This is the wish of the insurance federation, which highlights the increasingly heavy cost of natural disasters
Between floods in Pas-de-Calais, storms, fires, droughts, the multiplication of climatic events forces insurers to take on more claims, which weighs more and more on their accounts. They have no other choice than to ask users to put their hands in their pockets, which is in any case what Florence Lustman, the president of France Assureurs, which represents the insurance companies, defends.
>> Purchasing power: towards an increase in insurance prices in 2024
On average, the French pay 25 euros today [ pour la partie risques climatiques] per year to be covered for these home risks, i.e. 12% of the overall price of home insurance. This percentage is set by the State. But, according to Florence Lustman, 12% is very little and especially with the worsening expenses, the system is in deficit. Hence his request to increase this part of the housing premium which is called “natural disaster surcharge.”
The threat of more difficult care
Only the State can decide on this increase, this is why France Assurance is asking that the government give the green light to an increase. The organization asks for at least 6%. Which would increase this obligatory share, sacred in some ways, to finance the damage caused by these natural disasters from 12% to 18%.
According to France Assurance calculations, this would amount to asking for one euro more per month per household just for climate risk coverage, a minimal increase. Insurers are posing the threat that without this greater participation, the management of natural disasters will be more and more difficult and unpredictable. We also see that in certain regions exposed to rising seas or oceans, companies are already reluctant to insure communities or homes.
For the moment, the State has not commented. It must be said that purchasing power remains the priority of the French, and home insurance has already increased by 5% on average in 2023. A more significant increase in certain very exposed coastal regions. The forecasts from the insurance supervisory authority are quite gloomy. This independent body estimates that given the repetition of complicated climatic episodes, insurance premiums should double or even triple in the next 30 years!