Articles by Chad Hemenway

Chad is National News Editor at Insurance Journal. He has been covering the insurance industry since 2007, reporting on trends and coverage in most lines of insurance as well as natural catastrophes, modeling, regulation, legislation, and litigation. Chad can be reached at chemenway@wellsmedia.com

After Tens of Billions in Insured Losses, Record-Breaking Hurricane Season Ends

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30 after 18 named storms including the earliest Category 5 storm on record, and possibly one of the costliest hurricanes to the insurance industry. Of the 18 named storms, 11 were hurricanes and …

Best Agency to Work For – Overall Winner: Higginbotham

It’s All in the Family at Higginbotham There’s a certain “something” about Rusty Reid that makes it clear why folks might like to work for him as chief executive and chairman of Higginbotham. He feels like a buddy, a big …

AM Best Improves Outlook on US Personal Auto Segment to ‘Stable’

Insurance rating agency AM Best today said it has shifted its outlook of the U.S. personal auto insurance segment to stable from negative thanks to improving loss ratios of the top 20 carriers this year. Underwriting results have improved significantly, …

OPTIS: Insurance Agency M&A Down 10% This Year

The total number of insurance agency mergers and acquisitions as of the end of September was down 10% from the same period in 2023, according to investment banking and financial consulting firm OPTIS Partners. OPTIS Partners’ M&A database counted 535 …

Allstate Says It’s Ready to Grow Homeowners Line With All 3 Distribution Channels

Allstate said it sees opportunity where others may not — in homeowners insurance. And the insurer plans to use all three distribution channels to do it. Due to rising trends in the frequency and severity of weather-related losses and in …

NFIP to Begin Taking Monthly Flood Insurance Payments

The National Flood Insurance Program will soon start to accept monthly payments for flood insurance premiums, ending 55 years of requiring full payment upon application or renewal. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administrator of the NFIP, said the change …

Allstate Insurers Sue Hyundai, Kia to Pay for Claims From Defective Cars

A group of subsidiaries of Allstate have filed a subrogation suit against Hyundai and Kia to get back costs paid to insureds for damages when their cars suddenly erupted in flames. According to the lawsuit, now in U.S. District Court …

Safeco to Take Personal Lines Renewal Business of Main Street America

Liberty Mutual’s Safeco Insurance has agreed to take the personal lines business of Main Street America, marking the second time in two months that Safeco has stepped in to assume a personal lines book of business from another insurer. Main …

Progressive to End Offering Dwelling Fire Insurance

Progressive said it will stop offering dwelling fire insurance, with nonrenewal notices going out as early as Nov. 19. The Mayfield, Ohio-based insurer late last week said the decision to discontinue writing the coverage, often dubbed “landlord insurance,” for non-primary …

Hippo Sells Majority Stake in First Connect Insurance to Centana Growth Partners

Insurtech Hippo said it has sold a majority stake in First Connect Insurance Services, a digital platform for independent agents. The buyer is private equity fund Centana Growth Partners, who with Hippo shares Palo Alto, California as home. Centana said …