Article: Financial crisis reduces life reinsurance premium volume; But demand for cover may rise as insurers seek more protection.(NEWS)

Byline: COLLEEN McCARTHY

Demand for life and health reinsurance is expected to rise as direct writers look to relieve pressure on their capital after the financial crisis, observers say.

However, a slowdown in the traditional life and health insurance market, due to the economic downturn, has reduced premium volumes for reinsurers. "Whole life premiums are down, life insurance sales are down, and variable annuities are down, so overall, the space of the direct writer is seeing less premium, and that's translating into reinsurers having less volume to compete over, said Robert Hafner, associate director for Standard & Poor's Corp. in New York.

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