DAR File No. 39444

Insurance, Administration

Section R590-198-5

General Calculation Requirements for Basic Reserves and Premium Deficiency Reserves

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39444
Filed: 06/15/2015 11:57:06 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of the change is to update the rule to align it with the NAIC model and with the valuation requirements in 27 other states.

Summary of the rule or change:

The change removes two restrictions on special selection factors (X factors) that can be used to adjust statutory mortality when calculating reserves for some forms of life insurance. The rule also updates some reporting requirements to make them consistent with changes made in 2012 to Rule R590-162.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 31A-17-402
• Section 31A-17-512

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no impact to the state budget. The rule only impacts the way insurance companies calculate reserves.

local governments:

There is no impact to the local government. The rule only impacts the way insurance companies calculate reserves.

small businesses:

There is no impact to the small business. The rule only impacts the way insurance companies calculate reserves.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no impact to the persons other than small businesses, businesses or local government entities. Insurance companies may be affected insofar as the rule changes the way insurance companies calculate reserves. The change may provide some savings for life insurance companies that utilize X factors.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The change may provide some savings for life insurance companies that utilize X factors.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This rule change is a permissive change. It affects the way life insurance companies are allowed to calculate their reserve funds in the state of Utah. This is a company-friendly change that allows companies to utilize an alternate method to calculate their reserve funds, should they find it beneficial.

Todd E. Kiser, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Insurance
Administration
Room 3110 STATE OFFICE BLDG
450 N MAIN ST
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84114-1201

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Steve Gooch at the above address, by phone at 801-538-3803, by FAX at 801-538-3829, or by Internet E-mail at sgooch@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/31/2015

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2015

Authorized by:

Todd Kiser, Commissioner

R590. Insurance, Administration.

R590-198. Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Rule.

R590-198-5. General Calculation Requirements for Basic Reserves and Premium Deficiency Reserves.

A. At the election of the company for any one or more specified plans of life insurance, the minimum mortality standard for basic reserves may be calculated using the 1980 CSO valuation tables with select mortality factors, or any other valuation mortality table adopted by the NAIC after January 4, 2000 and promulgated by rule by the commissioner for this purpose. If select mortality factors are elected, they may be:

(1) The ten-year select mortality factors incorporated into the 1980 amendments to the NAIC Standard Valuation Law, see Rule R590-95;

(2) The select mortality factors adopted by the NAIC at the 1999 Spring National Meeting.

(3) Any other table of select mortality factors adopted by the NAIC after January 4, 2000 and promulgated by rule by the commissioner for the purpose of calculating basic reserves.

B. Deficiency reserves, if any, are calculated for each policy as the excess, if greater than zero, of the quantity A over the basic reserve. The quantity A is obtained by recalculating the basic reserve for the policy using guaranteed gross premiums instead of net premiums when the guaranteed gross premiums are less than the corresponding net premiums. At the election of the company for any one or more specified plans of insurance, the quantity A and the corresponding net premiums used in the determination of quantity A may be based upon the 1980 CSO valuation tables with select mortality factors or any other valuation mortality table adopted by the NAIC after January 4, 2000 and promulgated by rule by the commissioner. If select mortality factors are elected, they may be:

(1) The ten-year select mortality factors incorporated into the 1980 amendments to the NAIC Standard Valuation Law;

(2) The select mortality factors adopted by the NAIC at the 1999 Spring National Meeting;

(3) For durations in the first segment, X percent of the select mortality factors adopted by the NAIC at the 1999 Spring National Meeting, subject to the following:

(a) X may vary by policy year, policy form, underwriting classification, issue age, or any other policy factor expected to affect mortality experience;

[(b) X shall not be less than 20%;

(c) X shall not decrease in any successive policy years;

][(d)](b) X is such that, when using the valuation interest rate used for basic reserves, Item (i) is greater than or equal to Item (ii);

(i) The actuarial present value of future death benefits, calculated using the mortality rates resulting from the application of X;

(ii) The actuarial present value of future death benefits calculated using anticipated mortality experience without recognition of mortality improvement beyond the valuation date;

[(e)](c) X is such that the mortality rates resulting from the application of X are at least as great as the anticipated mortality experience, without recognition of mortality improvement beyond the valuation date, in each of the first 5-years after the valuation date;

[(f)](d) The appointed actuary shall increase X at any valuation date where it is necessary to continue to meet all the requirements of Subsection B(3);

[(g)](e) The appointed actuary may decrease X at any valuation date as long as X does not decrease in any successive policy years and as long as it continues to meet all the requirements of Subsection B(3); and

[(h)](f) The appointed actuary shall specifically take into account the adverse effect on expected mortality and the lapsing of any anticipated or actual increase in gross premiums.

[(i)](g) If X is less than 100% at any duration for any policy, the following requirements shall be met:

(i) [The appointed actuary shall annually prepare an actuarial opinion and memorandum for the company in conformance with the requirements of Section R590-162-8]The appointed actuary shall disclose, in the Regulatory Asset Adequacy Issues Summary required by R590-162-7, the impact of the insufficiency of assets to support the payment of benefits and expenses and the establishment of statutory reserves during one or more interim periods; and

(ii) The appointed actuary shall annually opine for all policies subject to this rule as to whether the mortality rates resulting from the application of X meet the requirements of Subsection B(3). This opinion shall be supported by an actuarial report, subject to appropriate Actuarial Standards of Practice promulgated by the Actuarial Standards Board of the American Academy of Actuaries. The X factors shall reflect anticipated future mortality, without recognition of mortality improvement beyond the valuation date, taking into account relevant emerging experience.

(4) Any other table of select mortality factors adopted by the NAIC after January 4, 2000 and promulgated by rule by the commissioner for the purpose of calculating deficiency reserves.

C. This subsection applies to both basic reserves and deficiency reserves. Any set of select mortality factors may be used only for the first segment. However, if the first segment is less than ten-years, the appropriate ten-year select mortality factors incorporated into the 1980 amendments to the NAIC Standard Valuation Law may be used thereafter through the tenth policy year from the date of issue.

D. In determining basic reserves or deficiency reserves, guaranteed gross premiums without policy fees may be used where the calculation involves the guaranteed gross premium but only if the policy fee is a level dollar amount after the first policy year. In determining deficiency reserves, policy fees may be included in guaranteed gross premiums, even if not included in the actual calculation of basic reserves.

Reserves for policies that have changes to guaranteed gross premiums, guaranteed benefits, guaranteed charges, or guaranteed credits that are unilaterally made by the insurer after issue and that are effective for more than one-year after the date of the change shall be the greatest of the following:

(1) reserves calculated ignoring the guarantee;

(2) reserves assuming the guarantee was made at issue; and

(3) reserves assuming that the policy was issued on the date of the guarantee.

F. The commissioner may require that the company document the extent of the adequacy of reserves for specified blocks, including but not limited to policies issued prior to January 4, 2000. This documentation may include a demonstration of the extent to which aggregation with other non-specified blocks of business is relied upon in the formation of the appointed actuary opinion pursuant to and consistent with the requirements of Rule R590-162-5.

 

KEY: insurance companies

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [January 4, 2000]2015

Notice of Continuation: November 21, 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 31A-17-402; 31A-17-512