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County insurance broker warns of volatile market tied to jail exposures; pooling discussed
Summary
County insurance broker and staff reported a challenging commercial insurance market driven by jail and detention exposures; staff said fleet and body cameras for the sheriff's department remain an outstanding recommendation and that the county is pursuing multiple carriers and a possible pooling option with EMC/IPEP.
County staff provided an overview of the commercial insurance renewal landscape and identified detention and sheriff's department exposures as a primary driver of difficult market conditions. Unidentified Speaker (S4) told commissioners the market is "still a tough tough market" and that jail-related claims have influenced carriers' underwriting decisions.
Staff said recommended items from a prior review have been completed except for fleet and body cameras for the sheriff's department—a larger-cost item that carriers indicated is a material recommendation. "The one that has not is the fleet and body cameras, for the sheriff's department," S4 said, adding that absence of that recommendation could lead to higher deductibles or exclusions.
Procurement staff reported outreach to multiple carriers, including Travelers, and that quotes from the county's current carrier (Ambridge) and Chubb (property) remain pending. Staff also described early-stage work with EMC/IPEP on a potential pooled product for jails and detention exposures—an approach that could broaden capacity but is still in development.
Commissioners asked how cost allocation might work; staff said details are still being worked out and that they expect to have more information early next year. No policy action was taken; staff will continue to solicit proposals and report back.
