Discounts in fitness centers, in dental services or in consultations with psychologists, are some of the benefits offered by insurance companies in Costa Rica to maintain their portfolio of clients and attract new ones.
The National Insurance Institute (INS), Sagicor, Pan American Life Insurance, Océanica de Seguros and Mapfre, are some of the competitors in the Costa Rican market that offer this type of privileges in their policies.
For the first time since the opening of the insurance market, the National Insurance Institute has lost its dominance in the health insurance segment, which is now led by Pan American Life Insurance.
The insurance company Pan American Life Insurance took 40% of the revenues generated by sales of medical insurance policies at the end of June this year.According to data from the Insurance Superintendency, Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS)"... accounted for 38% of the business (¢16,935 million), followed by Aseguradora del Istmo (Adisa) with 6%."
The reduction of 30% in premium income from compulsory work risk insurance accounted for most of the 8% decline in revenues from total premiums up to March.
In March general insurance and personal insurance maintained the upward trend that had been seen the previous months, with growth rates compared to the same month in 2014 of 6.1% and 8.3%, respectively.
As of July claims for payments totaled $284 million, with personal insurance policies having increased the most.
In the case of personal accident insurance, registered insurance companies reported an increase of 13% between July 2013 and March this year. "...Within this category, those that grew the most were those of health and accident insurance, going from $26 million to $28 million. "
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). The remaining 11.9% is made up of the Insurers Aseguradora del Istmo, with 7.4%, and other market participants (Mapfre, BMI, Atlantic Sauther, SM) with 4.5%.
In the last interannual period personal insurance increased by 11%, general by 5% and compulsory by 9%.
From a bulletin on the Insurance Sector in November 2013 by the Superintendency of Insurance:
BASIC INDICATORS
The total amount of direct premiums collected reached c436,3 billion in November 2013. The involvement of voluntary insurance equaled the average of the last four annual periods - Nov 20l0-Nov 20l3), 73%.
After five years of monopolization, there are 13 insurers, 17 brokers companies, 63 agency companies and 49 auto insurance operators competing in the Costa Rican insurance market.
Nacion.com reports: "Also noteworthy is the 442 products registered up to June this year, surpassing the 159 registered in the same month in 2010."
Pan American Life and Assa accumulate 6% of the market, reporting up to May 2013 accumulated income of $12 million.
According to the Superintendent of Insurance (SUG) these two companies have the largest reported income. "Other market participants with significant shareholdings are Mapfre Seguros with revenues of $7 million and Aseguradora del Istmo with $4.5 million," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
In Costa Rica private insurers have come into the market, primarily selling life and car insurance, with customers seeing lower rates.
Although the National Institute of Insurance (INS) remains the undisputed market leader, private insurers are gradually gaining ground, particularly in the areas of auto and life policies.
The INS, an agency which has been in existence for 84 years, still controls 97% of the auto insurance market and 94% of life policies. In the former, in which $200 million worth of business was done in 2011, only Mapfre Seguros has taken a toll on the quasi-monopoly of the INS, taking 3% of the market, according to data released by Nacion.com.
Through this acquisition, PALIG will increase its already considerable business in Panama and Costa Rica, while expanding its presence in the Caribbean.
In total, the businesses that PALIG are attempting to acquire represent over $125 million in premiums and $675 million in assets, according to 2010 figures.
Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG), a leading provider of life and health insurance in Latin America and the United States, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain businesses and assets of MetLife (NYSE: MET). In addition to acquiring all American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) operations in Panama and Costa Rica, PALIG plans to acquire MetLife’s American Life and General Insurance Company (ALGICID) in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as subsidiaries of ALICO in Barbados, the Cayman Islands and most of the Windward and Leeward Islands. Upon completion, this transaction would increase the size of the Pan-American Life Insurance Group and extend its geographic reach. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The National Institute of Insurance of Costa Rica was not successful in formalizing an alliance with the businesses Alico and Pan-American Life to initiate a line of personal insurance.
Mercedes Agüero, in her article in Nacion.com, writes: "As a coalition of these companies, INS attempted to start a line of personal insurance, especially for life and medical expenses—an untapped niche market due to the 84-year state monopoly."
español
2744
