EMERGENCY ORDER AMENDING AND CREATING A RULE
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Rule No. Agency 145 – Ins 2.30 (2) (f) to (j), 2.30 (3) (c), 2.30 (cm), and 2.30 (3m), Wis. Adm. Code.
The Commissioner of Insurance proposes an order to amend s. Ins 2.30 (3) (c); and to create ss. Ins 2.30 (2) (f) to (j), 2.30 (cm), and 2.30 (3m), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to 2012 Individual Annuity Reserving Mortality Table and Affecting Small Business.
The statement of scope for this rule SS: 086-14, was approved by the Governor on July 14, 2014, published in Register No. 705, on September 14, 2014, and approved by the Commissioner on September 26, 2014. This rule was approved by the Governor on December 15, 2014.
FINDING OF EMERGENCY
The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
Under the current rule governing the minimum standards of valuation for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts life insurers are required to use the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table, which has become outdated and risks leaving insurers with an insufficient level of reserves. OCI is addressing the issue by enacting a permanent rule that would require insurers to use the 2012 Individual Annuity Reserving Mortality Table (2012 IAR Table) for contracts issued on or after January 1, 2015. Wisconsin insurers have expressed support for the proposed rule and its enactment at the earliest date possible in 2014. Insurers are requesting time in advance of January 2015 in order to modify existing policy forms and marketing material so that they are able to compete with other insurers on a level playing field. However, in order for insurers to have sufficient time to file new policy and rate forms for use beginning January 1, 2015 the rule must be in place no later than November 2014 to ensure sufficient time to submit form or rate filings with the Office. Delay beyond January 2015 will not be in the best interest of insurers or consumers.
The 2012 IAR Table provides insurers with a more accurate tool for calculating minimum reserves. This is beneficial to the both the insurers and consumers. The emergency rule will provide insurers with the earliest opportunity to use the 2012 IAR Table while the permanent rule moves through the legislative process. In addition, the proposed permanent rule has been recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and is in the process of being adopted in other states. The emergency rule will help domestic insurers remain on equal footing with insurers from other states where the rule is already being adopted.
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ANALYSIS PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE (OCI)
1. Statutes interpreted:
2. Statutory authority:
3. Explanation of OCI’s authority to promulgate the proposed rule under these statutes:
The Commissioner has the general authority to promulgate rules necessary to administer and enforce chs. 600 to 655, Wis. Stat., and as provided under ss. 227.11 (2) (a) and 601.41 (3), Wis. Stat. Further, under ss. 623.06 (2a) (b) and (4m), Wis. Stat., the Commissioner has specific authority to determine the minimum standard for the valuation of individual annuity and pure endowment contracts by establishing mortality tables to be used by insurers to calculate minimum reserves and requirements related to the testing and reporting of actuarial information. 4. Related statutes or rules:
The proposed rule relates to existing rules prescribing valuation of liabilities, non-forfeiture values, and actuarial reporting and analysis under ss. 601.42, 623.06 and 632.43, Stats., and ss. Ins 2.80 and ch. 50, Wis. Adm. Code. 5. The plain language analysis and summary of the proposed rule:
The proposed rule would require life insurers to use the 2012 IAR Table when determining the minimum standard of valuation for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after January 1, 2015. The proposed rule would modernize an outdated table that risks leaving insurers with an insufficient level of reserves. The 2012 IAR Table is comprised of a basic experience table with margins (2012 IAM Period Table) and a projection scale. The addition of a projection scale to the 2012 IAR Table allows the Table to remain up-to-date over a longer period of time because it allows the Table to adjust by considering the most accurate statistics during each valuation year.
6. Summary of and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
The office is unaware of any proposed or existing federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by this proposed rule.
7. Comparison of similar rules in adjacent states as found by OCI:
Illinois: 50 Ill. Adm. Code 935 was adopted on June 20, 2014 and becomes effective January 1, 2015. This rule closely resembles Wisconsin’s proposed rule by adopting the 2012 IAR Table in determining the minimum standard of valuation of annuity and pure endowment contracts.
Iowa: 191 IAC 43.1 to 43.7 closely resembles Wisconsin’s proposed rule and incorporates the 2012 IAR Table for determining the minimum standard of valuation for annuity and pure endowment contracts.
Minnesota: ch. 2752 closely resembles Wisconsin’s proposed rule and incorporates the 2012 IAR Table for determining the minimum standard of valuation for annuity and pure endowment contracts.
8. A summary of the factual data and analytical methodologies that OCI used in support of the proposed rule and how any related findings support the regulatory approach chosen for the proposed rule:
The existing requirements are contained primarily in ss. 623.06 (2a) (b) and (4m), Wis. Stat., s. Ins 2.30 (3), and Subch. V of Ch. 50, Wis. Adm. Code. These provisions establish that mortality tables are to be used by insurers to calculate minimum reserves and establish requirements related to testing and reporting of actuarial information. Current rules require insurers to use the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table as adopted by the NAIC. The proposed rule will require insurers to use the 2012 IAR Table as adopted by the NAIC in December 2012 for calculating the minimum reserves on contracts written on or after January 1, 2015. The proposed rule is being considered as it has been recommended by the NAIC and is in the process of being adopted by other states. Further, not adopting the 2012 IAR Table may place domestic insurers at a competitive disadvantage compared to insurers from states where the table has been adopted. 9. Any analysis and supporting documentation that OCI used in support of OCI’s determination of the rule’s effect on small businesses under s. 227.114: The proposed rule would have an impact on life insurers, however based on revenue and ownership structure very few, if any, life insurers meet the definition of small businesses. In addition, many of the potential implementation and compliance costs are mitigated by other factors contained in the proposed rule. Therefore, any economic impact on small businesses posed by the proposed rule would not be significant.
10. See the attached Private Sector Fiscal Analysis.
