MT Code § 33-2-403 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 33. Insurance and Insurance Companies|Chapter 2. Regulation of Insurance Companies|Part 4. Standard Valuation|33-2-403. Valuation for policies

  33-2-403. Valuation for policies. (1) For policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual is the minimum standard of valuation required under 33-2-407, except as provided in subsection (6) or (8) of this section.   (2) The operative date of the valuation manual is January 1 of the first calendar year following the first July 1 as of which all of the following have occurred:   (a) the valuation manual has been adopted by the NAIC by an affirmative vote of at least 42 members or three-fourths of the members voting, whichever is greater;   (b) the standard valuation law as amended by the NAIC in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by states representing greater than 75% of the direct premiums written as reported in the following annual statements submitted for 2008: life, accident and health, health, and fraternal annual statements;   (c) the standard valuation law as amended by the NAIC in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by at least 42 of the following 55 jurisdictions: the 50 states of the United States, American Samoa, the American Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico; and   (d) the commissioner has adopted by rule the valuation manual.   (3) Unless a change in the valuation manual specifies a later effective date, changes to the valuation manual are effective on January 1 following the date when all of the following have occurred:   (a) the change in the valuation manual has been adopted by an affirmative vote representing:   (i) at least three-fourths of the members of the NAIC voting but not less than a majority of the total membership; and   (ii) members of the NAIC representing jurisdictions totaling more than 75% of the direct premiums written as reported in the following annual statements most recently available prior to the vote in subsection (3)(a)(i): life, accident and health, health, and fraternal annual statements; and   (b) the change to the valuation manual is adopted by the commissioner by rule.   (4) The valuation manual adopted by the commissioner must specify all of the following:   (a) minimum valuation standards for and definitions of the policies or contracts subject to 33-2-407(2). The minimum valuation standards include:   (i) the commissioner's reserve valuation method for life insurance contracts, other than annuity contracts, subject to 33-2-404;   (ii) the commissioner's annuity reserve valuation method for annuity contracts subject to 33-2-407(2); and   (iii) minimum reserves for all other policies or contracts subject to 33-2-404(2).   (b) a description of the policies or contracts or types of policies or contracts that are subject to the requirements of a principle-based valuation in 33-2-404(1) and the minimum valuation standards consistent with those requirements;   (c) for policies and contracts subject to a principle-based valuation:   (i) requirements for the format of reports to the commissioner under 33-2-404(3)(c), which must include information necessary to determine if the valuation is appropriate and in compliance with this part;   (ii) prescribed assumptions for risks over which the company does not have significant control or influence; and   (iii) procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the actuarial function as well as a process for appropriate waiver or modification of the corporate governance procedures.   (d) for policies not subject to a principle-based valuation under 33-2-404, the minimum valuation standard must either:   (i) be consistent with the minimum standard of valuation prior to the operative date of the valuation manual as determined in subsections (1) and (2) or as amended as provided in subsection (3); or   (ii) develop reserves that quantify the benefits and guarantees as well as the funding associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events that have a reasonable probability of occurring; and   (e) other components in the valuation manual that the commissioner considers necessary for the smooth operation of policies or contracts under this part. These may include but are not limited to reserve methodologies, models for measuring risk, generation of economic scenarios, assumptions, margins, use of company experience, risk measurement, disclosure, certifications, reports, actuarial opinions and memoranda, transition rules, and internal controls.   (5) The commissioner shall specify by rule the data and form of the data required under 33-2-405 and to whom the data must be submitted as well as any other requirements including data analysis and reporting of analysis.   (6) In the absence of a specific valuation requirement or if a specific valuation requirement in the valuation manual is not, in the opinion of the commissioner, in compliance with this part, the company shall, with respect to the requirements named as out of compliance with this part, comply with minimum standard valuations prescribed by the commissioner by rule.   (7) The commissioner may engage a qualified actuary, at the expense of the company, to perform an actuarial examination of the company and comment on the appropriateness of any reserve assumption or method used by the company or to review and comment on a company's compliance with any requirement in this part. The commissioner may rely on the opinion, regarding provisions contained in this part, of a qualified actuary engaged by the insurance regulator of another state, district, or territory of the United States. As used in this subsection, the term "engage" includes employment and contracting.   (8) The commissioner may require a company to change any assumption or method that in the opinion of the commissioner is necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the valuation manual or of this part.   (9) A company shall adjust its reserves as required by the commissioner.   (10) The commissioner may take disciplinary action for violations of this section as provided in 33-1-317.   History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 370, L. 2015.