A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports the Economy

Key Facts: The Insurance Industry’s Contribution To The Alabama Economy

The insurance industry in Alabama has a significant impact on the state’s economy that extends well beyond its responsibilities to collect premiums and settle claims. It employs licensed professionals, pays taxes, owns municipal bonds and serves people in their times of greatest need.

Employment

U.S. Department of Commerce data show the insurance industry provided 40,149 jobs in Alabama in 2018. The Alabama insurance industry accounted for about $2.9 billion in compensation in 2018.

Gross State Product

The insurance industry contributed $4.7 billion to the Alabama gross state product (GSP) in 2017, accounting for 2.24 percent of the state GSP.

Taxes

Premium taxes paid by insurance companies in Alabama totaled $413.8 million in 2019.

Premiums

Direct premiums written by property/casualty insurance companies in Alabama totaled $8.5 billion in 2019. Premiums written by life/annuity insurance companies totaled $8.1 billion (including life insurance, annuities, accident and health insurance, deposit type funds and other considerations).

Surplus Lines

The surplus lines market, a group of highly specialized insurers, exists to provide coverage that is not available through licensed insurers in the standard insurance market. For the many thousands of businesses that rely on some level of surplus line protection to keep their doors open, surplus lines is an important segment of the market. The Alabama surplus lines market accounted for $603.6 million in gross premiums written in 2018, according to a survey by Business Insurance.

Claims Payments

Insurance company claims payments help ensure the economic security of individuals and businesses and help sustain a number of related industries. In 2019 these payments in Alabama as measured by direct property/casualty incurred losses, were $5.0 billion. Life insurance claims and benefits payouts in Alabama totaled $6.3 billion in 2019.

Catastrophes

The insurance industry plays a vital role in helping individuals and businesses prepare for and recover from the potentially devastating effects of a disaster such as a catastrophic hurricane or storm or wildfire. Four of the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have impacted Alabama: Hurricane Michael in 2018, Hurricanes Irma and Harvey in 2017, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

There were 54,348 flood insurance policies in Alabama in 2018.

In Alabama, about 52,000 single-family homes were at risk in 2020 for storm surge damage from hurricanes up to Category 5 strength, according to CoreLogic, Inc. These homes would cost $9.4 billion to completely rebuild, including labor and materials.

Standard homeowners policies typically do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, but private flood insurance is becoming increasingly available.

Alabama is also prone to tornadoes and wildfires. In April 2011 a devastating outbreak of tornadoes in Tuscaloosa killed 238 and destroyed 5,300 homes. Alabama ranked 7th in the nation for the number of tornadoes in 2019 with 95 storms. The state ranked 10th in the nation for the number of wildfires in 2019.

Leading Writers

Below are tables showing the state’s leading insurance companies, based on market share, and links to state by state comparison tables.

State By State Comparison Tables

• Employment
• Premiums
• Surplus Lines
• Gross State Product
• State Taxes
• Insurance Companies By State
• Catastrophes By State
• Residual Markets
• Captives By State
• Incurred Losses By State
• Insured Cars By State
• Insured Homes By State
• Businesses By State

Directories

• State Insurance Departments
• State Organizations

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