Virus to cost insurance industry $200B

Lloyd’s predicts widening losses if lockdowns persist

LONDON—The pandemic will cost the insurance industry over $200 billion (U.S.), according to Lloyd’s of London, who estimated that its own payouts are now on a par with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks or the combined impact of hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma in 2017.

Lloyd’s, which as an insurance market pays out to insurers affected by disasters, said Thursday it expects to pay between $3 billion and $4.3 billion to insurance companies to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Losses could widen if lockdowns continue into the next quarter, which would push the overall cost to the insurance industry to $203 billion.

Unlike losses from major storms, for example, the pandemic’s impact is global, systemic and long term.

“Lloyd’s believes that once the scale and complexity of the social and economic impact of COVID-19 is fully understood, the overall cost to the global insurance non-life industry is likely to be far in excess of those historical events,” the London-based insurance market said.

The study undertaken by Lloyd’s assumed social distancing and lockdown measures through 2020, as well as the forecasts for the drop in gross domestic product globally. “What makes COVID-19 unique is not just the devastating continuing human and social impact, but also the economic shock.” Lloyd’s chief executive John Neal said.

“Taking all those factors together will challenge the industry as never before, but we will keep focused on supporting our customers and continuing to pay claims over the weeks and months ahead.”