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Regulator objections add weeks to insurer rate filings, data shows
A new analysis finds 44% of rate filings faced at least one objection, with a median 38-day delay to approvals.
ZestyAI says regulator objections are a meaningful drag on the approval of property and casualty rate changes, analyzing rate-filing activity across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The company found that about 44% of the tens of thousands of examined home, auto, and commercial property filings drew at least one objection from a state regulator, adding a median 38 days to the approval timeline.
The report, dubbed “Approval Velocity 2026,” also shows which lines faced the most scrutiny, with homeowners the most contested at a 53.2% objection rate, followed by personal auto at 50.7% and commercial property at 34.3%. ZestyAI said its review covered more than 20,183 approved rate filings over a 12-month period ending May 8.
In comments to Insurance Journal, ZestyAI senior director Bryan Rehor argued that filing delays do not stop the underlying cost pressure, but instead compound it, leading to larger rate moves later that are harder to explain to policyholders. He also said objections in one jurisdiction can create ripple effects because rate revisions follow a fixed implementation calendar.
ZestyAI found state-level differences in approval speed as well, saying California and New York led among states with the slowest approvals across all lines. It added that Maryland ranked high for slowness in personal auto and commercial property, New Jersey was slowest for homeowners, and Wisconsin was fastest in each line, with South Dakota, Alabama, New Mexico, and Arkansas also showing faster approval times. The company said an approach insurers can take is to submit “simpler” rate applications intended to clear scrutiny faster, though it warned this can reduce rate accuracy.