Commercial Lines

The upheaval in the Middle East is rattling political risk clients who are relying on rumors and sparse pieces of information to determine if they will be subject to losses in the region, according to brokers familiar with the risk.

This spring the Insurance Agents & Brokers (IA&B) will offer courses in "Navigating Contractual Liability & Certificates of Insurance" and "Insuring Contractors."

Although stating that the health care reform law will do more harm than good, Arthur J. Gallagher's chief executive said one benefit of the law will be to fuel the brokerage's acquisition strategy.

The turmoil in the Middle East has heightened the interest in political risk coverage as the unrest in that region has increased concerns regarding whether multi-national commercial accounts are adequately covered, an insurance broker said.

Medical malpractice insurance rates might be too high because some insurers are spending as little as two or three percent of premiums to pay out claims, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Hosni Mubarak's resignation as president of Egypt and the subsequent military takeover have brought a measure of stability to the nation, but uncertainty about the future and potential flashpoints throughout the region have insurers casting a wary eye on political risk coverage.