Church Mutual Insurance Company

Carrier appetite summary

Overall appetite & niches: - Specialist carrier for purpose-driven organizations nationwide: houses of worship, religiously affiliated and secular nonprofits/human services, camps/sports/outdoor recreation, and education/schools. Coverages include commercial property, liability, multi-peril/package, workers compensation and auto as part of these niche programs. - Licensed in all 50 states and DC (not Puerto Rico). Religious-related facilities (churches, presbyteries, synods, church-owned camps, day care centers, schools, conference centers, independent-living senior housing) are generally insurable for property and casualty, subject to underwriting guidelines; nursing homes are specifically excluded, with assisted living written in a subset of states. Preferred / target business (by niche): - Houses of Worship: Churches and religious organizations across denominations, including those with affiliated schools. Broker center notes focus on houses of worship with current account premium of $25,000+ as target accounts. - Nonprofit & Human Services: Religious and non-religious nonprofits and human services orgs (e.g., social services, outreach ministries, community programs) where operations align with mission-driven risk profile. - Camps, Sports & Recreation: Camps and outdoor recreation organizations (including church-owned camps and conference centers). No specific minimum premium requirement is noted for this niche, but availability is limited to specified states. - Education & Schools: Private, public and charter schools and related educational facilities, including religiously affiliated schools, generally targeted at $25,000+ account premium. - Senior-related religious facilities: Church-affiliated independent living and, in 37 states, certain assisted living facilities; institutional nursing homes are outside their appetite. Workers Compensation: - Written as part of niche programs (churches, nonprofits, camps, schools, senior living where eligible). Generally supports standard employee, volunteer and ministerial/clerical exposures commonly associated with those operations. - Accounts with extensive in-home operations, home health-style services or significant off-premises exposure may be declined as outside appetite, based on sample market feedback showing declinations where in-home exposure and adverse claims experience are present. Commercial Property & Package: - Focus on purpose-driven occupancies listed above. Typical package includes property, GL, and related crime/inland marine; umbrella/auto/workers comp may be part of program depending on state and class. - PCUSA and ELCA program materials confirm broad willingness to insure religious-related facilities (church-owned camps, daycare, schools, conference centers, independent living, some assisted living) for property and casualty, with risk selection and pricing driven by underwriting guidelines and current market conditions. - Operationally, property underwriting has tightened: carrier is reviewing concentration of risk in high-hazard catastrophe areas, applying higher deductibles (especially wind/hail) and non-renewing some risks where loss experience or concentration is unfavorable. Commercial Umbrella: - Offered over Church Mutual primary/package placements for churches, nonprofits, schools, camps and similar risks. Preferred where underlying GL, auto and employers liability are written by Church Mutual. Restricted / declined classes and key limits: - Nursing homes: explicitly outside appetite; Church Mutual will not insure nursing homes for property/casualty. - Some senior living and social-service risks: assisted living only in a defined set of 37 states; high-acuity health care or operations with medical malpractice components typically not eligible under church/nonprofit programs. - Congregations and nonprofits with heavy in-home operations, extensive off-premises/social services exposures, construction-type operations, or severe loss history may be declined as outside appetite, per multiple market summaries referencing “in-home exposure and claims history” and “class codes and underwriting guidelines.” - CAT-prone and high-hazard property: concentration management and adverse loss trends are driving non-renewals, higher deductibles, and premium increases, particularly for wind/hail and other weather-exposed locations. Geographic notes: - Licensed in all 50 states and DC; not licensed in Puerto Rico. - Property underwriting is particularly sensitive in high-catastrophe or high-hazard zones; congregations and synods have been advised that Church Mutual is reviewing concentration and may non-renew or re-structure coverage in such areas. Submission & broker/producer expectations: - Church Mutual distributes through both managing general agents and company-exclusive/appointed agents and also works with select brokers. Prospective agents and brokers are directed to the Broker Center to request appointment. - Targeted broker partners are described as “elite brokers and agencies that specialize in one or more of our niche markets.” Expectation is that producers understand church/nonprofit, camp and education risks and value-add risk management. - For houses of worship and education/school business, broker center materials stress a preference for larger accounts (current account premium ≥ $25,000). Camps/sports/recreation have no stated minimum premium but are limited to specific states. - For ELCA- and PCUSA-endorsed programs, congregations are directed to Church Mutual for policy and coverage questions; separate escalation email contacts are provided for service issues and for insureds receiving non-renewals. Congregations receiving non-renewals can contact a dedicated Church Mutual program email to obtain explanation and assistance, including possible placement with other carriers. - General underwriting process emphasizes thorough risk analysis, tailored coverage for niche operations, and integration of loss control recommendations; risk management and loss control services are heavily promoted as part of the offering and may be expected components of account handling, especially for larger or more complex properties. Operational takeaways for placing business: - Best fits: mid- to large-sized churches (often with schools), religious and secular nonprofits aligned with community services, church-owned camps and recreation facilities, and private/public/charter schools, with clean to moderate loss experience and manageable property CAT exposure. - Avoid or expect difficulty with: nursing homes, high-acuity senior care, social-service risks with heavy in-home or off-premises exposure and poor loss history, and properties in CAT-concentrated territories without willingness to accept higher deductibles and rate changes. - When submitting, highlight mission, operations, risk management practices, building updates and CAT protections, and be prepared for detailed underwriting questions on off-premises activities, transportation, abuse/molestation controls, and property protection and maintenance.

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