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Motor insurance losses for general insurers to pile up in H2

Rise in catastrophic events and inadequate pricing has led to a rise in loss ratios

October 24, 2019 / 03:21 PM IST
The initiative could be useful in segments like motor insurance where loss ratios are high due to larger amount of claims

The initiative could be useful in segments like motor insurance where loss ratios are high due to larger amount of claims

 
 
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The loss ratio in motor insurance segment is likely to rise for the general insurance sector in H2 FY20. A dip in automobile sales and inadequate premiums in the non-life industry has led to loss ratios going up to almost 200 percent in the business.

Loss ratios are an indicator of the underwriting performance of an insurance company. If the loss ratio is below 100 percent, it means that the premium collected is adequate to pay claims. If it is above 100 percent, it is an indicator that there is a mismatch.

Last year, loss ratios had crossed 150 percent due a series of flood-related claims.

The rise in catastrophic events-led losses has already led to the rise in underwriting losses. For instance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance  -- the only listed general insurer -- posted an underwriting loss of Rs 102.10 crore in Q2 FY20 compared to an underwriting profit of Rs 30.95 crore in the year-ago period.


Structural issuesWhile motor third-party insurance is mandatory, the own damage cover is optional. Third-party cover pricing is fixed annually depending on the previous year’s claim and the type of vehicle.

Non-life insurers have maintained that there should at least be a 30-35 percent annual increase in premium to make up for the rise in claims. However, the average annual increase by the regulator (IRDAI) has been 8-10 percent.

The insurance regulator takes into account the demands of transporters lobby and also that of customer forums before taking a decision on the final rate of premium increase in the third-party segment. Over and above this, IRDAI said every year insurers will have to write a minimum 90 percent of last year's overall motor third-party business.

Pricing for the own damage segment, on the other hand, is not regulated. Due to rising competition among insurers there has been a consistent drop in motor own damage rates.

The losses in the motor segment continue to persist because pricing is regulated in the third-party segment. Even after the third-party pool for commercial vehicles was dismantled and declined risk pool was set-up, the woes of general insurers are far from over. Combined ratios for the motor insurance segment have stood between 160 percent and 170 percent for the industry.

This year, motor third party premium, which is usually revised from April 1, was left unchanged. It was later hiked from mid-June onwards. In 2018, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all new cars and bikes to buy three- year and five-year third-party covers, respectively.

M Saraswathy
M Saraswathy
first published: Oct 24, 2019 03:18 pm

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