Uncategorized

2026 APR 10 (NewsRx) — By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News — According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a trademark application has been made for “PREMIER ACCESS” by Catherine M.C. Farrelly Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, representing The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. This application was made available to the public on April 01, 2026.

The serial number for this application is 86598499.

The international trademark goods and services class codes for this trademark application are 036 and 044.

As submitted by the applicant, this trademark application relates to the following goods and services:

• Insurance for pre-paid dental care, dental and optical insurance claims processing and administration and dental and optical insurance administration and underwriting;

• Dentistry, optometrist, Ophthalmology, and optical services.

The registrar information for this application is: Catherine M.C. Farrelly Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, United States.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)

The post An Application for the Trademark “PREMIER ACCESS” Has Been Filed by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

MEXICO CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb+” (Good) to North American Fire & General Insurance Company Limited (NAFICO) (Guyana) and North American Life Insurance Company Limited (NALICO). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings of NAFICO reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings of NALICO reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM.

NAFICO was incorporated in Guyana in 1989 and is the third-largest carrier in the country’s insurance industry. The company underwrites property/casualty lines of business with its product portfolio composed mainly of motor, fire and liabilities, and ranks as the market leader in auto coverage. NALICO was also incorporated in 1989 and is engaged predominantly in underwriting group life and health insurance, as well as annuities and individual life, ranking among the top five companies in this segment. Overall, both companies belong to the Edward B Beharry Group, a domestic conglomerate.

NALICO and NAFICO’s balance sheet strength assessments of very strong reflect their stable capital bases, with adequate asset-liability management and proper reinsurance structures. However, these balance sheets are pressured by investment risks, which are an important component of the required capital for both companies, due to the limited available security instruments in the market in which they operate. This is also determined by Guyana’s currently favorable macro-economic conditions. The operating performance of both companies is considered adequate with manageable loss and benefits paid ratios, contained premium growth and consistent positive bottom-line results. AM Best expects both companies to continue strengthening their ERM capabilities.

Negative rating actions for NAFICO and NALICO could occur if there is a significant decline in their risk-adjusted capitalization levels respectively to levels that no longer support a very strong balance sheet assessment or if operating performance deteriorates over time from sustained underwriting or net losses. While unlikely, positive rating actions for NAFICO and NALICO could take place if the companies improve their operating performance and that helps build their capital bases.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410316228/en/

Salvador Smith, CQF

Associate Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 109

salvador.smith@ambest.com

Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

alfonso.novelo@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com

Source: AM Best

The post AM Best Assigns Credit Ratings to North American Fire & General Insurance Company Limited and North American Life Insurance Company Limited appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

The saying, “better late than never,” applies to many aspects of life, including buying life insurance.

As an advisor, it’s essential to recognize this and support clients who have put this type of coverage on the back burner.

“Most older clients have delayed life insurance because life ‘got in the way,’” said Jarad Stolz, vice president of insurance sales and associate chief underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. “Maybe they didn’t have a family or young kids in their 20s or 30s. Or perhaps, they focused on paying down debt, and never got around to getting it.”

Cost may have been a barrier as well. For those who have spent their younger years living paycheck to paycheck or struggling financially, a life insurance policy simply wasn’t a priority.

The goal is to recognize this group and provide the guidance they need to secure coverage that protects them moving forward.

Why life insurance is still important between ages 45 and 60

First and foremost, those in this age range are usually in the “super earning” years of their careers when they will accumulate most of the savings they will need for their retirement.

“It’s also a time when living expenses are the greatest. They may be caring for older parents while funding their children’s education and still paying the mortgage,” said Kyle McMahan, chief marketing officer at WoodmenLife.

In this stage of life, protecting the family’s well-being is critical. If a primary earner passes unexpectedly, the surviving family needs financial stability.

But life insurance is also about more than a death benefit. It is an important long-term financial asset.

“Permanent life insurance can accumulate cash value, provide liquidity, and support retirement income, making it a versatile tool that complements savings and investments rather than competing with them,” McMahan explained.

How to support these clients

When you work with clients between 45 and 60, be sure to lead with education, empathy, and encouragement, experts say.

Remember that people care deeply about protecting their families and need someone to meet them where they are and help them take the next step. Emphasize that it’s never too late and reinforce the importance of taking that first step.

As you guide the late starter market with life insurance, keep these tips in mind:

Find a coaching mindset

“The best advisors are part mentor, part teacher, and part accountability partner,” McMahan said.

Just as a good trainer considers all facets of a client’s lifestyle before creating a workout plan, a great insurance professional takes a holistic approach to financial health to develop strategies that not only build wealth over time but also protect and preserve the family’s future.

Reframe life insurance as a proactive financial tool

Instead of positioning life insurance as a worst-case-scenario product, help clients understand that insurance policies can strengthen their financial foundation right now through tax advantages, cash value growth, and asset protection.

“Insurance is a strategic financial asset, and not just a safety net,” McMahan explained.

Address the cost misconception head on

Many older clients assume life insurance coverage is out of reach at their age.

“Show them real options. Policies exist for every budget, and seeing actual numbers is often what moves people to act,” McMahan said.

Connect life insurance values and identity

Help clients connect their financial decisions to their values and to who they are—responsible people who take care of their families and want to protect what they’ve built.

Start with a personalized needs analysis

“Always lead with questions, not products,” McMahan explained.

What do they still owe? Who depends on them? What are their retirement goals? What life milestones are ahead? Every stage of life is an opportunity to evaluate needs and adjust coverage accordingly.

Discuss wills and beneficiary designations

Many clients in this age group haven’t addressed their estate plan.

“Help them understand the real consequences, and how naming beneficiaries directly through a life insurance policy can spare their family significant turmoil,” McMahan said.

Position life insurance as a complement to retirement planning

This age group is actively thinking about retirement.

“Show them how a permanent policy with cash value can supplement retirement income and provide financial flexibility well beyond the death benefit,” McMahan explained.

Encourage small, consistent steps

Remind clients that big financial goals don’t require big dramatic actions. Small amounts of premium invested consistently can generate meaningful protection and value over time.

“The key is to start and stay consistent,” McMahan said.

© Entire contents copyright 2026 by InsuranceNewsNet.com Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without the expressed written consent from InsuranceNewsNet.com.

The post Supporting the ‘better late than never’ market with life insurance appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
A new AM Best analysis reveals that funds held to back individual annuity policies now account for over 36% of the U.S. life/annuity insurance segment’s overall reserves, which is up from 32% prior to the financial crisis of 2008. It illustrates a shift from traditional, defined benefit retirement and income protection approaches toward strategies more reliant on investment performance to drive yield. Over that same timeframe, a larger portion of these annuity reserves have shifted to companies with an AM Best Credit Rating that is nearly two notches lower, when viewed on a comparative, weighted basis.

The Best’s Special Report, titled “Credit Quality of Annuity Reserves Declined from 2007 to 2025 on the Credit Ratings Scale,” notes that approximately one-third of the segment’s annuity reserves are tied to the balance sheets of 95 companies that have a lower Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating now than they did in 2007. Publicly traded companies account for almost half of these reserves, but privately held companies saw the largest average downgrade.

“This has been driven by newer entrants that have been assigned lower ratings, as well as established life/annuity companies that have been downgraded,” said Erik Miller, senior director, AM Best.

Many larger companies, and often private-equity/asset manager-backed (PE/AM) insurers have utilized offshore reinsurance, sometimes with affiliated reinsurers for capital efficiency and tax benefits. Cross-border reinsurance introduces operational complexity and opaqueness, which may complicate analysis, according to the report.

Several factors have contributed to a diminished balance sheet quality that has driven life/annuity ratings lower since 2007, including but not limited to a heightened reinsurance dependence; a lower quality of reinsurance; weaker financial flexibility; pressured internal capital, a deterioration in the quality of assets; and improper asset liability management.

The report also notes that private equity/asset manager-backed insurers have entered the market in the past five years as annuity premiums surged, using higher yields earned from their private credit portfolios to offer elevated crediting rates on product offerings and add market share. Multi-year guarantee annuity (MYGA) products have offered a path for PE/AM-backed insurers to profit off interest rate spread while also matching similar duration liabilities to their structured asset duration and hedging duration risk as needed.

“Interest rates have begun to decline, and new growth may begin to taper off,” said Jason Hopper, associate director, AM Best. “The MYGA space is already very competitive, market share is tighter, and we may be approaching a time when it may be too late for new entrants to capitalize.”

The report suggests that more limited growth prospects would force companies to take market share from others, whether through more competitive rates and bids or a distribution force that offers more options and solutions. “This could either dampen earnings or require material investment in new capabilities, ultimately pressuring profitability and in turn, balance sheet strength,” Hopper said.

To access the full copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=363867.

To view a related video on this report, please visit http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambannuityhopper426&AltSrc=182 .

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410470303/en/

Erik Miller

Senior Director

+1 908 882 8774

erik.miller@ambest.com

Jason Hopper

Associate Director

+1 908 882 1896

jason.hopper@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com

Source: AM Best

The post Best’s Special Report: Analysis Shows Drastic Shift in Life Insurance Reserves Toward Annuity Products, and a Slide in Credit Quality appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

Individuals and couples without children are more common than ever before. In fact, the most recent data from the Pew Research Center found that among adults under 49 without children, 47% say they never plan to have children.

“We are working with more Double Income No Kids [DINKS] clients these days. I believe people are waiting longer to have children or simply forgoing them altogether because of the high costs of raising them,” said Chuck Czajka, founder of Macro Money Concepts.

Lifestyle preferences are also a major reason they are choosing to be child-free. Many prioritize traveling and pursuing interests or hobbies. Additionally, some individuals are simply not interested in raising children.

As a life insurance advisor, recognizing the increasing prevalence of this client base and providing tailored advice that supports their unique lifestyle and long-term goals represents a great opportunity.

Why many of these clients often skip life insurance

Clients who are single without kids have no one relying on their income. For that reason, life insurance is likely at the bottom of their financial priorities.

“Those who are DINKS usually earn enough money that life insurance just isn’t something they think about,” explained Jay Zigmont, founder of Childfree Trust.

Put simply, life insurance is typically only considered for those with dependents. If an individual or couple has none, most assume they don’t need a life insurance policy.

Instead, they focus on other goals, such as building savings, paying off debt, retiring, and/or investing in vacations, luxuries, or hobbies.

Importance of life insurance for those without children

Not having children doesn’t eliminate all financial risks. Life insurance, when understood correctly, provides more than just a death benefit.

“Many permanent life insurance plans offer living benefits like critical illness and long-term care coverage. With these policies, child-free clients can use part of the death benefit to cover these types of issues,” Czajka said.

Permanent policies can also provide tax advantages, with cash value growing on a tax-deferred basis. If a client becomes disabled and is unable to pay their premiums, the policy can still grow.

Policyholders can access this value through tax-free withdrawals or loans, and the death benefit is generally income-tax-free, providing flexibility and financial protection for many child-free clients.

Jarad Stolz, vice president of insurance sales and associate chief underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers, noted that some child-free clients may have a change of heart or lifestyle and eventually decide to have children. In these cases, having life insurance in place can be crucial.

“Maybe later they want to start a family, but if their health has deteriorated, they’ve missed their opportunity to get an affordable life insurance policy while they were younger and healthier,” explained Stolz.

Strategies for advising child-free clients

The key is to reframe the need for life insurance for child-free clients.

Instead of focusing on dependents, ask them about their business, their possible future plans, what they plan to do to cover final expenses,” Stolz explained.

For high-net-worth clients, highlight the tax benefits of life insurance.

“If you’re not discussing taxes and their connection to life insurance with a child-free client, they may never know about them, and as an advisor, you’re missing a major opportunity,” Stolz added.

It may also make sense to position life insurance as a supplement to other retirement plans. Clients can access the cash value of these policies during market downturns.

Zigmont explained that in some cases, however,  it doesn’t make sense to promote life insurance to those without children.

“If you are trying to sell life insurance as the primary product to child-free clients, you may turn them off, since it doesn’t align with their goal to ‘Die With Zero.’ Instead, you need to look at other products,” Zigmont explained.

Annuities with long-term care riders, for example, can allow them to fulfill their goal of dying with zero.

“Life insurance with a strong long-term care insurance component may work, but child-free clients are likely to see little or no value in the life insurance component,” Zigmont added.

© Entire contents copyright 2026 by InsuranceNewsNet.com Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without the expressed written consent from InsuranceNewsNet.com.

The post The child-free client: how advisors can support this growing demographic appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

OMAHA, April 9, 2026 — WoodmenLife today released its annual report for 2025, celebrating the efforts of the Omaha-based life insurer’s members to honor family, community, and country, while achieving superior financial results. 

WoodmenLife ended 2025 with assets of $11.3 billion and a surplus of $1.9 billion. Its surplus ratio of 19.9 percent means the company has $119 in assets for every $100 obligated to its members. The company earned an A+ Superior rating from independent rating agency A.M. Best for the 50^th consecutive year, underscoring the company’s financial strength and reliability. 

WoodmenLife was recognized on the Forbes 2026 America’s Best Insurance Companies list, and was one of five North American businesses recognized with the 2025 International Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau.

In her letter to members, WoodmenLife President & CEO Denise M. McCauley said, “as positive as our 2025 numbers are, we know our impact must go deeper. That’s why we joined you in thousands of projects and activities across the country that fought hunger, honored Veterans and First Responders, and helped beautify our hometowns. Each of those efforts shows what it means to leave a lasting legacy.”

As a 501(c)(8) fraternal benefit society, WoodmenLife counts more than 600,000 members and 797 chapters across the United States. Each chapter brings members and families together for community improvement projects, donation drives, volunteer opportunities, and honoring heroes who have made a local impact.

In 2025, nearly 19,000 WoodmenLife members invested what amounts to more than 14 years of volunteer hours and participated in more than 2,700 events supporting family, community, and country and fighting food insecurity. WoodmenLife chapters also contributed more than $1.5 million in support. WoodmenLife also stepped up for members affected by natural disasters in 2025, contributing more than $82,000 in relief for 125 members.

A total of 626 students from WoodmenLife member families earned $371,500 in WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship^® Awards, advancing their education at universities, junior colleges, and trade schools. 

As a special benefit for its members, last year WoodmenLife introduced a new Financial Education program as part of its WoodmenLife Extras. The program offers short, easy-to-use online modules on important financial topics to help members build confidence and make better money decisions.

More than 800 members joined LawAssure^TM in 2025, a platform for creating wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and other legal documents. The Life’s Perks^® program continues to be popular with members, with more than 26,000 users accessing discounts on everyday items at local and national retailers.     

The WoodmenLife Annual Report is available online at www.woodmenlife.org/financial-strength

The post WoodmenLife 2025 annual report celebrates family, community and country appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

Every life insurance agent has experienced this. The meeting starts strong. The need is clear. The person across the table understands the importance of protecting their family. Then the premium comes up, and the energy shifts.

Hesitation is often labeled a price objection. In my experience, price usually isn’t the real issue. Understanding is.

Why do people believe life insurance is expensive? Research shows most Americans dramatically overestimate the cost of coverage. Young adults, for example, tend to overestimate the price of life insurance by 10 to 12 times the actual cost.

When someone believes coverage costs are 10 times higher than they actually are, resistance isn’t surprising. It’s inevitable.

Over the years, I’ve watched thousands of life insurance discussions unfold across the industry. The premium rarely stops the decision. Misunderstanding behind the premium does. Agents who recognize this difference learn to guide people toward value rather than to defend price.

Once the focus shifts, everything changes.

The opportunity in front of the life insurance industry

Despite decades of awareness campaigns, the protection gap in the U.S. remains enormous.

Roughly 100 million Americans say they need life insurance or need more coverage than they currently have. Ownership levels tell a similar story. Only 51% of adults report having life insurance coverage today.

At the same time, demand for protection continues to grow. New individual life insurance premiums reached $17.5 billion in 2025, marking one of the strongest years on record.

These numbers highlight an important insight into this profession. The life insurance market doesn’t face a demand problem. It faces an understanding problem.

Conversations with agents across the country reveal a recurring theme. The biggest barrier isn’t the product. Perception of cost gets in the way. When people understand the role protection plays in their financial lives, the opportunity to serve them becomes obvious.

Shift life insurance discussions from cost to value

Too many life insurance discussions begin with product structure: Coverage amounts, policy types, riders and premium breakdowns.

Those details play an important role in the end, but they rarely drive the initial decision. People respond to outcomes.

A stronger approach begins with responsibility.

Income supports nearly every aspect of a household’s financial life. Mortgage payments, education planning, daily living expenses and long-term goals all rely on income. Remove that income, and the entire financial structure changes overnight.

Life insurance protects that structure. Guiding people toward this reality helps them connect the premium to the role coverage plays in protecting everything they’re working toward.

Ask questions that create clarity

Price objections often surface when the discussion stays focused on cost. Clarity improves quickly when attention shifts to responsibility.

Simple questions often open the door:

• What financial obligations would continue if your income stopped tomorrow?
• Who would cover the mortgage, education expenses, or daily living costs?
• How long would savings realistically support your household?
• What financial stability would you want your family to maintain, no matter what happens?

These discussions move attention away from the premium and toward the purpose of protection. As people begin thinking about outcomes, the decision framework changes.

The cost people rarely calculate

Most households calculate the monthly premium. Very few calculate the financial consequences of having no protection at all.

Income loss affects far more than just the next few months. It reshapes every long-term goal connected to that income stream. Education plans stall. Retirement timelines shift. Debt obligations fall on surviving family members.

Research shows that 1 in 4 American households would feel the financial impact of losing the primary wage earner within a single month.

I’ve seen this reality drive some of the most meaningful moments in this profession. After people understand the financial ripple effect of income loss, the focus moves away from price. Protection becomes the priority.

Position life insurance as a strategic decision

Life insurance often gets framed as another monthly expense. Framing it this way limits how people think about its role.

Coverage provides immediate capital when it’s needed most. Permanent policies may also build cash value that policyholders can access during their lifetime.

Together, these features expand the role life insurance can play in long-term financial planning.

Clear explanations help people see coverage as a strategic financial decision rather than a simple cost. That perspective builds stronger understanding and stronger relationships over time.

5 practical ways to reframe price objections

Price concerns will always appear in meaningful financial decisions. The professionals who move past these objections most consistently tend to guide people in several ways:

1. Translate premiums into protected income instead of monthly cost.
2. Compare the financial impact of protection versus going without coverage.
3. Connect coverage decisions directly to family responsibilities.
4. Use real scenarios to illustrate the financial gap income loss creates.
5. Position life insurance within a broader long-term planning discussion.

These approaches reshape how people evaluate the decision. Clarity replaces hesitation. Confidence follows.

Leading better life insurance conversations

Price objections will always be part of the life insurance business. Outcomes change based on how agents respond.

The best professionals slow the discussion down. They ask thoughtful questions. They focus on responsibility, stability and the future that people want to protect.

Here’s the key takeaway for agents: The most effective life insurance discussions focus on long-term security and responsibility instead of the immediate premium. Once someone understands what protection truly provides, the decision shifts naturally.

The premium becomes part of a much wider range of choices. A choice about protecting the future that people are working hard to build. And that’s a conversation worth leading.

© Entire contents copyright 2026 by InsuranceNewsNet.com Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without the expressed written consent from InsuranceNewsNet.com.

The post Overcoming price objections by reframing costs appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

One of the nation’s biggest health and life insurance firms has been overcharging Virginians for its accident, dread disease and other supplemental health policies, a State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance review found.

As a result, Aflac — also known as American Family Life Assurance Co. — is cutting premium rates on 16 different policies by as much as 35%, its filings with the bureau show.

The cuts will save more than 120,000 Virginia policyholders some $12.6 million a year, the filings show.

In addition, Aflac agreed to pay a $64,000 fine to settle the matter.

“This represents exactly the type of oversight work the Bureau of Insurance does every day to protect Virginia consumers,” said Scott White, commissioner of the bureau.

“When we discovered these supplemental health products weren’t delivering the value policyholders were paying for, we acted to secure premium rate reductions that resulted in real savings to them,” he said.

It started with one of the regular market analysis reviews that the bureau staff conducts to see how insurers do business.

In the review, bureau staff checked six specific Aflac policies that offered supplement coverage when policyholders suffer injuries from accidents, need cardiac care or need to pay a hospital bill.

They found four of the six policies they reviewed weren’t meeting a basic test of fair pricing.

The percentage of premium income Aflac was paying out in claims was low.

That percentage, claims divided by premiums, is called the loss ratio. When it is too low, regulators say it means premiums are too high.

As they asked Aflac about this, bureau staff found a total of 16 supplemental policies had loss ratios well below the minimum required. In addition to the four policies, there were other policies offering similar coverage, as well as policies offering dental, vision and short-term disability benefits. When policies pay less than a minimum loss ratio, it means premiums are too high.

In Virginia, these sorts of policies are supposed to have loss ratios of at least 50%. Less than half of the money Aflac collected from policyholders was used to pay claims.

Most had been running loss ratios averaging between 30% and 35% since 2019, a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of Aflac rate filings found.

In one year, the loss ratio on one so-called dread disease policy, covering organ transplants, heart attacks, strokes and coma, was as low as 14% and averaged 23% from 2019 through 2024. A vision policy’s loss ratio was just 18% one year, and a dental policy that more than 3,300 Virginians bought, it ranged from 23% to 24% for three years.

Aflac cut the dread disease premiums by 35%, bringing them down to an average of $159 a year. It cut the dental and vision policies’ rates by 20%.

Loss ratios on such supplemental health policies are the lowest set in state law or regulation. Affordable Care Act policies must be priced to produce at least an 80% loss ratio, as is the case for long-term care insurance. Medicare supplement coverage has to have at least a 65% loss ratio.

Aflac Senior Vice President Thomas McDaniel said the company is cutting premium rates and paying the fine “solely for the purpose of a settlement and does not constitute, nor should it be construed as, an admission of any violation of law.”

In a statement, the company added: “As a leading supplemental insurer in the United States, we are committed to ensuring that our policyholders receive the benefits for which they are entitled. We continue to work with state regulators to ensure all standards are met.”

Dave Ress (804) 649-6948 dress@timesdispatch.com

“When we discovered these supplemental health products weren’t delivering the value policyholders were paying for, we acted to secure premium rate reductions that resulted in real savings to them.”

Scott White, commissioner of the bureau

The post Virginia insurance regulators order rate cuts for several Aflac policies appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
AM Best has maintained the under review with positive implications status for the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “a-” (Excellent) of the operating subsidiaries of The Fortegra Group, Inc. (Fortegra) (headquartered in Jacksonville, FL). Fortegra is a wholly owned subsidiary of its publicly traded parent company, Tiptree Inc. [NASDAQ: TIPT]. The property/casualty operating subsidiaries of Fortegra include Lyndon Southern Insurance Company (Wilmington, DE); Insurance Company of the South (Athens, GA); Response Indemnity Company of California (Redondo Beach, CA); Blue Ridge Indemnity Company (Wilmington, DE); Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company (Scottsdale, AZ); and Fortegra Europe Insurance Company SE (Malta). These companies are collectively referred to as Fortegra P&C Group.

Furthermore, AM Best has maintained the under review with positive implications status for the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” (Excellent) of Fortegra Belgium Insurance Company NV (Belgium), Fortegra Insurance UK Ltd. (United Kingdom), and Fortegra Indemnity Insurance Company, LTD. (Turks and Caicos), respectively.

Lastly, AM Best has maintained the under review with positive implications status for the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a-” (Excellent) of Fortegra’s life/health operating subsidiaries, which include Life of the South Insurance Company (Athens, GA); Bankers Life Insurance Company of Louisiana (Marksville, LA); and Southern Financial Life Insurance Company (Scottsville, KY). These companies are collectively referred to as Life of the South Group.

The ratings have been placed under review since October 2025 with positive implications, reflecting AM Best’s view that the announced acquisition of Fortegra by DB Insurance Co., Ltd., if completed as contemplated, could enhance Fortegra’s financial flexibility, operating scale and execution capabilities. The action also considers Fortegra’s strategic importance to the prospective parent as a platform for international growth and expansion. The ratings will remain under review with positive implications pending the close of the transaction and AM Best’s evaluation of parental support, integration plans, and the expected impact on the organization’s balance sheet strength, operating performance, business profile and enterprise risk management. As of April 2026, the transaction is ongoing and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. AM Best will continue discussions with management throughout this period.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409267784/en/

Yizhou Hong

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 882 1692

yizhou.hong@ambest.com

Edin Imsirovic

Director

+1 908 882 1903

edin.imsirovic@ambest.com

Valentine Gu, AAG

Associate Financial Analyst

+31 20 308 5421

valentine.gu@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

al.slavin@ambest.com

Source: AM Best

The post AM Best Maintains Under Review With Positive Implications Status for The Fortegra Group, Inc.’s Insurance Subsidiaries appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.

U.S. life insurance application activity showed double-digit growth of +14.3% year-to-date in Q1-2026, representing the highest Q1 growth on record and achieving the highest total volume for any quarter on record, according to the MIB Life Index. March also saw double-digit year-over-year growth, with activity up +17.7%. When comparing activity through Q1-2026 YTD to prior years, activity was up at +15.5% compared to both 2024 and 2023. Additionally, activity for Q1-2026 was up +10.2% compared to the previous quarter (Q4-2025).

⁠March 2026 saw YOY growth for all age bands, in the double digits for ages 40+. When comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, activity was at growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for age 40+ and flat for ages 0-29. Activity in Q1-2026 for ages 0-29 was flat at -0.5%, ages 30-39 up +5.2%, ages 40-49 up +13.9%, ages 50-59 up +21.6%, ages 60-69 up +29.9%, and ages 70+ up +46.3%. When comparing Q1-2026 to the previous quarter (Q4-2025), all age bands saws growth, in the double digits for ages 0-29 and 60+.

Based on data reported to MIB by our members, March 2026 saw YOY growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for face amount from $1 up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M. When comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, we also saw YOY growth for all face amounts, in the double digits for face amount from $100K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

When including age bands comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, ages 0-29 saw declines for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K, flat activity for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K, and growth for amounts $250K and over, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 30-39 saw declines for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K, flat activity for amounts from $100K up to but not including $1M, and growth for amounts $1M and over, in the double digits for amounts from $1M up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 40-49 saw flat activity for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and growth for amounts $100K and over, in the double digits for amounts from $500K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M.

Ages 50-59 saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $2.5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $2.5M up to but not including $5M, and flat activity for amount $5M and over.

Ages 60-69 saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $250K and for amounts from $500K up to but not including $5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $250K up to but not including $500K, and declines for amount $5M and over.

Ages 70+ saw growth for amounts from $1 up to but not including $5M, in the double digits for amounts from $1 up to but not including $100K and for amounts from $250K up to but not including $5M, and in the triple digits for amounts from $100K up to but not including $250K, and declines for amount $5M and over.

When examining product types as reported to MIB by its members, all product types saw double-digit YOY growth in March. Term Life was up +29.7%, Whole Life up +29.6% and Universal life up +19.6%. Additionally, when comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, all three product types showed double-digit growth. Term Life was up +27.0%, Whole Life up +24.3%, and Universal Life up +28.5%. When including age bands and comparing Q1-2026 to Q1-2025, Term Life and Universal Life saw growth for all age bands, in the double digits for ages 30-69 and in the triple digits for ages 70+. Whole Life saw growth for ages 30+, in the double digits for ages 40+, and flat activity for ages 0-29.

Methodology Change for 2026:

MIB has revised methodology to fine tune age and face amount bands to better meet industry needs, while also incorporating more precise filtering to isolate new business application activity and define applicant country. Please see the main MIB Life Index page on our website for details on our methodology change. All historical data in this report has been restated based on our new methodology, however, historical reports archived on our website reflect the methodology in place at the time of publication.

The post Life insurance application activity sees record-breaking Q1 appeared first on Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet.