4. Reinsurance

The Company seeks to reduce its risk of loss by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with other insurance enterprises or reinsurers, generally as of the beginning of the hurricane season on June 1st of each year. The Company’s current reinsurance program consists of excess of loss and catastrophe reinsurance, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreements. The Company is responsible for insured losses related to catastrophes and other events in excess of coverage provided by its reinsurance program. The Company remains responsible for the settlement of insured losses irrespective of the failure of any of its reinsurers to make payments otherwise due to the Company.

The Company eliminated the quota share ceded by UPCIC to its reinsurers beginning with the reinsurance program effective June 1, 2015. Under the quota share contracts that were effective June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015, the quota share ceded by UPCIC to its reinsurers was 30%. By eliminating the quota share, the Company expects to increase its profitability by retaining all premiums. The elimination of the quota share also decreases the amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) that may be ceded by UPCIC and effectively increases the amount of risk retained by UPCIC and the Company. The elimination of the quota share also eliminates ceding commissions earned from the Company’s quota share reinsurer during the contract term and eliminates deferred ceding commissions, netted against deferred policy acquisition costs.

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Reinsurance premiums, losses and LAE are accounted for on a basis consistent with those used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Ceding commissions received in connection with quota share reinsurance are deferred and netted against deferred policy acquisition costs and amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies.

In order to reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, the Insurance Entities seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly evaluate the financial strength of all reinsurers used.

The following table presents ratings from rating agencies and the unsecured amounts due from the Company’s reinsurers whose aggregate balance exceeded 3% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity as of the dates presented (in thousands):

Ratings as of September 30, 2015

Due from as of

Standard

and Poor's

Moody's

AM Best

Rating

Investors

September 30,

December 31,

Reinsurer

Company

Services

Service, Inc.

2015

2014

Everest Reinsurance Company

A+

—

16,780

Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund

n/a

—

31,870

Odyssey Reinsurance Company

A-

30,213

136,339

Total (1)

30,213

184,989

(1)	Amounts represent prepaid reinsurance premiums, reinsurance receivables, and net recoverables for paid and unpaid losses, including incurred but not reported reserves, loss adjustment expenses, and offsetting reinsurance payables.

n/a	No rating available, because entity is not rated.

The Company’s reinsurance arrangements had the following effect on certain items in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2015								2014
							Losses and Loss								Losses and Loss
	Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment		Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment
	Written			Earned			Expenses		Written			Earned			Expenses
Direct	$	222,572		$	214,802		$	53,560	$	195,435		$	196,269		$	48,341
Ceded		(71,150	)		(68,649	)		294		(103,492	)		(101,981	)		(14,160	)
Net	$	151,422		$	146,153		$	53,854	$	91,943		$	94,288		$	34,181

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015									2014
							Losses and Loss									Losses and Loss
	Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment			Premiums			Premiums			Adjustment
	Written			Earned			Expenses			Written			Earned			Expenses
Direct	$	684,147		$	616,244		$	152,551		$	607,361		$	578,974		$	146,033
Ceded		(185,578	)		(262,843	)		(25,403	)		(301,624	)		(347,517	)		(57,348	)
Net	$	498,569		$	353,401		$	127,148		$	305,737		$	231,457		$	88,685

The following prepaid reinsurance premiums and reinsurance recoverable and receivable are reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the dates presented (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	$	113,240	$	190,505
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and LAE	$	19,460	$	47,350
Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses		16,675		7,837
Reinsurance receivable, net		166		7,468
Reinsurance recoverable and receivable	$	36,301	$	62,655