Catastrophic Events in Italy: Insurance Coverage and State Intervention

Some statistical data: number of catastrophic events in the world from 1970 to 2008 [E Some statistical data: number of catastrophic events in the world from 1970 to 2008 [Enz e Schwarz (2009)]

Some statistical data: entity of damages

Possible reasons for damages increasing Increasing of catastrophic events due to climate change Increasing of catastrophic events due to climate change Default of preventive measures Default of preventive measures Frauds in the process of damage liquidation Frauds in the process of damage liquidation

Insurance and control of damages increasing In general insurance coverages play a relevant role in controlling the increasing of damages : Preventive measures are imposed by the insurer to the insured party; Preventive measures are imposed by the insurer to the insured party; Insurers take efficient damage liquidation processes; Insurers take efficient damage liquidation processes; Through the mechanism of subrogation, insurers could take action against responsible persons for damages; Through the mechanism of subrogation, insurers could take action against responsible persons for damages;

Obstacles and Challenges in Catastrophic Events Insurance Accidents costs: According to the estimations of Ania (the Association of Italian Insurers) the amount of annual damages for natural catastrophic events in Italy is likely to run into euro per year According to the estimations of Ania (the Association of Italian Insurers) the amount of annual damages for natural catastrophic events in Italy is likely to run into euro per year

(Ania datas: damages to real estates in Italy)

The interplay between State and Insurers Of course catastrophic events are insurable….but high damages costs necessarily mean high premiums. Opportunity of a State intervention with regard to premium payment. The solutions adopted by Italian Parliament

State intervention in agricultural insurance plans According to Act 29th march 2004, n. 102: every year the Italian Ministry of Agriculture provides an agricultural insurance plan. it provides State contribution in premium payment for those catastrophic events included in the annual plan on agricultural insurance. it escludes State intervention(provided in art. 5 Act 102/2004) for those catastrophic events included in the annual plan on agricultural insurance it escludes State intervention(provided in art. 5 Act 102/2004) for those catastrophic events included in the annual plan on agricultural insurance

Agricultural Insurance Plan 2012 Multirisk policies Multirisk policies Increasing of the number of events included in facilitated insurance coverages Increasing of the number of events included in facilitated insurance coverages Change of mentality with respect to catastrofic event Change of mentality with respect to catastrofic event + 11% sales

DL 59/2012 the Reform of Italian civil protection According to art. 2, the Government should have to define some instruments to facilitate insurance coverage of real estate in case of catastrophic events: Extension of present real estate coverages to catastrophic events Extension of present real estate coverages to catastrophic events Total (or partial) exclusion of State intervention Fiscal facilitations

The Law of conversion (L. 100/2012) Art. 2 DL 59/2012 has been cancelled by the law of conversion due to financing problems. Thinking to a solution…

Some proposals… Insuring public finance against natural disasters (David Hoffman – Patricia Bruckoff, 2006) Insuring public finance against natural disasters (David Hoffman – Patricia Bruckoff, 2006) The case of Hurricane Insurance. The case of Hurricane Insurance. The state of Florida has found a solution to insure hurricane risks at reasonable premium levels with the creation of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (an insurer of last resort) and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Mario Jametti- Thomas Von Ungern- Sternberg, 2009) Public reinsurer (the proposal of Ania) Public reinsurer (the proposal of Ania)

What’s new about Italian civil protection Increasing of preventive measures, emergency management plans and communication; Increasing of coordination acted by the department of civil protection with regard to public and private local institutions; Regional plans and funds of civil protection  towards a new role for local communities ?

Opportunities for insurers … Crisis of indemnification under public law. Crisis of indemnification under public law. Increasing of interest for insurance coverage (not only property insurance, but also health insurance related to catastrophic event, cost of an adequate first assistance).

Thanks for your attention