List of bankruptcies of insurance companies in USA (2024)

The word bankruptcy causes fear worldwide except for the United States where it is not perceived as a failure but rather as a setback. Debts are written-off and a second chance is granted to the company to start anew.

List of bankruptcies of insurance companies in USA (1)Deeply rooted in American business, bankruptcy is an old practice that dates back to 1800. The United States have, therefore, seen numerous groups and jewels of their economy such as AIG, General Motors or Lehman Brothers collapse in the heat of financial scandals.

Several dozens of insurance companies, including big names in the business, have gone bankrupt in the United States in the course of the recent 30 years.

Bankruptcy of AIG case

AIG was seriously affected by the 2008 financial crisis. Under the pressure of the authorities that questioned some of the group’s practices, the group’s board of directors was pushed to part ways with its historic president Maurice Greenberg on duty for 35 years.

AIG was bailed out by American Federal Reserve (FED) which had to intervene on various occasions to inject the total amount of 205 billion USD. A drastic restructuring plan was then imposed on the group which was compelled to cede a large number of non-strategic assets including subsidiaries Alico in the United States and AIA in Asia.

Bankruptcy of Conseco

Conseco, an insurance company set up in 1979, was estimated at 61.4 billion USD upon its bankruptcy in 2002.

Due to bad investments, including the acquisition of numerous companies in the 1990s, in particular Green Tree Financial, the company was pushed to bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy of Executive Life Insurance Company

Executive Life Insurance Company is regarded to be the biggest bankruptcy of an insurance company in the United States in the course of recent years.

Based in California, the life company had to file for bankruptcy in 1991 following disastrous investments in junk bonds.

List of major bankruptcies of insurance companies in USA

Wind-up dateDate ofcreationCompanyClass of businessHeadquarters
28/09/20221983FedNat Insurance CompanyProperty damageFlorida
08/08/2022-Weston Property & Casualty Ins. Co.Property damageFlorida
16/06/20222005Southern Fidelity Insurance Co.Property damageFlorida
29/04/20221983Lighthouse Property Insurance Corp.Property damageFlorida
14/03/20222008Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance CompanyProperty damageFlorida
25/02/20222004St. Johns Insurance CompanyProperty damageFlorida
Mach 2021-Bedivere Insurance CompanyWorkmen'’'s compensation, motor, non-lifePennsylvania
September 2019-Senior American Insurance Co.Non-lifePennsylvania
January 20182002Healthcare Providers Ins. ExchangeMedical professional third-party liabilityPennsylvania
March 20171954Penn Treaty Network America Ins. Co. & its subsidiariesLifePennsylvania
December 20161964American Medical and Life Ins. Co.Health, life and accidentNew York
February 20152012CoOportunity HealthLife and healthIowa
January 20152008SeeChange Health Ins. Co.HealthCalifornia
August 2013-Executive Life Ins. Co. of New YorkLifeNew York
May 20131912Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co.HealthIllinois
April 20132006Universal Health Care Insurance Co.Accident and healthFlorida
July 20121934Standard Life Ins. Co. of IndianaLifeIndiana
January 20111925Golden State Mutual Life Insurance CompanyLife, accident and healthCalifornia
November 20101964National States Ins. Co.Accident and healthMissouri
May 20101923Booker T. Washington Ins. Co.Life, accident and healthAlabama
June 20061996Southern Family Ins. Co.Non-lifeFlorida
July 2003-Legion Insurance CompanyNon-life, healthPhiladelphia
February 2002-PHICO Insurance CompanyHealth, occupational accidentsHarrisburg
20021979ConsecoInsurance and financeIndiana
October 20011817Reliance Insurance CompanyLife and non-lifePhiladelphia
July 20031978Fremont Indemnity Ins. Co.Health, workmen's compensationLos Angeles, California
September 20001914California Compensation Ins. Co.Non-lifeSan Francisco
February 19871985Mission Insurance CompanyNon-lifeSan Francisco
March 1989-American Mutual Liability Ins. Co.Non-lifeFramingham
August 1986-Midland Insurance CompanyNon-lifeNew York
December1985-Transit Casualty Insurance CompanyNon-lifeJefferson City
April 1991-Executive Life Insurance CompanyLifeCalifornia

Source: National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association

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List of bankruptcies of insurance companies in USA (2024)

FAQs

Why are insurance companies going out of business? ›

Whether an insurance company was bought by a competitor, mismanaged its budget, or faced an unprecedented number of claims that left it bankrupt, going under is always a possibility for an insurer.

Are life insurance companies in trouble? ›

Many life insurance companies are using captive insurance to alter their books and look better. This could lead to another taxpayer bailout and insurance companies being taken over. This would put benefits in policies at risk for some policyholders.

Which states are insurance companies leaving? ›

As well as leaving America's most populous state, American National has plans to cease offering homeowners' insurance in an additional eight states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington.

Is Florida becoming uninsurable? ›

California, Florida and other wildfire states are rapidly becoming uninsurable | Fortune.

What insurance companies are struggling? ›

For example, State Farm and Allstate have paused all new policies while Farmers is capping the number of new policies it will write each month, according to the Department of Insurance. Those three companies alone handle more than 40% of the business in California's insurance market.

Why is the insurance industry struggling? ›

Declining profitability, increased catastrophe losses, rising loss ratios, increased claims costs, rising reinsurance prices and tightening capacity, lower disposable incomes, and a growing loss of talent from an acceleration of retirements, are all converging on insurers, creating a massive rationale for change.

Who is the most trustworthy life insurance company? ›

Jump to:
  • MassMutual: Best overall.
  • Guardian: Best for applicants with a history of HIV.
  • Northwestern Mutual: Best for consumer experience.
  • New York Life: Best for high coverage amounts.
  • Pacific Life: Best range of permanent life insurance.
  • State Farm: Best for customer satisfaction.
  • AARP: Best for older applicants.
4 days ago

Are people leaving the insurance industry? ›

The Current Turnover Rate

Historically, turnover rates in the insurance industry have increased from 8-9% to 12-15% recently, indicating that retaining employees is becoming more difficult​ (Deloitte United States)​.

Why is State Farm dropping customers? ›

State Farm said it is dropping policies across California for financial reasons and is ending coverage in areas with wildfire hazards, among other factors. A company spokesman declined to explain further how it decided which homes to drop.

Why are insurers pulling out of high risk areas? ›

“They know the risk is just too high to be actuarially sound for their business,” he said. In its announcement, State Farm said too many buildings are being destroyed by climate catastrophes, inflation is making it too expensive to rebuild, and it can't protect its investments any longer.

Why are insurance companies laying off employees? ›

Major Layoffs Industry-Wide

From big brands to insuretechs like Hippo that laid off roughly 20% of its employees, the cuts are undeniable. CEOs cite several drivers behind their decisions, from restructuring to improving efficiency to automation to re-evaluating product offerings.

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