the impact of inflation on your insurance

Table of contents

 

• Key areas where inflation erodes the adequacy of business insurance,

• The impact of inflation on declared asset values,

• Factors that affect asset values,

• Inflation and underinsurance,

• How the insurance industry is responding;

• Final takeaways.

 

 

the impact of inflation on your insurance 2

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Consumer Price Index, Australia

 

Key areas where inflation erodes the adequacy of business insurance

 

Inflation impacts all industries and leaves an impression on the following key risk areas: 

 

Commercial property and contents

 

According to the national Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI), construction costs increased by 11% over the 12 months to September, exceeding the 10% annual rise recorded over the 12 months ending June 2022. Given uncertain times, there is a risk of being underinsured if a higher rebuild and associated costs are not accounted for.Should damages occur, the cost of construction, repairs, replacement, and restocking will be higher.

 

Plant and equipment

 

A rise in shipping costs, long lead times for parts, and an increase in repair and labour costs have influenced plant and equipment price increases. If business equipment is affected, insurance limits will become insufficient and inaccurate, causing increased costs to fall on your business.There is also a short supply of second-hand equipment, which applies additional pressure on companies trying to replace units.

 

Business vehicles and fleets

 

The cost associated with automotive vehicles rose 1.2% in the 2022 June quarter due to restricted global supply.With an increase in the expense of repairs and replacement vehicles, this has also led to elevated figures for specialised vehicles, parts, and accessories.

 

Professional liability, product liability, and directors’ and officers’

 

Social inflation is deemed the unknown litigation cost of unresolved cases where settlements are likely to reflect the devaluing dollar.As a result, we’ve seen increases in rates in impacted lines.

 

 

The impact of inflation on declared asset values

 

Due to global inflation, increased loss, and the hardening of the insurance industry, valuations have become a fundamental underwriting focus. Inflation directly impacts the values the insured must declare as part of their insurance policy. If businesses do not review their declared values regularly, this may result in inaccurate values and potential uninsured costs to a company by voiding policy terms and conditions.“…this may result in inaccurate values and potential uninsured costs…”

 

Factors that affect asset values

 

There is no singular index that can be applied to determine what will affect asset values. Each industry and asset type are treated and impacted differently. Insurance policies respond to specific circumstances, potentially exposing companies to the risk of underestimating values.Factoring inflation pressures into business insurance considerations provides a certain level of protection in the face of rising costs.

 

Inflation and underinsurance

 

Underinsurance is an ‘Average Clause’ outlined in commercial insurance policies. Underinsurance is commonly used in insurance policies covering buildings, equipment, contents, stock, and other property, to insure a property for ‘Replacement Value’.

 

In the event of a loss, insurers will apply the ‘Average Clause’ when the declared values are deemed less than the full value of the asset, and as such a claim will be reduced in proportion to the amount of the under-insurance.

“… underinsuring can cost you financially and even worse, mean the end of your business.”

It is critical for business owners to understand the impacts of an average clause within a policy and the risk to their businesses because underinsuring can cost you financially and even worse, mean the end of your business.

 

the impact of inflation on your insurance 3

Underinsurance Penalty Calculation: This is considered a standardised formula as each insurance policy may contain a variation and percentage threshold allowable before the underinsurance clause applies.

 

How the Insurance industry is responding to inflation

 

As inflation costs rise, insurers face the risk of higher claims costs than predicted, which often results in them passing on those market pressures by way of increased premiums across all classes of insurance. Therefore when buying an insurance policy it is best to ensure that it will respond in the event of a claim and have the expectation of it responding to the full extent to ensure a business is not impacted.The insurance industry is committed to an efficient, transparent claims process that is fair to policyholders. The sustainability of the insurance industry and client satisfaction is key to managing the mounting pressures of global inflation on the economy. Working with a trusted broker will ensure that insurers and clients are represented to the highest standard.

 

Table of contents

 

• It is crucial to update and verify the declared value of your assets to account for increases caused by global inflation.

 

• Businesses may struggle to satisfy the insurer’s requirements for asset values that are underinsured, leading to coverage restrictions at the time of renewal. KBI partners with reputable valuers who can assist clients with changing market conditions.

 

• Your KBI broker can review your current insurance policy to assess whether your business has sufficient cover in the present economic environment and advise on necessary insurance policy endorsements.

 

• Without accurately declared asset and business interruption values, claim settlement can be significantly less than the actual loss.

 

• At KBI, we ensure clients understand the basis of settlement on each of the insurance classes to ensure our clients factor in issues such as inflation to limit the application by an average clause.

It is important to evaluate insurance policies regularly to determine financial responsibility- how much is enough to replace an asset if it needs to be rebuilt in today’s market? Would you know?

 

For more information on business insurance or to talk to a KBI broker, please click here.

 

 

 

Secure Your Association’s Future with Tailored Insurance Solutions from KBI

Protect your association’s future by partnering with a specialised insurance broker, KBI. With KBI’s Association Insurance Program, you gain comprehensive coverage designed to address your association’s unique risks. Don’t leave your success to chance—contact us today to discuss your insurance needs.

 

Let KBI be your trusted partner in protecting your association’s interests and ensuring long-term resilience. Together, we can navigate the complexities of risk management and insurance and secure a brighter future for your association.

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Since starting in 2013, KBI is constantly growing and becoming a leader in the Australian market. Our primary point of difference is that we don’t try to be all things to all people. We work in niche areas, where we can tailor an offering, advice and broker support to meet the specific area’s needs.

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