Audit and Accounting Guide: Property and Liability Insurance Entities 2018

By AICPA

Get authoritative accounting and auditing guidance. Educate staff on the property and liability insurance industry, its products and regulatory issues, and the related transaction cycles an insurance entity is involved with. This guide contains updates on current GAAP and statutory accounting and audit guidance, as well as relevant guidance contained in standards issued through September 1, 2018 which have a major impact on insurance entities, including:

• FASB ASU No. 2016-01 and AICPA Q&A Section 7100.15: Insurance Companies and the Definition of Public Business Entity
• Revenue Recognition Implementation Issue: Considerations for Applying the Scope Exception in FASB ASC 606-10-15-2 and 606-10-15-4 to Contracts Within the Scope of FASB ASC 944

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Dec 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781945498534

Book preview

Preface

(Updated as of September 1, 2018)

Prepared by the Insurance Companies Committee.

About AICPA Audit and Accounting Guides

This AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide has been developed by the Property and Liability Insurance Guide Task Force to assist practitioners in performing and reporting on their audit engagements, and to assist management of property and liability insurance entities in preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and statutory accounting principles.

An AICPA Guide containing auditing guidance related to generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) is recognized as an interpretive publication as defined in AU-C section 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance With Generally Accepted Auditing Standards.1 Interpretive publications are recommendations on the application of generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) in specific circumstances, including engagements for entities in specialized industries.

An interpretive publication is issued under the authority of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board (ASB) after all ASB members have been provided an opportunity to consider and comment on whether the proposed interpretive publication is consistent with GAAS. The members of the ASB have found the auditing guidance in this guide to be consistent with existing GAAS.

Although interpretive publications are not auditing standards, AU-C section 200 requires the auditor to consider applicable interpretive publications in planning and performing the audit because interpretive publications are relevant to the proper application of GAAS in specific circumstances. If the auditor does not apply the auditing guidance in an applicable interpretive publication, the auditor should document how he or she complied with the requirements of GAAS in the circumstances addressed by such auditing guidance.

The ASB is the designated senior committee of the AICPA authorized to speak for the AICPA on all matters related to auditing. Conforming changes made to the auditing guidance contained in this guide are approved by the ASB Chair (or his or her designee) and the Director of the AICPA Audit and Attest Standards Staff. Updates made to the auditing guidance in this guide exceeding that of conforming changes are issued after all ASB members have been provided an opportunity to consider and comment on whether the guide is consistent with the Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs).

Any auditing guidance in a guide appendix or exhibit (whether a chapter or back matter appendix or exhibit), though not authoritative, is considered an other auditing publication. In applying such guidance, the auditor should, exercising professional judgment, assess the relevance and appropriateness of such guidance to the circumstances of the audit. Although the auditor determines the relevance of other auditing guidance, auditing guidance in a guide appendix or exhibit has been reviewed by the AICPA Audit and Attest Standards staff and the auditor may presume that it is appropriate. The Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC) is the designated senior committee of the AICPA authorized to speak for the AICPA in the areas of financial accounting and reporting. Conforming changes made to the financial accounting and reporting guidance contained in this guide are approved by the FinREC Chair (or his or her designee). Updates made to the financial accounting and reporting guidance in this guide exceeding that of conforming changes are approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of FinREC.

This guide does the following:

•

Identifies certain requirements set forth in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification® (ASC).

•

Describes FinREC’s understanding of prevalent or sole industry practice concerning certain issues. In addition, this guide may indicate that FinREC expresses a preference for the prevalent or sole industry practice, or it may indicate that FinREC expresses a preference for another practice that is not the prevalent or sole industry practice; alternatively, FinREC may express no view on the matter.

•

Identifies certain other, but not necessarily all, industry practices concerning certain accounting issues without expressing FinREC’s views on them.

•

Provides guidance that has been supported by FinREC on the accounting, reporting, or disclosure treatment of transactions or events that are not set forth in FASB ASC.

Accounting guidance for nongovernmental entities included in an AICPA Guide is a source of nonauthoritative accounting guidance. As discussed later in this preface, FASB ASC is the authoritative source of U.S. accounting and reporting standards for nongovernmental entities, in addition to guidance issued by the SEC.

AICPA Guides may include certain content presented as Supplement, Appendix, or Exhibit. A supplement is a reproduction, in whole or in part, of authoritative guidance originally issued by a standard setting body (including regulatory bodies) and applicable to entities or engagements within the purview of that standard setter, independent of the authoritative status of the applicable AICPA Guide. Both appendixes and exhibits are included for informational purposes and have no authoritative status.

Recognition

2018 Guide Edition

AICPA Senior Committees

Auditing Standards Board

Ilene Kassman, ASB Member

Mike Santay, Chair

Financial Reporting Executive Committee

Michelle Avery, FinREC Member

James Dolinar, Chair

The AICPA gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who reviewed or otherwise contributed to the development of this edition of the guide: Stephen Andrews, Jennifer Austin, Dan Buttke, Will Chan, Alissa Choi, Erica Czajkowski, Katie Frank, Allison Haug, Amanda Hawkins, Christopher Howell, Jason Jacobs, Margaret Keeley, J Eric Kegler, William Kennedy, Jeff Maffitt, Brett Maly, Sarah McConnell, Andrea Medley, Brandon Mott, Dave Osborn, Tiffany Paben, Phillip Pennino, Canita Gunter Peterson, Amanda Poirot, Todd Ross,, Art Salvadori, Greg Schlaefer, Jie Shen, Christina Siena, Carrie Small, Catherine Stout, John Szymczyk, Matthew Walker and Jon Zeigler.

AICPA Staff

Ahava Goldman

Associate Director

Audit and Attest Standards

Kim Kushmerick

Associate Director

Accounting Standards

and Staff Liaison to the

AICPA Insurance Expert Panel

2013 Guide Edition

Property and Liability Insurance Entities Audit and Accounting Guide Overhaul Task Force (2005–2012)

(members when this edition was completed)

Mark Parkin, Chair

Michelle Avery

Keith Bell

Alissa Choi

Maureen Downie

William Ferguson

Daniel Grady

Richard Lynch

Coleman Ross

E. Daniel Thomas

Magali Welch

(former members who contributed to the development of this edition)

Ken Croarkin

Martin John

Scott Lewis

William Lowry

Marc Smith

Ramin Taraz

AICPA Senior Committees

Financial Reporting Executive Committee

(members when this edition was completed)

Richard C. Paul, Chair

Aaron Anderson

Linda Bergen

Adam Brown

Terry Cooper

Lawrence Gray

Randolph Green

Mary E. Kane

Jack Markey

Joseph D. McGrath

Rebecca Mihalko

Steve Moehrle

Angela Newell

Mark Scoles

Brad Sparks

Dusty Stallings

(former members who contributed to the development of this edition)

Jay Hanson, Former Chair

Benjamin S. Neuhausen, Former Chair

David Alexander

Robert Axel

Rick Arpin

Kimber Bascom

Glenn Bradley

Neri Bukspan

Brett Cohen

Pascal Desroches

James A. Dolinar

L. Charles Evans

Faye Feger

Bruce Johnson

Richard Jones

Carl Kampel

Lisa Kelley

David Morris

Jonathon Nus

Richard Petersen

Roy Rendino

Terry Spidell

Randall Sogoloff

Richard K. Stuart

Enrique Tejerina

Robert Uhl

Dan Weaver

Dan Zwarn

Auditing Standards Board

(members when this edition was completed)

Darrel R. Schubert, Chair

Brian Bluhm

Robert E. Chevalier

Sam K. Cotterell

Jim Dalkin

David Duree

Jennifer Haskell

Ed G. Jolicoeur

Barbara Lewis

Carolyn H. McNerney

David Morris

Kenneth R. Odom

Don M. Pallais

Brian R. Richson

Mike Santay

Kay W. Tatum

Kim L. Tredinnick

H. Steven Vogel

Kurtis A. Wolff

The AICPA and the Property and Liability Insurance Entities Audit and Accounting Guide Overhaul Task Force gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Evan Cabat, Jean Connolly, Jennifer Englert, Robert Evans, Danielle Fandrey, Thomas Fekete, Julie Gould, Andy Gray, Linda Healy, Jay Muska, Mary Saslow, Lisa Slotznick, and Deborah Whitmore.

The AICPA and the Property and Liability Insurance Entities Audit and Accounting Guide Overhaul Task Force gratefully acknowledge those members of the AICPA Insurance Expert Panel who reviewed or otherwise contributed to the development of this guide: Jill Butler, Darryl Briley, Kathleen Enright, Matthew Farney, James Greisch, Kenneth N. Hugendubler, Margie M. Keeley, Joshua Keene, Rick Sojkowski, Robert Tarnok, Anthony Valoroso, and Jennifer Yaross. Additionally, the AICPA and the Property and Liability Insurance Entities Audit and Accounting Guide Overhaul Task Force thank those past members of the AICPA Insurance Expert Panel who reviewed or otherwise contributed to the development of this guide but rotated off the Insurance Expert Panel prior to the guide being completed: Amy Corbin, Elaine Lehnert, Sandra Peters, and Donald Schwegman.

AICPA Staff

Kim Kushmerick

Senior Technical Manager

Accounting Standards

and Staff Liaison to the

AICPA Insurance Expert Panel

Dan Noll

Director

Accounting Standards

Guidance Considered in This Edition

This edition of the guide has been modified by the AICPA staff to include certain changes necessary due to the issuance of authoritative guidance since the guide was originally issued, and other revisions as deemed appropriate. Relevant guidance issued through September 1, 2018, has been considered in the development of this edition of the guide. However, this guide does not include all audit, accounting, reporting, and other requirements applicable to an entity or a particular engagement. This guide is intended to be used in conjunction with all applicable sources of authoritative guidance.

Authoritative guidance that is issued and effective on or before September 1, 2018, is incorporated directly in the text of this guide. Authoritative guidance issued but not yet effective as of September 1, 2018, but becoming effective on or before December 31, 2018, is also presented directly in the text of the guide, but shaded gray and accompanied by a footnote indicating the effective date of the new guidance. The distinct presentation of this content is intended to aid the reader in differentiating content that may not be effective for the reader’s purposes (as part of the guide’s dual guidance treatment of applicable new guidance).

Relevant guidance issued but not yet effective as of the date of the guide and not becoming effective until after December 31, 2018, is referenced in a guidance update box; that is, a box that contains summary information on the guidance issued but not yet effective.

In updating this guide, all guidance issued up to and including the following was considered, but not necessarily incorporated, as determined based on applicability:

•

FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)

•

SAS No. 133, Auditor Involvement With Exempt Offering Documents (AU-C sec. 945)

•

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Statement of Statutory Accounting Principles No. 107, Accounting for the Risk-Sharing Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

•

National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Statutory Accounting Principles Working Group, INT 18-03: Additional Elements Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

•

PCAOB Staff Guidance Changes to the Auditor's Report Effective for Audits of Fiscal Years Ending on or After December 15, 2017 (PCAOB sec. 300.04)2

Users of this guide should consider guidance issued subsequent to those items listed previously to determine their effect on entities covered by this guide. In determining the applicability of recently issued guidance, its effective date should also be considered.

The changes made to this edition of the guide are identified in the Schedule of Changes appendix. The changes do not include all those that might be considered necessary if the guide were subjected to a comprehensive review and revision.

PCAOB quoted content is from PCAOB Auditing Standards and PCAOB Staff Audit Practice Alerts, ©2017, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

FASB standards quoted are from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ©2017, Financial Accounting Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

FASB ASC Pending Content

Presentation of Pending Content in FASB ASC

Amendments to FASB ASC (issued in the form of ASUs) are initially incorporated into FASB ASC in pending content boxes below the paragraphs being amended with links to the transition information. The pending content boxes are meant to provide users with information about how the guidance in a paragraph will change as a result of the new guidance.

Pending content applies to different entities at different times due to varying fiscal year-ends, and because certain guidance may be effective on different dates for public and nonpublic entities. As such, FASB maintains amended guidance in pending content boxes within FASB ASC until the roll-off date. Generally, the roll-off date is six months following the latest fiscal year end for which the original guidance being amended could still be applied.

Presentation of FASB ASC Pending Content in AICPA Audit and Accounting Guides

Amended FASB ASC guidance that is included in pending content boxes in FASB ASC on September 1, 2018, is referenced as pending content in this guide. Readers should be aware that pending content referenced in this guide will eventually be subjected to FASB’s roll-off process and no longer be labeled as pending content in FASB ASC (as discussed in the previous paragraph).

Terms Used to Define Professional Requirements in This AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide

Any requirements described in this guide are normally referenced to the applicable standards or regulations from which they are derived. Generally, the terms used in this guide describing the professional requirements of the referenced standard setter (for example, the ASB) are the same as those used in the applicable standards or regulations (for example, must or should). However, where the accounting requirements are derived from FASB ASC, this guide uses should, whereas FASB uses shall. In its resource document About the Codification that accompanies FASB ASC, FASB states that it considers the terms should and shall to be comparable terms and to represent the same concept — the requirement to apply a standard.

Readers should refer to the applicable standards and regulations for more information on the requirements imposed by the use of the various terms used to define professional requirements in the context of the standards and regulations in which they appear.

Certain exceptions apply to these general rules, particularly in those circumstances where the guide describes prevailing or preferred industry practices for the application of a standard or regulation. In these circumstances, the applicable senior committee responsible for reviewing the guide’s content believes the guidance contained herein is appropriate for the circumstances.

Applicability of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards and PCAOB Standards

Appendix A, Council Resolution Designating Bodies to Promulgate Technical Standards, of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct recognizes both the ASB and the PCAOB as standard setting bodies designated to promulgate auditing, attestation, and quality control standards. Paragraph .01 of the Compliance With Standards Rule (ET sec. 1.310.001 and 2.310.001)3 requires an AICPA member who performs an audit to comply with the applicable standards.

Audits of the financial statements of those entities subject to the oversight authority of the PCAOB (that is, those audit reports within the PCAOB’s jurisdiction as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended) are to be conducted in accordance with standards established by the PCAOB, a private sector, nonprofit corporation created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The SEC has oversight authority over the PCAOB, including the approval of its rules, standards, and budget. In citing the auditing standards of the PCAOB, references generally use section numbers within the reorganized PCAOB auditing standards and not the original standard number, as appropriate.

Audits of the financial statements of those entities not subject to the oversight authority of the PCAOB (that is, those entities whose audits are not within the PCAOB’s jurisdiction — hereinafter referred to as nonissuers) are to be conducted in accordance with GAAS as issued by the ASB. The ASB develops and issues standards in the form of SASs through a due process that includes deliberation in meetings open to the public, public exposure of proposed SASs, and a formal vote. The SASs and their related interpretations are codified in AICPA Professional Standards. In citing GAAS and their related interpretations, references generally use section numbers within the codification of currently effective SASs and not the original statement number, as appropriate.

The auditing content in this guide primarily discusses GAAS issued by the ASB and is applicable to audits of nonissuers. Users of this guide may find the tool developed by the PCAOB’s Office of the Chief Auditor helpful in identifying comparable PCAOB Standards. The tool is available at http://pcaobus.org/standards/auditing/pages/findanalogousstandards.aspx.

Considerations for audits of issuers in accordance with PCAOB standards may also be discussed within this guide’s chapter text. When such discussion is provided, the related paragraphs are designated with the following title: Considerations for Audits Performed in Accordance With PCAOB Standards. PCAOB guidance included in an AICPA guide has not been reviewed, approved, disapproved, or otherwise acted upon by the PCAOB and has no official or authoritative status.

Applicability of Quality Control Standards

QC section 10, A Firm’s System of Quality Control,4 addresses a CPA firm’s responsibilities for its system of quality control for its accounting and auditing practice. A system of quality control consists of policies that a firm establishes and maintains to provide it with reasonable assurance that the firm and its personnel comply with professional standards, as well as applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The policies also provide the firm with reasonable assurance that reports issued by the firm are appropriate in the circumstances. This section applies to all CPA firms with respect to engagements in their accounting and auditing practice.

QC section 10 applies to all CPA firms with respect to engagements in their accounting and auditing practice. In paragraph .13 of QC section 10, an accounting and auditing practice is defined as a practice that performs engagements covered by this section, which are audit, attestation, compilation, review, and any other services for which standards have been promulgated by the AICPA ASB or the AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC) under the General Standards Rule (ET sec. 1.300.001) or the Compliance With Standards Rule" (ET sec. 1.310.001) of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Although standards for other engagements may be promulgated by other AICPA technical committees, engagements performed in accordance with those standards are not encompassed in the definition of an accounting and auditing practice."

In addition to the provisions of QC section 10, readers should be aware of other sections within AICPA Professional Standards that address quality control considerations, including the following provisions that address engagement level quality control matters for various types of engagements that an accounting and auditing practice might perform:

•

AU-C section 220, Quality Control for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Generally Accepted Auditing Standards

•

AT-C section 105, Concepts Common to All Attestation Engagements5

•

AR-C section 60, General Principles for Engagements Performed in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services6

Because of the importance of engagement quality, this guide includes an appendix, Overview of Statements on Quality Control Standards. This appendix summarizes key aspects of the quality control standard. This summarization should be read in conjunction with QC section 10, AU-C section 220, AT-C section 105, AR-C section 60, and the quality control standards issued by the PCAOB, as applicable.

Alternatives Within U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

The Private Company Council (PCC), established by the Financial Accounting Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2012, and FASB, working jointly, will mutually agree on a set of criteria to decide whether and when alternatives within U.S. GAAP are warranted for private companies. Based on those criteria, the PCC reviews and proposes alternatives within U.S. GAAP to address the needs of users of private company financial statements. These U.S. GAAP alternatives may be applied to those entities that are not public business entities, not-for-profits, or employee benefit plans.

The FASB ASC glossary defines a public business entity as follows:

A public business entity is a business entity meeting any one of the criteria below. Neither a not-for-profit entity nor an employee benefit plan is a business entity.

a.    

It is required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to file or furnish financial statements, or does file or furnish financial statements (including voluntary filers), with the SEC (including other entities whose financial statements or financial information are required to be or are included in a filing).

b.    

It is required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act), as amended, or rules or regulations promulgated under the Act, to file or furnish financial statements with a regulatory agency other than the SEC.

c.    

It is required to file or furnish financial statements with a foreign or domestic regulatory agency in preparation for the sale of or for purposes of issuing securities that are not subject to contractual restrictions on transfer.

d.    

It has issued, or is a conduit bond obligor for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market.

e.    

It has one or more securities that are not subject to contractual restrictions on transfer, and it is required by law, contract, or regulation to prepare U.S. GAAP financial statements (including footnotes) and make them publicly available on a periodic basis (for example, interim or annual periods). An entity must meet both of these conditions to meet this criterion.

An entity may meet the definition of a public business entity solely because its financial statements or financial information is included in another entity’s filing with the SEC. In that case, the entity is only a public business entity for purposes of financial statements that are filed or furnished with the SEC.

Readers should refer to Technical Questions and Answers (Q&A) section 7100.15, Insurance Companies and the Definition of Public Business Entity,7 for additional information related to applying the definition of a public business entity to insurance entities.

Considerations related to alternatives for private companies may be discussed within this guide’s chapter text. When such discussion is provided, the related paragraphs are designated with the following title: Considerations for Private Companies That Elect to Use Standards as Issued by the Private Company Council.

AICPA.org Website

The AICPA encourages you to visit the website at aicpa.org and the Financial Reporting Center at www.aicpa.org/frc. The Financial Reporting Center supports members in the execution of high quality financial reporting. Whether you are a financial statement preparer or a member in public practice, this center provides exclusive member-only resources for the entire financial reporting process. The Financial Reporting Center also provides timely and relevant news, guidance, and examples supporting the financial reporting process, including accounting, preparing financial statements, and performing compilation, review, audit, attest or assurance, and advisory engagements. Certain content on the AICPA’s website referenced in this guide may be restricted to AICPA members only.

Select Recent Developments Significant to This Guide

Insurance Contracts Project

IASB Activities

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) split its insurance contract project into two phases so that some components of the project were completed by 2005 without delaying the rest of the project. Phase I addresses the application of the existing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) to entities that issue insurance contracts. The issuance of IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts, along with Basis for Conclusions on IFRS 4 and Implementation Guidance to IFRS 4, brought Phase I of the international insurance project to a close.

Phase II, initiated in September 2004, was a comprehensive project on accounting for insurance contracts.

In September 2016, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 4 to address concerns arising from implementing the new financial instruments standard, IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, before implementing the replacement standard that the board was developing for IFRS 4. These concerns included temporary volatility in reported results. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, with early application permitted.

The amendments introduce two approaches: an overlay approach and a deferral approach. The amended standard will

•

give all companies that issue insurance contracts the option to recognize in other comprehensive income, rather than profit or loss, the volatility that could arise when IFRS 9 is applied before the issuance of the new insurance contracts standard; and

•

give companies whose activities are predominantly connected with insurance an optional temporary exemption from applying IFRS 9 until 2021. The entities that defer the application of IFRS 9 will continue to apply the existing financial instruments standard, IAS No. 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

The amendments to IFRS 4 supplement existing options in the standard that can already be used to address the temporary volatility.

In May 2017, the IASB issued IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts, replacing IFRS 4. IFRS 17 has an effective date of January 1, 2021, but early application is permitted provided that IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 are also applied. IFRS 17 is the first comprehensive and truly international IFRS standard establishing the accounting for insurance contracts.

IFRS 17 requires a company that issues insurance contracts to report insurance contracts on the balance sheet as the total of

a.

the fulfilment cash flows — the current estimates of amounts that the insurer expects to collect from premiums and pay out for claims, benefits and expenses, including an adjustment for the timing and risk of those cash flows; and

b.

the contractual service margin — the expected profit for providing future insurance coverage (that is, unearned profit).

The measurement of the fulfilment cash flows reflects the current value of any interest-rate guarantees and financial options included in the insurance contracts.

To better reflect changes in insurance obligations and risks, IFRS 17 requires a company to update the fulfilment cash flows at each reporting date, using current estimates that are consistent with relevant market information. Changes in insurance obligations due to changes in the economic environment (such as changes in interest rates) will be reflected in an insurer’s financial statements in a timely way. IFRS 17 will therefore provide current updated information about the effect of insurance contracts on a company’s financial position and risk exposure, as well as transparent reporting of changes in insurance obligations.

FASB Activities

On August 2, 2007, FASB issued an invitation to comment on An FASB Agenda Proposal: Accounting for Insurance Contracts by Insurers and Policyholders, Including the IASB Discussion Paper, Preliminary Views on Insurance Contracts. That invitation to comment included a discussion paper issued by IASB, Preliminary Views on Insurance Contracts, which set forth its preliminary views on the main components of an accounting model for an issuer’s rights and obligations (assets and liabilities) under an insurance contract. FASB issued the invitation to comment to gather information from its constituents to help decide whether there was a need for a comprehensive project on accounting for insurance contracts and whether FASB should undertake such a project jointly with IASB.

In October 2008, FASB decided to join IASB’s insurance contract project.

On September 17, 2010, FASB issued, for public comment, the discussion paper Preliminary Views on Insurance Contracts.

In June 2013, FASB issued the exposure draft, Insurance Contracts. The guidance in the FASB exposure draft would require an entity to measure its insurance contracts under one of two measurement models, referred to as the building block approach and the premium allocation approach.

At the February 19, 2014, meeting, FASB decided to change the scope and direction of the insurance contract project as follows:

•

Scope. Limit the scope to insurance entities as described in existing U.S. GAAP (instead of continuing to include all entities that issue insurance contracts or purchase reinsurance contracts as proposed in the June 2013 exposure draft).

•

Direction of the project. The project should focus on making targeted improvements to existing U.S. GAAP.

—

For short-duration contracts, the targeted improvements will be limited to enhancing disclosures (not including measurement and recognition).

—

For long-duration contracts, decisions reached by IASB in its 2013 exposure draft, Insurance Contracts, should be considered when contemplating improvements to existing U.S. GAAP.

In May 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-09, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts, that requires additional disclosures about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses for all insurance entities that issue short-duration contracts as defined in FASB ASC 944, Financial Services—Insurance.

FASB ASU No. 2015-09 was effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. For all other entities, FASB ASU No. 2015-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

In September 2016, FASB issued proposed ASU Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts.

In August 2018, FASB issued ASU No. 2018-12, Financial Services—Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, that will result in the following improvements:

1.    

Requires updated assumptions for liability measurement. Assumptions used to measure the liability for traditional insurance contracts, which are typically determined at contract inception, will now be reviewed — and, if there is a change, updated — at least annually, with the effect recorded in net income.

2.    

Standardizes the liability discount rate. The liability discount rate will be a standardized, market-observable discount rate (upper-medium grade fixed-income instrument yield), with the effect of rate changes recorded in other comprehensive income.

3.    

Provides greater consistency in measurement of market risk benefits. The two previous measurement models have been reduced to one measurement model (fair value), resulting in greater uniformity across similar market-based benefits and better alignment with the fair value measurement of derivatives used to hedge capital market risk.

4.    

Simplifies amortization of deferred acquisition costs. Previous earnings-based amortization methods have been replaced with a more level amortization basis.

5.    

Requires enhanced disclosures. They include rollforwards and information about significant assumptions and the effects of changes in those assumptions.

For calendar-year public business entities, the changes in FASB ASU No. 2018-12 are effective at the beginning of 2021. For all other calendar-year entities, the changes in FASB ASU No. 2018-12 are effective at the end of 2022. Early application is permitted.

The New Revenue Recognition Standard: FASB ASC 606

FASB ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and subsequent amendments (FASB ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net); ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing; ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients; and ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, was effective for annual reporting periods of public business entities, certain not-for-profits and certain employee benefit plans, beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application would be permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

All other entities, will apply the guidance in FASB ASU No. 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Application would be permitted earlier only as of an annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, or an annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning one year after the annual reporting period in which an entity first applies the guidance in ASU No. 2014-09.

Appendix C, The New Revenue Recognition Standard: FASB ASC 606, of this guide provides an overview of the guidance. The AICPA has formed 16 industry task forces to assist in developing a new accounting guide on revenue recognition that will provide helpful hints and illustrative examples for how to apply the new standard. Revenue recognition implementation issues identified will be available for informal comment, after review by the AICPA FinREC, at www.aicpa.org/revenuerecognition.

In this guide, revenue recognition implementation issues developed by the insurance revenue recognition task force are directly referenced from the insurance entities chapter in the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide Revenue Recognition.

Notes

1 All AU-C sections can be found in AICPA Professional Standards.

2 All PCAOB Staff Guidance can be found in PCAOB Standards and Related Rules.

3 All ET sections can be found in AICPA Professional Standards.

4 All QC sections can be found in AICPA Professional Standards.

5 All AT-C sections can be found in AICPA Professional Standards.

6 All AR-C sections can be found in AICPA Professional Standards.

7 All Q&A sections can be found in Technical Questions and Answers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter

1 Nature, Conduct, and Regulation of the Business

General Nature of the Business

Kinds of Insurance

Legal Forms of Organization

Methods of Producing Business

Major Transaction Cycles

Underwriting of Risks

Pooling, Captives, and Syndicates

Processing and Payment of Claims

Investments

Definition of Public Business Entity

Revenue Recognition

Accounting Practices

State Insurance Regulation

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Federal Regulation — Securities and Exchange Commission

Federal Regulation — The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Federal Regulation — Terrorism

Industry Associations

Statutory Accounting Practices

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Comparison of SAP and GAAP

2 Audit Considerations

Introduction

Scope of the Audit Engagement

General Considerations

Integrated Audit of Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Additional PCAOB Audit Standards

Planning and Other Auditing Considerations

Audit Planning

Audit Risk

Risk Assessment Procedures

Understanding the Entity, Its Environment, and Its Internal Control

Common Industry Ratios and Performance Metrics

Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement

Performing Audit Procedures in Response to Assessed Risks

Use of Assertions in Obtaining Audit Evidence

Other Risk Assessment Activities and Considerations

Planning Materiality

Performance Materiality and Tolerable Misstatement

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Insurance Industry — Fraud Risk Factors

The Importance of Exercising Professional Skepticism

Discussion Among Engagement Personnel Regarding the Risks of Material Misstatement Due to Fraud

Obtaining the Information Needed to Identify the Risks of Material Misstatement Due to Fraud

Identifying Risks That May Result in a Material Misstatement Due to Fraud

Assessing the Identified Risks After Taking an Evaluation of the Entity’s Programs and Controls That Address the Risks Into Account

Responding to the Results of the Assessment

Evaluating Audit Evidence

Responding to Misstatements That May Be the Result of Fraud

Communicating About Possible Fraud to Management, Those Charged With Governance, and Others

Documentation and Guidance

Use of Information Technology

Going Concern Considerations

Evaluating Misstatements

Audit Documentation

Consideration of the Work of Internal Auditors

Communication of Matters Related to Internal Control

Identification of Deficiencies in Internal Control

Communication of Deficiencies in Internal Control

Communication of Other Matters With Those Charged With Governance

Matters to Be Communicated

Communications by Successor Auditors

Auditor Independence

Auditing Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

Considerations for Auditors to Comply With the NAIC Model Audit Rule

Awareness

Change in Auditor

Auditor’s Letter of Qualifications

Qualifications of the Auditor

Indemnification

Partner Rotation

Prohibited Services

Consideration of Internal Controls in a Financial Statement Audit

Notification of Adverse Financial Condition

Report on Internal Controls

Working Papers

Communications to Audit Committees

Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

Auditor's Consideration of State Regulatory Examinations

Auditor's Consideration of Permitted Statutory Accounting Practices

SEC Requirements for Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

3 Premiums

Background

Types of Premiums Adjustments

Summary of Premium Transaction Flow

Involuntary Markets

Accounting for Premiums and Acquisition Cost

Premium Revenue and Premium Adjustments

Premium Receivable

Acquisition Costs

Premium Deficiencies

Medicare Part D

Accounting for Contracts That Do Not Transfer Insurance Risk

Disclosure Considerations

Auditing Premiums and Acquisition Costs

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors — Premiums and DAC

Management Estimates

Risk of Material Misstatement — Inherent Risk Factors

Internal Control

Control Environment

Risk Assessment Process

Control Activities

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

Audit Consideration Chart

4 The Loss Reserving and Claims Cycle

Introduction

Types of Businesses and Their Effect on the Estimation Process

Policy Duration

Type of Coverage

Kind of Insurance Underwritten: Line of Business or Type of Risk

The Transaction Cycle

Claim Acceptance and Processing

Claim Adjustment and Estimation

Claim Settlement

Reinsurance Recoverable

Salvage and Subrogation

Components of Loss Reserves

Estimating Methods

Illustrative Projection Data

LAE Reserves

DCC Reserve Calculation Approaches

AO Reserve Calculation Approaches

Changes in the Environment

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Disclosure

Use of Specialists by Management in Determining Loss Reserves

Guaranty Fund and Other Assessments

Accounting Principles

GAAP Accounting

Discounting Loss Reserves

Structured Settlements

Reinsurance Recoverables

Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses

Statutory Accounting

Disclosures of Certain Matters in the Financial Statements of Insurance Enterprises

Applicability to Statutory Financial Statements

Relationship to Other Pronouncements

Auditing Loss Reserves

Planning Considerations — Overview

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Risk of Material Misstatement — Inherent Risk Factors

Internal Control

Control Environment

The Entity’s Risk Assessment Process

Information Systems

Control Activities

Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

Use of Loss Reserve Specialists

Loss Reserve Specialists Engaged by the Auditor

Use of Management Specialists by Auditors in Evaluating Loss Reserves

Auditor’s Response to Management’s Use or Non-Use of a Loss Reserve Specialist

Evaluating the Reasonableness of the Estimates

Analytical Procedures

Testing the Data, Assumptions, and Selection of the Estimate

Auditing the Underlying Data Used in the Loss Reserving Process

Develop a Point Estimate or Range to Evaluate Management’s Estimate

Loss Reserve Ranges

Factors That Could Affect a Range of Reasonably Possible Outcomes

Evaluating the Financial Effect of a Reserve Range

Auditor Uncertainty About the Reasonableness of Management's Estimate and Reporting Implications

Evaluating the Reasonableness of Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

Ceded Reinsurance Recoverable

Understanding the Impacts of Foreign Exchange

Audit Consideration Chart

5 Investments and Fair Value Considerations

Introduction

Overview

Investment Evaluation

Recordkeeping and Key Performance Indicators

The Transaction Cycle

Safekeeping

Regulation

Statutory Limitations

FASB Accounting Standards Codification 820 and 825

Definition of Fair Value

Application to Liabilities and Instruments Classified in a Reporting Entity’s Shareholders’ Equity

The Fair Value Hierarchy

Fair Value Determination When the Volume or Level of Activity Has Significantly Decreased

Disclosures

Fair Value Option

Statutory Accounting

Accounting Practices

Significant Differences Between GAAP and Statutory Accounting

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Debt and Equity Securities

Mortgage Loans

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Real Estate

Derivatives, Including Futures, Options, and Similar Financial Instruments

Joint Ventures and Partnerships

Investments in SCA Entities

Investment Income Due and Accrued

Asset Transfers and Extinguishments of Liabilities

Repurchase Agreements

Securities Lending

Other Information

Auditing Investments

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors — Investments

Risk of Material Misstatement — Inherent Risk

Internal Control

Control Environment

Risk Assessment Process

Information System

Control Activities

Service Organizations

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

Group Audit Considerations for Investments in Alternative Investments and Subsidiary, Controlled and Affiliated Entities

Audit Consideration Chart and Procedures

6 Reinsurance

Types of Reinsurance

Reinsurance Contracts

Bases of Reinsurance Transactions

Frequently Used Terms in Reinsurance Contracts

Accounting Practices

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Accounting Practices

Statutory Accounting Principles

Special Risk Considerations

Auditing Reinsurance

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors — Reinsurance

Risk of Material Misstatement — Inherent Risk

Internal Control

Control Environment

Risk Assessment Process

Information and Communication

Control Activities

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

Internal Control of the Ceding Entity

Internal Control of the Reinsurer

Auditing Procedures for the Ceding Entity

Auditing Procedures for the Assuming Entity

Pools, Associations, and Syndicates

Reinsurance Intermediaries

Audit Consideration Chart

7 Income Taxes

Introduction

GAAP Accounting for Income Taxes

Basic Principles of GAAP Accounting for Income Taxes

Disclosure Requirements Contained in GAAP Literature

Statutory Accounting for Income Taxes

Disclosure Requirements Contained in Statutory Literature

Changes in Tax Law

Auditing Income Taxes

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors — Income Taxes

Risk of Material Misstatement — Inherent Risk

Internal Control

Control Environment

Risk Assessment Process

Control Activities

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

Audit Consideration Chart

8 Insurance-Related Expenses, Taxes, and Assessments

Introduction

Premium and State Taxes

Guaranty Fund and Other Assessments

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Statutory Accounting Principles

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Capitalized Costs and Certain Nonadmitted Assets

Pensions

Audit Considerations

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors

Internal Control

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

9 Captive Insurance Entities

Introduction

Types of Captive Organizations

Captive Operations

Specific Transaction Considerations and Accounting Principles

Taxes

Audit Considerations

Audit Planning

Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit

Audit Risk Factors

Internal Control

Audit Procedures Responsive to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement

10 Reports on Audited Financial Statements

Reports on Financial Statements

Unmodified Opinions on GAAP Financial Statements

Modified Opinions

Qualified Opinion

Disclaimer of Opinion

Adverse Opinion

Emphasis-of-Matter Paragraphs

Evaluating Consistency of Financial Statements

Additional Guidance When Performing Integrated Audits of Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Integrated Audits Performed in Accordance With GAAS

Considerations for Audits Performed in Accordance With PCAOB Standards

Reporting on Whether a Previously Reported Material Weakness Continues to Exist

Auditors’ Reports on Statutory Financial Statements of Insurance Entities

NAIC — Codified Statutory Accounting

Regulatory Basis Financial Statements Intended for General Use

Regulatory Basis Financial Statements Intended for Limited Use

Regulatory Basis Financial Statements — Other Issues

Correction of Error

Correction of an Error — Regulatory Basis Financial Statements Intended for General Use

Correction of an Error — Regulatory Basis Financial Statements Intended for Limited Use

Opinion on Supplemental Schedules

Other Reports

Accountant’s Awareness Letter

Change in Auditor Letter

Notification of Adverse Financial Condition Letter

Auditor Reports for Communicating Unremediated Material Weaknesses in Internal Control to Insurance Regulators

Accountant's Letter of Qualifications

Appendix

A Accounting for Financial Instruments

B The New Leases Standard: FASB ASC 842

C The New Revenue Recognition Standard: FASB ASC 606

D Overview of Statements on Quality Control Standards

E Property and Liability Insurance Entity Specific Disclosures

F Examples of Development Data

G List of Industry Trade and Professional Associations, Publications, and Information Resources

H Schedule of Changes Made to the Text From the Previous Edition

Glossary

EULA

Chapter 1

Nature, Conduct, and Regulation of the Business

General Nature of the Business

1.01 The primary purpose of the property and liability insurance business is the spreading of risks. The term risk1 generally has two meanings in insurance — it can mean either a peril insured against (for example, fire is a risk to which most property is exposed) or a person or property protected (for example, a home or an automobile). For a payment known as a premium, insurance entities agree to relieve the policyholder of all or part of a risk and to spread the total cost of similar risks among large groups of policyholders.

1.02 The functions of the property and liability insurance business include marketing, underwriting (that is, determining the acceptability of risks and the amount of the premiums), billing and collecting premiums, investing and managing assets, investigating and settling claims made under policies, and paying expenses associated with these functions.

1.03 In conducting its business, an insurance entity accumulates a significant amount of investable assets. In addition to funds raised as equity and funds retained as undistributed earnings, funds accumulate from the following:

•

Premiums collected

•

Sums held for the payment of claims in the process of investigation, adjustment, or litigation

•

Sums held for payment of future claims settlement expenses

The accumulation of these funds, their investment, and the generation of investment income are major activities of insurance entities.

Kinds of Insurance

1.04 Kinds of insurance, generally referred to as lines of insurance, represent the perils that are insured by property and liability insurance entities. Some of the more major lines of insurance offered by property and liability insurance entities include the following:

•

Accident and health covers loss by sickness or accidental bodily injury. It also includes forms of insurance that provide lump-sum or periodic payments in the event of loss by sickness or accident, such as disability income insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

•

Automobile covers personal injury or automobile damage sustained by the insured and liability to third parties for losses caused by the insured.

•

Fidelity bonds cover employers against dishonest acts by employees. Blanket fidelity bonds cover groups of employees.

•

Fire and allied lines includes coverage for fire, windstorm, hail, and water damage (but not floods).

•

Home insurance provides coverage for damage or destruction of the policyholder's home. In some geographical areas, the policy may exclude certain types of risks, such as flood or earthquake, and require additional coverage.

•

Inland marine covers property being transported other than transocean. (It also includes floaters, which are policies that cover movable property, such as a tourist's personal property.)

•

Miscellaneous liability covers most other physical and property damages not included under workers' compensation, automobile liability, and multiple peril policies. Damages include death, cost of care, and loss of services resulting from bodily injury, as well as loss of use of property.

•

Multiple peril, a package coverage, includes most property and liability coverage except workers' compensation, automobile insurance, and surety bonds.

•

Ocean marine includes coverage for ships and their equipment, cargos, freight, and liability to third parties for damages.

•

Professional liability covers physicians, surgeons, dentists, hospitals, engineers, architects, accountants, attorneys, and other professionals from liability arising from error or misconduct in providing or failing to provide professional service.

•

Surety bonds provide for monetary compensation to third parties for failure by the insured to perform specifically covered acts within a stated period. (Most surety bonds are issued for persons doing contract construction, persons connected with court actions, and persons seeking licenses and permits.)

•

Workers' compensation compensates employees for injuries or illness sustained in the course of their employment.

1.05 In addition to these lines, insurance is provided by excess and surplus lines:

•

Excess liability covers the insured against loss in excess of a stated amount, but only for losses as covered and defined in an underlying policy. The underlying amount is usually insured by another policy but can be retained by the insured.

•

Surplus lines include coverage for risks that do not fit normal underwriting patterns, risks that are not commensurate with standard rates, or risks that will not be written by standard carriers because of general market conditions. These kinds of policies may be written by carriers not licensed in the jurisdiction where the risk is located and generally are not subject to regulations governing premium rates or policy language.

1.06 The lines and premium volume that may be written by an entity are generally restricted by state insurance regulations. States also use risk-based capital standards for regulating solvency and capacity and also monitor the amount of premium written as a ratio of the entity's surplus.

1.07 Insurance written by property and liability insurance entities may be broadly classified as personal lines, which consist of insurance policies issued to individuals, and commercial lines, which consist of policies issued to business enterprises. Personal lines generally consist of large numbers of relatively standard policies with relatively small premiums per policy. Examples are homeowner and individual automobile policies. Commercial lines involve policies with relatively large premiums that may also be retroactively adjusted based on claims experience. The initial premium is often only an estimate because it may be related to payroll or other variables. Examples are workers' compensation and general liability. Many large insurance entities have separate accounting, underwriting, and claim-processing procedures for these two categories.

1.08 Insurance is generally available to the individual as a means of protection against loss. There are instances, however, in which a person cannot obtain insurance in the voluntary insurance market. States have established programs to provide insurance to those with high risks who otherwise would be excluded from obtaining coverage. The following are some of the more common programs that provide the necessary coverage:

•

Involuntary automobile insurance. States have a variety of methods for apportioning involuntary automobile insurance. The most widely used approach is the Automobile Insurance Plan (formerly called the Assigned Risk Plan). Under this plan, all entities writing automobile insurance in a state are allocated a share of the involuntary business on an equitable basis. Each automobile insurer operating in the state accepts a share of the undesirable drivers, based on the percent of the state's total auto insurance that it writes. For example, an entity that writes 5 percent of the voluntary business in a state may be assigned 5 percent of the involuntary applicants. It is then responsible for collecting the premiums and paying the claims on the policies issued to these applicants. Other states use a reinsurance plan under which each insurer accepts all applicants but may place high-risk drivers in a reinsurance pool, with premiums paid to and losses absorbed by the pool. Still another approach is a joint underwriting association, in which one or more servicing entities are designated to handle high-risk drivers. States may require insurers to participate in the underwriting results.

•

Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plans. FAIR plans are state-supervised programs established to provide coverage for property in high-risk areas. Entities that operate in the state are required to participate in the premiums, losses, expenses, and other operations of the FAIR plan.

•

Medical malpractice pools. These pools were established when healthcare professionals and institutions were experiencing difficulty in obtaining liability insurance in the voluntary insurance market. The pools were established by law and currently exist in the majority of states. All insurers writing related liability insurance in such states are considered mandatory participants in the pools as a condition for their continuing authority to transact business in such states.

•

Workers' compensation pools. These pools are similar to FAIR plans. As with FAIR plans, companies operating in a given state are assessed a proportionate share, based on direct writings, of the underwriting results of the pool.

Legal Forms of Organization

1.09 The principal kinds of property and liability insurance organizations are

a.    

stock companies, which are corporations organized for profit with ownership and control of operations vested in the stockholders. Generally, the stockholders are not liable in case of bankruptcy or impairment of capital.

b.    

mutual companies, which are organizations in which the ownership and control of operations are vested in the policyholders. On the expiration of their policies, policyholders lose their rights and interests in the entity. Many states require the net assets of a mutual insurance entity in liquidation to be distributed among the current policyholders of the entity, and the prior policyholders have no claim against the assets. Most major mutual entities issue nonassessable policies as provided under state laws. If a mutual entity is not qualified to issue such policies, however, each policyholder is liable for an assessment equal to at least one annual premium in the event of bankruptcy or impairment of minimum equity requirements. Many mutual insurance entities are seeking enhanced financial flexibility and access to capital to support long-term growth and other strategic initiatives. Because of many economic and regulatory factors, as well as increased competition, some mutual insurance entities have chosen to demutualize or to form mutual insurance holding entities.

c.    

reciprocal or interinsurance exchanges, which are composed of a group of persons, firms, or corporations, commonly termed subscribers, who exchange contracts of insurance through the medium of an attorney-in-fact. Each subscriber executes an identical agreement empowering the attorney-in-fact to assume, on the subscriber's behalf, an underwriting liability on policies covering the risks of the other subscribers. The subscriber assumes no liability as an underwriter on policies covering his or her own risk; the subscriber's liability is limited by the terms of the subscriber's agreement. Customarily, the attorney-in-fact is paid a percentage of premium income, from which he or she pays most operating expenses, but some exchanges pay his or her own operating expenses and compensate the attorney-in-fact at a lower percentage of premiums or by some other method.

d.    

public entity risk pools, which are cooperative groups of governmental entities joining together to finance exposures, liabilities, or risks. Risk may include property and liability, workers' compensation, employee health care, and so forth. A pool may be a stand-alone entity or be included as part of a larger governmental entity that acts as the pool's sponsor. Stand-alone pools are sometimes organized or sponsored by municipal leagues, school associations, or other kinds of associations of governmental entities. A stand-alone pool is frequently operated by a board that has as its membership one member from each participating government. It typically has no publicly elected officials or power to tax. Public entity risk pools normally should be distinguished from private pools, which are organized under the Risk Retention Act of 1986. These private pools, or risk retention groups, can provide only liability coverage, whereas public entity risk pools organized under individual state statutes can provide several kinds of coverage. The four basic kinds of public entity risk pools are

i.    

risk-sharing pools, which are arrangements by which governments pool risks and funds and share in the cost of losses.

ii.    

insurance-purchasing pools, which are arrangements by which governments pool funds or resources to purchase commercial insurance products. These arrangements are also called risk-purchasing groups.

iii.    

banking pools, which are arrangements by which money is made available for pool members in the event of loss on a loan basis.

iv.    

claims-servicing or account pools, which are arrangements by which pools manage separate accounts for each pool member from which the losses of that member are paid.

A pool can serve one or several of those functions. Pools that act only as banking or claims-servicing pools do not represent transfer of risk. Those pools are not considered insurers and do not need to report as such.

e.    

private pools. Because of the unavailability and unaffordability of commercial liability insurance, Congress enacted the Risk Retention Act of 1986. This act allows the organization of private pools for the purpose of obtaining general liability insurance coverage. Two basic types of private pools are allowed:

i.    

Risk retention groups. An insurance entity formed by the members of the private pool primarily to provide commercial liability insurance to the members.

ii.    

Purchasing groups. Members of a private pool purchase commercial liability insurance on a group basis.

Methods of Producing Business

1.10 The marketing department of an insurance entity is responsible for sales promotion, supervision of the agency or sales force, and sales training. Property and liability insurance entities may produce business through a network of agents (agency companies) or through an employee sales force (direct writing companies), or they may acquire business through insurance brokers or through direct solicitation. A combination of methods may also be used. The distinctions among an agent, a broker, and a salesperson are based on their relationships with the insurance entity.

1.11 Agents. Insurance agents act as independent contractors who represent one insurance entity (exclusive agents) or more than one entity (independent agents) with express authority to act for the entity in dealing with insureds.

1.12 General agents have exclusive territories in which to produce business. They agree to promote the entity's interest, pay their own expenses, maintain a satisfactory agency force, and secure subagents. They may perform a significant portion of the underwriting. They may also perform other services in connection with the issuance of policies and the adjustment of claims, including negotiating reinsurance on behalf of the insurer, which neither local agents nor brokers are authorized or expected to do.

1.13 Local and regional agents are authorized to underwrite and issue policies but are not usually given exclusive territories. They usually report either to entity branch offices or directly to the entity's home offices. Agents are generally compensated by commissions based on percentages of the premiums they produce. Because of their greater authority and duties, general agents usually receive higher percentages than local or regional agents.

1.14 Agents have the power to bind the entity, which means that the insurance is effective immediately, regardless of whether money is received or a policy is issued. Generally, agents are considered to have vested rights in the renewal of policies sold for insurance entities. The entity cannot, however, compel independent agents to renew policies, and the agents may place renewals with other entities.

1.15 Brokers. Insurance brokers represent the insured. As a result, brokers do not have the power to bind the entity. Brokers solicit business and submit it for acceptance or rejection with one or more insurance entities. Brokers may submit business directly to an entity, through general or local agents, or through other brokers. Brokers are compensated by commissions paid by insurance entities, normally percentages of the premiums on policies placed with the entities, or through fees paid by the insured. Some large brokers have fee agreements, wherein commissions are either not accepted from the respective insurer or commissions received from the insurer by the broker are offset against the fees to be paid by the insured.

1.16 Direct writing. Direct writing entities sell policies directly to the public, usually through salespeople or Internet sales, thus bypassing agents and brokers. Direct writing may be done from the entity's home office or through branch sales offices. Underwriting and policy issuance may also be done from the home office or branches. The salespeople may be paid commissions, straight salaries, or a commission incentive with a base salary. Salespeople generally have the power to bind the entity; however, the entity retains the right to cancel the policy, generally for up to 60 days.

1.17 Direct response advertising or mass marketing is also used for producing business. This results in sales to many people simultaneously, with single programs to insure a number of people or businesses. Such methods use direct billing techniques that may also permit individuals to pay premiums by salary deductions, credit cards, or as a direct draft against a checking account.

Major Transaction Cycles

Underwriting of Risks

1.18 Underwriting includes evaluating the acceptability of the risk, determining the premium, and evaluating the entity's capacity to assume the entire risk.

1.19 Evaluating risks. Evaluating risks and their acceptance or rejection involves (a) a review of exposure and potential loss based on both the review of policies, past claims experience, and the endorsements to existing policies and (b) an investigation of risks in accordance with procedures established by entity policy and state statutes. For example, applicants for automobile insurance may be checked by reference to reports on driving records issued by a state department of motor vehicles. A commercial enterprise wanting to purchase property insurance coverage may need to provide certain types of information when applying for coverage, for example, claims history, an engineering survey, a fire hazard survey, or similar investigations. In addition, an entity's underwriting policy may establish certain predetermined criteria for accepting risks. Such criteria often specify the lines of insurance that will be written as well as prohibited exposures, the amount of coverage to be permitted on various kinds of exposure, the areas of the country in which each line will be written, and similar restrictions.

1.20 Setting premium rates. Establishing prices for insurance coverage is known as the rate-making process, and the resultant rates that are applied to some measure of exposure (for example, payroll or number of cars) are referred to as premiums. Determining premiums is one of the most difficult tasks in the insurance business. The total amount of claims is not known at the time the insurance policies are issued and, for many liability policies, is not known until years later. Determining proper premium rates is further complicated by the fact that no two insurable risks are exactly alike. The intensity of competition among hundreds of property and liability insurance entities in the United States is also significant in setting premiums.

1.21 Premium rates may be established by one of three methods:

a.    

Manual rating, which results in standard rates for large groups of similar risks and is used, for example, in many personal lines such as automobile insurance

b.    

Judgment rating, which depends on the skill and experience