To mitigate the cost of property insurance, harden your home

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Jun 12, 2015, 01:12 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers, legislators, journalists and others anticipating a decrease in property insurance rates due to several mild storm seasons should consider that other influences on catastrophe property reinsurance costs offset the mild seasons. In an environment where the typical Florida property insurance company reviewed and rated by Demotech spends more than 50% of its premium on the purchase of reinsurance, lower premiums due to reductions in reinsurance costs are unlikely for a variety of factors.

Although the last several storm seasons in the Sunshine State have been quiet, insurers have purchased rigorous catastrophe reinsurance programs to protect policyholders. The premiums ceded for reinsurance protection are an annual expense whether or not storms materialize. The situation of carriers is similar to that of a consumer purchasing insurance. A policyholder who did not have a claim still had protection.

Concurrently, it is widely recognized in the reinsurance community that the cost of property catastrophe reinsurance is impacted by global catastrophe experience as well as local catastrophe experience. The damage from storms that wreak havoc anywhere in the world adversely impacts the cost of global property catastrophe insurance and can thereby offset the relative lack of named storms making landfall in Florida.

Thirdly, the methodologies and assumptions underlying projections of storm damage, as utilized by catastrophe loss modeling firms, are frequently updated and revised, even if there are no new storms or damage results to review and analyze. Over the past few years, changes in the assumptions underlying modeling have been directly responsible for changes in the amount of reinsurance that companies purchased, which directly impacts carrier reinsurance costs. Revisions to the assumptions underlying catastrophe models have influenced changes in insurer underwriting philosophies related to geography, type of construction, as well as other criteria, as part of balancing the costs of respective books of business.

So, we have arrived in 2015 with several quiet storm seasons behind us. However, the cost of reinsurance is at approximately 50% of a carrier's premium before even one claim (storm claim, slip and fall, dog bite, any kind of claim) is considered. Although the cost of reinsurance may be relatively low compared to prior periods, it may rise dramatically in the event of an active storm season, whether in Florida or elsewhere. Conversely, the amount of reinsurance required to be purchased may rise due to revisions in the assumptions utilized by catastrophe modeling firms, despite the lack of named storms.

With the significant cost of reinsurance in, an inherent dependency on global weather patterns as well as the modeling assumptions utilized by catastrophe projection firms, and the need to meet or exceed the minimum vertical and horizontal reinsurance requirements of rating agencies, there is little reason to anticipate significant premium decreases. Citizens and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund are purchasing reinsurance because of the relative cost. These expenditures tell me that the cost of purchasing protection is lower than the cost of being without protection.

While this news may be disappointing to consumers, we are pleased to say that the carriers reviewed and rated by Demotech have rigorous vertical and horizontal reinsurance programs. Prior to Demotech's involvement in rating Florida property writers, Hurricane Andrew exposed more than twenty insurers as "under-reinsured." Today, the carriers that we review and rate are protected from the equivalent of multiple Andrews in a single season.

There is some good news for consumers. For those who elect to purchase home hardening options, premiums may be reduced from their current level or stabilize in the future. More importantly, your family, home, and contents should be more secure and capable of withstanding wind and water damage. Although you may know some of these, here is a preliminary enumeration of some of the physical attributes of your home, and therefore the cost of insurance, that are under your control:

Type of roof covering
Shape of roof
Water barriers, such as a sealed roof deck
Continuous load paths via reinforcement of foundation-to-wall, floor-to-floor and wall-to-roof connections
Reinforcement and bracing of the ends of gables
Shatterproof glass in windows or, even better the windows
Doors that are hurricane-rated.

Floridians are well positioned to benefit from the science of home hardening and loss mitigation, as much of what has been learned and documented in this field was initiated in Florida. However, the cost of catastrophe reinsurance is impacted by global as well as local matters. For those looking for premium cost savings, property specific mitigation may be the answer.

About Demotech, Inc.

Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1985, Demotech, Inc. has been serving the insurance industry by providing actuarial consulting as well as accurate and proven Financial Stability Ratings^® (FSRs) for Property & Casualty insurance companies and Title underwriters. FSRs are a leading indicator of the financial stability of an insurer. Our rating process provides an objective baseline as well as insight as to the financial stability of an insurer. Demotech levels the playing field by offering FSRs to insurers of all sizes.

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SOURCE Demotech, Inc.