What is a "Hard Market" in insurance and what does it mean for you?

A hard market in insurance refers to a period of time when insurance companies are less willing to underwrite policies, often due to increased claims or losses. As a result, premiums tend to be higher, and coverage may be harder to obtain. During a hard market, insurance companies may also be stricter in their underwriting criteria and may limit the amount of coverage they are willing to provide. This situation is the opposite of a soft market, which is characterized by increased competition among insurance companies and lower premiums.

​Additional factors that are increasing rates for coastal properties are the fact that 6+ insurance companies writing coastal homes went bankrupt in 2022. This combined with other traditional factors, or a hard market leads to increased premiums and less carrier options for your home, auto, and business insurance.

Independent Agents like GSP Insurance Group and our clients are slightly less impacted by this as we work with over 50+ carriers to always find our clients the best options and value.