COVID-19 Outbreak: AM Best Analysis and Commentary
To address the effects of COVID-19 on the insurance industry, we are developing stress tests to assess the impact of the pandemic and its secondary effects on our rated insurers. We are closely monitoring the financial impact on rated entities and will continue to provide updates on this rapidly changing situation.
Please visit this page regularly for the latest AM Best analysis and commentary.
For specific inquiries, contact our AM Best Rating Services team.
Latest AM Best's COVID-19 Analysis and Commentary
Access the Latest: Best’s Market Segment Outlooks
Best’s Special Report: Manageable COVID Costs, Delayed Care Improved Publicly Traded Health Insurers’
Profitability in 2020
APRIL 19, 2021
Best’s Special Report: U.S. Property/Casualty Insurers Perform Well in 2020 Despite Pandemic,
Higher Catastrophe Losses
APRIL 16, 2021
Best’s Special Report: U.S. Life/Health Sector Credit Rating Upgrades Outnumber Downgrades in
2020
MARCH 11, 2021
Best’s Special Report: Improved Trends in US P/C Rating Affirmations, Downgrades Reflect Industry’s
Stability Amid Pandemic
MARCH 10, 2021
Best’s Market Segment Report: COVID Creates Negative Implications for Russia Premium Growth,
but Opportunities for Innovation
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
Best’s Special Report: Surge in Telehealth Usage During Pandemic Transforming Health Care Delivery
JANUARY 22, 2021
Best’s Commentary: Australia Business Interruption Test Case Raises More Questions than Answers
for Insurers
NOVEMBER 25, 2020
AM Best TV: COVID Bringing New Challenges to Professional Lines
NOVEMBER 18, 2020
Additional AM Best's COVID-19 Analysis and Commentary
| Best’s Special Report: Professional Liability Insurers Navigate Uncertain Terrain
Amid Pandemic NOVEMBER 12, 2020 |
| Register Now: AM Best's Insurance Market Briefing - Europe NOVEMBER 11, 2020 |
| EMEA (Re)insurance Markets: Rating Trends and Industry Issues from COVID-19 NOVEMBER 11, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: AM Best-Rated Debt Issuance Surges Over 30% from 2019
Amid Pandemic NOVEMBER 10, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: US Economy Rebounds in 3Q; Still Below Pre-COVID-19 Levels NOVEMBER 10, 2020 |
| Register Now: AM Best's Insurance Market Briefing - SIRC NOVEMBER 4, 2020 |
| Playback: AM Best's Insurance Market Briefing - MENA NOVEMBER 3, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Outlook: Japan Non-Life Insurance Outlook Held at Stable
as Carriers Navigate Pandemic Fallout NOVEMBER 3, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: In Pandemic Response, U.S. Property/Casualty Insurers Returned
$8.5 Billion in Premiums in First-Half 2020 OCTOBER 20, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Southeast Asian Reinsurers Look to Life and Health
for Growth OCTOBER 19, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: Title Industry Market Performance Review and Outlook OCTOBER 19, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Health Insurers Post Record Profits in Second-Quarter
2020 Despite Pandemic OCTOBER 14, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: Pandemic Perspectives - Implications for the US P/C Market OCTOBER 12, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: COVID-19 Adds to Challenges for Bahrain’s Fragmented
Insurance Market OCTOBER 08, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Hurricane Delta Likely to Exacerbate Mexico Insurers’
COVID-19-Disrupted Claims Handling OCTOBER 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Title Insurance Market Perseveres Amid Upheaval
and Economic Uncertainty OCTOBER 06, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Nigeria’s Insurance Market Offers Significant
Potential Despite Headwinds OCTOBER 05, 2020 |
| Press Release: AM Best to Join COVID-19 Litigation Trends Panel at the Re/Insurance
Lounge OCTOBER 01, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Insurers’ Private Placement Assets Double
in Decade, Now Face Pandemic Pressure SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: MENA Reinsurers Strive to Adapt to Testing Conditions SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: MENA Reinsurers Strive to Adapt to Testing Conditions SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: COVID-19 Likely Will Pressure Medicaid Managed Care Revenue
Streams SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Credit Rating Changes at First-Half 2020 Mixed as U.S.
P/C Insurers Manage Challenging Mark SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Life/Health Credit Rating Upgrades Outnumber Downgrades
in First-Half 2020 SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Tough Operating Conditions Present Challenges
for Sub-Saharan Reinsurance Markets SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: COVID-19 Highlights Weaknesses in Insurers’ Enterprise
Risk Management SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: More Hurdles for Crop Insurers in 2020 Following
Poor 2019 SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: MENA Reinsurers Strive to Adapt to Testing Conditions SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: U.S. Mutual Insurance Companies Maintain Premium,
Surplus Growth Trends in 2019 SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Caribbean Property/Casualty Insurers Suffer Double
Blow From Rising Reinsurance Rates, COVID-19 SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: UK COVID-19 Business Interruption Court Ruling Brings Greater
Clarity but Questions Remain SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Expanding Opportunities Bolster U.S. Surplus Lines’
Growth and Operating Results SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: Canada 2020 Hot Topics Panel Discussion SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 |
| AM Best's Virtual Insurance Market Briefing: Toronto, Canada SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Insurance Liability Moves to the Head of the Class as School
Year Begins SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Shifting Market Dynamics Help Spark 'Total Return Reinsurers' SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: COVID-19 Taking Its Toll on Canada’s Economy
and Insurance Industry SEPTEMBER 08, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Market Dislocation Drives Growth for US Surplus Lines SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Canada P/C Insurers Well Positioned; Life Writers Face Volatility
in 2020 SEPTEMBER 02, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Global Reinsurers Maintain Equilibrium Through
COVID-19 Turbulence SEPTEMBER 02, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Medicare Advantage Earnings Up 11% in 201 SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: AM Best to Sponsor Bermuda Captive Conference’s
Virtual Event SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Medicare Advantage Insurance Market Segment’s Strong
Earnings Continue AUGUST 31, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Rated Total Return Reinsurers Struggle to Contain Volatility AUGUST 28, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: 2020 California Wildfires May Lead to Further Spikes in Reinsurance
Rates AUGUST 27, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Hurricane Laura Losses Could Further Stress Insurers’
2020 Earnings AUGUST 26, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: ILS Retrocession Capacity Further Squeezed in the Pandemic
Era AUGUST 26, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Property/Casualty Industry’s Underwriting,
Net Income Drop in First-Half 2020 AUGUST 25, 2020 |
| Press Release: AM Best to Join Insurance-Linked Securities Focused Panel at the Re/Insurance
Lounge
AUGUST 18, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Corporate Bond Holdings Pose Risk to Insurers’
Balance Sheets AUGUST 18, 2020 |
| Register Now: State of the Global Reinsurance Market AUGUST 11, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Understanding Country Risk Evaluation in Best’s
Credit Ratings
AUGUST 10, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Low Interest Rates, Potential 'Fallen Angels' Challenge Life/Annuity Writers
AUGUST 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: For U.S. Insurers, Decade of Low Interest Rates Marked
by Different Impact Severity, Strategies
AUGUST 04, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Commercial Insurance Market Dislocation Could
Present New Opportunities for Captives JULY 29, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Profitability Less Certain in U.S. Cyber Insurance Market as New Risks
Emerge JULY 29, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: AM Best and the Current State of the Cyber Insurance Market JULY 27, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Pandemic, Economic Issues Dampen Chile Insurance Market JULY 23, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Pandemic Deals a Wild Card to US Personal Auto Insurers JULY 22, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Profitability Less Certain in U.S. Cyber Insurance
Market as New Risks Emerge JULY 21, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: German Insurance Life and Non-Life Market Outlooks, Reinsurance Trends and
Stress Testing the Impact of COVID-19 JULY 21, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: U.S. Personal Auto Line of Business Stuck in Neutral
as Fewer Claims Offset Premium Loss JULY 16, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Insurance Capital Raising – Bolstering Existing Firms
or Funding Start-Ups? JULY 14, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Commercial Auto Endures Worst Results in 10 Years JULY 13, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Hardening Reinsurance Market Adds to Florida Property
Insurers’ Headaches JULY 06, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: The State of the Florida Market JULY 06, 2020 |
| State of the Italian Insurance Market: COVID-19, Outlooks, Reinsurance Trends and Sovereign
v Country Risk Impact on Ratings JULY 02, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: U.S. Commercial Automobile Insurance Segment Records
Decade-Worst Underwriting Loss in 2019 JUNE 30, 2020 |
| AM Best APAC Webinar 2020: Understanding the 'New Normal' Insurance Landscape in Asia JUNE 30, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Insurers’ Private Equity Holdings Continue
to Climb JUNE 29, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Life/Annuity Insurers’ Commercial Mortgage
Loan Holdings Increasing; Credit Quality Decreasing JUNE 25, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Performance Bond Demand Spotlights Differences Between
Approaches of European and US Models JUNE 25, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Workers' Comp Writers Brace for COVID-19 Hit JUNE 25, 2020 |
| Rating a Captive: The Interactive Rating Process from Data Analysis to Rating Committee Decision JUNE 25, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Expansion of State Workers’ Comp to Include COVID-19
Exposure Would Be Credit Negative for Insurers JUNE 18, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: GCC Insurance Market Trends, Outlook and Impact of Oil Price Movements and
COVID-19 JUNE 18, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: D&O Insurance Facing Seismic Shift JUNE 11, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Fewer Claims Than Expected Mute COVID-19 Impact on Health Insurers' 1Q Earnings JUNE 08, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Pandemic Creates a Severe Test for Municipal Bond Market JUNE 04, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: U.S. Life/Annuity Industry Records 34% Rise in Pre-Tax
Operating Earnings in 2019 JUNE 04, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises Outlook on GCC Insurance Markets
to Negative JUNE 04, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: AM Best’s Approach to Country Risk and Sovereign Credit Concerns in
the Credit Rating Process JUNE 03, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: COVID-19 Throws Spotlight on London Market Modernisation JUNE 02, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: COVID-19 Impact on U.S. Health Insurance Companies Smaller
Than Expected MAY 27, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Reinsurers Brace for Pandemic-Fueled Spate of Mortgage
Losses MAY 21, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: COVID-19 Stress Testing Results and Next Steps MAY 19, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: Market Dislocation Creates Opportunities for Captives MAY 19, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Stress Testing of AM Best-Rated Insurance Companies Indicates
Most Can Withstand Pandemic MAY 18, 2020 |
| AM Best's Stress Test: COVID-19 Hitting Life/Health, Smaller Insurers Hardest MAY 18, 2020 |
| Webinar Playback: COVID-19 Implications for US Insurance and Reinsurance Markets MAY 13, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: AM Best Responds to IMF's 'Significant Revision' of 2020 Economic Outlook MAY 13, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: Bail Bond Insurance Market Faces Legislative Headwinds MAY 11, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Life/Health Cat Bonds Could Be ILS Market’s Most Loss-Affected
Sector in COVID-19 Pandemic MAY 08, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Two Months of Retroactive Business Interruption Coverage
Could Wipe Out Half of Insurers' Capital MAY 08, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: BI Insurers Face 'Existential Threat' if Forced to Cover COVID-19 MAY 05, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Negative Outlook On Brazil’s
Reinsurance Industry Amid COVID-19 Pandemic APRIL 30, 2020 |
| Press Release: AM Best to Join Q&A Session on Pandemic’s Insurance Industry
Impact at AAIS Virtual 2020 Main Event APRIL 30, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: UK and London Market Non-Life Insurance, Trends, Outlook and Impact of COVID-19 APRIL 30, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: COVID-19 Impacts Add to Deterioration in Underwriting Results
of Singapore’s Non-Life Insurers APRIL 28, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: Market Segment Outlooks for Argentina, Guatemala and Bolivia APRIL 28, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Insurers May Increasingly Look to Tap the Federal
Home Loan Bank APRIL 22, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Negative Outlook on Argentina’s
Insurance Industry Amid COVID-19 Pandemic APRIL 21, 2020 |
| AM Best Webinar: French Life and Non-Life Insurance Market Segments Outlooks APRIL 21, 2020 |
| Best’s Special Report: Hit to Insurers’ Surplus from Equity Exposures Expected APRIL 16, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Pandemic Devastates World's Economies APRIL 16, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains UK Non-Life Insurance Market Outlook
at Negative APRIL 15, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: COVID-19 May Have Long-Term Implications on Trade Credit Risk APRIL 14, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Canada Life/Annuity Sector Outlook Changed to Negative APRIL 09, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Social Inflation May Impact Pandemic BI Claims APRIL 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises US Commercial Lines Outlook to
Negative; Holds Personal Lines at Stable APRIL 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises Outlook on Private Mortgage Insurers
to Negative as COVID-19 Hits Housing Market APRIL 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Global Reinsurers Resilient in Face of COVID-19-Related AdversityImpact
of Low Oil Price and COVID-19 on GCC and Russian Insurers APRIL 07, 2020 |
| AM Best Market Segment Outlooks: Life Insurance (Italy, France and the United Kingdom) APRIL 07, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Holds Stable Outlook on U.S. Health Industry
Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis APRIL 06, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Global Reinsurers Resilient in Face of COVID-19-Related Adversity APRIL 03, 2020 |
| Webinar Playback: AM Best's Latin America's Assessment on Mexican Insurers' Financial Strength
in Light of COVID-19 APRIL 03, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Pandemic May Impact Sovereign Credit, Country Risks APRIL 02, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Event Cancellation Insurers May Exclude Future Pandemics APRIL 02, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises Canada Life/Annuity Outlook to
Negative APRIL 02, 2020 |
| Webinar Playback: Impact of Oil Price Movements and COVID-19 on MENA Markets MARCH 31, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Social Inflation May Affect COVID-19 Business Interruption
Losses MARCH 31, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises Outlook on Mexico’s Insurance
Industry to Negative on COVID-19 Pandemic Impact MARCH 27, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: COVID-19 May Have Long-Term Implications on Trade Credit
Insurance Market MARCH 27, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Recession Length Depends on COVID-19 Path MARCH 26, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Event Cancellation Insurance Losses Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
May Hinge on Contract Wordings MARCH 25, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Coronavirus, Pandemics Test Insurers' Enterprise Risk
Preparedness MARCH 25, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises U.S. Disability Outlook to Negative
on Expected COVID-19 Fallout MARCH 24, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Japanese Insurers Continue to Grapple With Global Market
Volatility MARCH 20, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Health Insurers Adjust as COVID-19 Spreads in United States MARCH 19, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: U.S. Health Insurers Adjust to COVID-19 Spread MARCH 18, 2020 |
| Press Release: AM Best to Deploy Pandemic-Related Stress Test for Rated Insurance Companies MARCH 18, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Market Segment Outlook for US Life/Annuity Revised to Negative MARCH 16, 2020 |
| Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises U.S. Life/Annuity Market Outlook
to Negative MARCH 16, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Further Global Interest Rate Cuts Anticipated as Economic
Buffer for Coronavirus Impact MARCH 09, 2020 |
| AM Best TV: Spread of Coronavirus Prompts Closer Scrutiny of Range of Insurers MARCH 06, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: U.S. Health Insurers Face Potential Rise in Claims Due to
Coronavirus MARCH 06, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: European Insurers Well-Positioned to Manage Potential Exposure
to Pandemic Risk MARCH 06, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Southeast Asian Insurers Demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility
in Response to Coronavirus FEBRUARY 21, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Coronavirus Epidemic Impact on China’s Non-Life Insurance
Market Likely to Be Limited FEBRUARY 03, 2020 |
| Best’s Commentary: Coronavirus Highlights the Importance of Stress Testing JANUARY 29, 2020 |