Products in the category of life, accident and health lead the 6% increase in premiums seen in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2013.
Total premiums paid in the first quarter amounted to $42 million, of which 37.4% were for first party car insurance, 21.0 % for fire insurance and associated lines, 19.09 % for life insurance (individual and collective) and the remaining 6.01 % for health insurance.
The state run Nacional de Seguros and PanAmerican Life share 88% of the market in the segment of accident and health policies.
The segment for Accident and Health policies showed that up to March 2014 the majority market share was held by Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) with 46.4% and 41.7% was held by Pan American Life, according to the Superintendent of Insurance (SUGESE).
Two years after the amendment to the Law of the sector, the insurance market covering risks for short periods at low costs has been consolidated.
Banks and supermarkets are some of the outlets that insurance companies use to market a product that has established itself as a commercial operation with a low risk for insurers.
"The results of the implementation of Law 12 of April 3, 2012 are apparent to Jorge Barreiro Troitiño, corporate vice president of Nacional de Seguros, who said that just after 2012 the number of customers the company has increased by 50%, reaching 80,000 customers. "
A report by SUGESE contains information on Basic Indicators, Market Structure and Participants and Products.
December 2012 Bulletin from the Superintendent of Insurance (SUGESE):
Basic Indicators
The total amount of direct premiums was ¢466.2 billion in 2012, with 69% of that amount corresponding to voluntary insurance. The retention of these total direct premiums compared to 2011 remained at 81% and the total retained earned premiums (allocated ) increased from 96% in 2011 to 91% in 2012.
From January to December 2012, sales of insurance premiums reflected an increase of 8.16%, reporting a total of more than $138,635,000.
Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "up to December 2012 were offered 85 million 879 thousand 82 dollars more than the previous year, which shows that consumers are becoming aware of the importance of having an insurance policy, indicated entrepreneurs from the insurance and reinsurance sectors in Panama. "
The Central Bank of Costa Rica is putting to public consultation the Regulation for Defence and Consumer Protection Insurance.
The regulation will be under consultation until 27 December.
Nacion.com reports that "According to this regulation, all natural or legal persons who are properly identified can make complaints or appeals with insurance firms provided these requests relate to their interests or legally recognized rights."
At the end of last year, 2011, the insurance market reported a growth of 9.6% compared with 2010.
According to the National Commission for Banking and Insurance (CNBS), growth in premiums was $28.7 million.
"According to the insurance industry, the only decrease, of 4%, was in the general insurance section which includes vehicle and fire policies, ..." reported the Laprensa.hn
The tender is for the purchase of life, auto, liability and personal accident insurance policies.
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua in Leon, invites companies to bid on supplying:
1) Life Insurance Policy with additional benefits and permanent total disability from all causes for faculty, staff and group insurance for institution retirees.
"For the sector's improvement, it will be key to adjust fees for products with high accident rates, as well as more careful subscription"
By the end of June 2009, net premiums had grown at an inflation adjusted rate of 9.8%, although lower growth should be expected for the end of the year, due to worse economic performance. Growth in individual insurance was remarkable (14% average), specially in collective life and accident and health, while general damage insurance saw a 7% increase.
Fitch Rating's Special Report: "Insurance Industry Costa Rica: End of the State's Monopoly"
Costa Rica's insurance industry had been dominated by a state-owned monopoly until the new Insurance Law of 2008; up to December 2008 it is the largest and fastest growing market in Central America (excluding Panama). Total premiums by the end of 2008 summed $611.5 million, with the region's largest year-on-year growth (19.4%).