011
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Business urged to challenge rises in insurance premiums
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