What does reinsurance primarily help an insurance company to do?

Reinsurance primarily helps an insurance company to spread its risk. By transferring a portion of its risk to other insurance companies, known as reinsurers, the primary insurer can reduce its exposure to large losses. This is particularly valuable for managing catastrophic events that could result in significant payouts, which could otherwise jeopardize the insurer's financial stability. Through reinsurance, an insurer can take on more policies and expand its operations with less risk, ultimately enhancing its capacity to provide coverage without exposing itself to excessive potential loss.

While maximizing profits, increasing market share, and limiting customer claims are goals that an insurance company may have, these objectives are typically secondary effects of effectively using reinsurance to balance and manage risk effectively.