Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company reported Significant Accounting Policies in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The following are new or revised disclosures or disclosures required on a quarterly basis.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic ASC 326), which introduces a new process for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. The new ASU applies to premiums receivable, reinsurance recoverable and available-for-sale debt securities. The ASU replaces the current practice of recording a permanent write down (other than temporary impairment) for probable credit losses with a new requirement that would estimate credit losses and record those estimated losses through a temporary allowance account that can be re-measured as estimates of credit losses change. The ASU further limited estimated credit losses relating to available-for-sale securities to the amount which fair value is below amortized cost. The Company adopted ASC 326 using the modified retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable U.S. GAAP. The Company recorded a decrease to retained earnings of $0.6 million as of January 1, 2020 for the cumulative after-tax effect of adopting ASC 326.

Accounting Policies

Consolidation Policy: The Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and VIEs in which the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. This analysis includes a review of the VIE’s capital structure, related contractual relationships and terms, nature of the VIE’s operations and purpose, nature of the VIE’s interests issued and the Company’s involvement with the entity. When assessing the need to consolidate a VIE, the Company evaluates the design of the VIE as well as the related risks to which the entity was designed to expose the variable interest holders. The primary beneficiary is the entity that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to the VIE. While also considering these factors, the consolidation conclusion depends on the Company’s decision-making ability and its ability to influence activities that significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company classifies amounts of cash and cash equivalents that are restricted in terms

of their use and withdrawal separately in the face of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. See “—Note 5 (Insurance Operations)” and “—Note 14 (Variable Interest Entities)” for discussions on the nature of the restrictions.

Investment, Securities Available-for-Sale: The Company’s investments in debt securities and short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale with maturities of greater than three months. Available-for-sale debt securities and short-term investments are recorded at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, net of any allowance for credit losses, if any. Unrealized gains and losses, excluding the credit loss portion, on available-for-sale debt securities and short-term investments are excluded from earnings and reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”), net of related deferred taxes until reclassified to earnings upon the consummation of a sales transaction with an unrelated third party. Gains and losses realized on the disposition of available-for-sale debt securities are determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis and credited or charged to income. Premium and discount on investment securities are amortized and accreted using the interest method and charged or credited to investment income.

Allowance for Credit Losses-Available-For-Sale Securities: For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. For available-for-sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates 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 rating agencies, market sentiment and trends and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other quantitative and qualitative factors utilized at establishing an estimate for credit losses. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present values of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in OCI.

Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as a provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense and are reported as general and administrative expenses. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes an available-for-sale debt security is confirmed as uncollected or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.

Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities totaled $3.6 million at September 30, 2020 and is evaluated in the estimate for credit losses. Accrued interest receivable is included under Other Assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Investment, Equity Securities. The Company’s investments in equity securities are recorded at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet with changes in the fair value of equity securities reported in current period earnings (loss) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income within net change in unrealized gains (losses) of equity securities as they occur.

Premiums Receivable. Generally, premiums are collected prior to or during the policy period as permitted under the Insurance Entities’ payment plans. Credit risk is minimized through the effective administration of policy payment plans whereby the rules governing policy cancellation minimize circumstances in which the Company extends insurance coverage without having received the corresponding premiums. The Company performs a policy-level evaluation to determine the extent the premiums receivable balance exceeds the unearned premiums balance. Under ASC 326 and given the short-term nature of these receivables, the Company employed the aging method to estimate credit losses by pooling receivables based on the levels of delinquency and evaluating current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company recorded an estimate of credit losses of $0.6 million and an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.7 million, respectively.

Reinsurance. Ceded written premium is recorded upon the effective date of the reinsurance contracts and earned over the contract period. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the provisions of the reinsurance agreements and consistent with the establishment of the gross insurance liability to the Company. Under ASC 326 and given the short-term nature of these receivables, the Company considered the effects of credit enhancements (i.e. funds withheld liability, letters of credit and trust arrangements) and other qualitative factors that allowed it to conclude there was no material risk exposure. There is no estimated credit loss allowance as of September 30, 2020 established under ASC 326 and the Company did not have an allowance for uncollectible amounts due from reinsurers as of December 31, 2019.