A qualified self-insurer in commercial insurance is a highly specialized organization that meets rigorous standards set by state regulators, giving it the legal authority to pay specific insurance claims—such as workers’ compensation, liability, or property losses—directly from its own resources.
In commercial insurance operations, understanding risk is fundamental to underwriting, capital management, and long-term profitability. Two of the most important—yet distinct—categories are insurance risk and credit risk. Insurance risk is where the insurer is to to pay for losses based on the coverage provided.
The U.S. auto liability landscape is experiencing marked transformation in 2025, driven by both ambitious state-level tort reform and high-profile court cases. Insurance companies, policyholders, and claimants are navigating a rapidly shifting environment shaped by escalating claims costs, a barrage of so-called "nuclear verdicts," and mounting pressure to rein in litigation.
Discover why U.S. captive insurance companies continue to outperform commercial insurers, with superior underwriting, risk control, and profitability. Explore expert insights and industry trends driving the ongoing growth and strategic advantages of captives in today’s evolving insurance market.
Ever hear the term earned and unearned premium? While this is a fairly standard concept in insurance, this article explores the importance of these concepts in detail. Insurance premium accounting is fundamental to how insurers track their obligations and financial health. Two key concepts underpinning this accounting are earned premium and unearned premium. Both play vital roles in revenue recognition, cash flow, and regulatory compliance for insurers—and are essential for policyholders and captive service providers to understand.
The July 30, 2025 tsunami, triggered by the massive Kamchatka earthquake, reached the U.S. Pacific coast but resulted in largely modest physical effects. Of all the areas affected, Crescent City, California experienced the most significant damage, with about $1 million needed for harbor repairs after a surge damaged a floating dock and related infrastructure. Elsewhere along the coast, harbors and marinas in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and other cities prepared for impacts, but ultimately saw only minor water surges, utility precautions, and temporary disruptions before advisories were lifted. The National Tsunami Warning Center managed a swift response, while local agencies enacted utility shutdowns and dock restrictions to limit property loss and protect lives. Most U.S. damage was thus highly localized and contained, with no major incidents or casualties.
The evaluation of adequate risk distribution in captive insurance companies for US federal income tax purposes has created a significant divergence between Tax Court judicial standards and commercial insurance underwriting methodologies. While both frameworks ostensibly aim to ensure genuine insurance characteristics, their approaches to measuring and validating risk distribution differ substantially in both philosophy and practical application.
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