Reinsurance Execs Have Set Priorities for 2027 Renewals

Underwriting shifts may affect insurance market capacity and costs for U.S. businesses in the coming year.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Insurance

Isometric editorial illustration of a geometric steel-lattice structural model representing data center infrastructure in a muted industrial color palette. — MS Re North America has identified priority underwriting concerns for 2027, focusing on evolving risk models for data centers and artificial intelligence exposures. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel that insurance coverage in your area is becoming less affordable and more complicated?

MS Re North America has outlined its primary underwriting concerns ahead of the January 1, 2027, reinsurance renewal season. The insurer is navigating complex risks in the U.S. market while managing global business operations totaling $4 billion.

Why it matters

Rising casualty claims and severe weather losses are shaping industry strategy, creating potential implications for the pricing and availability of commercial insurance. These adjustments occur as new exposures like artificial intelligence and data centers challenge traditional risk assessment models.

MS Re maintains a global portfolio valued at $4 billion, with the U.S. and Bermuda markets accounting for 25% of that business. The firm is currently evaluating how to price emerging risks like data centers and PFAS against traditional loss trends.

The players

Lisa Butera

Chief Underwriting Officer of North America at MS Re who sets risk priorities and renewal expectations.

MS Re

Global insurer that provides reinsurance capacity to primary carriers, ultimately influencing commercial insurance costs.

The details

MS Re manages a portfolio approach that supports clients across various market cycles using both historical data and prospective loss modeling. As market capacity increases, downward pressure is building on property reinsurance pricing, even as commercial auto and large corporate excess casualty portfolios deal with consistent loss severity. Underwriters must now account for complex accumulation risks in sectors like data centers and AI that lack established historical loss patterns.

October 2-6, 2026: Insurance Leadership Forum held in Colorado Springs.
January 1, 2027: Reinsurance renewal season officially begins.

Money Landscape

The insurance industry is currently preparing for the 2027 reinsurance renewal season, a critical period for determining coverage capacity. This cycle follows a period of heightened loss severity, particularly in casualty and property lines across the United States.

Businesses may see shifts in the pricing and availability of their commercial insurance policies as carriers adjust to new underwriting standards. Discuss your upcoming renewal terms with a qualified commercial insurance professional to understand how market trends may influence your premium costs.

The takeaway

Reinsurance pricing trends serve as a leading indicator for the commercial insurance rates that households and businesses ultimately pay. Review your upcoming policy renewal notices for changes in coverage limits or premiums as these industry-wide adjustments take effect.