Chapter 623

CHAPTER 623

INSURANCE — ACCOUNTING AND RESERVES

623.01   Applicability.

623.02   Standards for accounting rules.

623.03   Valuation of assets.

623.04   Valuation of liabilities.

623.06   Standard valuation law.

623.11   Amount of compulsory surplus.

623.12   Amount of security surplus.

623.15   Fraternal rates and reserves.

623.21   Adjustment of reserves.

623.34   Accounting for repurchased shares.

Ch. 623 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in ss. 600.03 and 628.02.

Ch. 623 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. Ins 41, 50, 51, 52, and 55, Wis. adm. code.

623.01 623.01 Applicability. Except as otherwise provided, this chapter and the rules promulgated under it apply to all insurers authorized to do business in this state.

623.01 History History: 1979 c. 102.

623.01 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. Ins 3.17, Wis. adm. code.

623.02 623.02 Standards for accounting rules. When promulgating accounting rules, the commissioner shall consider recommendations made by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, generally accepted accounting principles both in the insurance industry and outside it, the requirements of the law and the needs of regulation, including detection of insolvency, and the needs for information of insureds, investors, and the public.

623.02 History History: 1973 c. 293.

623.02 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Ins 50, Wis. adm. code.

623.02 Note NOTE: The bill that created ss. 623.02 to 623.04 and s. 623.21, 1973 SB 174, contained extensive explanatory notes that may be found in the bill drafting file in the Legislative Reference Bureau for Chapter 293, laws of 1973.

623.03 623.03 Valuation of assets. The commissioner shall promulgate rules for the valuation of assets to be reported on the statements submitted under s. 601.42 (1g) (a) as well as for other purposes. The commissioner may specify that certain classes of assets shall be valued at zero or given a nominal value, and when necessary to achieve the purposes of this section may specify different bases of valuation for different purposes.

623.03 History History: 1973 c. 293; 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (7); 1987 a. 247.

623.03 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Ins 50, Wis. adm. code.

623.04 623.04 Valuation of liabilities. The commissioner shall promulgate rules specifying the liabilities required to be reported by insurers in the financial statements submitted under s. 601.42 (1g) (a) and the methods of valuing them. In the case of life insurance such methods shall be consistent with s. 623.06.

623.04 History History: 1973 c. 293; 1977 c. 153 s. 6; 1977 c. 339 s. 44; 1987 a. 247.

623.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Ins 50 and s. Ins 3.04, Wis. adm. code.

623.06 623.06 Standard valuation law.

623.06(1) (1) In this section:

623.06(1)(a) (a) “Accident and health insurance contract” means a contract that incorporates morbidity risk and provides protection against economic loss resulting from accident, sickness, or medical conditions and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

623.06(1)(b) (b) “Appointed actuary” means a qualified actuary who is appointed in accordance with the valuation manual to prepare the actuarial opinion required in sub. (1r).

623.06(1)(c) (c) “Deposit-type contract” means a contract that does not incorporate mortality or morbidity risks and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

623.06(1)(d) (d) “Law enforcement agency,” “National Association of Insurance Commissioners,” or “regulatory agency” includes the employees, agents, consultants, and contractors of each such entity.

623.06(1)(e) (e) “Life insurance,” “life insurance contract,” “life insurance policy,” or “plan of life insurance” means a contract that incorporates mortality risk, including annuity and pure endowment contracts, and as may be specified in the valuation manual.

623.06(1)(f) (f) “Operative date of the valuation manual” means January 1, 2017, as determined under sub. (9) (b).

623.06(1)(g) (g) “Principle-based valuation” means a reserve valuation that uses one or more methods, or one or more assumptions, determined by the insurer and that is required to comply with sub. (10) as specified in the valuation manual.

623.06(1)(h) (h) “Qualified actuary” means an individual who is qualified to sign the applicable statement of actuarial opinion in accordance with the American academy of actuaries qualification standards for actuaries signing such statements and who meets the requirements specified in the valuation manual, if the valuation manual is in effect, and any other requirements that the commissioner may by rule specify.

623.06(1)(i) (i) “Tail risk” means a risk that occurs either when the frequency of low probability events is higher than expected under a normal probability distribution or when there are observed events of very significant size or magnitude.

623.06(1)(j) (j) “Valuation manual” means the manual of valuation instructions as adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners under sub. (9) or as subsequently amended.

623.06(1f) (1f) 

623.06(1f)(a) (a) For policies and contracts issued before the operative date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of every life insurance company doing business in this state and may certify the amount of any such reserves, specifying the mortality table or tables, rate or rates of interest and methods (net level premium method or other) used in the calculation of such reserves. In calculating such reserves, the commissioner may use group methods and approximate averages for fractions of a year or otherwise. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves herein required of any foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept any valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction if such valuation complies with the minimum standard herein provided and if the official of such state or jurisdiction accepts as sufficient and valid for all legal purposes the certificate of valuation of the commissioner when such certificate states the valuation to have been made in a specified manner according to which the aggregate reserves would be at least as large as if they had been computed in the manner prescribed by the law of that state or jurisdiction. Subsections (2) to (7) apply to all policies and contracts issued before the operative date of the valuation manual.

623.06(1f)(b) (b) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance contracts, annuity and pure endowment contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, and deposit-type contracts of every insurer doing business in this state. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required of a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept a valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction if the valuation complies with the minimum standard provided in this section. Subsections (9) and (10) apply to all policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.

623.06(1m) (1m) Before the operative date of the valuation manual, all of the following apply:

623.06(1m)(a) (a)

623.06(1m)(a)1. 1. For each year ending on or after December 31, 1996, every life insurance company doing business in this state shall submit to the commissioner, with its annual statement due by March 1 of the following year, an opinion by a qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by rule satisfy all of the following:

623.06(1m)(a)1.a. a. They are computed appropriately.

623.06(1m)(a)1.b. b. They are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions.

623.06(1m)(a)1.c. c. They are consistent with prior reported amounts.

623.06(1m)(a)1.d. d. They comply with the applicable laws of this state.

623.06(1m)(a)2. 2. The commissioner shall by rule specify in detail the nature of the information required in the opinion under subd. 1. and may by rule require any additional information that the commissioner determines is necessary to the scope of the opinion.

623.06(1m)(b) (b)

623.06(1m)(b)1. 1. Every life insurance company not exempted by rule shall include with the opinion required under par. (a) the opinion of the qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by rule, when considered in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including but not limited to the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including but not limited to the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts. The commissioner may by rule provide for a transition period for an insurance company to establish any higher reserves that the qualified actuary determines are necessary to make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts.

623.06(1m)(b)2. 2. An insurance company that is required to submit an opinion under subd. 1. shall have prepared by the qualified actuary who renders the opinion a memorandum in support of the opinion under subd. 1. The commissioner shall specify by rule the form and content of the memorandum. The insurance company shall provide the memorandum to the commissioner, at the commissioner’s request, for his or her examination. After examination, the commissioner shall return the memorandum to the insurance company. The memorandum shall not be considered a record of the commissioner’s office.

623.06(1m)(b)3. 3. If an insurance company fails to provide a supporting memorandum to the commissioner upon request within the period specified by rule, or if the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by an insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by rule or is otherwise unacceptable, the commissioner may retain a qualified actuary at the expense of the insurance company to review the opinion required under subd. 1. and the basis for the opinion and to prepare such supporting memorandum as the commissioner requires.

623.06(1m)(c) (c) The following provisions apply to an opinion required under par. (a) or (b):

623.06(1m)(c)1. 1. The opinion shall apply to all business in force, including individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by rule.

623.06(1m)(c)2. 2. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the actuarial standards board established by the American academy of actuaries and on such additional standards as the commissioner may by rule prescribe.

623.06(1m)(c)3. 3. In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.

623.06(1m)(d) (d) Except for fraud or willful misconduct, a qualified actuary may not be held liable for damages to any person other than the insurance company or the commissioner for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to an opinion required under this subsection.

623.06(1m)(e) (e) The commissioner shall specify by rule any disciplinary action that the commissioner may take against an insurance company or a qualified actuary related to any of the requirements under this subsection.

623.06(1m)(f) (f)

623.06(1m)(f)1. 1. The commissioner shall keep confidential any memorandum in support of, and any other material provided by an insurance company to the commissioner in connection with, an opinion required under this subsection. Any such memorandum or other material may not be made public and may not be subject to subpoena except for the purpose of defending an action seeking damages from any person on account of an act required under this subsection or required by a rule authorized or required under this subsection.

623.06(1m)(f)2. 2. The commissioner may release any such memorandum or other material with the written consent of the insurance company, or to the American academy of actuaries upon its request if the memorandum or other material is required for professional disciplinary proceedings and if the request sets forth procedures that are satisfactory to the commissioner for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material.

623.06(1m)(f)3. 3. A memorandum loses its confidentiality if the insurance company cites any portion of the memorandum for marketing purposes or before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or if the insurance company releases any portion of the memorandum to the news media.

623.06(1r) (1r) Beginning on the operative date of the valuation manual, all of the following apply:

623.06(1r)(a) (a) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation by the commissioner shall submit to the commissioner, as prescribed in par. (c), the opinion of the appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of those outstanding contracts are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts, and comply with applicable laws of this state. The valuation manual shall prescribe the specifics of this opinion, including any items that are necessary to its scope.

623.06(1r)(b) (b) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation by the commissioner, except as exempted in the valuation manual, shall also annually include in the opinion required under par. (a) an opinion of the same appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified in the valuation manual, when considered in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts. The opinion required under this paragraph shall be governed by the following:

623.06(1r)(b)1. 1. A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.

623.06(1r)(b)2. 2. If the insurance company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified in the valuation manual, or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the valuation manual or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.

623.06(1r)(c) (c) All opinions required under this subsection shall be governed by the following:

623.06(1r)(c)1. 1. The opinion shall be in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.

623.06(1r)(c)2. 2. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending after the operative date of the valuation manual.

623.06(1r)(c)3. 3. The opinion shall apply to all policies and contracts described in pars. (a) and (b), plus other actuarial liabilities as may be specified in the valuation manual.

623.06(1r)(c)4. 4. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the actuarial standards board or its successor and on any additional standards prescribed in the valuation manual.

623.06(1r)(c)5. 5. With respect to an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.

623.06(1r)(c)6. 6. Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the appointed actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person, other than the insurance company and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the appointed actuary’s opinion.

623.06(2) (2) Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum standard for the valuation of all policies and contracts specified by the commissioner under sub. (1m) (a) 1. issued prior to the effective date of this section [see sub. (13) and s. 632.43 (9)] shall be that provided by the laws in effect immediately prior to such date. Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued on or after the effective date of this section shall be the commissioners reserve valuation methods defined in subs. (3) to (4m) and (7), with 3.5 percent interest, or in the case of policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued on or after June 19, 1974, and prior to November 8, 1977, 4 percent interest, and for policies issued on or after November 8, 1977, 4.5 percent interest and the following tables: