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The insurance industry in Washington State 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.
U.S. Department of Commerce data show the insurance industry provided 57,263 jobs in Washington in 2018. The Washington insurance industry accounted for about $4.8 billion in compensation in 2018.
The insurance industry contributed $7.9 billion to the Washington gross state product (GSP) in 2017, accounting for 1.50 percent of the state GSP.
Premium taxes paid by insurance companies in Washington totaled $640.1 million in 2019.
Direct premiums written by property/casualty insurance companies in Washington totaled $11.9 billion in 2019. Premiums written by life/annuity insurance companies totaled $14.6 billion (including life insurance, annuities, accident and health insurance, deposit type funds and other considerations).
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 Washington surplus lines market accounted for $1.0 billion in gross premiums written in 2018, according to a survey by Business Insurance.
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 Washington as measured by direct property/casualty incurred losses, were $7.7 billion. Life insurance claims and benefits payouts in Washington totaled $10.7 billion in 2019.
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. In 2019 Washington ranked sixth in the nation for the number acres burned by wildfires, with 169,742 acres.
Below are tables showing the state’s leading insurance companies, based on market share, and links to state by state comparison tables.
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Source: NAIC data, sourced from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Insurance Information Institute.
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(1) Before reinsurance transactions.
Source: NAIC data, sourced from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Insurance Information Institute.
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(1) Includes life insurance, accident and health insurance, annuity considerations, deposit-type contract funds and other considerations. Before reinsurance transactions.
Source: NAIC data, sourced from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
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(1) Before reinsurance transactions.
Source: NAIC data, sourced from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Insurance Information Institute.