CEO Donnell opens event with vision for successfully advancing industry in the face of change; Chief Actuary Antonello delivers highly anticipated State of the Line Report

BOCA RATON, Fla., May 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — This week, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is holding its Annual Issues Symposium (AIS)—The Future@Work (May 16–18) in Orlando, FL.

This Year’s Word: Connecting

This year’s event opened with NCCI President and CEO Bill Donnell emphasizing the importance of connecting during times of constant change. Before an audience of more than 900 top carrier executives, regulators, and stakeholders, Donnell spoke of the work, the worker, and the workplace of the future with his focus on understanding how those dynamics might shape the workers compensation industry.

As is tradition at AIS, Donnell revealed this year’s word—Connecting—to describe his vision of a path forward for the workers compensation industry to successfully advance in today’s change-driven environment.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of NCCI’s Annual Issues Symposium. On such a historic occasion, we can’t help but look back and ask ourselves, what has changed since our first AIS event? Notably, the health of the workers compensation system is much stronger,” Donnell said. “But what we are most proud of is what hasn’t changed—our industry’s commitment to serving the employers and workers of this country.”

During the event, Donnell shared key indicators of industry results. Preliminary 2017 private carrier net written premium is $39.8 billion, and the preliminary 2017 pretax operating gain percentage is 23%.

Donnell concluded his remarks with a vision of what success will look like when the workers compensation system is able to connect to the work, workers and workplace of the future; “Our success will ultimately be measured by how we embrace technology to deliver our services and positively impact workplace safety and return-to-work efforts,” he said.

State of the Line

Following Donnell’s remarks, NCCI’s Chief Actuary Kathy Antonello, FCAS, FSA, MAAA, delivered the company’s highly anticipated State of the Line Report, which provided the audience with a detailed description of 2017 industry results, market indicators, and trends.

As presented in this year’s State of the Line Report, the workers compensation Calendar Year 2017 combined ratio for private carriers was 89%. This is the fourth consecutive year that the workers compensation line of business has posted an underwriting gain. Total market net written premium volume declined slightly in 2017 to $45 billion.

“The Calendar Year 2017 combined ratio of 89 brought unprecedented underwriting gains to the workers compensation industry,” said Antonello. “The underlying loss ratio of 49 was the major contributor and a historically low watermark. It’s clear that private carriers are supporting conscientious underwriting while interest rates remain low.”

On an accident-year basis, the industry-reported 2017 workers compensation combined ratio was 99%. NCCI expects this accident year’s combined ratio to develop favorably over time.

Other market indicators and trends highlighted in NCCI’s 2018 State of the Line Report included the following:

• The overall reserve position for private carriers improved in 2017. NCCI estimates the Year-End 2017 reserve position to be a $1 billion deficiency—down from $5 billion in 2016.

• Average lost-time claim frequency across NCCI states declined by 6% in 2017, on a preliminary basis. A similar percentage decline was observed in 2016.

• In NCCI states, the preliminary 2017 average indemnity and medical accident-year claim severities both increased by 4% relative to their corresponding 2016 values.

• The workers compensation Residual Market Pool premium volume declined to approximately $1 billion during 2017, while the average residual market share remained stable at 8%.

AIS 2018 Speaker Lineup

Other speakers and topics at this year’s symposium included:

• The Economics of Workers Compensation
  Robert P. Hartwig, PhD, CPCU
  Clinical Associate Professor of Finance, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
• Work Comp Mega Loss
  Michael Choo, MD, MBA
  Chief Medical Officer, Paradigm Outcomes
  Scott B. Goll
  Senior Vice President, Operations, Paradigm Outcomes
• Marijuana—The Move to Schedule II
  Opioids—Killer Pain Relief
  David Deitz, MD, PhD
  Principal, David Deitz & Associates
  Raji Chadarevian
  Director, Medical Regulation and Informatics, NCCI
• Leadership and Our Changing Times
  General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.)
  Secretary of State (2001–2005)
• B3i—The Future of the Insurance Transaction
  Paul Meeusen
  Head Distributed Ledger Technology and Director, Finance
  Reinsurance, Swiss Re & Chief Executive Officer, B3i
• The Impact of Provider Networks on Workers
  Compensation Medical Costs
  Alex Swedlow
  President, California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI)
  Barry Lipton, FCAS, MAAA
  Practice Leader and Senior Actuary, NCCI

Kids’ Chance Partnership

At this year’s event, NCCI also highlighted its partnership with Kids’ Chance, which provides scholarships to children of injured workers so that they can pursue their educational goals. The organization operates in 36 states, making a significant difference in the lives of children affected by a workplace injury. On Wednesday, May 16, NCCI held its annual AIS 2018 golf tournament to benefit Kids’ Chance at the Grand Cypress Orlando Golf Club; JLT Re sponsored the tournament. NCCI announced today a donation of $25,000 to the Kids’ Chance organization.

SOURCE National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)