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Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Cigna Corporation and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Amounts recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements necessarily reflect management’s estimates and assumptions about medical costs, investment valuation, interest rates and other factors. Significant estimates are discussed throughout these Notes; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. The impact of a change in estimate is generally included in earnings in the period of adjustment. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current presentation.

These interim Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited but include all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary, in the opinion of management, for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations for the periods reported. The interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2017 Form 10-K”). The preparation of interim Consolidated Financial Statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, including the seasonal nature of portions of the health care and related benefits business, as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full-year results based on interim results of operations.

Recent Accounting Changes

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company’s 2017 Form 10-K includes discussion of significant recent accounting pronouncements that either have impacted or may impact our financial statements in the future.

The following tables provide information about recently adopted and recently issued or changed accounting guidance (applicable to Cigna) that have occurred since the Company filed its 2017 Form 10-K.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Accounting Standard and Adoption Date	Requirements and Effects of Adopting New Guidance
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 and related amendments)Adopted as of January 1, 2018	Requires:
	•	Revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services
	•	Additional revenue-related disclosures
	Effects of adoption:
	•	Applies to the Company’s service and mail order pharmacy contracts with customers
	•	Adopted through full retrospective restatement
	•	Cumulative effect adjustment of $24 million after-tax was recorded, reducing the December 31, 2016 balance of retained earnings. Adjustment established a contract liability for service fee revenue billed that must be deferred and allocated to services performed after a customer contract terminates. Subsequent changes in the contract liability and the related impact to net income and per share amounts since adoption were immaterial.
	•	Immaterial reclassifications were made to prior periods in the Consolidated Statements of Income to conform to the current presentation. The ASU and related interpretive guidance provide clarification on topics including whether all or a part of a contract is within its scope, and the definition of a customer. Companies are required to identify and evaluate distinct performance obligations within their contracts. These clarifications resulted in reclassifications within the Global Health Care Segment affecting premiums, fees and other revenues, Global Health Care medical costs, and other operating expenses and had no impact on recognition patterns or net income.
	•	Prior period balances in the Company's footnote disclosures have been updated to reflect adjustments resulting from the adoption of this ASU.
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01 and related amendments)Adopted as of January 1, 2018	Requires entities to measure equity investments at fair value in net income if they are neither consolidated nor accounted for under the equity method
	Effects of adoption:
	•	Certain limited partnership interests previously carried at cost of approximately $200 million were increased to fair value of approximately $275 million on January 1, 2018. Subsequent changes in fair value are reported in net investment income.
	•	Changes in fair value for equity securities that have a readily determinable fair value that were previously reported in accumulated other comprehensive income are now reported in net realized investment gains.
	•	Cumulative effect adjustment of $62 million after-tax was recorded, increasing the opening balance of retained earnings in 2018.
	•	See Notes 9 and 10 for updated disclosures about equity securities.
Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12)Early adopted as of January 1, 2018	Guidance:
	•	Relaxes requirements for financial and nonfinancial hedging strategies to be eligible for hedge accounting and changes how companies assess effectiveness
	•	Amends presentation and disclosure requirements to improve transparency about the uses and results of hedging programs
	Effects of adoption:
	•	An immaterial amount of retained earnings was reclassified to accumulated other comprehensive income, decreasing the opening balance in 2018, for a portion of the hedging instruments that was previously excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness for fair value hedges.
	•	See Note 11 for the Company's disclosures about derivatives.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Accounting Standard and Adoption Date	Requirements and Effects of Adopting New Guidance
Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2018-02)Early adopted as of January 1, 2018	Guidance:
	•	Allows companies to reclassify the tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings as a result of H.R.1, An Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 (referred to throughout this Form 10-Q as "U.S. tax reform" or "U.S. tax reform legislation")
	•	Requires additional disclosures of the Company's accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income
	•	Allows companies to apply the guidance retrospectively or in the period of adoption
	Effects of adoption: Accumulated other comprehensive income of $229 million was reclassified to retained earnings, increasing the opening balance in 2018. See Note 13 for additional information including accounting policy disclosures.

In addition to the standards listed above, the Company adopted the following guidance in first quarter 2018 with no material impact to our financial statements: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory (ASU 2016-16), Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07), Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash (ASU 2016-18), Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (ASU 2017-05) and Stock Compensation Scope of Modification Accounting (ASU 2017-09).

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standard and Effective Date Applicable for Cigna	Requirements and Expected Effects of Guidance Not Yet Adopted
Leases (ASU 2016-02 and related amendments)Required as of January 1, 2019	Requires:
	•	Balance sheet recognition of assets and liabilities arising from leases, including leases embedded in other contracts
	•	Additional disclosures of the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows from leases
	•	Modified retrospective approach for leases in effect as of and after the date of adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in retained earnings
	Expected effects:
	•	The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact this standard will have on its financial statements.
	•	While not yet quantified, the Company expects a material impact to its Consolidated Balance Sheets from recognizing additional assets and liabilities of operating leases upon adoption. The actual increase in assets and liabilities will depend on the volume and terms of leases in place at the time of adoption.
	•	The Company plans to elect the optional practical expedient to retain the current classification of leases, and therefore, does not anticipate a material impact to the Consolidated Statements of Income or Cash Flows.
	•	The Company is implementing a new lease system and also expects that adoption of the new standard will require changes to internal control over financial reporting.

The incremental costs of obtaining ASO and mail order pharmacy contracts (such as sales commissions) are expensed as incurred and the Company does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations for these contracts in accordance with elections made by the Company as they are generally short-term with original expected durations of one year or less.

Revenue Recognition Policy

Accounting for Contracts with Customers – Service and Mail Order Pharmacy Arrangements

Service Fees and Expenses

The majority of the Company’s service fees are derived from administrative services only (“ASO”) arrangements that allow corporate clients to self-fund claims and assume the risk of medical or other benefit costs. Most of the Company’s ASO arrangements are for Global Health Care medical and specialty services, including pharmacy benefits and, to a lesser extent, ASO services in its Group Disability and Life and Global Supplemental Benefits segments. Generally, the Company’s ASO arrangements are short-term. Contract modifications typically occur on renewal and are prospective in nature.

In return for fees from these clients, the Company provides or makes available various services supporting benefit management and claims administration. In addition, Global Health Care’s services include access to the Company’s participating provider networks, disease management, utilization management, and cost containment services.

In general, the Company considers these services to be a combined performance obligation to provide cost effective administration of plan benefits over the contract period. Fees are billed, due and recognized monthly at contracted rates based on current membership or utilization. This recognition pattern aligns with the benefits from services provided to clients. These revenues are reported in fees and other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

For most ASO arrangements, the Company is required to perform services for a limited period after a client cancels. If these services will not be separately billed to the client as they are performed, the Company estimates and defers a portion of compensation attributable to this service obligation received in advance. Deferred revenue is recorded as a contract liability in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities and recognized when the related services are performed.

The Company may also provide performance guarantees that provide potential refunds to clients if certain service standards, clinical outcomes or financial metrics are not met. If these standards, outcomes and metrics are not met, the Company may be financially at risk up to a stated percentage of the contracted fee or a stated dollar amount. The Company defers revenue by recording a liability for estimated payouts associated with these guarantees within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities. The amount of revenue deferred is estimated for each type of guarantee, using either a most likely amount or expected value method depending upon the nature of the guarantee and the information available to estimate refunds. Estimates are refined each reporting period as additional information on the Company’s performance becomes available, and upon final reconciliation and settlement at the end of the guarantee period. Amounts accrued and paid for performance guarantees during the reporting periods were not material.

Service fees are recognized net of estimated pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates payable to ASO clients using our network of retail pharmacies. Net rebates retained by the Company from pharmaceutical manufacturers resulting from ASO client utilization at retail pharmacies represent compensation for pharmacy services and are reflected as fee revenue. Rebates generally represent a per script amount from the manufacturer and are determined based on scripts filled during the reporting period.

Expenses associated with administrative programs and services are recognized in other operating expenses as incurred.

Mail Order Pharmacy Revenues and Costs

Mail order pharmacy revenues are due and recognized as each prescription is shipped. Mail order pharmacy revenues are presented net of estimated pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates payable to ASO clients that use our mail order business. Rebates are generally determined based on actual prescriptions filled during the reporting period.

Mail order pharmacy costs are recognized as each prescription is shipped and include the cost of prescriptions sold and other costs to operate this business (including supplies, shipping and handling), net of estimated pharmaceutical rebates from manufacturers for prescriptions filled through our mail order business.

Contract Balances

The following table provides information about receivables and contract liabilities from service and mail order pharmacy contracts with clients. The allowance for doubtful accounts for receivables and the Company’s contract assets were not material as of the dates presented.


(In millions)	June 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Receivables, net	$	911	$	885
Contract liabilities	$	56	$	54

Revenue recognized for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the reporting period was not material.

The amount of revenue recognized for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods was not material.

Reinsurance

Because reinsurance does not relieve the originating insurer of liability, such liabilities must continue to be reported along with the related reinsurance recoverables. The Company regularly evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of its credit risk.

GMDB

The Company estimates the gross liability and reinsurance recoverable with an internal model based on the Company’s experience and future expectations over an extended period, consistent with the long-term nature of this product. As a result of the reinsurance transaction, reserve increases have a corresponding increase in the recorded reinsurance recoverable, provided the increased recoverable remains within the overall Berkshire limit (including the GMIB asset presented below).

Fair Value Measurements

Assumptions used in fair value measurement. GMIB assets and liabilities are established using capital market assumptions (including market returns, interest rates and market volatilities of the underlying equity and bond mutual fund investments) and assumptions related to future annuitant behavior (including mortality, lapse, and annuity election rates). As assumptions related to future annuitant behavior are largely unobservable, the Company classifies GMIB assets and liabilities in Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy presented in Note 9.

The only assumption expected to impact the Company’s future shareholders’ net income is non-performance risk. The non-performance risk adjustment reflects a market participant’s view of nonpayment risk by adding an additional spread to the discount rate in the fair value calculation of both (a) the GMIB liabilities to be paid by the Company, and (b) the GMIB assets to be paid by the reinsurers, after considering collateral.

The Company regularly evaluates each of the assumptions used in establishing these assets and liabilities. Significant decreases in assumed lapse rates or spreads used to calculate non-performance risk of the Company, or significant increases in assumed annuity election rates or spreads used to calculate the non-performance risk of the reinsurers, would result in higher fair value measurements. A change in one of these assumptions is not necessarily accompanied by a change in another assumption.

The Company carries certain financial instruments at fair value in the financial statements including fixed maturities, certain equity securities, short-term investments and derivatives. Other financial instruments are measured at fair value only under certain conditions, such as when impaired.

Fair value is defined as the price at which an asset could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between market participants at the balance sheet date. A liability’s fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a market participant, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value have been classified based upon a hierarchy defined by GAAP. The hierarchy gives the highest ranking to fair values determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest ranking to fair values determined using methodologies and models with unobservable inputs (Level 3). An asset’s or a liability’s classification is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to its measurement. For example, a financial asset or liability carried at fair value would be classified in Level 3 if unobservable inputs were significant to the instrument’s fair value, even though the measurement may be derived using inputs that are both observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable (Level 3).

The Company estimates fair values using prices from third parties or internal pricing methods. Fair value estimates received from third-party pricing services are based on reported trade activity and quoted market prices when available, and other market information that a market participant may use to estimate fair value. The internal pricing methods are performed by the Company’s investment professionals and generally involve using discounted cash flow analyses, incorporating current market inputs for similar financial instruments with comparable terms and credit quality, as well as other qualitative factors. In instances where there is little or no market activity for the same or similar instruments, fair value is estimated using methods, models and assumptions that the Company believes a hypothetical market participant would use to determine a current transaction price. These valuation techniques involve some level of estimation and judgment that becomes significant with increasingly complex instruments or pricing models.

The Company is responsible for determining fair value, as well as for assigning the appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy, based on the significance of unobservable inputs. The Company reviews methodologies, processes and controls of third-party pricing services and compares prices on a test basis to those obtained from other external pricing sources or internal estimates. The Company performs ongoing analyses of both prices received from third-party pricing services and those developed internally to determine that they represent appropriate estimates of fair value. The controls executed by the Company include evaluating changes in prices and monitoring for potentially stale valuations. The Company also performs sample testing of sales values to confirm the accuracy of prior fair value estimates. The minimal exceptions identified during these processes indicate that adjustments to prices are infrequent and do not significantly impact valuations. Annually, we conduct an on-site visit of the most significant pricing service to review their processes, methodologies and controls. This on-site review includes a walk-through of inputs for a sample of securities held across various asset types to validate the documented pricing process.

Level 1 Financial Assets

Inputs for instruments classified in Level 1 include unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets accessible at the measurement date. Active markets provide pricing data for trades occurring at least weekly and include exchanges and dealer markets.

Assets in Level 1 include actively-traded U.S. government bonds and exchange-listed equity securities. Given the narrow definition of Level 1 and the Company's investment asset strategy to maximize investment returns, a relatively small portion of the Company’s investment assets are classified in this category.

Level 2 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Inputs for instruments classified in Level 2 include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices from those willing to trade in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are market observable or can be corroborated by market data for the term of the instrument. Such other inputs include market interest rates and volatilities, spreads and yield curves. An instrument is classified in Level 2 if the Company determines that unobservable inputs are insignificant.

Fixed maturities and equity securities. Approximately 95% of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities are classified in Level 2 including most public and private corporate debt and hybrid equity securities, federal agency and municipal bonds, non-government mortgage-backed securities and preferred stocks. Because many fixed maturities do not trade daily, third-party pricing services and internal valuation methods often use recent trades of securities with similar features and characteristics. When recent trades are not available, pricing models are used to determine these prices. These models calculate fair values by discounting future cash flows at estimated market interest rates. Such market rates are derived by calculating the appropriate spreads over comparable U.S. Treasury securities, based on the credit quality, industry and structure of the asset. Typical inputs and assumptions to pricing models include, but are not limited to, a combination of benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads, liquidity, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, and industry and economic events. For mortgage-backed securities, inputs and assumptions may also include characteristics of the issuer, collateral attributes, prepayment speeds and credit rating.

Nearly all of these instruments are valued using recent trades or pricing models. Less than 1% of the fair value of investments classified in Level 2 represents foreign bonds that are valued using a single unadjusted market-observable input derived by averaging multiple broker-dealer quotes, consistent with local market practice.

Short-term investments are carried at fair value which approximates cost. On a regular basis, the Company compares market prices for these securities to recorded amounts to validate that current carrying amounts approximate exit prices. The short-term nature of the investments and corroboration of the reported amounts over the holding period support their classification in Level 2.

Other derivatives classified in Level 2 represent over-the-counter instruments such as interest rate and foreign currency swap contracts. Fair values for these instruments are determined using market observable inputs including forward currency and interest rate curves and widely published market observable indices. Credit risk related to the counterparty and the Company is considered when estimating the fair values of these derivatives. However, the Company is largely protected by collateral arrangements with counterparties and determined that no adjustment for credit risk was required as of June 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

The nature and use of these other derivatives are described in Note 11.

Level 3 Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Certain inputs for instruments classified in Level 3 are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity) and significant to their resulting fair value measurement. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s best estimate of what hypothetical market participants would use to determine a transaction price for the asset or liability at the reporting date.

The Company classifies certain newly issued, privately-placed, complex or illiquid securities, as well as assets and liabilities relating to GMIB, in Level 3.

Fair values of mortgage and other asset-backed securities, corporate and government fixed maturities are primarily determined using pricing models that incorporate the specific characteristics of each asset and related assumptions including the investment type and structure, credit quality, industry and maturity date in comparison to current market indices, spreads and liquidity of assets with similar characteristics. For mortgage and other asset-backed securities, inputs and assumptions for pricing may also include collateral attributes and prepayment speeds. Recent trades in the subject security or similar securities are assessed when available, and the Company may also review published research in its evaluation, as well as the issuer’s financial statements.

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities. The significant unobservable inputs used to value the following mortgage and other asset-backed securities are liquidity and weighting of credit spreads. When there is limited trading activity for the security, an adjustment for liquidity is made as of the measurement date that considers current market conditions, issuer circumstances and complexity of the security structure. An adjustment to weight credit spreads is needed to value a more complex bond structure with multiple underlying collateral and no standard market valuation technique. The weighting of credit spreads is primarily based on the underlying collateral’s characteristics and their proportional cash flows supporting the bond obligations.

Corporate and government fixed maturities. The significant unobservable input used to value the following corporate and government fixed maturities is an adjustment for liquidity. When there is limited trading activity for the security, an adjustment is needed to reflect current market conditions and issuer circumstances.

Private equity securities. The significant unobservable input used to value the following private equity securities is a multiple of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). These securities are comprised of private equity investments with limited trading activity and therefore a ratio of EBITDA is used to estimate value based on company circumstances and relative risk characteristics.

Hybrid equity securities. The significant unobservable input used to value the following hybrid equity securities is an adjustment for liquidity due to limited trading activity. These cumulative preferred shares are deemed likely to exercise certain call options and the Company estimates an adjustment used to discount cash flows based on current market conditions and issuer circumstances.

Significant increases in liquidity or credit spreads would result in lower fair value measurements while decreases in these inputs would result in higher fair value measurements. Significant decreases in equity price-to-EBITDA multiples would result in lower fair value measurements while increases in these inputs would result in higher fair value measurements. Generally, the unobservable inputs are not interrelated and a change in the assumption used for one unobservable input is not accompanied by a change in the other unobservable input.

As noted in the preceding tables, total gains and losses included in shareholders’ net income are reflected in the following captions in the Consolidated Statements of Income:

Realized investment gains (losses) and net investment income for amounts related to fixed maturities and equity securities and realized investment gains (losses) for the impact of changes in non-performance risk related to GMIB assets and liabilities; and
Other operating expenses for amounts related to GMIB assets and liabilities (GMIB fair value gain/loss), except for the impact of changes in non-performance risk.

In the tables above, gains and losses included in other comprehensive income are reflected in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Reclassifications impacting Level 3 financial instruments are reported as transfers into or out of the Level 3 category as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurs. Therefore gains and losses in income only reflect activity for the period the instrument was classified in Level 3.

Transfers into or out of the Level 3 category occur when unobservable inputs, such as the Company’s best estimate of what a market participant would use to determine a current transaction price, become more or less significant to the fair value measurement.

Separate account assets in Level 1 primarily include exchange-listed equity securities. Level 2 assets primarily include:

corporate and structured bonds valued using recent trades of similar securities or pricing models that discount future cash flows at estimated market interest rates as described above; and
actively-traded institutional and retail mutual fund investments.

Separate account assets classified in Level 3 primarily support Cigna's pension plans, and include certain newly issued, privately-placed, complex, or illiquid securities that are priced using methods discussed above

Separate account investments in securities partnerships, real estate, and hedge funds are generally valued based on the separate account’s ownership share of the equity of the investee (NAV as a practical expedient) including changes in the fair values of its underlying investments. Substantially all of these assets support the Cigna Pension Plans.

Some financial assets and liabilities are not carried at fair value each reporting period, but may be measured using fair value only under certain conditions, such as investments when they become impaired including real estate, partnership entities, commercial mortgage loans, and certain equity securities with no readily determinable fair value

Separate Accounts

Fair values and changes in the fair values of separate account assets generally accrue directly to the policyholders and are excluded from the Company’s revenues and expenses. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K for additional policy information related to separate accounts.

Investments

Review of declines in fair value. Management reviews fixed maturities with a decline in fair value from cost for impairment based on criteria that include:

length of time and severity of decline;

financial health and specific near term prospects of the issuer;
changes in the regulatory, economic or general market environment of the issuer’s industry or geographic region; and
the Company’s intent to sell or the likelihood of a required sale prior to expected recovery.

Accounting policy. Upon adopting ASU 2016-01 beginning in 2018, changes in the fair values of equity securities that have a readily determinable fair value (primarily exchange-traded funds) are reported in other realized investment gains (losses). As of June 30, 2018, the fair values of these securities were $443 million and cost was $453 million. Also beginning in 2018, private equity securities of $68 million as of June 30, 2018, that do not have a readily determinable fair value are carried at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes. The amount of impairments or value changes resulting from observable price changes was not material.

Equity securities also include hybrid investments consisting of preferred stock with call features that are carried at fair value with changes in fair value reported in other realized investment gains (losses) and dividends reported in net investment income.

Commercial Mortgage Loans

Mortgage loans held by the Company are made exclusively to commercial borrowers and are diversified by property type, location and borrower. Loans are generally issued at a fixed rate of interest and are secured by high quality, primarily completed and substantially leased operating properties

Credit quality. The Company regularly evaluates and monitors credit risk, beginning with the initial underwriting of a mortgage loan and continuing throughout the investment holding period. Mortgage origination professionals employ an internal credit quality rating system designed to evaluate the relative risk of the transaction at origination that is then updated each year as part of the annual portfolio loan review. The Company evaluates and monitors credit quality on an ongoing basis, classifying each loan as a loan in good standing, potential problem loan or problem loan.

Quality ratings are based on our evaluation of a number of key inputs related to the loan including real estate market-related factors such as rental rates and vacancies, and property-specific inputs such as growth rate assumptions and lease rollover statistics. However, the two most significant contributors to the credit quality rating are the debt service coverage and loan-to-value ratios. The debt service coverage ratio measures the amount of property cash flow available to meet annual interest and principal payments on the debt, with a ratio below 1.0 indicating that there is not enough cash flow to cover the required loan payments. The loan-to-value ratio, commonly expressed as a percentage, compares the amount of the loan to the fair value of the underlying property collateralizing the loan.

The Company’s annual in-depth review of its commercial mortgage loan investments is the primary mechanism for identifying emerging risks in the portfolio. The most recent review was completed by the Company’s investment professionals in the second quarter of 2018 and included an analysis of each underlying property’s December 31, 2017 annual financial statements, rent rolls, operating plans and budgets for 2018, a physical inspection of the property and other pertinent factors. Based on historical results, current leases, lease expirations and rental conditions in each market, the Company estimates the current year and future stabilized property income and fair value for each loan.

The Company will reevaluate a loan’s credit quality between annual reviews if new property information is received or an event such as delinquency or a borrower’s request for restructure causes management to believe that the Company’s estimate of financial performance, fair value or the risk profile of the underlying property has been impacted.

Impaired commercial mortgage loans. A commercial mortgage loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will not collect all amounts due according to the terms of the original loan agreement. These loans are included in either problem or potential problem loans. The Company monitors credit risk and assesses the impairment of loans individually and on a consistent basis for all loans in the portfolio. Impaired loans are carried at the lower of unpaid principal balance or the fair value of the underlying real estate. Certain commercial mortgage loans without valuation reserves are considered impaired because the Company will not collect all interest due according to the terms of the original agreements; however, the Company expects to recover the unpaid principal because it is less than the fair value of the underlying real estate. The Company recognizes interest income on impaired mortgage loans only when payment is actually received.

Other Long-Term Investments

Accounting policy. Other long-term investments include investments in unconsolidated entities. These entities include certain limited partnerships and limited liability companies holding real estate, securities or loans. These investments are carried at cost plus the Company’s ownership percentage of reported income or loss in cases where the Company has significant influence. Upon adopting ASU 2016-01 beginning in 2018, the investments are carried at fair value using NAV as a practical expedient in cases when the Company does not have significant influence.

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

Realized investment gains and losses are based on specifically identified assets and result from sales, investment asset write-downs, changes in the fair values of certain derivatives and equity securities and changes in valuation reserves on commercial mortgage loans. The following realized gains and (losses) on investments exclude amounts required to adjust future policy benefits for the run-off settlement annuity business.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company reports GMIB liabilities and assets as derivatives at fair value because the cash flows of these liabilities and assets are affected by equity markets and interest rates, but are without significant life insurance risk and are settled in lump sum payments.

Accounting policy. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company early adopted ASU 2017-12 (Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities) with no material impact to its financial statements. The Company applies hedge accounting when derivatives are designated, qualified and highly effective as hedges. Effectiveness is formally assessed and documented at inception and each period throughout the life of a hedge using various qualitative or quantitative methods appropriate for each hedge. Under hedge accounting, the changes in fair value of the derivative and the hedged risk are generally recognized together and offset each other when reported in shareholders’ net income. Changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument may not always equal changes in the fair value of the hedged item. This is referred to as “hedge ineffectiveness” and, with the adoption of ASU 2017-12, is no longer measured and reported separately from the effective portion of the hedge. The Company excludes certain components of derivative instruments’ changes in fair value from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. With the adoption of ASU 2017-12, those excluded components are initially recorded in other comprehensive income and recognized in shareholders’ net income over the life of the derivative instrument as further discussed below. See Note 9 for further information on our policies for determining fair value. Derivative cash flows are generally reported in operating activities.

Accounting. Hedge accounting has not been designated for these instruments. The fair values of the swaption contracts are reported in other assets, including other intangibles, or accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities. Changes in fair value and settlements are reported in interest expense.

Accounting. Using cash flow hedge accounting, the fair values of these instruments are reported in other assets, including other intangibles, or accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities. Changes in fair value are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"). Upon issuance of the debt, any cumulative gain or loss on these contracts will begin amortizing to interest expense over the life of the hedged debt.

Accounting. Using fair value hedge accounting, swap fair values are reported in other long-term investments or in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities. Changes in fair values attributable to foreign exchange risk of the swap contracts and the hedged bonds are reported in other realized investment gains and losses. The portion of the swap contracts' changes in fair value excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized in net investment income as swap coupon payments are accrued, offsetting the foreign denominated coupons received on the designated bonds. Prior to adopting ASU 2017-12, changes in fair value of excluded components of the swap contracts were recognized immediately in realized investment gains and losses.

Accounting. As these arrangements were not designated as accounting hedges, fair values are reported in short-term investments or accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities, and changes in fair values are reported in other realized investment gains and losses.

Accounting. As a net investment hedge, the fair values of the swap contracts are reported in other assets, including other intangibles, or in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities. The changes in fair values of these instruments are reported in other comprehensive income, specifically in translation of foreign currencies. The portion of the change in swap fair values relating to foreign exchange spot rates will be recognized in earnings upon deconsolidation of the hedged foreign subsidiaries. The remaining changes in swap fair value are excluded from the effectiveness assessment and recognized in other operating expenses as swap coupon payments are accrued.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

AOCI includes the Company’s share from entities accounted for using the equity method. AOCI excludes amounts required to adjust future policy benefits for the run-off settlement annuity business and a portion of deferred acquisition costs associated with the corporate-owned life insurance business.

Generally, tax effects in AOCI are established at the currently enacted tax rate and reclassified to net income in the same period that the related pre-tax AOCI reclassifications are recognized.

Income Taxes

It is the Company’s policy to recognize any GILTI taxes as period costs when incurred.

The Company’s foreign operations continue to maintain a significant portion of their earnings overseas.

These undistributed earnings are deployed outside of the United States predominantly in support of the liquidity and regulatory capital requirements of our foreign operations as well as to support growth initiatives overseas. The Company does not intend to repatriate these earnings to the United States.

Commitments and Contingencies

GMIB guarantees. Future payments are not fixed and determinable under the terms of these contracts. Accordingly, the Company calculated the exposure, without considering any reinsurance coverage, using the following hypothetical assumptions:

no annuitants surrendered their accounts;
all annuitants lived to elect their benefit;
all annuitants elected to receive their benefit on the next available date (2018 through 2022); and
all underlying mutual fund investment values remained at the June 30, 2018 value of $782 million with no future returns.

The Company has reinsurance coverage in place that covers the exposures on these contracts.

Separate account assets are contractholder funds maintained in accounts with specific investment objectives. The Company records separate account liabilities equal to separate account assets. In certain cases, the Company guarantees a minimum level of benefits for retirement and insurance contracts written in separate accounts and establishes an additional liability if management believes that the Company will be required to make a payment under these guarantees.

The Company is routinely involved in numerous claims, lawsuits, regulatory audits, investigations and other legal matters arising, for the most part, in the ordinary course of managing a global health services business. Except for the specific matters noted below, the Company believes that the legal actions, regulatory matters, proceedings and investigations currently pending against it should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity based upon our current knowledge and taking into consideration current accruals. Disputed tax matters arising from audits by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other state and foreign jurisdictions, including those resulting in litigation, are accounted for under GAAP guidance for uncertain tax positions. Further information on income tax matters can be found in Note 15.

Pending litigation and legal or regulatory matters that the Company has identified with a reasonably possible material loss are described below. When litigation and regulatory matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable, the Company accrues the estimated loss by a charge to shareholders’ net income. The estimated loss is the Company’s best estimate of the probable loss at the time or an amount within a range of estimated losses reflecting the most likely outcome or the minimum amount of the range (if no amount is better than any other estimated amount in the range).

Segment Information

In the Company’s segment disclosures, we present “operating revenues,” defined as total revenues excluding realized investment results. Beginning in 2018, realized investment results from the Company's equity method joint ventures in the Global Supplemental Benefits segment are also excluded due to the potential increased volatility in investment results after adopting ASU 2016-01. Investment gains or losses are managed based on factors largely unrelated to the underlying business purpose of each segment and are not indicative of the underlying performance of the Company’s core business operations, so they are excluded from operating revenues.

The Company uses “adjusted income (loss) from operations” as its principal financial measure of segment operating performance because management believes it best reflects the underlying results of core business operations and permits analysis of trends in underlying revenue, expenses and profitability. Adjusted income from operations is defined as shareholders’ net income (loss) excluding after-tax realized investment gains and losses, amortization of other acquired intangible assets and special items. Income or expense amounts that are excluded from adjusted income from operations because they are not indicative of underlying performance or the responsibility of operating segment management include:

Realized investment results, including changes in market values of certain financial instruments between balance sheet dates, as well as gains and losses associated with invested asset sales. As discussed above, beginning in 2018, realized investment results from the Company's equity method joint ventures in the Global Supplemental Benefits segment are also excluded.
Amortization of other intangible assets related to costs incurred for acquisitions
Special items, if any, that management believes are not representative of the underlying results of operations due to the nature or size of these matters.