REINSURANCE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Insurance [Abstract]

REINSURANCE

REINSURANCE

Certain blocks of insurance assumed in acquisitions, primarily life and annuities in run-off status are subject to reinsurance where some or all of the underwriting risk related to these policies has been ceded to a third party. In addition, a large portion of our reinsurance takes the form of 100% coinsurance agreements where, in addition to all of the underwriting risk, all administrative responsibilities, including premium collections and claim payment, have also been ceded to a third party. We acquired these policies and related reinsurance agreements with the purchase of stock of companies in which the policies were originally written. We acquired these companies for business reasons unrelated to these particular policies, including the companies’ other products and licenses necessary to fulfill strategic plans.

A reinsurance agreement between two entities transfers the underwriting risk of policyholder liabilities to a reinsurer while the primary insurer retains the contractual relationship with the ultimate insured. As such, these reinsurance agreements do not completely relieve us of our potential liability to the ultimate insured. However, given the transfer of underwriting risk, our potential liability is limited to the credit exposure which exists should the reinsurer be unable to meet its obligations assumed under these reinsurance agreements.

Reinsurance recoverables represent the portion of future policy benefits payable and benefits payable that are covered by reinsurance. Reinsurance recoverables, included in other current and long-term assets, were $188 million at December 31, 2021 and $194 million at December 31, 2020. The amount of these reinsurance recoverables resulting from 100% coinsurance agreements was approximately $188 million at December 31, 2021 and approximately $193 million at December 31, 2020. Premiums ceded were $6 million in 2021, $29 million in 2020 and $1 billion in 2019. Benefits ceded were $2 million in 2021, $7 million in 2020, and $881 million in 2019. Ceded premium and benefits in 2019 reflect the activity associated with ceding all risk under a Medicaid contract to a third party reinsurer. The reinsurance agreement ceding all risk under the Medicaid contract was terminated effective January 1, 2020.

We evaluate the financial condition of our reinsurers on a regular basis. Protective Life Insurance Company with $169 million in reinsurance recoverables is well-known and well-established with a AM Best rating of A+ at December 31, 2021. The remaining reinsurance recoverables of $19 million are divided between 10 other reinsurers, with $2 million subject to funds withheld accounts or other financial guarantees supporting the repayment of these amounts.