Powering precision pricing for every property
Aug 2025
Aug 2025
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In today’s volatile risk environment, pricing insurance based on historical averages is no longer enough. Carriers like USAA, must evolve from one-size-fits-all pricing to personalized, precision underwriting. That shift starts with a deeper understanding of the properties members call home.
It’s a transition already underway. From suburban roofs battered by increasingly frequent tornadoes and hurricanes to homes in wildfire zones facing tighter mitigation expectations, underwriters need a real-time, property-specific view of risk. With the right data and tools, this challenge becomes an opportunity: to match price to risk, reduce loss ratios, and deliver the exceptional service USAA’s members deserve.
Why precision underwriting can’t wait
Across the U.S., insurers are grappling with record-setting catastrophe losses. In 2024 alone, one major carrier processed nearly one million catastrophe claims—the highest count in over a decade.
Even with strong premium growth across the industry, profitability remains a challenge—particularly in homeowners lines, where severe weather events are increasingly frequent and intense. Carriers are being tested by heightened volatility, shifting risk dynamics, and escalating claims volumes that erode margins.
These pressures highlight a growing reality: simply expanding a book of business is no longer enough. To remain competitive and financially resilient—and to protect the long-term interests of their members—insurers like USAA must embrace a more sophisticated approach to underwriting. Precision pricing is quickly becoming foundational for long-term stability and sustainable growth.
Supporting USAA’s mission of service and precision
Many insurers are actively working to speed and improve quote accuracy, reduce friction, and increase fairness—all while facing greater scrutiny from regulators and customers alike. For USAA, delivering both precision and ease is critical to upholding its mission of serving members with integrity and excellence.
Nearmap helps carriers like USAA deliver on that promise.
By combining high-resolution aerial imagery with AI-driven property intelligence through the Betterview platform, carriers can now access accurate, up-to-date insights into every property in their book. That includes key risk factors like:
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Roof characteristics, condition, age, and material
Wildfire defensible space, vegetation overgrowth and debris
Hail-prone roof indicators and storm damage signatures
Property modifications and outbuilding detection
Evidence of neglect or vacancy
These insights integrate directly into rating engines and underwriting workflows, supporting faster quote-to-bind cycles, improved segmentation, and dynamic pricing strategies. No more relying solely on manual inspections, member declarations, or outdated satellite data.
From risk signals to risk strategy
Precision underwriting isn’t just about identifying risk—it’s about managing it intelligently across the policy lifecycle.
- At quoting, USAA can instantly verify roof condition, property hazards and risk features to ensure accurate premiums.
- At renewal, AI-powered change detection flags properties with new hazards or deterioration.
- At portfolio level, USAA can visualize geographic concentrations of risk and optimize their mix accordingly.
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The result? Improved risk avoidance and precision pricing by underwriters means fewer surprises at time of claim, lower loss adjustment expenses, and measurable improvements in combined ratio. Some carriers have already reported inspection cost reductions of 64%, alongside faster triage and better risk alignment.
Building trust and transparency
Today’s members are increasingly concerned about rising premiums—especially in disaster-prone regions. Regulators, too, demand greater transparency and defensibility in how rates are calculated.
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By leveraging up-to-date aerial imagery and AI-derived risk assessments, insurers gain a transparent, auditable foundation for every pricing decision. Visual evidence builds trust with policyholders while helping carriers justify rate filings and meet compliance standards.
In this way, property intelligence isn’t just a tool for internal efficiency—it’s a bridge to stronger relationships with members, regulators, and the communities USAA serves.
Insurance with impact
At its core, insurance is about being there when members need it most. But in an era of mounting risk, the role of the insurer is expanding—toward prevention, preparedness, and partnership.
Nearmap supports that evolution. By providing proactive insights—like identifying vulnerable roofs before hail season or mapping vegetation encroachment in wildfire zones—insurers can help members reduce their risk before disaster strikes. That means fewer claims, better experiences, and more resilient communities.
It’s not just about underwriting smarter—it’s about being a better partner to USAA’s members.
Conclusion: From price to precision
The future of underwriting is personalized, predictive, and powered by AI. As weather volatility accelerates and member expectations evolve, the ability to price fairly and act quickly for every property will define the next generation of insurance leaders.
Those who adopt the tools to see every risk clearly—down to the rooftop—will not only reduce losses and improve performance. They’ll lead a shift toward smarter, fairer, more responsive insurance for all.
Let’s connect on a smarter approach to risk
Nearmap is already helping leading carriers transform claims and underwriting processes with post-catastrophe aerial imagery and AI-powered insights. We’d welcome the opportunity to explore how the Betterview platform can help USAA’s underwriting and pricing teams achieve even greater precision—while supporting your mission to protect and serve your members with excellence and care.
Let’s schedule a conversation to share how we can complement USAA’s current AI and risk initiatives, helping deliver on your long-term goals of resilience, affordability, and exceptional member service.