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Timestamp: 2018-06-22 00:42:28
Document Index: 152350017

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 99', 'art 95', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 95', 'art.\n14', 'art 97']

SECTION 99.1 Purposes. The purposes of this Part are: - PDF
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1 INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK REGULATION NO. 151 (11 NYCRR 99) VALUATION OF ANNUITY, SINGLE PREMIUM LIFE INSURANCE, GUARANTEED INTEREST CONTRACT AND OTHER DEPOSIT RESERVES I, Neil D. Levin, Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York, pursuant to the authority granted by sections 201, 301, 1304, 4217, 4240 and 4517 of the Insurance Law of the State of New York, do hereby promulgate the following new Part 99 of Title 11 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (Regulation No. 151), to take effect upon publication in the State Register, to read as follows: (All Material is New) Section 99.1 Purposes 99.2 Applicability 99.3 Definitions 99.4 Individual Contracts and Group Certificates Involving Individual Fund Accumulations 99.5 Group Contracts Involving Fund Accumulations 99.6 Annuity Income and Structured Settlements 99.7 Special Considerations for Valuing Reserves for Single Premium Policies 99.8 Special Considerations in Determining Valuation Interest Rates 99.9 Special Considerations for Valuing Reserves for Separate Account Contracts and Single Premium Policies Mortality Tables to be Used in Determining Reserve Liabilities for Annuities and Pure Endowments Severability SECTION 99.1 Purposes The purposes of this Part are: (a) to prescribe rules and guidelines for valuing contracts involving fund accumulations in accordance with statutory reserve formulae; (b) to prescribe rules and guidelines for valuing annuity benefits and structured settlements in accordance with statutory reserve formulae; and (c) to adopt new mortality tables for valuing annuity benefits.
2 2 SECTION 99.2 Applicability This Part shall apply to all life insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies doing business in this State and all companies holding a certificate from the superintendent as being accredited for the reinsurance of life insurance, annuities or accident and health insurance. It shall apply to all obligations of any of the foregoing, whether funded in the general account or in a separate account, no matter where issued or assumed, and no matter where shown in the annual statement. This Part shall be applicable to such companies, societies and insurers for all statements filed after the effective date of this Part. SECTION 99.3 Definitions As used in this Part, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) Account value means, with respect to a contract, the aggregate net considerations credited to the contract plus all additional amounts, including interest and dividends credited to the contract, less partial withdrawals (but not loans), and less all charges and fees imposed against the accumulated amount under the contract other than surrender charges and market-value adjustments. (b) "Actuarial opinion and memorandum" means the opinion and memorandum of an appointed actuary submitted in accordance with section 4217(e) and section 4517 of the Insurance Law. (c) "Annuity purchase amount" means the dollar amount which is applied at the time of annuitization under a deferred annuity contract. This value could be greater than or less than the account value. (d) "Annuity weighting factors" means the weighting factors referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(D)(iii) of the Insurance Law. (e) "Annuity valuation formula" means the formula referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(B)(ii) of the Insurance Law and used to determine the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for certain contracts. (f) "Annuity 2000 Mortality Table" means that mortality table shown in 99.10(h)(2)(i)(2) of this Part. (g) "Appointed actuary" means the individual defined in Part 95.4(e) of this Title. (h) "Bail-out rate" means the threshold interest rate below which any declared interest rate will trigger the option to surrender a contract with waiver of any applicable surrender charge.
3 3 (i) "Book value" means, for assets, the value prescribed by section 1414 of the Insurance Law and for reserves the value prescribed by Article 42 and Article 45 of the Insurance Law. (j) "C-3 risk" means the risk that interest rates will change and cause an adverse deviation in the amount or timing of asset or liability cash flows. (k) "Company" means any life insurance company, fraternal benefit society or accredited life reinsurer subject to the provisions of this Part. (l) "Contract" means an annuity contract, annuity benefit (whether or not issued as a supplementary contract), guaranteed interest contract or funding agreement, or any benefit thereunder assumed by a reinsurer. (m) "Current interest rate" means the sequence of interest rates currently in effect for determining contract benefits, whether contractually guaranteed or currently declared, for a specified period. It includes any additional interest in excess of the longterm minimum contractual guarantee. (n) Guarantee duration means (unless otherwise defined herein): (1) with respect to benefits or contracts with cash settlement options, the number of years for which the interest rates provided in, or declared pursuant to, the contract are guaranteed to exceed the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee durations in excess of twenty years; and (2) with respect to benefits or contracts with no cash settlement options, the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date annuity benefits are scheduled to commence. (o) "Interest guarantee maturity date" means the date of expiry of the current interest rate as defined in subdivision (m) of this section. (p) "Life insurance valuation formula" means the formula referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(B)(i) and section 4517 of the Insurance Law and used to determine the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for contracts to which the annuity valuation formula does not apply. (q) "Market-value adjustment" means: (1) with respect to individual contracts and group certificates subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law (or that would be subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law if delivered in this state), such adjustments according to a formula described in the contract for increasing and decreasing the account value in order to determine cash surrender values or account values in accordance with Part 44 of this Title. Such adjustments are not directly related to the supporting assets; and
4 4 (2) with respect to group annuities under contracts not subject to section 4223, such adjustments either according to a formula described in the contract or by company practice or procedure outside the contract or negotiated between the contractholder and the company for increasing and decreasing the cash values in event of surrender or termination. Such adjustment may be directly related to the value of the supporting assets or may be related to the change in some other assets or may be according to some other criteria. (r) "Net considerations" means gross considerations received under a contract minus all deductions from considerations made before crediting considerations to the contract. (s) Plan type means one of the types of contracts or benefits, referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(D)(iii)(V) of the Insurance Law, used to determine annuity-weighting factors. (t) "Reference interest rate" means the interest rate referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(F)(ii) through (vi) of the Insurance Law. (u) "Single premium policy" means any single premium life insurance policy, issued on or after January 1, 1982, which provides for crediting additional amounts pursuant to section 4232 of the Insurance Law and under which interest rates provided in, or declared pursuant to, the policy are, for some period, guaranteed to exceed the greater of (i) 6% per year and (ii) the valuation interest rate for other life insurance policies with guarantee durations in excess of twenty years. "Single premium policy" includes any such single premium life insurance policy under which additional payments may be made at the option of the policyholder. However, in order to qualify as a single premium policy, the policy shall contractually remain in force for life or endow at age 95 without additional payments based on an illustration using current assumptions at time of issue. (v) "Single premium policy weighting factors" means the weighting factors referred to in section 4217(c)(4)(D)(i) of the Insurance Law and used in the valuation formulae for single premium policies. (w) "Surrender charge" means, with respect to a contract, a deduction made against the account value when a contract is surrendered for its cash value: (1) including, in the case of group contracts other than those subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law (or that would be subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law if delivered in this State), any downward market-value adjustment; and (2) excluding, in the case of contracts subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law (or that would be subject to section 4223 of the Insurance Law if delivered in this State), any downward adjustment resulting from the application of a market value adjustment formula as defined in Part 44 of this Title.
5 5 In the case of two tier annuities the surrender charge is the difference between the account value of the higher tier and the cash surrender value. This surrender charge may be unconditional or it may be a conditional charge that is waived, for example, in the event the interest rate declared for any subsequent period is less than the bail-out rate as defined in this section. (x) "Valuation interest rate" means the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate as determined by using the appropriate valuation formula, the appropriate annuity or single premium policy weighting factor, and the appropriate reference interest rate taking into account, with respect to a contract or benefit, the guarantee duration and the plan type. (y) "1983 Table "a"" means that mortality table shown in section 99.10(h)(2)(i)(1) of this Part. (z) 1983 GAM Table means the mortality table shown in section 99.10(h)(2)(i)(3) of this Part. (aa) "1994 GAR Table" means that mortality table shown in section 99.10(h)(2)(i)(4) of this Part. SECTION 99.4 Individual Contracts and Group Certificates Involving Individual Fund Accumulations (a) General (1) Except as noted in paragraphs (2) through (6) of this subdivision, this section pertains to individual contracts, individual funding agreements and group certificates involving fund accumulations for particular individuals where annuities are not in course of payment and where both assets and reserves are valued on a book value basis. (2) Individual Contracts This section applies to all individual contracts that involve accumulations for particular individual beneficiaries, except as noted in paragraph (5) of this subdivision. (3) Group Certificates This section applies to all group certificates involving individual fund accumulations in which the individual exercises control of withdrawal and of transfer between investment options. For purposes of this section, "contract" shall include "certificate" as described in this paragraph. (4) Individual Funding Agreements This section also applies to individual funding agreements, such as individual deferred annuity certain contracts that do not provide for annuities with life contingencies, but provide for the accumulation of net contributions at interest based on an interest rate
6 6 set in advance for a specified period. (5) Modified Guaranteed Annuities Modified guaranteed annuities are contracts with values available at specified times or dates without a market value adjustment but provide for a market-value adjustment both upward and downward, depending on both the changes in interest rates prior to the expiry of the interest guarantee and the remaining period of the guaranteed interest rate. For modified guaranteed annuities for which the assets are valued on a book value basis, this section and the relevant requirements of Part 44 of this Title shall apply. The relevant requirements of Part 44 of this Title and this Part, except for paragraph (b)(1) of this section, shall apply to modified guaranteed annuities for which the assets are valued on a market value basis. (6) Life Insurance and Health Insurance Riders Life or health insurance riders attached to an annuity contract, where all components of the rider (e.g., premiums, benefits contract changes, accumulation values, and other components) are separate and distinct from the components of the annuity contract, shall be treated as a separate life or health insurance contract not subject to this section. (b) Elective and Non-Elective Benefits (1) For purposes of determining reserves under this section, each benefit available under the annuity contract must be placed into one of the two categories defined as follows: (i) Non-Elective Benefits: Benefits that are payable to contract owners or beneficiaries only after the occurrence of a contingent or scheduled event independent of a contract owner's election of an option specified in the contract, including (but not limited to) death benefits, accidental death benefits, disability benefits, nursing home benefits, and benefits payable under either a deferred or immediate annuity contract (with or without life contingencies), where no benefit options are available under the terms of the contract; or (ii) Elective Benefits: Benefits that do not fall under the non-elective benefits category (i.e., benefit options that may be freely elected under the terms of the contract). Elective benefits include (but are not limited to) full surrenders, partial withdrawals, and full and partial annuitizations. In some cases it may not be clear whether some benefits are elective or non-elective. For example, some annuity contracts offer benefits that vary depending upon the age of retirement. In such cases, the appointed actuary shall use judgment in making this determination, by considering factors such as the degree to which contract owner actions would be influenced by the availability of the benefit. (2) If the death benefit under a fixed account contract exceeds 105% of the current account value, then the reserve for the excess of the death benefit over 105% of the current account value shall not be less than the one year term insurance reserve as of the date of valuation using the appropriate life insurance valuation mortality table
7 7 and life insurance valuation interest rate as if the excess death benefit were a standalone policy. (c) Elective and Non-Elective Incidence Rates (1) For non-elective benefits, incidence rates from tables prescribed by section 4217 of the Insurance Law shall be applied to determine the payment of non-elective benefits and to discount, for survivorship, all benefit payments included in an integrated benefit stream, as defined in section 99.4(d). If no incidence tables are prescribed, then company or industry experience (with margins to cover moderately adverse deviations in experience) may be used, as appropriate. Annuity mortality tables prescribed by section of this Part shall be used to determine all mortality based benefits under the contract (including, but not limited to, annuitizations and death benefits) and to discount other types of benefit payments for survivorship. However, if the death benefit under a fixed account value exceeds 105% of the current account value, then the procedures of paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall be followed for the excess of the death benefit over the current account value. (2) For elective benefits, incidence rates shall not be based on tables reflecting past company experience, industry experience or other expectations. Instead, every potential guaranteed elective benefit stream must be considered in the determination of integrated benefit streams. This is accomplished by considering trial sets of guaranteed elective benefit incidence rates, either through numerical testing or analytical means, to determine which trial set produces the "greatest present value". This means that all possible elective benefit incidence rates between 0% and 100% shall be considered. (d) Integrated Benefit Stream An integrated benefit stream is one potential blend of guaranteed elective and nonelective benefits available under the contract, determined as the combination of (1) and (2), where: (1) is one potential stream of one or more types of guaranteed elective benefits available under the terms of the contract, based upon a chosen set of elective benefit incidence rates; and (2) is the stream of all guaranteed non-elective benefits provided under the terms of the contract, recognizing the guaranteed elective benefit stream under consideration in 99.4(d)(1), and the non-elective incidence rates defined in section 99.4(c)(1). Both (1) and (2) above shall be discounted for survivorship, based on the non-elective incidence rates defined in this section.
8 8 (e) Annuity Reserve Valuation Method Minimum reserves for contracts subject to this section shall be calculated assuming no indebtedness on the contracts and shall not be less than the greatest present value of all potential integrated benefit streams, reflecting all guaranteed elective and nonelective benefits available to the contract owner. Each integrated benefit stream available under the contract must be individually valued and the ultimate reserve established must be the greatest of the present values of these values, based on valuation interest rate(s) as defined in paragraph (6) of this subdivision. Examples of integrated benefit streams that must be considered include those described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subdivision: (1) Cash Surrender Value Streams (i) For contracts not requiring future considerations, the reserve shall not be less than the greater of: (a) the cash surrender value or (b) the greatest present value of any possible blend of future guaranteed partial withdrawals and full surrenders available under the contract on any day of each respective contract year, assuming no future considerations are paid, with appropriate recognition of all guaranteed non-elective benefits available under the contract. (ii) For contracts requiring future considerations, the reserve shall never be less than the greater of: (a) the reserve determined by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph assuming no future considerations are paid or (b) the greatest of the respective excesses of the present values, at the date of valuation, of any possible blend of future guaranteed partial withdrawals and full surrenders (including those resulting from receipt of required gross considerations) provided for by the contract on any day of each respective contract year with appropriate recognition of all guaranteed nonelective benefits available under the contract, over the present value, at the date of valuation, of any future valuation net considerations derived from future gross considerations, required by the terms of the contract that become payable prior to such day of such respective contract year, assuming required considerations are paid. (iii) In general, future considerations are not required for single premium deferred annuity (SPDA) and flexible premium deferred annuity (FPDA) contracts but may be required for scheduled premium contracts. Considerations are considered to be required, if failure to pay considerations causes a change in status of the contract. Conversely, considerations are considered not to be required if failure to pay considerations causes no change in the status of the contract. Where considerations are required, the valuation net considerations are the portions of the respective gross considerations applied under the terms of the contract to determine nonforfeiture or withdrawal values. (2) Guaranteed Purchase Rate Streams (i) For contracts not requiring future considerations, the reserve shall not be less than the greatest present value, at the date of valuation, of any possible blend of future guaranteed full or partial annuitization elections available to the contract owner on any day of each respective contract year, assuming no future considerations are paid, with appropriate recognition of all guaranteed non-elective benefits available under the terms of the contract.
9 9 (ii) For contracts requiring future considerations, the reserve shall not be less than the greater of: (a) the reserve determined by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph assuming no future considerations are paid or (b) the greatest of the respective excesses of the present value, at the date of valuation, of any possible blend of future guaranteed full or partial annuity benefit streams available under all annuitization options provided for by the guaranteed purchase rates in the contract on any day of each respective contract year with appropriate recognition of all guaranteed nonelective benefits available under the terms of the contract, over the present value, at the date of valuation, of any future valuation net considerations derived from future gross considerations, required by the terms of the contract that become payable prior to such respective contract year, assuming required considerations are paid. (iii) In general, future considerations are not required for single premium deferred annuity (SPDA) and flexible premium deferred annuity (FPDA) contracts but may be required for scheduled premium contracts. Considerations are considered to be required if failure to pay considerations causes a change in status of the contract. Conversely considerations are considered not to be required if failure to pay considerations causes no change in the status of the contract. Where considerations are required, the valuation net considerations are the portions of the respective gross considerations applied under the terms of the contract. (iv) The future guaranteed annuity benefit streams shall be calculated for all guaranteed annuitization options and possible future guaranteed annuitization election dates. (v) For purposes of this paragraph, the present values shall be determined using the valuation interest rate(s) defined in paragraph (6) of this subdivision. (vi) The current annuity purchase rates shall be ignored for the purpose of this paragraph, if such rates are not guaranteed. (3) Other Elective Benefit Streams In addition to the cash surrender value and guaranteed purchase rate streams described in sections 99.4(e)(1) and 99.4(e)(2), all other possible elective benefits (for example, elective commutation of annuity benefits) available under the contract, including blends of more than one type of elective benefit, must be considered in a manner consistent with the cash surrender value and guaranteed purchase rate streams, with appropriate recognition of all guaranteed non-elective benefits available under the contract. (4) Special Considerations for Applying Paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) (i)except as permitted in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, only unconditional surrender charges or surrender charges subject to conditions not considered to be meaningful may be deducted in determining future elective and non-elective benefits. However, the deduction of any surrender charges in determining future elective and non-elective benefits may be done only to the extent justified by an acceptable actuarial opinion and memorandum in accordance with sections 95.8 and 95.9 of Part 95 of this Title. (ii) An example of a surrender charge subject to conditions is a charge that will be waived upon surrender if the rate at which interest is credited falls below the bailout
10 10 rate. The conditions are meaningful if the bailout rate is greater than the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee durations in excess of twenty years issued in the same year. (iii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (v) of this paragraph, the company may, at its option, deduct surrender charges subject to conditions considered to be meaningful if: (a) the current interest rate equals or exceeds the bail-out rate and (b) reserves are calculated based on the assumption that future account values are projected as if the bail-out rate were guaranteed until expiry of the contractual provision for waiving the surrender charge and thereafter the future account values are based on the greater of the contractual minimum interest rate and any higher declared interest rate. (iv) For contracts with bail-out rates which are a function of an external index, a judgment as to the availability of the surrender charges may be made by comparing historical values of the function with corresponding values of the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee durations in excess of twenty years. If the values of the function have generally been less than or equal to the valuation rates, then the conditions may be treated as not meaningful. (v) Waivers of surrender charges upon contractholder or certificate holder death, disability, unemployment or admittance to a nursing home and other guaranteed nonelective benefits must be reflected in the determination of future integrated benefit streams, based on the appropriate non-elective benefit incidence rates. (vi) The future account values shall be determined by using the current interest rate for the remaining guarantee duration, and thereafter the interest rate specified in the contract for determining guaranteed benefits. The present values shall be determined using the valuation interest rate(s) defined in paragraph (6) of this subdivision. (5) Current Purchase Rates (i) This paragraph applies to: (a) contracts which provide for the crediting of additional amounts during the payout period over those guaranteed at the commencement of annuity payments; and (b) contracts which guarantee the availability of current annuity purchase rates at the time of annuitization. (ii) For the purpose of this paragraph, current annuity purchase rates include: (a) rates being offered by the company for single consideration immediate annuities on the date of valuation to the same class of annuitants; and (b) any other annuity purchase rates available other than those specified in the contract as guaranteed purchase rates. (iii) Minimum reserves under this paragraph shall not be less than (a) minus (b), where (a) is the greater of the annuity purchase amount or the account value, and (b) is an expense allowance not to exceed seven percent of (a). This paragraph does not require the calculation of a reserve equal to the present value of annuity income based upon current purchase rates. (6) Determination of Valuation Interest Rates (i) Section 99.8 of this Part sets forth requirements for the determination of valuation interest rates. Additional valuation interest rate requirements for this section
11 11 are provided in paragraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) below. (ii) As referred to in section 4217(c)(4) of the Insurance Law, the valuation interest rates determined in this section are determined based on the following parameters: (a) the basis of valuation (issue year or change in fund); (b) whether or not the annuity provides for cash settlement options; (c) whether interest is guaranteed on premiums received more than 12 months following issue (or the valuation date for change in fund basis); (d) the guarantee duration; and (e) the plan type. Parameters (a), (b) and (c) in this subparagraph shall be determined at a contract level, while parameters (d) and (e) in this subparagraph shall be determined at a benefit level, as set forth in this paragraph. Under a contract level determination, parameters are set based on the characteristics of the contract as a whole. Under a benefit level determination, parameters are set based on the characteristics of each benefit, resulting in potentially different valuation rates for each benefit type comprising the integrated benefit stream. (iii) Determination of guarantee duration and plan type Guarantee duration and plan type are based upon the specific characteristics of each individual benefit type that comprise the integrated benefit stream, as follows: (a) For portions of the integrated benefit stream attributable to full surrender and partial withdrawal benefits, the plan type shall be based upon the withdrawal characteristics of the benefit, as stated in the contract. This may result in a plan type A, B, or C. The guarantee duration is the number of years for which interest rates are guaranteed to exceed the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee durations in excess of twenty (20) years. (b) For portions of the integrated benefit stream attributable to full and partial annuitization benefits, the determination of the valuation interest rate involves the use of the appropriate weighting factor as defined in section 4217 of the Insurance Law and the appropriate plan type, with the guarantee duration as the number of years from the original date of issue or date of purchase, to the date the annuitization is assumed to commence. If the underlying assumption is that the contract owner may withdraw funds only as an immediate life annuity or as installments over 5 years or more, this will generally result in a plan type A, with the valuation interest rate changing as different assumed annuitization dates determine guarantee durations which will fall into different guarantee duration bands. An assumed annuitization option which has a non-life contingent payout period of less than 5 years shall be considered a plan type C, with the valuation interest rate changing as different assumed annuitization dates determine guarantee durations which fall into different guarantee bands. (c) For portions of the integrated benefit stream attributable to non-elective benefits, since the underlying assumption is that no withdrawal is permitted, plan type A will generally be used, with a guarantee duration determined as the number of years from issue or purchase to the date non-elective benefits may first be paid. However, if the death benefit under a fixed account contract exceeds 105% of the account value, the procedures of paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall be followed for the excess of the death benefit over 105% of the current account value. In addition, portions of an
12 12 integrated benefit stream attributable to any non-elective benefit, other than a death benefit or a waiver of surrender charge, shall be discounted using the interest rate which would be applicable for such non-elective benefit if such benefit were issued as a stand alone policy. (iv) Issue Year or Change in Fund Basis Section 99.8 of this Part sets forth considerations in applying the issue year and change in fund basis. (7) Reserves for purposes of this subdivision may be determined using any other method substantially consistent with paragraphs (1) through(5) of this subdivision and with the prior written approval of the superintendent. (8) While in theory there may be an infinite number of contract owner options, this section requires that the actuary consider, though not necessarily test, all potential integrated benefit streams to ascertain to what extent each contract owner option has a material impact on the reserve. The actuary may eliminate some potential streams by analytical methods. The actuary may also demonstrate the reserve adequacy of certain approximations. (9) Where the requirements of this subdivision produce higher reserves than those calculated for the 1999 yearend valuation, the company shall; for 2000 and later issues, comply with this subdivision. For 1999 and earlier issues, the company may linearly interpolate between the higher reserves and the old reserves as follows: (i) 33 1/3 percent and 66 2/3 percent, respectively, starting with yearend 2000; (ii) 66 2/3 percent and 33 1/3 percent, respectively, starting with yearend 2001; and (iii) the company shall hold the full amount of such new reserves for such issues starting with yearend (10) Grouping of contracts or portions of contracts before determination of reserves is permissible only if all contracts or portions of contracts within a group have substantially identical features including the same year of issue, current interest rate, long-term guaranteed interest rate, surrender charge schedule, and year of maturity of the current interest rate. SECTION 99.5 Group Contracts Including Fund Accumulations (a) General The cash settlement options associated with contracts referred to in this section may be in the form of a lump sum without any adjustment or may be with an adjustment based on some formula including but not limited to a fixed percentage charge; or a variable charge to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds; or in the form of installment payments with or without an adjustment in the interest rate during the installment payout period. Group contracts involving fund accumulations
13 13 include the following, with special requirements indicated therein: (1) Immediate Participation Guarantee Contracts (i) These contracts typically provide for participation by both retired and active lives in the experience of the company. The annuities in course of payment for retired lives are not considered as being purchased unless the funds fall below a specified level, in which case the contract becomes a deposit administration contract. (ii) The reserve for the annuities on retired lives and for previously guaranteed annuities on deferred lives shall be at least equal to the reserves, determined in accordance with section 99.6 of this Part, based on the minimum valuation basis assuming such annuities were purchased in the year of valuation, at time of retirement or at time of previous guarantee, provided such method is consistently applied. (iii) Any portion allocated for active lives may or may not have interest guarantees. (2) Deposit Administration Contracts (i) These contracts typically provide for an unallocated fund accumulation for active lives out of which immediate annuities are purchased for individuals at retirement and deferred annuities are purchased for terminated individuals (e.g., employees) with vested benefits. (ii) The reserve for retired lives and deferred annuities purchased for terminated individuals with vested benefits shall be at least as much as that determined in accordance with section 99.6 of this Part, based on the minimum valuation basis in effect on the date of purchase. (iii) There may or may not be high interest guarantees on the active life funds. (3) Funding Agreements These contracts are generally funds accumulated for specified purposes, but which do not include provisions for the application of funds to provide annuities involving life contingencies. (4) Guaranteed Interest Contracts (GICs) These contracts may include those referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subdivision as well as other contracts which include high interest rate guarantees (that is, guarantees above which either no or minimal additional interest is likely to be credited) for a specified period (generally several years). There may or may not be high interest guarantees for future considerations. (b) Group Allocated Contracts (1) Group allocated contracts generally refer to those contracts in which the company maintains records for each individual covered under the contract. (2) Where the individual certificate holder has control of both withdrawal and of transfer between investment options the reserve for each certificate shall not be less than the reserve calculated in accordance with section 99.4 of this Part.
14 14 (3) Where the individual certificate holder has limited control, such as where the holder or the holder s beneficiary can withdraw funds only in the event of a death, disability, retirement, or bonafide termination of employment, or can redirect or transfer funds to another investment option within the contract, the contract shall be valued the same as for a group unallocated contract except that the contract shall be considered as a plan type C group contract, or if the contract contains written provisions which are designed to reduce the C-3 risk to the company, the contract shall be considered as a plan type B group contract. (i) A plan or contract that meets the criteria to be considered plan type B would include both of the following provisions: (a) No direct transfer to competing funds, whether such funds are alternate funds of the company or not. This provision prohibits direct transfer of funds from the GIC option to a competing plan option that offers either a guarantee of principal or to an option in which the risk of loss of principal is small such as a money market fund or short-term bond fund. Any transfer to such an option must first go through a noncompeting plan option and reside there for at least 90 days. (b) For a GIC that funds plan investment options where interest is allocated to plan participants based on how much of their account balance is in each particular interest rate "cell", a participant is not allowed to redirect any of the balance the participant has in a GIC funding a particular cell to a competing fund until the GIC's maturity date. (ii) In order to use the plan type B valuation interest rate, the appointed actuary must be satisfied that the GIC provisions designed to reduce the C-3 risk are administered by the company in the designed manner. This requirement may be fulfilled by the actuary obtaining from the appropriate company officer a certificate of intent regarding the company administration of the provisions. (iii) The appointed actuary shall annually review the actual experience under the contract to verify the appropriateness of the plan type assumption for the contract. (4) All other group allocated contracts shall be valued as group unallocated contracts with the plan type determined on the basis of the group contract holder s rights of withdrawal or transfer of funds. (c) Group Unallocated Contracts (1) This subdivision generally applies to contracts wherein the fund accumulation is not allocated to specific individuals. The funds may or may not provide for annuities either involving life contingencies and/or annuities not involving life contingencies to be purchased from the fund accumulation. The contract holder or a third party may or may not provide for recordkeeping of the funds for allocation to specific individuals. There may or may not be guaranteed interest factors on the accumulation of the funds. This subdivision does not apply to such contracts with guaranteed benefits for which assets are held in the separate account and valued on a market value basis; for such contracts, reserves shall be determined in accordance with Part 97 of this Title.
15 15 (2) Valuation interest rates (i) The maximum valuation interest rates for 1981 and earlier issue years or changes in fund shall be 7.5%. (ii) The maximum valuation interest rates for 1982 and later issue years or changes in fund shall be determined in accordance with section 4217(c)(4) of the Insurance Law, and shall vary depending on the type of contract, the plan type, the guarantee duration, whether guaranteed interest rates apply to future considerations, and whether an issue year or change in fund basis is used. (3) For contracts which (i) guarantee interest rates for an initial duration of A years, (ii) guarantee the return of book value after N years (where N exceeds A); and (iii) permit withdrawals at the greater of the fund value or some other value which is approximately equal to the present value (at then current interest rates for new investments) of the book value at maturity assuming that the initial interest rate is continued to maturity, the guarantee duration shall be N years. (4) Minimum reserves under this subdivision shall never be less than the greater of: (i) the value of the funds (on a book value basis) that are payable on surrender or transfer on the valuation date; or (ii) the minimum reserve for the applicable portion of any active life funds with guaranteed interest rates and not yet applied or allocated for the purchase of annuities calculated by the following formula: R = F(1-E)(1+i g ) n /(1+i v ) n, where R = reserve, E = any fixed charge, not to exceed 5%, assessed before transfer of cash values and/or application to purchase annuities, F = the fund or portion of the fund subject to the applicable guaranteed interest rate and applicable valuation rate, i g = the guaranteed rate, i v = the applicable maximum valuation interest rate, and n = the number of years or portion thereof remaining as of the valuation date for which the guaranteed interest rate exceeds the maximum valuation rate. (5) Minimum reserves shall be calculated on the assumption of no future considerations. No reduction in reserves shall be made for guaranteed annuity purchase rates based on assumptions that are more conservative than the minimum reserve standards for annuity income. Additional reserves shall be held where guaranteed purchase rates are based on assumptions that are less conservative than the minimum reserve standards for annuity income. The additional reserves shall be based on the judgment of the appointed actuary and on the insurer s experience, or if appropriate, other relevant experience regarding incidence of annuitization and type of annuity option chosen. (6) Special reserve valuation procedures may be permitted by the superintendent
16 16 for contracts that are subject to this subdivision but are not referred to in subdivision (a) of this section. (7) Grouping of contracts or portions of contracts before determination of reserves is permissible only if all contracts or portions of contracts within a group have substantially identical features including the same year of issue, current interest rate, long-term guaranteed interest rate, surrender charge schedule, and year of maturity of the current interest guarantee. SECTION 99.6 Annuity Income and Structured Settlements (a) General (1) For purposes of this section, an annuity shall be considered as a series of payments made not less frequently than annually for five years or more, in which the payments in any one contract or calendar year (at the option of the company) after the first do not exceed 115 percent of the payments in the immediately preceding contract or calendar year. An immediate annuity is an annuity in which the first payment begins in thirteen or fewer months after issue. A deferred annuity is an annuity in which the first payment begins more than thirteen months after issue. (2) A series of payments made less frequently than annually and/or payable for less than five years shall be considered a series of lump sums. A lump sum shall be considered a cash settlement option. (3) Immediate annuity payments may or may not be convertible to a lump sum by commuting future payments. Any payments in a year in excess of 115 percent of the prior calendar or contract year's payments may be considered as a lump sum or may be considered as part of a new annuity, depending on the circumstances. Some contracts may consist of combinations of annuities and of lump sums. (b) Where a contract contains, for the current or any future period of time, a sequence of payments which are payable less frequently than annually, i.e., a series solely consisting of lump sums, the maximum valuation interest rate for each payment within such period or periods shall be determined using the guarantee duration of each payment assuming plan type B. The plan type B guarantee duration of such a payment is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date on which the payment is due. Year of issue valuation interest factors shall be used for these types of contracts. (c) Where a contract contains, for the current or any future period of time, a sequence of annual (or more frequent) payments which is less than five years in length but such sequence would qualify as an annuity except for the number of years of payments, the maximum valuation interest rate for the sequence shall be determined assuming plan type B. The plan type B guarantee duration for the sequence of
17 17 payments is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date on which the first installment payment of such sequence is due. Year of issue valuation interest rates shall be used for these types of contracts. (d) Where the amount of the deferred annuity income payments is guaranteed and there are no cash settlement options, the reserve shall be based on the present value of the income payments based on an appropriate annuity mortality table and the valuation rate of interest in accordance with section 4217(c) of the Insurance Law based on an issue year method and a guarantee duration equal to the number of years from the date of issue to the date the first payment begins. (e) Individual structured settlements vary considerably in payment pattern and duration. These contracts may provide for level and/or increasing periodic payment schedules, as well as lump sum benefit payments. These contracts do not allow for commutation of the future payouts unless directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. In valuing individual structured settlements, a split of all or a portion of the lump sum payments from the periodic benefit payments may be appropriate. Splits not in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of this section would require valuation in accordance with the procedures in subdivision (g) of this section, subject to any restrictions in that subdivision. (f) This subdivision applies to blocks of contracts consisting of immediate annuities, deferred annuities, and structured settlements where such annuities and structured settlements have fixed income, no withdrawal rights, and payments both no less frequently than annually and for at least five years. (1) As to all amounts guaranteed to be paid under such contracts issued in a given calendar year, the calendar year valuation interest rate for single premium immediate annuities may be used if the first such payment is made thirteen or fewer months after issuance of the contract, or if the first such payment is made at a later time, then the appropriate plan type A valuation interest rate may be used, provided: (i) the guaranteed payments under each contract in the block due in any contract or calendar year (at the option of the company) after the first is not greater than 115 percent of the guaranteed payments due in the immediately preceding contract or calendar year; or (ii) the total guaranteed payments under all contracts combined included in the block due in any calendar year after the second are not greater than 110 percent of the total guaranteed payments due in the immediately preceding calendar year but only contracts having payments not less frequently than annually for at least five years shall be included. (2) The year to year comparison of benefits may be made before or after considering the effect of mortality or any certain period, but the actuary shall indicate and justify the method used. (3) For contracts which contain, for the current or any future period of time, a
18 18 sequence of payments which are payable less frequently than annually or for less than five years, the sequence of payments shall be valued in accordance with subdivisions (b) or (c) of this section, as applicable. (g) If a block of immediate annuities with income fixed, deferred annuities with income fixed, or structured settlements with income fixed, or other contracts with income fixed, and which provide for payments no less frequently than annually for at least five years, provide for payments that do not meet the requirements of subdivision (f) of this section (i.e., payments exceeding the applicable 110% or 115% rule), then one of the procedures in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subdivision shall be used. For contracts which contain, for the current or any future period of time, a sequence of payments which are payable less frequently than annually and/or for less then five years, the sequence of payments shall be valued in accordance with subdivisions (b) or (c) of this section, as applicable. (1) The block shall be divided into components so that: (i) the contracts/payments satisfying the requirements of subdivision (f) of this section are included in one or more components and those not satisfying such requirements are included in another component or components. The valuation interest rate for single premium immediate annuities or the appropriate plan type A valuation interest rate or rates, whichever is applicable, may be used in accordance with subdivision (f) of this section for the component or components of the block which satisfy such requirements. The plan type A guarantee duration of a given component is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date on which the first payment in such component is due. (ii) The maximum valuation interest rate for any payment included in a component which does not satisfy the requirements of subdivision (f) of this section (i.e., a payment in excess of the applicable 110% or 115% rule) shall be determined using the guarantee duration of the lump sum payment and on the assumption that the payment is made under a contract of plan type B. The plan type B guarantee duration of a lump sum payment is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date on which the payment or the first installment payment of payments payable annually (or more frequently) for less than five years is due. (iii) Year of issue valuation interest rates shall be used for both plan type A and plan type B components. (iv) The lump sum payment (i.e., the payment in excess of the applicable 110% or 115% rule) shall be disregarded for purposes of determining compliance of the immediately following year's payments. (v) The actuary shall describe the components and justify the choice of valuation interest rate or rates for the component or components of the block that, if included, would cause the block to fail the test. (2) The reserves for each contract for each valuation year shall be the greater of the "level interest rate reserves" and of the "graded interest rate reserves. Graded interest rate reserve factors for each separate year of issue for all future payments of such year of issue, whether periodic or lump sum payments, shall be graded in a
19 19 manner that produces reserves at least as great as the method described in subparagraphs (i) through (iv) of this paragraph. The procedure of this paragraph shall not be used for contracts with payments for which the latest scheduled payment is 20 years or less after issue. Contracts subject to this subdivision for which the latest scheduled payment is 20 years or less after issue shall be valued in accordance with paragraph (1) or paragraph (3) of this subdivision. If this procedure is used for any contract issued in a given calendar year subject to this subdivision for which the latest scheduled payment is more than 20 years after issue, it shall be used for all contracts issued in the same calendar year subject to this subdivision for which the latest scheduled payment is more than 20 years after issue. (i) Step one, calculate the present value of future benefits at issue for each contract using the calendar year valuation interest rate for single premium immediate annuities if the first payment under the contract is made thirteen or fewer months after issue, or if the first such payment is made at a later time, then the appropriate (level) plan type A interest rate for contracts without cash settlement options for the guarantee duration corresponding to the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date that the first payment is due. Define this value as "PV(0)", and define the reserves at successive durations using this interest rate as "level interest rate reserves". (ii) Step two, solve for "x percent" such that the present value of future benefits at issue for each contract is equal to PV(0) (calculated in accordance with step one), using "x percent" as the valuation interest rate for the first twenty contract years after issue and thereafter the plan type A valuation interest rate for contracts without cash settlement options for guarantee durations of more than twenty years. However, "x percent" shall be limited to 115% of the appropriate plan type A interest rate in step one; where such limit is effected, the present value at issue shall be greater than PV(0). (iii) For each valuation year calculate the "graded interest rate reserves" based on the assumption that the valuation interest rate during the first twenty contract years is "x percent" as calculated in step two and thereafter the plan type A valuation interest rate for contracts without cash settlement options and guarantee durations of more than twenty years; or (3) Any other method substantially consistent with paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of this subdivision, with the prior written approval of the superintendent. (h) For contracts for which additional amounts may be payable during the payout period, the reserve before annuitization shall be determined in accordance with section 99.4 or section 99.5, as applicable, of this Part and the reserve after annuitization shall be the greater of: (1) the present value, at the valuation date, of the guaranteed annuity benefits determined using, as the valuation basis, the valuation mortality table, if applicable, and the maximum applicable valuation interest rate; or (2) the present value, at the valuation date, of the guaranteed annuity benefits determined using, as the valuation basis, the mortality table, if applicable, and the
20 20 interest rate over which additional amounts may be payable. Any other method in recognition of the method for paying additional amounts, substantially consistent with the principles of this subdivision, may be used with the prior written approval of the superintendent. (i) Use of substandard annuity mortality tables, for structured and other settlements of tort actions (1) Solely for the purpose of valuing benefits arising from settlements or judgments of claims pertaining to tort actions (such as in accordance with Articles 50-A or 50-B of the Civil Practice Law & Rules), or settlements involving similar actions such as workers compensation, or settlements of long term disability where a temporary or life annuity has been used in lieu of continuing disability payments, and where the injured party is the annuitant, a substandard annuity mortality table may be used, as specified in paragraphs (2) or (3) below. The insurer shall retain, as proof of the individual s impaired health and shortened longevity, all relevant hospital records, treating physicians reports or other independent medical evaluations utilized in the underwriting process. (2) The minimum reserves for applicable contracts are the reserves based on a mortality table obtained by making a constant addition to the mortality rate of the otherwise applicable standard valuation mortality table, as specified in section 99.10(e) of this Part, such that the expectation of life as of the issue date on the adjusted valuation table is greater than or equal to the average of the expectations of life as of the issue date indicated by or obtained from information given by the company's medical directors or underwriters during the underwriting and pricing process. The constant addition to the mortality table herein described shall be made as of the issue date and, once determined, held constant for the period of time that the contract remains in force. (3) For annuitants other than the injured person in such settlements, the actual age and an appropriate statutory standard annuity mortality table or any modification of such table which produces reserves at least as high as those under the standard table based on the actual age shall be used. (4) Where a company uses a modified table with higher mortality rates for impaired lives under structured judgments and settlements, the company shall maintain records of actual to expected mortality to monitor the appropriateness of the substandard mortality. SECTION 99.7 Special Considerations for Valuing Reserves for Single Premium Policies (a) For single premium policies issued on or after 1982 (other than market value separate account policies providing for a cash surrender value adjusted for changes in
NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. Regulation 27A (11NYCRR 185)
NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT Regulation 27A (11NYCRR 185) CREDIT LIFE INSURANCE AND CREDIT ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE I, Neil D. Levin, Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York, pursuant