COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company leases office space and equipment used in connection with its operations under various operating leases, the majority of which contain escalation clauses.

Future minimum payments under operating lease agreements are as follows:



Years ending December 31,	(In thousands)
2018	$	11,090
2019	13,728
2020	10,859
2021	9,578
2022	8,306
Thereafter	32,820
Total	$	86,381

Expenses charged to operations under these agreements are $8.9 million, $6.2 million and $5.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company’s two most significant operating leases are a 10.5-year lease for its call center in New York and a 10.5-year lease for its corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado which collectively approximate 58% of the future minimum payments due under all operating lease agreements in the table above.

The Company also has funding commitments that could potentially require its performance in the event of demands by third parties or contingent events as follows:



	Amount of commitment expiration per period
	Less than 1 Year		1 to 3 years		Total
	(In thousands)
Purchase obligations	$	831	$	650	$	1,481

The purchase obligations primarily consist of software licenses.

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is a party to various lawsuits. The Company establishes reserves for specific legal matters when it determines that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is probable and the loss is reasonably estimable. Management has also identified certain other legal matters where we believe an unfavorable outcome is not probable and, therefore, no reserve is established. Although management currently believes that resolving claims against us, including claims where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible, will not have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future. The Company also evaluates other contingent matters, including income and non-income tax contingencies, to assess the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and estimated extent of potential loss. It is possible that an unfavorable outcome of one or more of these lawsuits or other contingencies could have a material impact on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company. See "Note 3—Income Taxes" for additional information related to income tax contingencies.