Government Programs / Residual Markets Flashcards
What coverage restrictions might an insurer place on a high-risk driver before voluntarily providing coverage?
- higher deductibles (comprehensive or collision)
- lower limits (liability)
- exclusion of certain coverages (medical, glass coverage)
This is all in addition to higher premiums, often significantly higher.
Cook
Identify 3 mechanisms for operating a state residual auto insurance market
- ARP (Assigned Risk Plan) also sometimes called AIP (Auto Insurance Plan)
- JUA (Joint Underwriting Association)
- RF (Reinsurance Facility)
Cook
How does Assigned Risk Plan work?
- driver applies & is rejected by the voluntary market
- driver applies to the ARP
- driver is assigned to an insurer based on insurer’s WP market share (Written Premium)
- regulator sets uniform rates (same rates across all insurers)
- insurer fully services policy as if voluntarily written (collects premiums, pays claims)
- insurer retains profits/losses
Note that Alice knows she is in the residual market, and there could be stigma attached to this. Contrast this with a JUA or RF, where the insured doesn’t know they have been relegated to the residual market. Note also that these plans must all offer policies with the minimum statutory limits, although the particular insurer may offer higher limits if they wish. Alice declines the higher limits. Even the premiums for the minimum limits are high.
Cook
Identify items that may make a driver ineligible, even for an ARP
- no valid driver’s license
- felony conviction within the past 36 months
- habitual violation of the law
Cook
Identify 2 important differences between an ARP and a JUA/RF
- driver doesn’t know they have been placed in the residual market
- premiums, losses & expenses are shared among all auto insurers in the state (by their share of the voluntary market)
Cook
Identify a difference between JUA and a RF
JUA:
- policy is serviced by servicing carrier
RF:
- policy is serviced by insurer
Cook
Describe the details of how a JUA works
- driver applies to insurer in voluntary market
- insurer chooses: keep policy or insurer/agent/broker forwards to JUA servicing carrier (driver doesn’t know if they go to JUA)
- JUA sets uniform rates based on pool experience
- servicing carrier services claims
- insurer shares in profits/losses/expenses in proportion to their voluntary business market share
- all insurers in state must share profits/losses/expenses even if they haven’t been assigned any risks
Cook
Describe the details of how a RF works
- driver applies to insurer in voluntary market
- insurer chooses: keep policy or forward to RF (driver doesn’t know if they go to RF)
- Cook doesn’t really explain how RF rates are set but RFs are essentially intended to be non-profit enterprises to fulfill the social good of universal availability of auto insurance (and rules can vary greatly from state to state anyway)
- insurer services claims
- insurer shares in profits/losses/expenses in proportion to their voluntary business market share
- all insurers in state must share profits/losses/expenses even if they haven’t been assigned any risks
Cook
Describe why the residual market may be worse for policyholders than the voluntary market
- Social Stigma (with ARP)
- Higher Premium / More Expensive
- Limited Coverage
- Poor Service
Cook
How do ARPs (Assigned Risk Plans) achieve a social purpose?
- makes coverage more afforable & available to high-risk drivers who may not otherwise have acces
- reduces number of uninsured drivers and increases likelihood of compensation in accidents
Cook
Identify actions an insurer can take if a rate change is not approved (approved rates lower than requested)
- appeal decision
- apply for another rate increase ASAP
- tighten U/W requirements
- increase deductibles, reduce limits
- exit market through runoff or reinsurance
Cook
Identify similarities between JUAs & ARPs (JUA = Joint U/W Association, ARP = Assigned Risk Pool)
- both provide coverage for uninsurable risks
- both have uniform rates for all insureds
- both assign high-risk insureds to specific insurers
Cook
What is FAIR?
FAIR is the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements. Basically insurance for uninsurable risks.
Cook
What is the purpose of FAIR?
- provide affordable coverage to areas rejected by private market due to risk of crime/riots
- federally-backed mortgages require insurance and FAIR fulfills this purpose
Cook
What risks are often covered under FAIR plans are:
- properties in areas susceptible to crime/riots
- individuals with high number of prior claims
Cook
Describe how the FAIR plan works (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements)
rationale:
- property owners in urban areas couldn’t find coverage due to crime/riot risk
operation:
- policies are serviced by a syndicate or private company (who collect premiums, handle claims, & take a cut for their service)
- premiums & losses are shared by all property insurers in state
eligibility:
- coverage must have been denied by the private market
- property must not be vacant or trespassed onto, must not be damaged or poorly maintained, and must meet building codes
Cook
What is a Difference in Conditions Policy?
A policy that covers (some) perils that a standard policy won’t. Large organizations might use a DIC policy to fill coverage gaps related to catastrophes
Cook
What are exposures that are covered by FAIR plans?
- Urban areas that are susceptible to damage to property due to riots or civil commotion
- Coastal properties that pose greater-than-average exposure to windstorm damage
- Properties in some wooded areas subject to brush fires
- sinkhole-susceptible properties
Cook
What are exposures that are uninsurable under FAIR plans?
Properties that are vacant/open to trespass
* Properties that subject to poor housekeeping
* Poorly maintained homes
* Properties that are not in compliance with applicable laws of the state
* Homes that are already damaged
* Houses that do not follow the building codes
* Unsafe/hazardous conditions of the home which are not due to the environment
Cook
What are Beachfront and Windstorm plans?
They are similar to FAIR plans in that they protect at-risk properties that would otherwise be uninsurable in the voluntary market (some states have merged these plans with their FAIR plans)
Cook
Describe 5 reasons for governmental participation in insurance and provide examples
for FILLING NEEDS unmet by private insurance (Ex: TRIA - Terrorism Risk Insurance Act)
- may occur when private insurance is not economically viable (after 9/11 terrorist attack in NYC, private market withdrew coverage)
when insurance is COMPULSORY (Ex: WC)
- if insurance is compulsory but not offered by the private market (for whatever reason) then government must be the provider
for CONVENIENCE (Ex: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program)
- government may already have necessary structures in place (government already provides disaster relief after floods)
for EFFICIENCY (Ex: auto insurance)
- agent commissions eliminated → lower expense ratio → lower premiums for consumer
for SOCIAL purposes (Ex: Medicare)
- private market is motivated by profit, sometimes at the expense of social purposes like universal medical coverage for seniors
Germani
What are the 3 levels of government involvement in insurance?
- government as SOLE provider (Ex: Social Security, UI - Unemployment Insurance)
- government as a provider in PARTNERSHIP with private insurance (Ex: NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program)
- government as a provider in COMPETITION with private insurance (Ex: WC competitive state funds in some states)
Germani
What are the criteria for evaluating government insurance programs?
- is the program one of WELFARE or INSURANCE
- does it achieve SOCIAL purposes
- is it EFFICIENT
- is it ACCEPTED by the public
- is it NECESSARY
Germani
Describe characteristics of a social welfare system
social welfare:
- payments are based on need not on reimbursement for covered losses
- funding is through taxation not policyholder premiums
Germani
What is the level of Government/Private Insurance involvement in:
Crop Insurance
Unemployment insurance
Terrorism Insurance
Crop Insurance - Private Insurers Write, Government Reinsures
Unemployment - Private does not write, completely government
Terrorism - Private Insurers Write and service, Government Reinsures
Germani
How does Crop Insurance work?
Private insurers market, write, and service policies. Government sets rates and acts as reinsurer. Premiums are subsidized by Risk Management Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture). Farmer must pay to get benefits
Germani
What are the 2 types of Crop Insurance Coverages?
Low Yields - yields that fall below a certain baseline
Low Prices - Prices that fall below a ceratin $-value
Germani
Advantages and shortcomings of crop insurance
Advantage - Provides stability to important sector of market
Shortcomings - encourages over-production, encourages farming in risky/marginal areas, private insurers make money while government subsidizes losses
Germani
What steps can be taken to mitigate shortcomings of Crop Insurance?
Limit Coverage (discourage over production)
Shift balance of loss-sharing more towards private insurers (to relieve tax payer burden)
Germani
What is the role of the Risk Management Agency (Dept. Agriculture) vs Federal Government in Crop Insurance?
RMA:
* Sets rates
* acts as reinsurer
* determines what crops can be insured in different parts of the country
* helps monitor and control risks
Federal Government:
* Reimburses insurer operating costs and expenses
* Subsidizes policyholder premiums
Germani
How does RMA reduce the risk of adverse selection in multi-peril crop insurance?
- RMA limits amount that can be collected & names specific crops that are covered
- RMA requires purchase prior to planting (or can’t get federal disaster relief)
- RMA sets rates to be actuarially sound using aggregate data
- RMA helps set U/W guidelines that recognize & reduce advserse selection
Germani
What function does state/federal government play in workers compensation?
States cover most employees through WC programs
Some Categories of workers (longshoremen, railroad workers) are covered by federal programs
Germani