Did you know that in Serbia only 8 to 10 percent of property owners have insurance policies? Yes, you read that right! As storms, fires, and other catastrophic risks become more frequent due to climate change, most citizens are still sitting on their hands with zero protection. Zoran Ćirić from the Serbian Association of Insurers warns that the basic insurance policy covers only three risks: fire, lightning, and hail—but not storms, which have become a regular occurrence. What does this mean for farmers and homeowners? They are practically unprotected against damages caused by storms that hit us more and more often.
But wait, there’s more! The National Bank of Serbia announced that insurance premiums increased by 8% in the first quarter of this year, which sounds like good news. However, this doesn’t mean people are rushing to insure themselves against disasters. Non-life insurance accounts for a whopping 82.9% of total premiums, with the biggest growth seen in motor vehicle insurance and voluntary health insurance. So while drivers and patients get insured, homeowners and farmers are still risking losing everything.
The Association of Insurers proposes introducing mandatory insurance policies for catastrophic risks. Will the government finally realize it’s time to act? Or will we keep waiting for a storm or fire to catch us off guard, leaving us empty-handed and homeless? The climate is changing, but what about us? We’re pretending nothing’s happening.
If you thought this was just another boring topic, think again. Your house, your crops, your property—it’s all at stake. And while the number of insured people rises slowly, damages grow fast. Maybe it’s time to ask: how much does being uninsured cost? And how long will we wait for reality to smack us in the face?
So, are you among the lucky 8-10% with insurance? Or have you bravely decided to play Russian roulette with your property? Drop a comment, share your story, or just throw in a sarcastic smile—because this topic deserves to be talked about, loudly!
