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Fair Value Measurements
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements disclosure  
Fair Value Measurements disclosure [Text Block]

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

        The Company's estimates of fair value for financial assets and financial liabilities are based on the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance. The framework is based on the inputs used in valuation, gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates in the fair value accounting guidance hierarchy is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the Company's significant market assumptions. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is reported is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

  • •
    Level 1—Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

    •
    Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

    •
    Level 3—Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use.

Valuation of Investments Reported at Fair Value in Financial Statements

        The fair value of a financial instrument is the estimated amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between knowledgeable, unrelated, willing parties, i.e., not in a forced transaction. The estimated fair value of a financial instrument may differ from the amount that could be realized if the security was sold in an immediate sale, e.g., a forced transaction. Additionally, the valuation of investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid due to the lack of market based inputs, which may increase the potential that the estimated fair value of an investment is not reflective of the price at which an actual transaction would occur.

        For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, the Company uses the unadjusted quoted market prices as fair value and includes these prices in the amounts disclosed in Level 1 of the hierarchy. The Company receives the quoted market prices from third party, nationally recognized pricing services. When quoted market prices are unavailable, the Company utilizes these pricing services to determine an estimate of fair value. The fair value estimates provided from these pricing services are included in the amount disclosed in Level 2 of the hierarchy. If quoted market prices and an estimate from a pricing service are unavailable, the Company produces an estimate of fair value based on internally developed valuation techniques, which, depending on the level of observable market inputs, will render the fair value estimate as Level 2 or Level 3. The Company bases all of its estimates of fair value for assets on the bid price as it represents what a third-party market participant would be willing to pay in an arm's length transaction.

Fixed Maturities

        The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value measurements for approximately 98% of its fixed maturities at both December 31, 2014 and 2013. The pricing service utilizes market quotations for fixed maturity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. Since fixed maturities other than U.S. Treasury securities generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing service prepares estimates of fair value measurements for these securities using its proprietary pricing applications, which include available relevant market information, benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. Additionally, the pricing service uses an Option Adjusted Spread model to develop prepayment and interest rate scenarios.

        The pricing service evaluates each asset class based on relevant market information, relevant credit information, perceived market movements and sector news. The market inputs utilized in the pricing evaluation, listed in the approximate order of priority, include: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data, and industry and economic events. The extent of the use of each market input depends on the asset class and the market conditions. Depending on the security, the priority of the use of inputs may change or some market inputs may not be relevant. For some securities, additional inputs may be necessary.

        The pricing service utilized by the Company has indicated that it will only produce an estimate of fair value if there is objectively verifiable information to produce a valuation. If the pricing service discontinues pricing an investment, the Company would be required to produce an estimate of fair value using some of the same methodologies as the pricing service but would have to make assumptions for any market-based inputs that were unavailable due to market conditions.

        The fair value estimates of most fixed maturity investments are based on observable market information rather than market quotes. Accordingly, the estimates of fair value for such fixed maturities, other than U.S. Treasury securities, provided by the pricing service are included in the amount disclosed in Level 2 of the hierarchy. The estimated fair value of U.S. Treasury securities is included in the amount disclosed in Level 1 as the estimates are based on unadjusted market prices.

        The Company also holds certain fixed maturity investments which are not priced by the pricing service and, accordingly, estimates the fair value of such fixed maturities using an internal matrix that is based on market information regarding interest rates, credit spreads and liquidity. The underlying source data for calculating the matrix of credit spreads relative to the U.S. Treasury curve are the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Index and the BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield BB Rated Index. The Company includes the fair value estimates of these corporate bonds in Level 2, since all significant inputs are market observable.

        While the vast majority of the Company's municipal bonds and corporate bonds are included in Level 2, the Company holds a number of municipal bonds and corporate bonds which are not valued by the pricing service and estimates the fair value of these bonds using an internal pricing matrix with some unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation. Due to the limited amount of observable market information, the Company includes the fair value estimates for these particular bonds in Level 3. The fair value of the fixed maturities for which the Company used an internal pricing matrix was $92 million and $94 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Additionally, the Company holds a small amount of other fixed maturity investments that have characteristics that make them unsuitable for matrix pricing. For these fixed maturities, the Company obtains a quote from a broker (primarily the market maker). The fair value of the fixed maturities for which the Company received a broker quote was $140 million and $161 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Due to the disclaimers on the quotes that indicate that the price is indicative only, the Company includes these fair value estimates in Level 3.

Equity Securities—Public Common Stock and Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock

        For public common stock and non-redeemable preferred stocks, the Company receives prices from pricing services that are based on observable market transactions and includes these estimates in the amount disclosed in Level 1. When current market quotes in active markets are unavailable for certain non-redeemable preferred stocks held by the Company, the Company receives an estimate of fair value from the pricing services. The services utilize similar methodologies to price the non-redeemable preferred stocks as they do for the fixed maturities. The Company includes the fair value estimate for these non-redeemable preferred stocks in the amount disclosed in Level 2.

Other Investments

        The Company holds investments in various publicly-traded securities which are reported in other investments. These investments include mutual funds and other small holdings. The $19 million fair value of these investments at both December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was disclosed in Level 1. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company held investments in non-public common and preferred equity securities, with fair value estimates of $36 million and $34 million, respectively, reported in other investments, where the fair value estimate is determined either internally or by an external fund manager based on recent filings, operating results, balance sheet stability, growth and other business and market sector fundamentals. Due to the significant unobservable inputs in these valuations, the Company includes the total fair value estimate for all of these investments at December 31, 2014 and 2013 in the amount disclosed in Level 3.

Derivatives

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company held $4 million and $8 million, respectively, of convertible bonds containing embedded conversion options that are valued separately from the host bond contract in the amount disclosed in Level 2—fixed maturities.

Fair Value Hierarchy

        The following tables present the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities are measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013. An investment transferred between levels during a period is transferred at its fair value as of the beginning of that period.

(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Total   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Invested assets:

                          

Fixed maturities

                          

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 2,053   $ 2,049   $ 4   $ —  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     33,573     —     33,560     13  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

     2,368     —     2,368     —  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

     2,213     —     2,203     10  

All other corporate bonds

     23,135     —     22,934     201  

Redeemable preferred stock

     132     2     122     8  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total fixed maturities

     63,474     2,051     61,191     232  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Equity securities

                          

Public common stock

     691     691     —     —  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

     208     82     126     —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total equity securities

     899     773     126     —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Other investments

     55     19     —     36  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total

   $ 64,428   $ 2,843   $ 61,317   $ 268  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

        During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had transfers of $1 million of obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions and $7 million of non-redeemable preferred stock from Level 1 to Level 2. In addition, the Company had transfers of $11 million of non-redeemable preferred stock and $2 million of redeemable preferred stock from Level 2 to Level 1.

(at December 31, 2013, in millions)
  Total   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Invested assets:

                          

Fixed maturities

                          

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities

   $ 2,315   $ 2,298   $ 17   $ —  

Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions

     35,562     1     35,538     23  

Debt securities issued by foreign governments

     2,577     —     2,577     —  

Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities

     2,424     —     2,415     9  

All other corporate bonds

     20,940     —     20,726     214  

Redeemable preferred stock

     138     —     129     9  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total fixed maturities

     63,956     2,299     61,402     255  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Equity securities

                          

Public common stock

     610     610     —     —  

Non-redeemable preferred stock

     333     138     195     —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total equity securities

     943     748     195     —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Other investments

     53     19     —     34  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Total

   $ 64,952   $ 3,066   $ 61,597   $ 289  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

        During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company had transfers of $31 million of redeemable preferred stock and $54 million of non-redeemable preferred stock from Level 1 to Level 2.

        The following tables present the changes in the Level 3 fair value category for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

(in millions)
  Fixed
Maturities		   Other
Investments		   Total  

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 255   $ 34   $ 289  

Total realized and unrealized investment gains (losses):

                    

Reported in net realized investment gains(1)

     3     1     4  

Reported in increases (decreases) in other comprehensive income

     (2 )   1     (1 )

Purchases, sales and settlements/maturities:

                    

Purchases

     232     1     233  

Sales

     (1 )   (1 )   (2 )

Settlements/maturities

     (90 )   —     (90 )

Gross transfers into Level 3

     18     —     18  

Gross transfers out of Level 3

     (183 )   —     (183 )
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Balance at December 31, 2014

   $ 232   $ 36   $ 268  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Amount of total realized investment gains (losses) for the period included in the consolidated statement of income attributable to changes in the fair value of assets still held at the reporting date

   $ —   $ —   $ —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
(1)
Includes impairments on investments held at the end of the period as well as amortization on fixed maturities.

(in millions)
  Fixed
Maturities		   Other
Investments		   Total  

Balance at December 31, 2012

   $ 230   $ 54   $ 284  

Total realized and unrealized investment gains (losses):

                    

Reported in net realized investment gains(1)

     4     12     16  

Reported in increases (decreases) in other comprehensive income

     (2 )   1     (1 )

Purchases, sales and settlements/maturities:

                    

Purchases

     180     —     180  

Sales

     (25 )   (33 )   (58 )

Settlements/maturities

     (83 )   —     (83 )

Gross transfers into Level 3

     15     —     15  

Gross transfers out of Level 3

     (64 )   —     (64 )
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Balance at December 31, 2013

   $ 255   $ 34   $ 289  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Amount of total realized investment gains (losses) for the period included in the consolidated statement of income attributable to changes in the fair value of assets still held at the reporting date

   $ —   $ —   $ —  
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
(1)
Includes impairments on investments held at the end of the period as well as amortization on fixed maturities.

Financial Instruments Disclosed, But Not Carried, At Fair Value

        The Company uses various financial instruments in the normal course of its business. The Company's insurance contracts are excluded from fair value of financial instruments accounting guidance and, therefore, are not included in the amounts discussed below. The following tables present the carrying value and fair value of the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities disclosed, but not carried, at fair value at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the level within the fair value hierarchy at which such assets and liabilities are categorized.

(at December 31, 2014, in millions)
  Carrying
Value		   Fair
Value		   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Financial assets:

                                

Short-term securities

   $ 4,364   $ 4,364   $ 1,283   $ 3,042   $ 39  

Financial liabilities:

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

Debt

   $ 6,249   $ 7,522   $ —   $ 7,522   $ —  

Commercial paper

     100     100     —     100     —  


 

(at December 31, 2013, in millions)
  Carrying
Value		   Fair
Value		   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3  

Financial assets:

                                

Short-term securities

   $ 3,882   $ 3,882   $ 1,608   $ 2,215   $ 59  

Financial liabilities:

    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		    
 		  

Debt

   $ 6,246   $ 7,123   $ —   $ 7,123   $ —  

Commercial paper

     100     100     —     100     —  

        The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value for approximately 98% and 97% of short-term securities at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. A description of the process and inputs used by the pricing service to estimate fair value is discussed in the "Fixed Maturities" section above. Estimates of fair value for U.S. Treasury securities and money market funds are based on market quotations received from the pricing service and are disclosed in Level 1 of the hierarchy. The fair value of other short-term fixed maturity securities is estimated by the pricing service using observable market inputs and is disclosed in Level 2 of the hierarchy. For short-term securities where an estimate is not obtained from the pricing service, the carrying value approximates fair value and is included in Level 3 of the hierarchy.

        The Company utilized a pricing service to estimate fair value for 100% of its debt, including commercial paper, at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The pricing service utilizes market quotations for debt that have quoted prices in active markets. Since fixed maturities other than U.S. Treasury securities generally do not trade on a daily basis, the fair value estimates are based on market observable inputs and disclosed in Level 2 of the hierarchy.

        The Company had no material assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.