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Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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 June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
June 30, 2017

 
June 30, 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
 
50,324

 
45,614

      Prior years
 
996

 
67

Paid related to:
 
 
 
 

      Current year
 
(23,094
)
 
(22,060
)
      Prior years
 
(35,975
)
 
(26,535
)
Balance at end of period, net
 
45,365

 
51,350

Plus reinsurance recoverable related to property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
 
509

 
845

Balance at end of period, gross
 
$
45,874

 
$
52,195


The Company reported unfavorable development on property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses of $1.0 million and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively. The unfavorable development for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily related to an increase in property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses at Mendota. The unfavorable development reported for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily related to property and casualty loss and loss adjustment expenses at Mendota, partially offset by a decrease in property and casualty unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses at Amigo.
(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 June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
June 30, 2017

 
June 30, 2016

Balance at beginning of period
 
$
2,915

 
$
2,975

Incurred related to:
 
 
 
 
      Current year
 
2,558

 
2,654

      Prior years
 

 

Paid related to:
 
 
 
 
      Current year
 
(2,616
)
 
(2,502
)
      Prior years
 
(63
)
 
(152
)
Balance at end of period
 
$
2,794

 
$
2,975