Commercial renewals and benefits open enrollment are hitting at the same time this year, and the questions coming in are sharper than usual. Here are straight answers to the ten we hear most, with sources you can cite to clients. Bookmark it for the next 90 days.
Commercial P&C
1. Is the commercial insurance market actually soft?
Yes, on average. The CIAB reported average premium decreases across all account sizes of 1.2% in Q1 2026 and 2.0% in Q2. Those were the first overall declines since 2017. Ten lines saw decreases in Q2, led by commercial property at -6.3%.
2. Then why did my umbrella and auto go up?
Those lines haven’t turned. Umbrella rose 5.3% in Q2, its 35th straight quarterly increase, and commercial auto rose 4.5%. Liability claim severity keeps climbing. Carriers are using property and workers comp decreases to offset what they still need on these lines.
3. Should I re-market my property even if I like my carrier?
At minimum, benchmark it. Property is where the market has moved most, and CIAB found 75% of respondents saw increased property capacity. Shopping doesn’t mean leaving. A competitive quote often improves the incumbent’s offer, and a documented benchmark shows the client the renewal was tested.
4. Should I take a multi-year property rate agreement?
It depends on what the client values. Multi-year agreements are becoming more common and lock in today’s terms. The tradeoff is missing further decreases if the market keeps softening. For clients who prioritize budget certainty, it’s often worth it.
5. Will property rates keep falling in 2027?
Current signals say relief continues, but nobody can guarantee it. S&P’s September outlook projects property catastrophe reinsurance pricing will keep softening into the January 2027 renewals. In Moody’s annual survey, almost 40% of reinsurance buyers expect prices to fall 7.5% to 15%. Lower reinsurance costs generally give primary carriers room to stay competitive. A major loss event could change that quickly.
Group benefits
6. How much will our health plan cost go up in 2027?
Most surveys land between 8% and 10% after plan changes. Marsh projects 8.2%, the highest since 2003, and about 11% before changes. Aon projects 9.5%. Your group’s number depends on its own claims, especially large claims and specialty drugs.
7. How much can we raise employee contributions and stay ACA-compliant?
For 2027, the employee’s contribution for the lowest-cost, self-only, minimum-value plan can’t exceed 10.22% of household income (Rev. Proc. 2026-26), measured using one of three safe harbors. Under the federal poverty line safe harbor, that’s $135.92 per month for calendar-year plans in the mainland U.S. Test against your lowest-paid full-time employees.
8. What are the 2027 HSA limits, and is the FSA limit final?
HSA limits are final: $4,500 self-only and $9,000 family, plus the $1,000 catch-up at 55 and older. The 2027 health FSA limit had not been released as of this writing. Marsh projects $3,500 with a $700 carryover. The dependent care FSA stays at $7,500.
9. Do we need to send a Medicare Part D notice?
If you offer prescription drug coverage, yes. Medicare-eligible participants must be told whether the coverage is creditable before October 15. If the plan design changed for 2027, re-confirm the creditable status rather than reusing last year’s notice.
Agency operations
10. When should we start on January 1 renewals?
If you haven’t, now. Work backward from each effective date to set submission, quote, and proposal deadlines. The soft market means more accounts get shopped, and those weeks overlap with open enrollment. If you’ll need outside help, onboard it in October so it’s productive before the surge. Our dedicated renewal teams and CSR overflow support are built for exactly this window.
Talk it through with us
Have a question that isn’t on this list, or a Q4 workload that’s already tight? Book 30 minutes with our team.