20 of the most notable insurance carrier failures: (2024)

20 of the most notable insurance carrier failures:

1. Executive Life Insurance Company (1991) - One of the largest life insurance companies in the US, it went bankrupt due to investment losses in junk bonds.
2. Confederation Life Insurance Company (1994) - A Canadian life insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of mismanagement and a weak real estate market.
3. Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company (1991) - A US-based mutual life insurance company that went bankrupt due to bad real estate investments and poor management.
4. First Capital Life Insurance Company (1991) - A life insurance company that went bankrupt due to high levels of junk bond investments.
5. Penn Treaty American Corporation (2009) - A US-based long-term care insurance company that went bankrupt due to a lack of reserves to pay claims.
6. Home Insurance Company (2003) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of poor underwriting practices and losses from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
7. Reliance Insurance Company (2001) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of mismanagement and large losses from asbestos claims.
8. HIH Insurance (2001) - A major Australian insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of poor management, inadequate reserves, and fraud.
9. Equitable Life Assurance Society (2000) - A UK-based mutual life insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of guaranteed annuity rate liabilities and poor investment returns.
10. American International Group (AIG) (2008) - AIG was one of the largest insurance companies in the world when it faced financial distress during the 2008 financial crisis. The company had invested heavily in mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps, and faced liquidity problems when the value of those investments plummeted. The US government stepped in with a bailout to prevent the company's collapse.
11. Conseco (2002) - A US-based life and health insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of high-risk investments and aggressive accounting practices.
12. Executive Risk (1997) - A US-based specialty insurance company that went bankrupt due to large losses from professional liability claims.
13. Kemper Insurance (2001) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of asbestos and environmental claims, along with poor investment returns.
14. National Heritage Life Insurance Company (1999) - A US-based life insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of bad investments and fraudulent accounting practices.
15. Northland Insurance Company (1990) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of underpriced policies and bad investments.
16. Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company (1997) - A US-based mutual life insurance company that went bankrupt due to large losses from real estate investments and a decline in policy sales.
17. St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (2001) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of asbestos and environmental claims, along with poor investment returns.
18. Standard Life Assurance Company (1990) - A UK-based life insurance company that went bankrupt due to large losses from investments in commercial property and stocks.
19. The Equitable Life Assurance Society (1991) - A US-based life insurance company that went bankrupt due to a combination of bad investments and fraudulent accounting practices.
20. Transit Casualty Company (1986) - A US-based property and casualty insurance company that went bankrupt due to underpriced policies and excessive risk-taking.

It's worth noting that while insurance company bankruptcies can have serious consequences for policyholders, they are relatively rare. Most insurance companies are able to weather economic downturns and other challenges without going bankrupt.