The biggest American reinsurance companies

The simple definition of a reinsurance companies is that these are “insurance companies for insurance companies.” Their main role is to ensure that no single insurance company has too much exposure to a large insured event or disaster.  

Reinsurance companies help spread out the burden of insuring risks, enabling insurers to underwrite larger policies and handle a much larger volume of business than they typically could, while maintaining their solvency.  

In this article, Insurance Business lists the 10 biggest American reinsurance companies. Brokers can use this guide to know which reinsurance companies you can turn to, when insuring large commercial clients.  As for agents, this can be used as a reference to reassure your clients of the financial security of their recommended insurance policies.  

The 10 largest reinsurance companies in the US 

As insurance brokers, it helps to know which are the top reinsurance companies in the US. You can also check our other reinsurance reports, like our report featuring the top global reinsurers, and see which reinsurers are on both lists. Meanwhile, here are the top US reinsurers, listed in terms of the latest figures for their net reinsurance premiums written.  

1. Re Group of America 

Net written reinsurance premiums: $12.51 billion 

Ranking among the top health and life reinsurers, Re Group of America (RGA) is also the biggest American reinsurance company. RGA provides risk management solutions, underwriting expertise, and capital support to insurance companies.  

It also helps them manage mortality, longevity, and health-related risks. RGA is a global reinsurance business, with headquarters in the US. It is recognized for its strong financial stability and innovation in the life and health reinsurance sector.  

RGA reinsurance products 

Re Group of America offers reinsurance products that are primarily focused on life and health risks. Its main products include:  

• Life reinsurance – consists of traditional individual and group life reinsurance solutions  
• Living benefits reinsurance – this is coverage for products like critical illness, disability, and long-term care 
• Health reinsurance – reinsurance for health products, including medical, disability, and long-term care coverage  
• Group reinsurance – solutions for employer-sponsored life and health benefit plans  
• Financial solutions – comprise capital-motivated reinsurance, asset-intensive reinsurance, longevity reinsurance, and stable value products 
• Facultative underwriting and product development – provides support for insurers in underwriting complex or unique risks and developing new insurance products  

2. Berkshire Hathaway  

Net written reinsurance premiums: $10.09 billion 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Is a multinational conglomerate holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska. It is led by the famous “Oracle of Omaha”, CEO and Chairman Warren Buffett. The company owns a diverse portfolio of businesses across sectors, including insurance and reinsurance (from reinsurance group National Indemnity and General Re), utilities, manufacturing, railroads, retail, and services. 

Berkshire Hathaway is renowned for its financial strength, long-term investment strategy, and disciplined capital allocation. As of 2025, it is one of the world’s largest and respected companies, with significant influence in both insurance and global financial markets.  

Berkshire Hathaway reinsurance products 

BH’s reinsurance business is conducted through its subsidiaries, National Indemnity, General Re, and Berkshire Hathaway Life. This reinsurance group of companies offers a wide range of reinsurance products such as:  

• Property and casualty reinsurance – treaty and facultative reinsurance for property and casualty risks, including catastrophe excess of loss, casualty, and specialty lines  
• Life and health reinsurance – solutions for life, health, and annuity risks, including large, tailored retrocession capacity and long-term liability coverage 
• Structured and financial reinsurance – this is custom reinsurance solutions for capital management, risk transfer, and balance sheet optimization  
• Retrocession – this is reinsurance for other reinsurers, providing additional risk capacity and diversification  
• Specialty reinsurance- this is coverage for unique or complex risks, including aviation, marine, and energy  

3. Swiss Re America 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $8.29 billion 

The US-based division of Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest and most respected reinsurance companies, Swiss Re America is headquartered in Armonk, New York. This company provides a wide selection of property, casualty, and life and health insurance solutions to insurance companies in the US.  

Swiss Re America is well-known for its strong financial stability, global expertise, and leadership in risk management. It has an established reputation for supporting US insurers in managing large and complex risks, including natural catastrophes and emerging threats.  

Swiss Re America reinsurance products 

One of the biggest American reinsurance companies, Swiss Re America offers a comprehensive suite of products for US insurers, including:  

• P&C reinsurance – this includes treaty and facultative reinsurance solutions that cover property, casualty, catastrophe, liability, and specialty risks  
• Life & health reinsurance – this is reinsurance for individual and group life, health, disability, and critical illness products, as well as longevity and asset-intensive solutions  
• Medical reinsurance – solutions for US health insurers, including medical stop-loss, cost containment services, and actuarial/underwriting support  
• Alternative risk transfer – this includes innovative risk transfer products, including insurance-linked securities and structured reinsurance  
• Corporate solutions – commercial insurance and risk transfer offerings for large and complex corporate clients  

4. Everest Re 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $7.74 billion  

Headquartered in Warren, NJ, the company provides a diverse portfolio of property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance solutions to insurers in the US and all over the world. Everest Re is renowned for its robust financial stability, underwriting expertise, and diverse portfolio. This reinsurance company supports clients in managing complex and large-scale risks across various industries. As of 2025, Everest Re is recognized as one of the biggest American reinsurance companies.  

Everest Re reinsurance products 

Everest Re focuses on reinsurance products for properties but also carries specialty lines products. These include:  

• Treaty property reinsurance – offers coverage for portfolios of property risks, including natcats, fire, and other perils  
• Treaty casualty reinsurance – this is reinsurance for casualty lines, including general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and more  
• Facultative property and casualty reinsurance – these are individual risk solutions for both property and casualty exposures 
• Property hybrid solutions – customized reinsurance structures combining features of property and casualty coverage  
• Structured solutions – tailored reinsurance arrangements for capital management and risk transfer  
• Surety and credit reinsurance – protection for surety bonds and credit insurance portfolios  
• Accident and health reinsurance – solutions for accident, health, and related specialty lines  
• Marine and aviation reinsurance – coverage for marine, cargo, and aviation risks  

5. Swiss Re Life & Health America 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $7.18 billion 

Swiss Re Life & Health America is a specialized subsidiary of Swiss Re, focused exclusively on life and health reinsurance in the US. Swiss Re Life & Health concentrates on supporting insurers with solutions for mortality, longevity, critical illness, disability, and health risks. This is unlike Swiss Re America, which provides a broad spectrum of property, casualty, and life reinsurance.  

The company partners with life and health insurers to enhance product development and manage biometric risk. It also offers advanced underwriting and risk assessment services for the unique needs of the US health and life insurance market.  

Swiss Re Life & Health America reinsurance products 

As its name suggests, Swiss Re Life & Health America offers products focused on US life and health insurers, including:  

• Life reinsurance – solutions for individuals and group life insurance, covering mortality, longevity, and biometric risks  
• Health reinsurance – this is reinsurance for health, critical illness, disability, and long-term care products 
• Medical reinsurance – includes specialized offerings for the US healthcare market, including medical stop-loss and cost containment services  
• Financial & structured reinsurance – consists of capital-motivated and structured solutions to help insurers manage balance sheet risk, optimize capital, and address financial market volatility  
• Underwriting and claims expertise – includes advanced underwriting support, automated underwriting platforms (like Swiss Re Magnum), and claims management services  
• Product development and innovation – this is support for developing new insurance products, leveraging data analytics and enhancing customer service  

Find out the different types of reinsurance that global insurance brokers should know in this guide.  

6. Munich Re America 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $5.57 billion 

The US-based subsidiary of Munich Re, Munich Re America is one of the biggest American reinsurance companies. With headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, Munich Re America is known for its financial strength, technical expertise, and innovative risk management. Its specialty is helping clients address complex and emerging risks in the US insurance market.  

Munich Re America reinsurance products 

This reinsurer offers a diverse range of reinsurance products for US insurers, including:  

• Property reinsurance – this is coverage for property portfolios, catastrophe risks, and large individual property exposures 
• Specialty reinsurance – includes products for cyber, professional liability, healthcare liability, and public entity risks  
• Casualty reinsurance – includes solutions for general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella/excess liability 
• Marine and inland marine reinsurance – covers marine cargo, hull, and related risks 
• Surety and credit reinsurance – this is protection for surety bonds and credit insurance portfolios  
• Structured and alternative solutions – are customized reinsurance arrangements, including structured risk transfer and capital management solutions  
• Terrorism & political violence coverage – this is an unusual reinsurance product that provides reinsurance for terrorism and political violence risks  

7. Transatlantic Re 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $5.01 billion 

Transatlantic Re, or TransRe, is a leading global reinsurance company, and not just one of the largest reinsurance companies in the US. With its headquarters in NYC, TransRe provides property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance solutions to insurers, as with some of the other American reinsurance companies on this list. 

Known for its underwriting expertise, robust financials, and client-focused approach, TransRe supports insurers in managing complex risks and achieving sustainable growth.  

Transatlantic Re reinsurance products 

Insurers can expect a full spectrum of reinsurance products from TransRe, including:  

• Property reinsurance – this consists of treaty and facultative solutions for property risks, including catastrophe, fire, and other perils  
• Casualty reinsurance – this is coverage for general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella or excess liability  
• Specialty reinsurance – includes products for marine, aviation, surety, credit, and other specialty lines 
• Treaty and facultative reinsurance – cover both portfolio (treaty) and individual risk (facultative) coverage options  
• Global reach solutions – these are reinsurance solutions available to insurance companies worldwide, delivered via regional divisions and local teams  

8. Odyssey Group 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $2.71 billion 

Odyssey Group is a leading global reinsurance and specialty insurance company. Its headquarters are based in Stamford, Connecticut. As a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, Odyssey Group provides property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance solutions to insurers worldwide.  

Odyssey Group is recognized for its strong financial backing, client-focused service, and underwriting expertise. It operates via a network of offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  

Odyssey Re reinsurance products 

This reinsurer offers a variety of products, including:  

• Property reinsurance – this is treaty and facultative coverage for property risks, including natcats, fire, and other perils 
• Casualty reinsurance – includes treaty and facultative solutions for general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation and excess or umbrella liability  
• Marine & energy reinsurance – covers marine, cargo, and energy risks  
• Aviation & space reinsurance – solutions for aviation and space-related exposures 
• Agriculture reinsurance – protection for crops and agricultural risks 
• Accident & health reinsurance – reinsurance for accident, health, and related specialty lines 
• Surety and trade credit reinsurance – coverage for surety bonds and trade credit insurance  
• Cyber liability and terrorism reinsurance – specialized products for cyber and terrorism risks 

9. PartnerRe US 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $2.27 billion 

PartnerRe (US) is the American division of PartnerRe, which is a global reinsurance company based in Bermuda. This company provides property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance solutions to US insurers. As with other biggest American reinsurance companies, PartnerRe offers client-focused services, underwriting excellence, and substantial support for insurers managing complex and emerging risks.  

PartnerRe (US) reinsurance products 

The US branch of PartnerRe offers a comprehensive range of reinsurance products that largely benefit the US reinsurance industry. These include:  

• Property reinsurance – covers property risks, whether catastrophe or non-catastrophe 
• Casualty reinsurance – has solutions for general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella/excess liability  
• Catastrophe reinsurance – provides protection against large-scale catastrophic events  
• Cyber reinsurance – covers cyber risk exposures 
• Structure solutions – offers customized reinsurance arrangements for capital management and risk transfer  
• Specialty lines – includes reinsurance for agriculture, aviation and space, marine and upstream energy, financial risks, and specialty property/engineering/downstream energy 
• Life & health reinsurance – solutions for life, health, and capital management support  

10. Renaissance Re (US) 

Net reinsurance premiums written: $2.06 billion 

Renaissance Re (US) is the North American division of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., another global reinsurance company based in Bermuda. This reinsurer provides risk transfer solutions to US insurers, focusing on catastrophe and complex risks.  

Renaissance Re (US) is renowned for using advanced analytics, its underwriting expertise, and financial strength. It is also a reliable reinsurer when supporting clients in managing volatility and large-scale exposures.  

Renaissance Re (US) reinsurance products 

This reinsurer offers a comprehensive suite of reinsurance products, including:  

• Property catastrophe reinsurance – coverage for large-scale natural disasters and catastrophic events  
• Other property reinsurance – offers protection for non-catastrophe property risks  
• Casualty reinsurance – solutions for general liability, auto liability, workers’ compensation, and excess or umbrella liability 
• Specialty reinsurance – products for specialty lines like credit, cyber, and other emerging threats 

The role of American reinsurance companies in the US insurance market 

Reinsurance companies are vital to stabilizing the industry, as they provide insurance to insurance companies themselves. Here are the main roles that reinsurance companies play in the US insurance industry:  

1. They offer essential risk transfer and diversification 

Thanks to reinsurance companies, primary insurers – the actual companies that sell insurance products to businesses and individuals – can transfer a portion of their risk portfolio to reinsurers. The implication of this alone is tremendous.  

Far-reaching natural catastrophes (natcats) that would otherwise wipe out an insurance company after all its clients have made claims can be withstood by insurance companies. By spreading the risks among many reinsurers, the US financial system is made more resilient overall.  

2. They offer expansion opportunities 

With reinsurance, insurers can write more and larger policies than they normally can handle on their own. Insurance companies don’t have to limit their underwriting capacity to the figures on their balance sheets. This is a benefit that can be especially beneficial when operating in markets that have high-value risks. 

Speaking of high-value risks, insurance companies would not be able to diversify and expand into other niche markets without reinsurance. For instance, insurers wouldn’t dare enter markets that involve mitigating risks for large commercial property, such as satellites. Also, few companies would venture into providing insurance for large, oceangoing vessels that transport precious cargo.  

3. Reinsurance companies can provide financial stability and solvency 

By assigning a portion of the risk to reinsurance companies, insurers can shield themselves from insolvency due to expected or extreme losses. Reinsurance can also be a vital tool for maintaining regulatory compliance by helping meet capital requirements and contractual obligations.  

4. Reinsurance can enable product innovation and flexibility 

Reinsurers typically provide the expertise and capital that can allow insurers to develop new products, enter new markets, or even cover emerging risks from climate change or cyber-threats.  

5. Reinsurers help with claims management by sharing their expertise 

Global reinsurance companies are known for bringing in their experience in claims management, catastrophe modeling, and risk assessment. These in turn benefit the primary insurers and their policyholders. 

What is IFRS 17? 

IFRS 17, or the International Financial Reporting Standard for insurance contracts, is a special rule issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). It changes how insurance and reinsurance companies recognize, measure, present, and disclose insurance contracts in their financial statements.  

You can check the IFRS 17 standards page to find out its full effects on reinsurance companies. 

These are some of the impacts of IFRS 17 on key reinsurance characteristics:  

• Scope – IFRS 17 applies to both reinsurance contracts issued by reinsurers and reinsurance contracts held by insurers purchasing reinsurance contracts  

• Shareholders’ funds – adopting IFRS 17 can affect shareholders’ funds or equity as the new measurement. Profit recognition rules can lead to changes in retained earnings and other equity components at transition stages and in subsequent fiscal years  

• Financial reports – IFRS 17 changes how reinsurance assets and liabilities appear in financial statements, requiring separate presentation from direct insurance contracts  

• Shareholder communication – insurers and reinsurers may be required to explain to shareholders and analysts how new accounting affects reported results, shareholders’ funds, and KPIs  

• Fiscal year impact – companies must restate comparative figures for past fiscal years when adopting IFRS 17, impacting year-on-year comparability and trend analysis 

On the flipside, here's what insurance companies need to know about IFRS 17.   

Choosing the right American reinsurance companies 

Brokers who need reliable reinsurance partners can browse our list of the biggest American reinsurance companies, as some of the reinsurers listed there are also major global players.  

Selecting the right reinsurer in the US is made easier when you go for those with considerable financial strength, proven claims-paying ability, diverse products, and a track record of responsive service.  

The right reinsurer also enhances your clients’ security, supports innovative solutions and ensures their stability through different market cycles.  

Check out our Best in Reinsurance Special Reports page to get to know the reinsurance industry's most respected and reliable leaders.