Financial Statements (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation [Policy Text Block]

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Citizens, Inc. ("Citizens" or the "Company"), a Colorado corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, CICA Life Insurance Company of America ("CICA"), CICA Life Ltd. ("CICA Ltd."), Citizens National Life Insurance Company ("CNLIC"), Security Plan Life Insurance Company ("SPLIC"), Security Plan Fire Insurance Company ("SPFIC"), Magnolia Guaranty Life Insurance Company ("MGLIC") and Computing Technology, Inc. ("CTI"). All significant inter-company accounts and interactions have been eliminated. Citizens and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "Company", "we", "us" or "our".

The consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2020, the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and stockholders' equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 have been prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and changes in cash flows at June 30, 2020 and for comparative periods have been made. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

We provide primarily life insurance and a small amount of health insurance policies through our insurance subsidiaries - CICA, CICA Ltd., CNLIC, SPLIC and MGLIC.  CICA and CNLIC issued ordinary whole-life policies, credit life and disability, and accident and health related policies, throughout the Midwest and southern U.S. until they ceased most domestic sales beginning January 1, 2017. CICA Ltd. primarily issues endowment and ordinary whole-life policies to non-U.S. residents. SPLIC offers final expense and home service life insurance in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. SPFIC writes a limited amount of property insurance in Louisiana and Arkansas. MGLIC provides industrial life policies through independent funeral homes in Mississippi.

CTI provides data processing systems and services to the Company.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates include those used in the evaluation of credit allowances on fixed maturity securities, actuarially determined assets and liabilities and assumptions, tests of goodwill impairment, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, valuation of uncertain tax positions and contingencies relating to litigation and regulatory matters.  Certain of these estimates are particularly sensitive to market conditions, and deterioration and/or volatility in the worldwide debt or equity markets could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Credit Loss, Financial Instrument

Investment securities. We assess all available-for-sale ("AFS") fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for expected credit losses. First, we assess whether we intend to sell, or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost. If either of the criteria is met, the security's amortized cost is written down to its fair value. For AFS fixed maturity securities that do not meet either criteria, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income on our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded through realized capital losses.

The Company made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost of AFS fixed maturity securities and report accrued interest separately in accrued investment income in the consolidated balance sheets. AFS fixed maturity securities are placed on non-accrual status when we no longer expect to receive all contractual amounts due. Accrued interest receivable is reversed against interest income when a security is placed on non-accrual status. Accordingly, we do not recognize an allowance for credit loss against accrued interest receivable.

We initially estimate the fair value of investments in private equity limited partnerships by reference to the transaction price. Subsequently, we obtain the fair value of these investments from net asset value information provided by the general partner or manager of the investments, the financial statements of which are audited annually. Recognition of investment income on these funds is delayed due to the availability of the related financial statements, which are generally obtained from the partnerships' general partners. As a result, our private equity investments are generally reported on a three-month delay. These investments are included in other long-term investments.