Insurance

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Property and Casualty Insurance Reserves The following table provides an analysis of changes in the liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses during the first nine months of 2021 and 2020 (in millions):


	Nine months ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Balance at beginning of year	$	10,392	$	10,232
Less reinsurance recoverables, net of allowance	3,117		3,024
Net liability at beginning of year	7,275		7,208
Provision for losses and LAE occurring in the current period	2,543		2,560
Net increase (decrease) in the provision for claims of prior years:
Special A&E charges	—		47
Other	(208)		(166)
Total losses and LAE incurred	2,335		2,441
Payments for losses and LAE of:
Current year	(589)		(592)
Prior years	(1,430)		(1,406)
Total payments	(2,019)		(1,998)

Foreign currency translation and other	—		(11)
Net liability at end of period	7,591		7,640
Add back reinsurance recoverables, net of allowance	3,400		3,114
Gross unpaid losses and LAE included in the balance sheet at end of period	$	10,991	$	10,754

The net decrease in the provision for claims of prior years during the first nine months of 2021 reflects (i) lower than anticipated claim frequency and severity in the transportation businesses, lower than expected losses in the crop business, lower than expected claim severity in the property and inland marine business and lower than expected claim frequency in the aviation business (within the Property and transportation sub-segment), (ii) lower than anticipated claim severity in the workers’ compensation businesses (within the Specialty casualty sub-segment) and (iii) lower than anticipated claim frequency in the surety and trade credit businesses and lower than expected claim frequency and severity in the financial institutions business (within the Specialty financial sub-segment). This favorable development was partially offset by (i) higher than expected claim frequency and severity in the equine business (within the Property and transportation sub-segment) and (ii) higher than anticipated claim severity in the general liability and targeted markets businesses (within the Specialty casualty sub-segment).

The net decrease in the provision for claims of prior years during the first nine months of 2020 reflects (i) lower than expected claim frequency and severity in the agricultural and transportation businesses (within the Property and transportation sub-segment), (ii) lower than anticipated claim severity in the workers’ compensation businesses and lower than anticipated claim frequency in the executive liability business (within the Specialty casualty sub-segment) and (iii) lower than anticipated claim frequency in the trade credit business and lower than anticipated claim frequency and severity in the financial institutions, fidelity and surety businesses (within the Specialty financial sub-segment). This favorable development was partially offset by (i) the $47 million special charge to increase asbestos and environmental reserves and (ii) higher than expected claim frequency in general liability contractor claims and higher than expected claim frequency and severity in the excess and surplus businesses (within the Specialty casualty sub-segment) and higher than expected losses at Neon.

Recoverables from Reinsurers and Premiums Receivable Progressions of the 2021 and 2020 allowance for expected credit losses on recoverables from reinsurers and premiums receivable related to continuing operations are shown below (in millions):


	Recoverables from Reinsurers				Premiums Receivable
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Balance at June 30	$	8	$	7	$	9	$	10
Provision (credit) for expected credit losses	—		—		1		1
Write-offs charged against the allowance	—		—		—		—
Balance at September 30	$	8	$	7	$	10	$	11

Balance at January 1	$	6	$	18	$	10	$	13
Impact of adoption of new accounting policy	—		(11)		—		(3)
Provision (credit) for expected credit losses	2		—		—		1
Write-offs charged against the allowance	—		—		—		—
Balance at September 30	$	8	$	7	$	10	$	11