Modified Reserve Methods
Definition of "Modified reserve methods"
Accounting procedures that defer the full funding of a life insurance net level premium reserve to accommodate the policy acquisition cost in the early years of a policy. First-year policy expenses, such as agent commission, medical examination, and premium tax, often result in little of the premium remaining for the premium reserve required under full valuation reserve standards. In such cases, the difference comes out of the insurer's surplus account. To avoid this, two types of modified reserve methods are used: (1) the full preliminary term reserve valuation method, and (2) the modified preliminary term reserve valuation method, better known as the commissioners' reserve valuation method. The full preliminary term method does not require any terminal reserve at the end of the first year and in effect accounts for reserves like term insurance during this period. This leaves more of the premium available to cover acquisition cost and first-year claims. In subsequent years, for reserve accounting purposes, the policy is considered to have been issued one year later than its actual date on an insured who was one year older than his actual age. This results in stepping up additions to the premium reserve, eventually making up for the first year's shortfall.
The commissioners' reserve valuation method limits first-year expenses and thus the amount of deferred funding of policy reserves. Policies whose premiums fall below a certain level can be accounted for under the full preliminary term method. For policies with premiums above that level, the full preliminary term method is modified by a limitation on the amount of expenses that can be used in figuring the schedule of deferred reserve funding.
Popular Insurance Terms
Insurance policy that combines the elements of a deferred annuity with the elements of DECREASING TERM LIFE INSURANCE. This policy was originally designed to act as a funding instrument for ...
Portion of reinsurance premium received by the reinsurer that relates to the unexpired part of the reinsured policy. ...
Coverage for bodily injury and property damage liability resulting from the ownership, use, and/or maintenance of an insured business's premises as well as operations by the business ...
Worst case scenario under which an estimate is made of the maximum dollar amount that can be lost if a catastrophe occurs such as a hurricane or firestorm. ...
Money set aside to pay for losses. Rather than buy insurance coverage for all potential losses, some businesses and individuals choose this form of self insurance to cover all or a portion ...
actual fire losses divided by the total value of the property exposed to the peril of fire; actual losses resulting from fire divided by the total fire amount of in-force business. ...
Deductible eliminated through the payment of an additional premium, resulting in first-dollar coverage under the policy. ...
Provision of a property insurance policy which covers conditions usually present in a particular location. For example, there is an inherent risk of explosion in a flour mill. ...
Arrangement, often funded by life insurance, to continue an employee's salary in the form of payments to a beneficiary for a certain period after the employee's death. The employer itself ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.