DSP Insurance Insights

Water damage is one of the most common and costly insurance claims homeowners experience. In fact, it is estimated that nearly one trillion gallons of water are lost each year in the United States due to common household leaks. Many of these losses begin with small issues that go unnoticed until damage has already occurred.

One appliance that deserves a little extra attention is the refrigerator. Water supply lines, filters, and seals can all contribute to leaks or inefficiencies if they are not inspected regularly. A quick annual check is a simple way to prevent water damage at home and keep your appliance running efficiently.

Most employers spend more on employee benefits every year. Costs go up. Complexity goes up. But outcomes? They stay flat.

Most businesses renew their insurance program the same way each year.
Meet with their broker. Review the numbers. Negotiate a little. Move on.

But very few companies stop to ask a more important question:

How does our program actually compare to the rest of the market?

Not what one carrier thinks. Not what last year looked like.
What does the data say?

Most private business owners have some version of a succession plan. A buy-sell agreement drafted years ago. A vague understanding that the life insurance policy covers it. A handshake with a partner about what happens if one of them walks away.

What most owners don't have is a plan that reflects the business as it exists today.

That gap is where things get expensive.

The U.S. surety market hasexperienced robust premium growth in recent years, driven by strong demand forcontract bonds tied to large-scale infrastructure spending and generalincreases in contract sizes stemming from inflationary cost pressures. However,against this backdrop of growth, surety loss ratios have trended upward,prompting a noticeable shift in underwriting posture across the market.

Each year, certain employers are required to submit workplace injury and illness data to OSHA through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). These reports help OSHA monitor safety trends, identify high-risk workplaces, and strengthen worker protection efforts.

ICHRA: What Is It?

An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement differs from a traditional group health plan by shifting how coverage is provided. Instead of sponsoring a group policy, the employer offers a defined contribution that employees use to purchase their own individual health insurance. Working with a plan administrator, employees can choose from multiple insurers and plan options, and their share of the premium is typically paid pre-tax through payroll. For some employers, this approach can be more cost-effective and predictable than maintaining a group plan.

Property fraud, sometimes referred to as deed fraud or recording fraud, is a growing concern for homeowners and property owners. It occurs when someone files forged or fraudulent documents with a county recorder in an attempt to transfer ownership, place a lien, or otherwise gain financial benefit from a property they do not own. Properties that are paid off or have no mortgage are often targeted because there is less oversight from a lender.

Once a fraudulent document is recorded, the responsibility to correct it typically falls on the property owner. This often requires petitioning the court, at the owner’s expense, to have the fraudulent recording removed. Until the issue is resolved, selling the property or obtaining a mortgage or refinancing can be difficult or even impossible.

For most education leaders, employer-sponsored healthcare has long been treated as a fixed part of doing business. 

You select a carrier. 
You negotiate a renewal. 
You absorb the increase. 
You explain it to employees. 
You repeat the process the following year. 

Overview of the New Requirement

Illinois House Bill 1697 introduces a new annual fee tied to prescription drug benefits, and many employers will begin seeing this charge in 2026. Most Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBS of IL) health plans use BCBS of IL’s subsidiary, Prime Therapeutics, as its pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), and this update applies directly to those plans. Under the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, PBMs are required to pay the State of Illinois fifteen dollars per covered individual who is enrolled in pharmacy benefits and lives in Illinois. This includes both employees and dependents. BCBS of IL & Prime Therapeutics will pay the fee to the state fund, and BCBS of IL will pass the cost through to employer groups that fall under the law.