Regulation plays an outsized role in the development of the auto insurance sector. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen an even higher than usual impact from wild fluctuations in rates, claims, premiums, and consumer reimbursements, to activities impacting the industry itself.

The AAIS Pulse newsmagazine recently featured discussions with Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and Connecticut Insurance Department Asst. Deputy Commissioner, Property & Casualty Division, George Bradner. They sat down with AAIS VP of Government Affairs, Legal, and Compliance, Robin Westcott, to cover a wide array of topics including data collection, data management, openIDL and its benefits, machine learning, and much more.

Risks are continually evolving and emerging, requiring updates to insurance policies in order for carriers to keep pace with market need. Whether you’re a regulator or an underwriter, reviewing new policy language in a timely fashion can be a challenge, and can negatively impact speed-to-market.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently wrapped up its fall meeting in San Diego, Ca., where it celebrated its 150^th Anniversary. It was a hybrid event with an estimated 1,200 people attending in person and another 1,800 virtually. AAIS Views caught up with our Manager Government Affairs and Compliance, Lori Dreaver Munn and AAIS VP of Memberships & Solutions Truman Esmond, who both attended in person to hear about some of the key themes and takeaways from the meeting.

Recently, AAIS Assistant Counsel Phil Skaggs participated in a webinar hosted by LexisNexis as part of their Emerging Issues series entitled “What Cannabis Lawyers Should Know to Prepare for 2022.” To watch a recap of the webinar, click here.

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais and AAIS VP of Government Affairs, Legal and Compliance, Robin Westcott, recently appeared on AM Best TV to discuss our successful openIDL Proof of Concept (POC) surrounding a COVID-19 Data Call, and how this revolutionary blockchain platform is paving the path for better regulatory reporting across the insurance industry. Watch the replay in full here:

We’re at an inflection point with blockchain technology. A greater community of interest has developed beyond cryptocurrency with the realization that blockchain can solve all types of problems. Insurance regulators nationwide are starting to create “sandboxes,” essentially incubators where new technologies and innovations can be developed and tested, exempt from prohibitive regulations, until a proper regulatory framework can be created.

Cannabis is a multi-billion-dollar market that continues to be underserved by the insurance industry. While the majority of states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis in one form or another, less than 30 insurers are participating in the marketplace nationwide. As the number of states moving toward legalization rises, the number of cannabis related businesses (CRBs) multiplies, and public acceptance of legalization increases, it is imperative that the insurance industry understand and normalize cannabis coverage.  

Research from NASA points to several factors that support climate change from rising sea levels to warming oceans and glacial retreats. The effects of climate change have a significant impact on the insurance industry, which generates considerable premium, expense, and losses based on insured catastrophes. As these events become more unpredictable and severe, the industry must adapt.

The AAIS Pulse newsmagazine recently featured a discussion between Maryland Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Birrane and AAIS VP of Government, Legal and Compliance Robin Westcott. They covered a range of topics, from careers in insurance and climate change to National Association of Insurance Commissioner Working Groups, technology, insurtechs and much more.