Automatic Proportional Reinsurance

Form of coverage in which an insurer automatically reinsures individual risks with its reinsurer. The insurer must transfer (cede) the risks to its reinsurer and its reinsurer must accept this transfer (cession). Losses and premiums are shared; the reinsurer shares them in the same proportion as it does that total policy limits of the risks. The insurer receives from the reinsurer a transfer commission reflecting the so-called equity in the unearned premium reserve of the insurer. This provides for acquisition expenses, premium taxes, and the insurer's cost of servicing the business. Automatic proportional reinsurance may be subdivided into two primary types: quota share and surplus.