Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]

Liability for Future Policy Benefits and Unpaid Claims Disclosure [Text Block]

10 UNPAID LOSS AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

The establishment of the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses is based on known facts and interpretation of circumstances and is, therefore, a complex and dynamic process influenced by a large variety of factors. These factors include the Company's experience with similar cases and historical trends involving loss payment patterns, pending levels of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, product mix or concentration, loss severity and loss frequency patterns.

Other factors include the continually evolving and changing regulatory and legal environment; actuarial studies; professional experience and expertise of the Company's claims departments' personnel and independent adjusters retained to handle individual claims; the quality of the data used for projection purposes; existing claims management practices including claims-handling and settlement practices; the effect of inflationary trends on future loss settlement costs; court decisions; economic conditions; and public attitudes.

Consequently, the process of determining the provision for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses necessarily involves risks that the actual loss and loss adjustment expenses incurred by the Company will deviate, perhaps materially, from the estimates recorded.

The Company's evaluation of the adequacy of unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses includes a re-estimation of the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses relating to each preceding financial year compared to the liability that was previously established.

(a) Property and Casualty

The results of this comparison and the changes in the provision for property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses, net of amounts recoverable from reinsurers, as of March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 were as follows:

(in thousands)	March 31, 2017			March 31, 2016
Balance at beginning of period, gross	$	53,795		$	55,471
Less reinsurance recoverable related to property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses	681			1,207
Balance at beginning of period, net	53,114			54,264
Incurred related to:
Current year	24,979			22,039
Prior years	212			91
Paid related to:
Current year	(7,225		)	(7,036		)
Prior years	(23,468		)	(17,517		)
Balance at end of period, net	47,612			51,841
Plus reinsurance recoverable related to property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses	589			1,029
Balance at end of period, gross	$	48,201		$	52,870

The Company reported unfavorable development on property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses of $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. The unfavorable development for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily related to an increase in property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses at Mendota. The unfavorable development reported for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily related to property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses at Mendota.

(b) Vehicle Service Agreements

The results of the comparison and the changes in the provision for vehicle service agreement unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses as of March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 were as follows:

(in thousands)	March 31, 2017			March 31, 2016
Balance at beginning of period	$	2,915		$	2,975
Incurred related to:
Current year	1,219			1,367
Prior years	—			—
Paid related to:
Current year	(1,225		)	(1,233		)
Prior years	(136		)	(134		)
Balance at end of period	$	2,773		$	2,975