Included in net realized gains are other-than-temporary impairments of $5,024, $30, $4,387, $1,843 and $7,836 for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
Total stockholders’ equity divided by the basic shares outstanding for book value per basic share calculation. At December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 there were 66,606,258, 70,276,896, 72,982,023, 79,866,858, and 89,743,761 shares, respectively, outstanding.
We report our results through five segments: Assurant Solutions, Assurant Specialty Property, Assurant Health, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Corporate and Other. The Corporate and Other segment includes activities of the holding company, financing and interest expenses, net realized gains (losses) on investments and investment income earned from short-term investments held. The Corporate and Other segment also includes the amortization of deferred gains associated with the sales of FFG and LTC, through reinsurance agreements as described below.
The following discussion covers the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 (“Twelve Months 2015”), twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (“Twelve Months 2014”) and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 (“Twelve Months 2013”). Please see the discussion that follows, for each of these segments, for a more detailed analysis of the fluctuations.
Overall, we expect Assurant Solutions 2016 net income and net earned premiums and fees to increase from Twelve Months 2015 amounts. Results are expected to improve in the second half of 2016 driven by new mobile programs, improved international profitability and additional expense initiatives. Foreign exchange volatility, lower service contract revenue from legacy North American retail clients and continued run-off in credit insurance will impact results.
Total revenues decreased $365,948 to $2,543,105 for Twelve Months 2015 from $2,909,053 for Twelve Months 2014. The decrease was primarily due to the divestiture of ARIC, combined with lower lender-placed homeowners insurance net earned premiums. The decline in lender-placed homeowners insurance net earned premiums is primarily due to a decline in placement rates, lower premium rates and previously disclosed loss of client business. These items were partially offset by an increase in fees and other income reflecting contributions from mortgage solutions businesses.
As previously announced, the Company concluded a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for its health business and expects to substantially complete the process to exit the health insurance market in 2016. During the remainder of the exit process, we expect to incur up to $50,000 of additional exit-related charges, as well as certain overhead expenses that are excluded from the premium deficiency reserve accrual.
For more information, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
Policyholder benefits are affected by our claims management programs, reinsurance coverage, contractual terms and conditions, regulatory requirements, economic conditions, and numerous other factors. Benefits paid or reserves required for
future benefits could substantially exceed our expectations, causing a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Assurant Health loss ratio reported in "Results of Operations" below (the “GAAP loss ratio”) differs from the loss ratio calculated under the MLR rules. The most significant differences include: the fact that the MLR is calculated separately by state, legal entity and type of coverage (individual or group); the MLR calculation includes credibility adjustments for each state/entity/coverage cell, which are not applicable to the GAAP loss ratio; the MLR calculation applies only to some of our health insurance products, while the GAAP loss ratio applies to the entire portfolio, including products not governed by the Affordable Care Act; the MLR includes quality improvement expenses, taxes and fees; changes in reserves and Affordable Care Act risk mitigation program amounts are treated differently in the MLR calculation; the MLR premium rebate amounts are considered adjustments to premiums for GAAP reporting whereas they are reported as additions to incurred claims in the MLR rebate estimate calculations; and the MLR is calculated using a rolling three years of experience while the GAAP loss ratio represents the current year only.
Assurant Health has estimated the 2015 impact of this regulation based on definitions and calculation methodologies outlined in the HHS regulations and guidance. The estimate was based on separate projection models for individual medical and small group business using projections of expected premiums, claims, and enrollment by state, legal entity and market for medical businesses subject to MLR requirements for the MLR reporting year. In addition, the projection models include quality improvement expenses, state assessments, taxes, and estimated impacts of the Affordable Care Act risk mitigation programs (commonly referred to as the "3R's"). The premium rebate is presented as a reduction of net earned premiums in the consolidated statement of operations and included in unearned premiums in the consolidated balance sheet.
A permanent risk adjustment program transfers funds from insurers with lower risk populations to insurers with higher risk populations based on the relative risk scores of participants in Affordable Care Act plans in the individual and small group markets, both on and off the public marketplaces. Based on the risk of its members compared to the total risk of all members in the same state and market, considering data obtained from industry studies, the Company estimates its year-to-date risk adjustment transfer amount. The Company records a risk adjustment transfer receivable (payable) in premiums and accounts receivable (unearned premium) in the consolidated balance sheets, with an offsetting adjustment to net earned premiums in the consolidated statements of operations when the amounts are reasonably estimable and collection is reasonably assured.
A three-year (2014-2016) risk corridor program limits insurer gains and losses by comparing allowable medical costs to a target amount as defined by HHS. This program applies to a subset of Affordable Care Act eligible individual and small group products certified as Qualified Health Plans. The public marketplace can only sell Qualified Health Plans. In addition, carriers who sell Qualified Health Plans on the public marketplace can also sell them off the public marketplace. Variances from the target amount exceeding certain thresholds may result in amounts due to or due from HHS. During 2015, the Company participated in the federal insurance public marketplaces so the risk corridor program is applicable. However, as the current full funding for this program is unclear at this time, no accruals were established for any receivable amounts from this program for 2015, so there was no impact on the Company's 2015 operations. The Company does not anticipate any payables into this program for 2015.
Reserves do not represent precise calculations of expected future claims, but instead represent our best estimates at a point in time of the ultimate costs of settlement and administration of a claim or group of claims, based upon actuarial assumptions and projections using facts and circumstances known at the time of calculation.
Many of the factors affecting reserve adequacy are not directly quantifiable and not all future events can be anticipated when reserves are established. Reserve estimates are refined as experience develops. Adjustments to reserves, both positive and negative, are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which such estimates are updated.
Because establishment of reserves is an inherently complex process involving significant judgment and estimates, there can be no certainty that ultimate losses will not exceed existing claim reserves. Future loss development could require reserves to be increased, which could have a material adverse effect on our earnings in the periods in which such increases are made. See "Item 1A - Risk Factors - Risks related to our Company - Our actual claims losses may exceed our reserves for claims, and this may require us to establish additional reserves that may materially affect our results of operations, profitability and capital" for more detail on this risk.
Key sensitivities at December 31, 2015 for group long term disability claim reserves include the discount rate and claim termination rates:
Most of our credit property and credit unemployment insurance business is either reinsured or written on a retrospective commission basis. Business written on a retrospective commission basis permits management to adjust commissions based on claims experience. Thus, any adjustment to prior years’ incurred claims is partially offset by a change in commission expense, which is included in the underwriting, general and administrative expenses line in our consolidated statements of operations.
If the actual level of loss frequency and severity are higher or lower than expected, the ultimate reserves required will be different than management’s estimate. The effect of higher and lower levels of loss frequency and severity levels on our ultimate costs for claims occurring in 2015 would be as follows:
Our property and warranty line of business includes exposure to asbestos, environmental and other general liability claims arising from our participation in various reinsurance pools from 1971 through 1985. This exposure arose from a contract that we discontinued writing many years ago. We carry case reserves, as recommended by the various pool managers, and IBNR reserves totaling $30,519 (before reinsurance) and $27,721 (net of reinsurance) at December 31, 2015. We believe the balance of case and IBNR reserves for these liabilities are adequate. However, any estimation of these liabilities is subject to greater than normal variation and uncertainty due to the general lack of sufficiently detailed data, reporting delays and absence of a generally accepted actuarial methodology for those exposures. There are significant unresolved industry legal issues, including such items as whether coverage exists and what constitutes a claim. In addition, the determination of ultimate damages and the final allocation of losses to financially responsible parties are highly uncertain. However, based on information currently available, and after consideration of the reserves reflected in the consolidated financial statements, we do not believe that changes in reserve estimates for these claims are likely to be material.
Acquisition costs for preneed life insurance policies issued prior to January 1, 2009 and certain discontinued life insurance policies have been deferred and amortized in proportion to anticipated premiums over the premium-paying period. These acquisition costs consist primarily of first year commissions paid to agents.
for a period of time sufficient to allow for recovery for equity securities, and the intent to sell or whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell for fixed maturity securities.