4.	Reinsurance

Total premiums written and earned are summarized as follows (in thousands).

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015						2014						2013
	Written			Earned			Written			Earned			Written			Earned
Direct	$	247,498		$	233,652		$	200,983		$	191,093		$	177,376		$	176,588
Assumed		35,500			33,707			29,311			27,487			23,768			23,313
Ceded		(372	)		(372	)		(265	)		(265	)		(201	)		(201	)
Total	$	282,626		$	266,987		$	230,029		$	218,315		$	200,943		$	199,700

Assumed business represents private-passenger non-standard automobile insurance premiums in Texas written through a program with a county mutual insurance company and assumed by the Company through 100% quota-share reinsurance. The percentages of premiums assumed to net premiums written for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were 13%, 13% and 12%, respectively.

The Insurance Companies utilize excess-of-loss reinsurance with an unaffiliated reinsurer to limit their exposure to losses under liability coverages for policies issued with limits greater than the minimum statutory requirements. In November 2013, this excess-of-loss reinsurance was expanded to include higher liability limits on tenant homeowner policies. Although the reinsurance agreements contractually obligate the reinsurer to reimburse the Company for their share of losses, they do not discharge the primary liability of the Company, which remains contingently liable in the event the reinsurer is unable to meet their contractual obligations.

At December 31, 2015, the Insurance Companies had unsecured aggregate reinsurance receivables of $0.5 million.

Ceded premiums earned and reinsurance recoveries on losses and loss adjustment expenses were as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Ceded premiums earned	$	372	$	265	$	201
Reinsurance recoveries on losses and loss adjustment expenses	$	239	$	137	$	285