Fla. Stat. § 625.121 — Florida Code / Title XXXVII / Chapter 625 / Part I / Section 625.121
625.121 Standard Valuation Law; life insurance.
Status: in_force

(1) SHORT TITLE. — This section shall be known as the “Standard Valuation Law.”

(2) ANNUAL VALUATION. — The office shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserves for all outstanding life insurance policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of each life insurer doing business in this state. In the case of an alien insurer, such valuation is limited to its insurance transactions in the United States. In calculating reserves, the office may use group methods and approximate averages for fractions of a year or otherwise, and may accept the insurer’s calculation of such reserves. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required of a foreign or alien insurer, the office may accept any valuation made or caused to be made by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction if the valuation complies with the minimum standard provided under this section. If a valuation is made by the office, the office may use its actuary or employ an actuary for that purpose; and the reasonable compensation of the actuary, at a rate approved by the office, plus reimbursement of travel expenses pursuant to s. 624.320, supported by an itemized statement of such compensation and expenses, shall be paid by the insurer upon demand of the office. If a domestic insurer furnishes the office with a valuation of its outstanding policies as computed by its own actuary or by an actuary deemed satisfactory for that purpose by the office, the valuation shall be verified by the actuary of the office without cost to the insurer. This section applies to the calculation of reserves for policies and contracts not subject to s. 625.1212.

(3) ACTUARIAL OPINION OF RESERVES. — (a) Each life insurer doing business in this state shall annually submit the opinion of a qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commission by rule are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts, and comply with applicable laws of this state. The commission by rule shall define the specifics of this opinion and add any other items determined necessary to its scope. 1. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement and must reflect the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending on or before December 31 of the year before the operative date of the valuation manual as defined in s. 625.1212(2), and in accordance with s. 625.1212(4) for each year thereafter. 2. The opinion applies to all business in force, including individual and group health insurance plans, in the form and substance acceptable to the office as specified by rule of the commission. 3. The commission may adopt rules providing the standards of the actuarial opinion consistent with standards adopted by the Actuarial Standards Board on December 31, 2013, and subsequent revisions thereto if the standards remain substantially consistent. 4. The office may accept an opinion filed by a foreign or alien insurer with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the office determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to an insurer domiciled in this state. 5. As used in this subsection, the term “qualified actuary” means a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries who also meets the requirements specified by rule of the commission. 6. Disciplinary action by the office against the insurer or the qualified actuary shall be in accordance with the insurance code and related rules adopted by the commission. 7. A memorandum in the form and substance specified by rule shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion. 8. If the insurer fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the office within a period specified by rule of the commission, or if the office determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurer fails to meet the standards prescribed by rule of the commission, the office may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the insurer to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare such supporting memorandum as required by the office. 9. Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, any memorandum or other material in support of the opinion is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and is not subject to subpoena or discovery directly from the office; however, the memorandum or other material may be released by the office with the written consent of the insurer, or to the American Academy of Actuaries upon request stating that the memorandum or other material is required for the purpose of professional disciplinary proceedings and setting forth procedures satisfactory to the office for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material. If any portion of the confidential memorandum is cited by the insurer in its marketing, is cited before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department, or is released by the insurer to the news media, no portion of the memorandum is confidential. Neither the office nor any person who receives documents, materials, or other information while acting under the authority of the office or with whom such information is shared pursuant to this paragraph may testify in a private civil action concerning the confidential documents, materials, or information. However, the department or office may use the confidential and exempt information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought against an insurer as a part of the official duties of the department or office. A waiver of an applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information may not occur as a result of disclosure to the office under this section or any other section of the insurance code, or as a result of sharing as authorized under s. 624.4212. (b) In addition to the opinion required by paragraph (a), the office may, pursuant to commission rule, require an opinion of the same qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commission by rule, when considered in light of the assets held by the insurer with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including, but not limited to, the investment earnings on the assets and considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the insurer’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including, but not limited to, the benefits under, and expenses associated with, the policies and contracts. (c) The commission may provide by rule for a transition period for establishing any higher reserves which the qualified actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required by this subsection.

(4) MINIMUM STANDARD FOR VALUATION OF POLICIES AND CONTRACTS ISSUED BEFORE OPERATIVE DATE OF STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW. — The minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued prior to the operative date of s. 627.476 (Standard Nonforfeiture Law) shall be any basis satisfactory to the office. Any basis satisfactory to the former Department of Insurance on the effective date of this code shall be deemed to meet such minimum standards.

(5) MINIMUM STANDARD FOR VALUATION OF POLICIES AND CONTRACTS ISSUED ON OR AFTER OPERATIVE DATE OF THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW. — Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (h) and subsections (6), (13), and (14), the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of s. 627.476 shall be the commissioners’ reserve valuation method defined in subsections (7), (11), and (14); 5 percent interest for group annuity and pure endowment contracts and 3.5 percent interest for all other such policies and contracts, or in the case of life insurance policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued on or after July 1, 1973, 4 percent interest for such policies issued prior to October 1, 1979, and 4.5 percent interest for such policies issued on or after October 1, 1979; and the following tables: (a) For all ordinary policies of life insurance issued on the standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies: 1. For policies issued before the operative date of s. 627.476(9), the 1958 Commissioners Standard Ordinary (CSO) Mortality Table; except that, for any category of such policies issued on female risks, modified net premiums and present values, referred to in subsection (7), may be calculated according to an age up to 6 years younger than the actual age of the insured. 2. For policies issued on or after the operative date of s. 627.476(9), the 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table or, at the election of the insurer for any one or more specified plans of life insurance, the 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table with Ten-Year Select Mortality Factors. 3. For policies issued on or after July 1, 2004, ordinary mortality tables, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, adopted by rule by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies. (b) For all industrial life insurance policies issued on the standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies: 1. For policies issued before the first date, the 1961 Commissioners Standard Industrial Mortality Table is applicable according to s. 627.476, the 1941 Standard Industrial Mortality Table; 2. For policies issued on or after that date, the 1961 Commissioners Standard Industrial Mortality Table; and 3. For policies issued on or after October 1, 2014, a Commissioners Standard Industrial Mortality Table adopted by the NAIC after 1980 which is adopted by rule of the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies. (c) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, the 1937 Standard Annuity Mortality Table or, at the option of the insurer, the Annuity Mortality Table for 1949, Ultimate, or any modification of these tables approved by the office. (d) For group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, the Group Annuity Mortality Table for 1951; any modification of such table approved by the office; or, at the option of the insurer, any of the tables or modifications of tables specified for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts. (e) For total and permanent disability benefits in or supplementary to ordinary policies or contracts: 1. For policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1966, the tables of period 2 disablement rates and the 1930 to 1950 termination rates of the 1952 disability study of the Society of Actuaries, with due regard to the type of benefit; 2. For policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1961, and before January 1, 1966, either of the tables specified in subparagraph 1. or, at the option of the insurer, the class three disability table (1926); 3. For policies issued before January 1, 1961, the class three disability table (1926); and 4. For policies or contracts issued on or after July 1, 2004, tables of disablement rates and termination rates adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, adopted by rule by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies or contracts. Any such table for active lives shall be combined with a mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance policies. (f) For accidental death benefits in or supplementary to policies: 1. For policies issued on or after January 1, 1966, the 1959 Accidental Death Benefits Table; 2. For policies issued on or after January 1, 1961, and before January 1, 1966, the 1959 Accidental Death Benefits Table or, at the option of the insurer, the Intercompany Double Indemnity Mortality Table; 3. For policies issued before January 1, 1961, the Intercompany Double Indemnity Mortality Table; and 4. For policies issued on or after July 1, 2004, tables of accidental death benefits adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, adopted by rule by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies. Either table shall be combined with a mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance policies. (g) For group life insurance, life insurance issued on the substandard basis, and other special benefits, such tables as may be approved by the office as being sufficient with relation to the benefits provided by such policies. (h) Except as provided in subsection (6), the minimum standard for the valuation of all individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after the operative date of this paragraph and for all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after such operative date under group annuity and pure endowment contracts shall be the commissioners’ reserve valuation method defined in subsection (7) and the following tables and interest rates: 1. For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued before October 1, 1979, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the office, and 6 percent interest for single-premium immediate annuity contracts and 4 percent interest for all other individual annuity and pure endowment contracts. 2. For individual single-premium immediate annuity contracts issued on or after October 1, 1979, and before October 1, 1986, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the office, and 7.5 percent interest. For such contracts issued on or after October 1, 1986, the 1983 Individual Annual Mortality Table, or any modification of such table approved by the office, and the applicable calendar year statutory valuation interest rate as described in subsection (6). 3. For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after October 1, 1979, and before October 1, 1986, other than single-premium immediate annuity contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the office, and 5.5 percent interest for single-premium deferred annuity and pure endowment contracts and 4.5 percent interest for all other such individual annuity and pure endowment contracts. For such contracts issued on or after October 1, 1986, the 1983 Individual Annual Mortality Table, or any modification of such table approved by the office, and the applicable calendar year statutory valuation interest rate as described in subsection (6). 4. For all annuities and pure endowments purchased before October 1, 1979, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits purchased under such contracts, the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the office, and 6 percent interest. 5. For all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after October 1, 1979, and before October 1, 1986, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding disability and accidental death benefits purchased under such contracts, the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the office, and 7.5 percent interest. For such contracts purchased on or after October 1, 1986, the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of such table approved by the office, and the applicable calendar year statutory valuation interest rate as described in subsection (6). After July 1, 1973, an insurer may have filed with the former Department of Insurance a written notice of its election to comply with this paragraph after a specified date before January 1, 1979, which shall be the operative date of this paragraph for such insurer. However, an insurer may elect a different operative date for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts from that elected for group annuity and pure endowment contracts. If an insurer does not make such election, the operative date of this paragraph for such insurer is January 1, 1979. (i) In lieu of the mortality tables specified in this subsection, and subject to rules previously adopted by the former Department of Insurance, the insurance company may, at its option: 1. Substitute the applicable 1958 CSO or CET Smoker and Nonsmoker Mortality Tables, in lieu of the 1980 CSO or CET mortality table standard, for policies issued on or after the operative date of s. 627.476(9) and before January 1, 1989. 2. Substitute the applicable 1980 CSO or CET Smoker and Nonsmoker Mortality Tables in lieu of the 1980 CSO or CET mortality table standard. 3. Use the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table for determining the minimum standard of valuation for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after January 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1998. 4. Use the 1994 GAR Table for determining the minimum standard of valuation for annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after January 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1998, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts. (j) The commission may adopt by rule the model regulation for valuation of life insurance policies as approved by the NAIC in March 1999, including tables of select mortality factors, and may make the regulation effective for policies issued on or after January 1, 2000. (k) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after July 1, 2004, excluding disability and accidental death benefits purchased under those contracts, individual annuity mortality tables adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, adopted by rule by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those contracts. (l) For all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after July 1, 2004, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding disability and accidental death benefits purchased under those contracts, group annuity mortality tables adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, adopted by rule by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those contracts.

(6) MINIMUM STANDARD OF VALUATION. — (a) The interest rates used in determining the minimum standard for the valuation of: 1. All life insurance policies issued in a particular calendar year on or after the operative date of s. 627.476(9); 2. All individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued in a particular calendar year on or after January 1, 1982; 3. All annuities and pure endowments purchased in a particular calendar year on or after January 1, 1982, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts; and 4. The net increase, if any, in a particular calendar year after January 1, 1982, in amounts held under guaranteed interest contracts, shall be the calendar year statutory valuation interest rates for the year-of-issue purchase or increase as defined in this subsection. (b) The calendar year statutory valuation interest rates I shall be determined as follows, and the results rounded to the nearest 0.25 percent: 1. For life insurance: I = 0.03 + W(R1–0.03) + (W/2)(R2–0.09). For purposes of this subparagraph, “R1” is the lesser of R and .09; “R2” is the greater of R and .09; “R” is the reference interest rate defined in this subsection; and “W” is the weighting factor defined in this subsection. 2. For single-premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and from guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options: I = 0.03 + W(R–0.03). For purposes of this subparagraph, “R” is the reference interest rate defined in this subsection, and “W” is the weighting factor defined in this subsection. 3. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on an issue-year basis, except as stated in subparagraph 2., the formula for life insurance stated in subparagraph 1. shall apply to annuities and guaranteed interest contracts with guarantee durations in excess of 10 years, and the formula for single-premium immediate annuities stated in subparagraph 2. shall apply to annuities and guaranteed interest contracts with guarantee durations of 10 years or less. 4. For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the formula for single-premium immediate annuities stated in subparagraph 2. shall apply. 5. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a change-in-fund basis, the formula for single-premium immediate annuities stated in subparagraph 2. shall apply. However, if the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for any life insurance policies issued in any calendar year determined without reference to this sentence differs from the corresponding actual rate for similar policies issued in the immediately preceding calendar year by less than 0.5 percent, the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for such life insurance policies shall be equal to the corresponding actual rate for the immediately preceding calendar year. For purposes of applying the immediately preceding sentence, the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies issued in a calendar year shall be determined for 1980, the reference interest rate defined for 1979 being used, and shall be determined for each subsequent calendar year regardless of when s. 627.476(9) becomes operative. (c) The weighting factors referred to in the formulas stated in paragraph (b) are given in the following tables: 1. Weighting factors for life insurance: Guarantee Duration Weighting (Years) Factors 10 or less: .......... 0.50 More than 10, but not more than 20: .......... 0.45 More than 20: .......... 0.35 For life insurance, the “guarantee duration” is the maximum number of years the life insurance can remain in force on a basis guaranteed in the policy or under options to convert to plans of life insurance with premium rates or nonforfeiture values or both which are guaranteed in the original policy. 2. Weighting factor for single-premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options: 0.80. 3. Weighting factors for other annuities and for guaranteed interest contracts, except as stated in subparagraph 2., shall be as specified in sub-subparagraphs a., b., and c., according to the rules and definitions in sub-subparagraphs d., e., and f. and in paragraph (f): a. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue-year basis: Guarantee Duration Weighting Factor (Years) for Plan Type 5 or less: .......... A—0.80 B—0.60 C—0.50 More than 5, but not more than 10: .......... A—0.75 B—0.60 C—0.50 More than 10, but not more than 20: .......... A—0.65 B—0.50 C—0.45 More than 20: .......... A—0.45 B—0.35 C—0.35 b. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change-in-fund basis, the factors shown in sub-subparagraph a. increased by: 0.15 for Plan Type A; 0.25 for Plan Type B; 0.05 for Plan Type C. c. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue-year basis, other than those with no cash settlement options, which do not guarantee interest on considerations received more than 1 year after issue or purchase and for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change-in-fund basis which do not guarantee interest rates on considerations received more than 12 months beyond the valuation date, the factors shown in sub-subparagraph a. or derived in sub-subparagraph b. increased by: 0.05 for Plan Type A; 0.05 for Plan Type B; 0.05 for Plan Type C. d. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, the “guarantee duration” is the number of years for which the contract guarantees interest rates in excess of the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee duration in excess of 20 years. For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the guarantee duration is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date annuity benefits are scheduled to commence. e. “Plan type,” as used in the tables above, is defined as follows: (I) Plan Type A: At any time, the policyholder may withdraw funds only with an adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurer; the policyholder may withdraw funds only without such adjustment but in installments over 5 years or more; the policyholder may withdraw funds only as an immediate life annuity; or no withdrawal is permitted. (II) Plan Type B: Before expiration of the interest rate guarantee, the policyholder may withdraw funds only with an adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurer; the policyholder may withdraw funds only without such adjustment but in installments over 5 years or more; or no withdrawal is permitted. At the end of interest rate guarantee, funds may be withdrawn without such adjustment in a single sum or installments over less than 5 years. (III) Plan Type C: The policyholder may withdraw funds before expiration of interest rate guarantee in a single sum or installments over less than 5 years either without adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurer or subject only to a fixed surrender charge stipulated in the contract as a percentage of the fund. f. An insurer may elect to value guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options and annuities with cash settlement options on either an issue-year basis or on a change-in-fund basis. Guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options and other annuities with no cash settlement options must be valued on an issue-year basis. (d) The “reference interest rate” referred to in paragraph (b) is defined as follows: 1. For all life insurance, the lesser of the average over a period of 36 months and the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year next preceding the year of issue, of the interest rate index. 2. For single-premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or year of purchase, of the interest rate index. 3. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a year-of-issue basis, except as stated in subparagraph 2., with guarantee duration in excess of 10 years, the lesser of the average over a period of 36 months and the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the interest rate index. 4. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a year-of-issue basis, except as stated in subparagraph 2., with guarantee duration of 10 years or less, the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the interest rate index. 5. For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the interest rate index. 6. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a change-in-fund basis, except as stated in subparagraph 2., the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of the change in the fund, of the interest rate index. (e) The interest rate index shall be the Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average-Monthly Average Corporates as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., if the index is calculated by using substantially the same methodology used by Moody’s on January 1, 1981. If Moody’s corporate bond yield average ceases to be calculated in substantially the same manner, the interest rate index shall be the index specified in the valuation manual, as applicable, as provided under s. 625.1212, or an index adopted by the NAIC and approved by rule adopted by the commission. The methodology used in determining the index approved by rule must be substantially the same as the methodology employed on January 1, 1981, for determining Moody’s Corporate Bond Yield Average-Monthly Average Corporates as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (f) As used in this subsection, an “issue-year basis” of valuation refers to a valuation basis under which the interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation standard for the entire duration of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of purchase of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract; and the “change-in-fund” basis of valuation refers to a valuation basis under which the interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation standard applicable to each change in the fund held under the annuity or guaranteed interest contract is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of the change in the fund.

(7) COMMISSIONERS’ RESERVE VALUATION METHOD. — (a)1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsections (11) and (14), reserves according to the commissioners’ reserve valuation method, for the life insurance and endowment benefits of policies providing for a uniform amount of insurance and requiring the payment of uniform premiums, shall be the excess, if any, of the present value, at the date of valuation, of such future guaranteed benefits provided for by such policies, over the then-present value of any future modified net premiums therefor. The modified net premiums for any such policy shall be such uniform percentage of the respective contract premiums for such benefits that the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of all such modified net premiums shall be equal to the sum of the then-present value of such benefits provided for by the policy and the excess of sub-subparagraph a. over sub-subparagraph b. as follows: a. A net-level annual premium equal to the present value, at the date of issue, of such benefits provided for after the first policy year, divided by the present value, at the date of issue, of an annuity of one per annum payable on the first and each subsequent anniversary of such policy on which a premium falls due; provided, however, that such net-level annual premium shall not exceed the net-level annual premium on the 19-year premium whole life plan for insurance of the same amount at an age 1 year higher than the age at issue of such policy. b. A net-1-year-term premium for such benefits provided for in the first policy year. 2. For any life insurance policy which is issued on or after January 1, 1985, for which the contract premium in the first policy year exceeds that of the second year and for which no comparable additional benefit is provided in the first year for such excess, and which provides an endowment benefit, a cash surrender value, or a combination thereof in an amount greater than such excess premium, the reserve according to the commissioners’ reserve valuation method as of any policy anniversary occurring on or before the assumed ending date, defined herein as the first policy anniversary on which the sum of any endowment benefit and any cash surrender value then available is greater than such excess premium, shall, except as otherwise provided in subsection (11), be the greater of the reserve as of such policy anniversary calculated as described in subparagraph 1. and the reserve as of such policy anniversary calculated as described in subparagraph 1. but with: a. The value defined in subparagraph 1. being reduced by 15 percent of the amount of such excess first year premium; b. All present values of benefits and premiums being determined without reference to premiums or benefits provided for by the policy after the assumed ending date; c. The policy being assumed to mature on such date as an endowment; and d. The cash surrender value provided on such date being considered as an endowment benefit. In making the above comparison, the mortality and interest bases stated in subsections (5) and (6) shall be used. (b) Reserves according to the commissioners’ reserve valuation method for: 1. Life insurance policies providing for a varying amount of insurance or requiring the payment of varying premiums; 2. Group annuity and pure endowment contracts, purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation, established or maintained by an employer, including a partnership or sole proprietorship, or by an employee organization, or by both, other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under s. 408 of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended; 3. Disability and accidental death benefits in all policies and contracts; and 4. All other benefits, except life insurance and endowment benefits in life insurance policies, and benefits provided by all other annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall be calculated by a method which is consistent with and yields results consistent with the principles of paragraph (a). (c) This subsection shall apply to all annuity and pure endowment contracts other than group annuity and pure endowment contracts purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation, established or maintained by an employer, including a partnership or sole proprietorship, or by an employee organization, or by both, other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under s. 408 of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended. Reserves according to the commissioners’ annuity reserve method for benefits under annuity or pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, shall be the greatest of the respective excesses of the present values, at the date of valuation, of the future guaranteed benefits, including guaranteed nonforfeiture benefits, provided for by such contracts at the end of each respective contract year, over the present value, at the date of valuation, of any future valuation considerations derived from future gross considerations, required by the terms of such contract, that become payable prior to the end of such respective contract year. The future guaranteed benefits shall be determined by using the mortality table, if any, and the interest rate or rates specified in such contracts for determining guaranteed benefits. The valuation considerations are the portions of the respective gross considerations applied under the terms of such contracts to determine nonforfeiture values.

(8) MINIMUM AGGREGATE RESERVES. — (a) In no event shall an insurer’s aggregate reserves for all life insurance policies, excluding disability and accidental death benefits, issued on or after the operative date of s. 627.476, be less than the aggregate reserves calculated in accordance with the methods set forth in subsections (7), (11), and (12) and the mortality table or tables and rate or rates of interest used in calculating nonforfeiture benefits for such policies. (b) In no event may the aggregate reserves for all policies, contracts, and benefits be less than the aggregate reserves determined by the qualified actuary to be necessary to render the opinion required by subsection (3).

(9) OPTIONAL RESERVE BASIS. — (a) Reserves for all policies and contracts issued prior to the operative date of s. 627.476 may be calculated, at the option of the insurer, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for all such policies and contracts than the minimum reserves required by the laws in effect immediately prior to such date. (b) For any category of policies, contracts, or benefits specified in subsections (5) and (6), issued on or after the operative date of s. 627.476 (the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance), reserves may be calculated, at the option of the insurer, according to any standard or standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for such category than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided; but the rate or rates of interest used for policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall not be higher than the corresponding rate or rates of interest used in calculating any nonforfeiture benefits provided for therein.

(10) LOWER VALUATIONS. — An insurer that adopted a standard of valuation producing greater aggregate reserves than those calculated according to the minimum standard provided under this section shall, with the approval of the office, adopt a lower standard of valuation, but not lower than the minimum herein provided; however, for the purposes of this subsection, the holding of additional reserves previously determined by an appointed actuary, as defined in s. 625.1212(2), to be necessary to render the opinion required by subsection (3) may not be deemed to be the adoption of a higher standard of valuation.

(11) ADDITIONAL PREMIUM. — If in any contract year the gross premium charged by a life insurer on a policy or contract is less than the valuation net premium for the policy or contract calculated by the method used in calculating the reserve thereon but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest, the minimum premium reserve required for the policy or contract shall be the greater of the reserve calculated according to the actual mortality table, rate of interest, and method used for the policy or contract, or the actual method used for the policy or contract but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest and replacing the valuation net premium by the actual gross premium in each contract year for which the valuation net premium exceeds the actual gross premium. The minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest are those standards defined by subsections (4), (5), and (6). For any life insurance policy that is issued on or after January 1, 1985, for which the gross premium in the first policy year exceeds that of the second year and for which no comparable additional benefit is provided in the first year for such excess, and which provides an endowment benefit, a cash surrender value, or a combination thereof in an amount greater than such excess premium, the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall be applied as if the method actually used in calculating the reserve for such policy were the method described in subsection (7), the provisions of subparagraph (7)(a)2. being ignored. The minimum premium reserve amount, if any, at each policy anniversary of such a policy is the excess, if any, of the amount determined by the foregoing provisions of this subsection plus the reserve calculated by the method described in subsection (7), the provisions of subparagraph (7)(a)2. being ignored, over the reserve actually calculated by the method described in subsection (7), the provisions of subparagraph (7)(a)2. being taken into account.

(12) RESERVE CALCULATION FOR INDETERMINATE PREMIUM PLANS. — In the case of a plan of life insurance which provides for future premium determination, the amounts of which are to be determined by the insurer based on then estimates of future experience, or in the case of a plan of life insurance or annuity for which the minimum reserves cannot be determined by the methods described in subsections (7) and (11), the reserves that are held under such plan must: (a) Be appropriate in relation to the benefits and the pattern of premiums for that plan; and (b) Be computed by a method that is consistent with the principles of this section, as determined by rules adopted by the commission.

(13) CREDIT LIFE AND DISABILITY POLICIES. — (a) For policies issued prior to January 1, 2004: 1. The minimum reserve for single-premium credit disability insurance, monthly premium credit life insurance, and monthly premium credit disability insurance shall be the unearned gross premium. 2. As to single-premium credit life insurance policies, the insurer shall establish and maintain reserves that are not less than the value, at the valuation date, of the risk for the unexpired portion of the period for which the premium has been paid as computed on the basis of the commissioners’ 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table and 3.5 percent interest. At the discretion of the office, the insurer may make a reasonable assumption as to the ages at which net premiums are to be determined. In lieu of the foregoing basis, reserves based upon unearned gross premiums may be used at the option of the insurer. (b) For policies issued on or after January 1, 2004: 1. The minimum reserve for single-premium credit disability insurance shall be either: a. The unearned gross premium, or b. Based upon a morbidity table that is adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and is specified in a rule the commission adopts pursuant to subsection (14). 2. The minimum reserve for monthly premium credit disability insurance shall be the unearned gross premium. 3. The minimum reserve for monthly premium credit life insurance shall be the unearned gross premium. 4. As to single-premium credit life insurance policies, the insurer shall establish and maintain reserves that are not less than the value, at the valuation date, of the risk for the unexpired portion of the period for which the premium has been paid as computed on the basis of the commissioners’ 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table or any ordinary mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, that is approved by rule adopted by the commission for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies; and an interest rate determined in accordance with subsection (6). At the discretion of the office, the insurer may make a reasonable assumption as to the ages at which net premiums are to be determined. In lieu of the foregoing basis, reserves based upon unearned gross premiums may be used at the option of the insurer.

(14) MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR HEALTH PLANS. — The commission shall adopt a rule containing the minimum standards applicable to the valuation of health plans in accordance with sound actuarial principles.

History: s. 120, ch. 59-205; ss. 1, 2, ch. 61-106; s. 17, ch. 63-400; s. 1, ch. 65-11; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; ss. 1, 2, ch. 73-324; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 1, 3, ch. 79-356; ss. 1, 6, ch. 81-289; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 98, 809(1st), 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 48, 187, 188, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 1, ch. 93-118; s. 21, ch. 95-211; s. 369, ch. 96-406; s. 8, ch. 97-292; s. 2, ch. 2000-365; s. 873, ch. 2003-261; s. 7, ch. 2004-370; s. 152, ch. 2004-390; s. 6, ch. 2014-101.