UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

þ Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

o Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ______ to ______ 

Commission File Number 001-31792

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

Delaware	75-3108137
State of Incorporation	IRS Employer Identification No.
11825 N. Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana  46032	(317) 817-6100
Address of principal executive offices	Telephone

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	New York Stock Exchange
Rights to purchase Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [ X ] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes [ ] No [ X ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes [ X ] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [ X ] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer [ X ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ] Smaller reporting company [ ] Emerging growth company [ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes [ ] No [ X ]

At June 30, 2018, the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the Registrant's common equity held by nonaffiliates was approximately $3.1 billion.

Shares of common stock outstanding as of February 8, 2019: 160,715,150

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Portions of the Registrant's definitive proxy statement for the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I		Page
Item 1.	Business of CNO	3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	22
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	41
Item 2.	Properties	41
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	42
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	42
	Executive Officers of the Registrant	42
PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	43
Item 6.	Selected Consolidated Financial Data	45
Item 7.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations	46
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	114
Item 8.	Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	114
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	198
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	198
Item 9B.	Other Information	199
PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	200
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	200
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	200
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	200
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	200
PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	201
Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary	201

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS OF CNO.

CNO Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CNO"), is a holding company for a group of insurance companies operating throughout the United States that develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance products. The terms "CNO Financial Group, Inc.", "CNO", the "Company", "we", "us", and "our" as used in this report refer to CNO and its subsidiaries. Such terms, when used to describe insurance business and products, refer to the insurance business and products of CNO's insurance subsidiaries.

We focus on serving middle-income pre-retiree and retired Americans, which we believe are attractive, underserved, high growth markets. We sell our products through three distribution channels: career agents, independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing. As of December 31, 2018, we had shareholders' equity of $3.4 billion and assets of $31.4 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had revenues of $4.3 billion and a net loss of $315.0 million (including a loss on a reinsurance transaction of $661.1 million, net of taxes and gains recognized on the assets transferred in the transaction). See our consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes for additional financial information about the Company and its segments.

The Company manages its business through the following operating segments: Bankers Life, Washington National and Colonial Penn, which are defined on the basis of product distribution; long-term care in run-off; and corporate operations, comprised of holding company activities and certain noninsurance company businesses. On September 27, 2018, the Company completed a long-term care reinsurance transaction pursuant to which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bankers Life and Casualty Company ("Bankers Life"), entered into an agreement with Wilton Reassurance Company ("Wilton Re") to cede all of its legacy (prior to 2003) comprehensive and nursing home long-term care policies (with statutory reserves of $2.7 billion) through 100% indemnity coinsurance. In anticipation of the reinsurance agreement, the Company reorganized its business segments to move the block to be ceded from the "Bankers Life segment" to the "Long-term care in run-off segment" in the third quarter of 2018. All prior period segment disclosures have been revised to conform to management's current view of the Company's operating segments.

The Company’s insurance segments are described below:

• Bankers Life,which underwrites, markets and distributes Medicare supplement insurance, interest-sensitive life insurance, traditional life insurance, fixed annuities and long-term care insurance products to the middle-income senior market through a dedicated field force of career agents, financial and investment advisors, and sales managers supported by a network of community-based sales offices.  The Bankers Life segment includes primarily the business of Bankers Life.  Bankers Life also has various distribution and marketing agreements with other insurance companies to use Bankers Life's career agents to distribute Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans ("PDP") products in exchange for a fee.

• Washington National, which underwrites, markets and distributes supplemental health (including specified disease, accident and hospital indemnity insurance products) and life insurance to middle-income consumers at home and at the worksite.  These products are marketed through Performance Matters Associates, Inc. ("PMA", a wholly owned subsidiary) and through independent marketing organizations and insurance agencies including worksite marketing.  The products being marketed are underwritten by Washington National Insurance Company ("Washington National"). This segment's business also includes certain closed blocks of annuities and Medicare supplement policies which are no longer being actively marketed by this segment and were primarily issued or acquired by Washington National.

• Colonial Penn, which markets primarily graded benefit and simplified issue life insurance directly to customers in the senior middle-income market through television advertising, direct mail, the internet and telemarketing.  The Colonial Penn segment includes primarily the business of Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company ("Colonial Penn").

• Long-term care in run-off consists of: (i) the long-term care business that was recaptured due to the termination of certain reinsurance agreements effective September 30, 2016 (such business is not actively marketed and was issued or acquired by Washington National and Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company ("BCLIC")); and (ii) certain legacy (prior to 2003) comprehensive and nursing home long-term care policies which were ceded to Wilton Re in September 2018 (such business was not actively marketed and was issued by Bankers Life).

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OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION

At CNO, our mission is to enrich lives by providing financial solutions that help protect the health and retirement needs of middle-income Americans, while building enduring value for all our stakeholders. We remain committed to our strategic priorities to grow the franchise, launch new products and services, expand to the right to reach slightly younger, wealthier consumers within the middle market, and deploy excess capital to its highest and best use.

Our middle-market focus and diverse distribution is a key strength and opportunity for CNO. We have career agents at Bankers Life, wholly-owned and independent distributors at Washington National and a direct-to-consumer business at Colonial Penn to reach consumers according to their preferences. Our product portfolio mix is well-aligned to the retirement, healthcare, supplemental health and income accumulation needs of working-age consumers as well as those in and near retirement. As Americans live longer into their retirement years, consumers need holistic retirement income planning, which includes our insurance and annuity solutions, and the investments offered by our broker-dealer and growing force of registered investment advisors. Specifically, we are focused on the following priorities:

Growth

• Maximize our product portfolio to ensure it meets our customers’ needs for integrated products and advice covering a broad range of their financial goals

• Respond effectively to evolving customer preferences

• Expand and enhance elements of our broker-dealer and registered investment advisor program

• Continue our "expand to the right" strategy to reach slightly younger and wealthier consumers within the middle-income market

• Increase the speed-to-market for new products that are a good fit for our customers

• Make strategic, measured changes to our business practices to improve our competitive advantage

• Continue to invest in technology to support agent productivity and relationships with our customers

Increase profitability and return on equity

• Maintain our strong capital position and favorable financial metrics

• Work to increase our return on equity

• Maintain pricing discipline

Effectively manage risk and deploy capital

• Maintain an active enterprise risk management process

• Utilize excess cash flow to maximize long-term returns

• Maintain a competitive dividend payout ratio

Continue to invest in talent

• Attract, retain and develop the best talent to help us drive sustainable growth

• Recruit, develop and retain our agent force

OTHER INFORMATION

Our executive offices are located at 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, and our telephone number is (317) 817-6100. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act are available free of charge on our website at www.CNOinc.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These filings are also available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of these filings are also available, without charge, from CNO Investor Relations, 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.

Our website also includes the charters of our Audit and Enterprise Risk Committee, Executive Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Human Resources and Compensation Committee and Investment Committee, as well as our Corporate Governance Operating Principles and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all officers, directors and employees. Copies of these documents are available free of charge on our website at www.CNOinc.com or from CNO Investor Relations at the address shown above. Within the time period specified by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, we will post on our website any amendment to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and any waiver applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

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In June 2018, we filed with the New York Stock Exchange the Annual CEO Certification regarding the Company's compliance with their Corporate Governance listing standards as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. In addition, we have filed as exhibits to this 2018 Form 10-K the applicable certifications of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 regarding the Company's public disclosures.

CNO became the successor to Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (our "Predecessor"), in connection with a bankruptcy reorganization which became effective on September 10, 2003 (the "Effective Date"). Our Predecessor was organized in 1979 and commenced operations in 1982.

Data in Item 1 are provided as of or for the year ended December 31, 2018 (as the context implies), unless otherwise indicated.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

Insurance

Our insurance subsidiaries develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance products. We sell these products through three primary distribution channels: career agents, independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing. We had premium collections of $3.8 billion, $3.7 billion and $3.6 billion in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Our insurance subsidiaries collectively hold licenses to market our insurance products in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and certain protectorates of the United States. Sales to residents of the following states accounted for at least five percent of our 2018 collected premiums: Florida (10 percent), Pennsylvania (6 percent), Texas (5 percent) and Iowa (5 percent).

We believe that most purchases of life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuity products occur only after individuals are contacted and solicited by an insurance agent. Accordingly, the success of our distribution system is largely dependent on our ability to attract and retain experienced and highly motivated agents. A description of our primary distribution channels is as follows:

Career Agents. The products of the Bankers Life segment are sold through a career agency force of over 4,100 producing agents working from over 265 Bankers Life branch offices and satellites. These agents establish one-on-one contact with potential policyholders and promote strong personal relationships with existing policyholders. The career agents sell primarily Medicare supplement and long-term care insurance policies, life insurance and annuities. In 2018, the Bankers Life segment had total collected premiums related to this distribution channel of $2.6 billion, or 70 percent, of our total collected premiums. These agents sell Bankers Life policies, as well as Medicare Advantage plans through distribution arrangements with third-party insurance companies, and typically visit the prospective policyholder's home to conduct personalized "kitchen-table" sales presentations. After the sale of an insurance policy, the agent serves as a contact person for policyholder questions, claims assistance and additional insurance needs.

Independent Producers. The products of the Washington National segment are primarily sold through our wholly-owned marketing organization, PMA. In addition, Washington National's products are sold through a diverse network of independent agents, insurance brokers and marketing organizations. The general agency and insurance brokerage distribution system is comprised of independent licensed agents doing business in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and certain protectorates of the United States. In 2018, this distribution channel accounted for $692.8 million, or 18 percent, of our total collected premiums.

Marketing organizations typically recruit agents by advertising our products and commission structure through direct mail advertising or through seminars for agents and brokers. These organizations bear most of the costs incurred in marketing our products. We compensate the marketing organizations by paying them a percentage of the commissions earned on new sales generated by agents recruited by such organizations. Certain of these marketing organizations are specialty organizations that have a marketing expertise or a distribution system related to a particular product or market, such as worksite and individual health products.

Direct Marketing. This distribution channel is engaged primarily in the sale of graded benefit life insurance policies through Colonial Penn using direct response marketing techniques. New policyholder leads are generated primarily from

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television, print advertising, direct response mailings and the internet. In 2018, this channel accounted for $298.3 million, or 8 percent, of our total collected premiums.

Products

The following table summarizes premium collections by major category and segment for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions):

Total premium collections

	2018		2017		2016
Health:
Bankers Life	$	1,019.0	$	1,025.1	$	1,028.5
Washington National	659.3		642.5		628.4
Colonial Penn	1.7		2.0		2.4
Long-term care in run-off	145.8		205.2		211.5
Total health	1,825.8		1,874.8		1,870.8
Annuities:
Bankers Life	1,163.2		1,030.6		970.0
Washington National	1.3		.9		1.5
Total annuities	1,164.5		1,031.5		971.5
Life:
Bankers Life	466.0		462.4		461.1
Washington National	32.2		30.0		29.4
Colonial Penn	296.6		289.6		277.8
Total life	794.8		782.0		768.3
Total premium collections	$	3,785.1	$	3,688.3	$	3,610.6

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Our collected premiums by product and segment were as follows:

Health

Health premium collections (dollars in millions)

	2018		2017		2016
Medicare supplement:
Bankers Life	$	734.3	$	739.4	$	739.3
Washington National	46.3		51.6		61.0
Colonial Penn	1.5		1.9		2.3
Total	782.1		792.9		802.6
Long-term care:
Bankers Life	255.1		257.0		261.8
Long-term care in run-off	145.8		205.2		211.5
Total	400.9		462.2		473.3
Supplemental health:
Bankers Life	23.6		22.6		21.2
Washington National	611.3		589.1		565.5
Total	634.9		611.7		586.7
Other:
Bankers Life	6.0		6.1		6.2
Washington National	1.7		1.8		1.9
Colonial Penn	.2		.1		.1
Total	7.9		8.0		8.2
Total health premium collections	$	1,825.8	$	1,874.8	$	1,870.8

The following describes our major health products:

Medicare Supplement. Medicare supplement collected premiums were $782.1 million during 2018, or 21 percent, of our total collected premiums. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for disabled persons and seniors (age 65 and older). Part A of the program provides protection against the costs of hospitalization and related hospital and skilled nursing facility care, subject to an initial deductible, related coinsurance amounts and specified maximum benefit levels. The deductible and coinsurance amounts are subject to change each year by the federal government. Part B of Medicare covers doctor's bills and a number of other medical costs not covered by Part A, subject to deductible and coinsurance amounts for charges approved by Medicare. The deductible amount is subject to change each year by the federal government.

Medicare supplement policies provide coverage for many of the hospital and medical expenses which the Medicare program does not cover, such as deductibles, coinsurance costs (in which the insured and Medicare share the costs of medical expenses) and specified losses which exceed the federal program's maximum benefits. Our Medicare supplement plans automatically adjust coverage to reflect changes in Medicare benefits. In marketing these products, we currently concentrate on individuals who have recently become eligible for Medicare by reaching the age of 65. Approximately 62 percent of new sales of Medicare supplement policies in 2018 were to individuals who had recently reached the age of 65.

Bankers Life sells Medicare supplement insurance. Washington National discontinued new sales of Medicare supplement policies in 2012 to focus on the sale of supplemental health products.

Long-Term Care. Long-term care collected premiums were $400.9 million during 2018, or 10 percent of our total collected premiums. Excluding the collected premiums related to the legacy long-term care business that was ceded under a 100% indemnity coinsurance agreement in September 2018, long-term care collected premiums were $270.4 million during 2018, or 7 percent of our total collected premiums. Long-term care products provide coverage, within prescribed limits, for nursing homes, home healthcare, or a combination of both. We sell long-term care plans primarily to retirees and, to a lesser degree, to older self-employed individuals in the middle-income market.

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We continue to sell long-term care insurance through the Bankers Life career agent distribution channel. The business currently being sold is underwritten using stricter underwriting and pricing standards and has shorter benefit periods than the long-term care policies that were ceded pursuant to a reinsurance transaction completed in September 2018. During 2018, 98 percent of new sales of long-term care products in the Bankers Life segment had benefit periods of two years or less and 25 percent of all new sales are reinsured with a third party. At December 31, 2018, 94 percent of the long-term care policies in the Bankers Life segment have benefit periods of less than four years and 55 percent of such long-term care policies have benefit periods of one year or less. In the third quarter of 2018, we ceased sales of home health care only long-term care policies. In addition, we ceased sales of comprehensive and nursing home long-term care policies with benefit periods exceeding three years. Comprehensive policies cover both nursing home care and home healthcare. Home healthcare benefits included in comprehensive policies cover incurred charges after a deductible or elimination period and are subject to a weekly or monthly maximum dollar amount, and an overall benefit maximum. We monitor the loss experience on our long-term care products and, when appropriate, apply for actuarially justified rate increases in the jurisdictions in which we sell such products. Regulatory approval is required before we can increase our premiums on these products.

Supplemental Health Products. Supplemental health collected premiums were $634.9 million during 2018, or 17 percent of our total collected premiums. These policies generally provide fixed or limited benefits. Cancer insurance and heart/stroke products are guaranteed renewable individual accident and health insurance policies. Payments under cancer insurance policies are generally made directly to, or at the direction of, the policyholder following diagnosis of, or treatment for, a covered type of cancer. Heart/stroke policies provide for payments directly to the policyholder for treatment of a covered heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Accident products combine insurance for accidental death with limited benefit disability income insurance. Hospital indemnity products provide a fixed dollar amount per day of confinement in a hospital. The benefits provided under the supplemental health policies do not necessarily reflect the actual cost incurred by the insured as a result of the illness, or accident, and benefits are not reduced by any other medical insurance payments made to or on behalf of the insured.

Approximately 74 percent of the total number of our supplemental health policies inforce was sold with return of premium or cash value riders. The return of premium rider generally provides that, after a policy has been inforce for a specified number of years or upon the policyholder reaching a specified age, we will pay to the policyholder, or in some cases, a beneficiary under the policy, the aggregate amount of all premiums paid under the policy, without interest, less the aggregate amount of all claims incurred under the policy. For some policies, the return of premium rider does not have any claim offset. The cash value rider is similar to the return of premium rider, but also provides for payment of a graded portion of the return of premium benefit if the policy terminates before the return of premium benefit is earned.

Premiums collected on supplemental health products in the Bankers Life segment primarily relate to a critical illness product that was introduced in 2012. This critical illness insurance product pays a lump sum cash benefit directly to the insured when the insured is diagnosed with a specified critical illness. The product is designed to provide additional financial protection associated with treatment and recovery as well as cover non-medical expenses such as: (i) loss of income; (ii) at home recovery or treatment; (iii) experimental and/or alternative medicine; (iv) co-pays, deductibles and out-of-network expenses; and (v) child care and transportation costs.

Other Health Products. Collected premiums on other health products were $7.9 million during 2018. This category includes various other health products such as disability income products which are sold in small amounts and other products such as major medical health insurance which are no longer actively marketed.

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Annuities

Annuity premium collections (dollars in millions)

	2018		2017		2016
Fixed index annuity:
Bankers Life	$	1,112.0	$	964.7	$	868.1
Washington National	1.1		.6		1.2
Total fixed index annuity premium collections	1,113.1		965.3		869.3
Other fixed interest annuity:
Bankers Life	51.2		65.9		101.9
Washington National	.2		.3		.3
Total fixed interest annuity premium collections	51.4		66.2		102.2
Total annuity premium collections	$	1,164.5	$	1,031.5	$	971.5

During 2018, we collected annuity premiums of $1,164.5 million, or 31 percent, of our total premiums collected. Annuity products include fixed index annuity, traditional fixed rate annuity and single premium immediate annuity products sold through Bankers Life. Washington National no longer actively sells annuity products. Annuities offer a tax-deferred means of accumulating savings for retirement needs, and provide a tax-efficient source of income in the payout period. Our major source of income from fixed rate annuities is the spread between the investment income earned on the underlying general account assets and the interest credited to contractholders' accounts. For fixed index annuities, our major source of income is the spread between the investment income earned on the underlying general account assets and the cost of the index options purchased to provide index-based credits to the contractholders' accounts.

The mix of premium collections between Bankers Life's fixed index products and fixed interest annuity products has fluctuated due to volatility in the financial markets in recent periods. In addition, premium collections from Bankers Life's fixed rate annuity products have been negatively impacted by low market interest rates in recent periods.

The following describes the major annuity products:

Fixed Index Annuities. These products accounted for $1,113.1 million, or 30 percent, of our total premium collections during 2018. The account value (or "accumulation value") of these annuities is credited in an amount that is based on changes in a particular index during a specified period of time. Within each contract issued, each fixed index annuity specifies:

• The index to be used.

• The time period during which the change in the index is measured. At the end of the time period, the change in the index is applied to the account value. The time period of the contract ranges from 1 to 4 years.

• The method used to measure the change in the index.

• The measured change in the index is multiplied by a "participation rate" (percentage of change in the index) before the credit is applied. Some policies guarantee the initial participation rate for the life of the contract, and some vary the rate for each period.

• The measured change in the index may also be limited by a "cap" before the credit is applied. Some policies guarantee the initial cap for the life of the contract, and some vary the cap for each period.

• The measured change in the index may also be limited to the excess in the measured change over a "margin" before the credit is applied. Some policies guarantee the initial margin for the life of the contract, and some vary the margin for each period.

These products have guaranteed minimum cash surrender values, regardless of actual index performance and the resulting indexed-based interest credits applied. In 2016, we began offering a guaranteed lifetime income annuity, which allows policyholders to opt to receive a guaranteed income stream for life, without having to annuitize their policy.

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We have generally been successful at hedging increases to policyholder benefits resulting from increases in the indices to which the product's return is linked.

In 2018, a significant portion of our new annuity sales were "bonus interest" products. These products typically specify a bonus interest rate that generally ranges from 2 percent to 5 percent for the first policy year only. After the first year, the bonus interest portion of the initial crediting rate is automatically discontinued, and the renewal crediting is established.

Other Fixed Interest Annuities. These products include fixed rate single-premium deferred annuities ("SPDAs"), flexible premium deferred annuities ("FPDAs") and single-premium immediate annuities ("SPIAs"). These products accounted for $51.4 million, or 1 percent, of our total premium collections during 2018, of which SPDAs and FPDAs comprised $43.6 million. Our fixed rate SPDAs and FPDAs typically have a crediting rate that is guaranteed by the Company for the first policy year, after which we have the ability to change the crediting rate to any rate not below a guaranteed minimum rate. The guaranteed rates on annuities written recently are 1 percent, and the guaranteed rates on all policies inforce range from 1.0 percent to 5.5 percent. As of December 31, 2018, the average crediting rate on our outstanding traditional annuities was 3 percent.

The initial crediting rate is largely a function of:

•the interest rate we can earn on invested assets acquired with the new annuity fund deposits;

•the costs related to marketing and maintaining the annuity products; and

•the rates offered on similar products by our competitors.

For subsequent adjustments to crediting rates, we take into account current and prospective yields on investments, annuity surrender assumptions, competitive industry pricing and the crediting rate history for particular groups of annuity policies with similar characteristics.

Withdrawals from fixed interest annuities we are currently selling are generally subject to a surrender charge of 8 percent to 10 percent in the first year, declining to zero over a 5 to 12 year period, depending on issue age and product. Surrender charges are set at levels intended to protect the Company from loss on early terminations and to reduce the likelihood that policyholders will terminate their policies during periods of increasing interest rates. This practice is intended to lengthen the duration of policy liabilities and to enable us to maintain profitability on such policies.

Penalty-free withdrawals from fixed interest annuities of up to 10 percent of either premiums or account value are available in most fixed interest annuities after the first year of the annuity's term.

Some fixed interest annuity products apply a market value adjustment during the surrender charge period. This adjustment is determined by a formula specified in the annuity contract, and may increase or decrease the cash surrender value depending on changes in the amount and direction of market interest rates or credited interest rates at the time of withdrawal. The resulting cash surrender values will be at least equal to the guaranteed minimum values.

SPIAs accounted for $7.8 million of our total premiums collected in 2018. SPIAs are designed to provide a series of periodic payments for a fixed period of time or for life, according to the policyholder's choice at the time of issuance. Once the payments begin, the amount, frequency and length of time over which they are payable are fixed. SPIAs often are purchased by persons at or near retirement age who desire a steady stream of payments over a future period of years. The single premium is often the payout from a fixed rate contract. The implicit interest rate on SPIAs is based on market conditions when the policy is issued. The implicit interest rate on our outstanding SPIAs averaged 6.7 percent at December 31, 2018.

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Life Insurance

Life insurance premium collections (dollars in millions)

	2018		2017		2016
Interest-sensitive life products:
Bankers Life	$	170.8	$	162.5	$	175.0
Washington National	22.1		19.1		18.0
Colonial Penn	.2		.2		.3
Total interest-sensitive life premium collections	193.1		181.8		193.3
Traditional life:
Bankers Life	295.2		299.9		286.1
Washington National	10.1		10.9		11.4
Colonial Penn	296.4		289.4		277.5
Total traditional life premium collections	601.7		600.2		575.0
Total life insurance premium collections	$	794.8	$	782.0	$	768.3

Life products include traditional and interest-sensitive life insurance products. These products are currently sold through the Bankers Life, Washington National and Colonial Penn segments. During 2018, we collected life insurance premiums of $794.8 million, or 21 percent, of our total collected premiums.

Interest-Sensitive Life Products. These products include universal life and other interest-sensitive life products that provide life insurance with adjustable rates of return related to current interest rates. They accounted for $193.1 million, or 5 percent, of our total collected premiums in 2018. These products are marketed by independent producers and career agents (including independent producers and career agents specializing in worksite sales). The principal differences between universal life products and other interest-sensitive life products are policy provisions affecting the amount and timing of premium payments. Universal life policyholders may vary the frequency and size of their premium payments, and policy benefits may also fluctuate according to such payments. Premium payments under other interest-sensitive policies may not be varied by the policyholders. Universal life products include fixed index universal life products. The account value of these policies is credited with interest at a guaranteed rate, plus additional interest credits based on changes in a particular index during a specified time period.

Traditional Life. These products accounted for $601.7 million, or 16 percent, of our total collected premiums in 2018. Traditional life policies, including whole life, graded benefit life, term life and single premium whole life products, are marketed through independent producers, career agents and direct response marketing. Under whole life policies, the policyholder generally pays a level premium over an agreed period or the policyholder's lifetime. The annual premium in a whole life policy is generally higher than the premium for comparable term insurance coverage in the early years of the policy's life, but is generally lower than the premium for comparable term insurance coverage in the later years of the policy's life. These policies combine insurance protection with a savings component that gradually increases in amount over the life of the policy. The policyholder may borrow against the savings component generally at a rate of interest lower than that available from other lending sources. The policyholder may also choose to surrender the policy and receive the accumulated cash value rather than continuing the insurance protection. Term life products offer pure insurance protection for life with a guaranteed level premium for a specified period of time - typically 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. In some instances, these products offer an option to return the premium at the end of the guaranteed period.

Traditional life products also include graded benefit life insurance products. Graded benefit life insurance products are offered on an individual basis primarily to persons age 50 to 85, principally in face amounts of $400 to $25,000, without medical examination or evidence of insurability. Premiums are paid as frequently as monthly. Benefits paid are less than the face amount of the policy during the first two years, except in cases of accidental death. Our Colonial Penn segment markets graded benefit life policies under its own brand name using direct response marketing techniques. New policyholder leads are generated primarily from television, print advertisements, direct response mailings and the internet.

Traditional life products also include single premium whole life insurance. This product requires one initial lump sum payment in return for providing life insurance protection for the insured's entire lifetime. Single premium whole life products accounted for $40.4 million of our total collected premiums in 2018.

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INVESTMENTS

40|86 Advisors, Inc. ("40|86 Advisors", a registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of CNO) manages the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries. 40|86 Advisors had approximately $22.9 billion of assets (at fair value) under management at December 31, 2018, of which $22.8 billion were our assets (including investments held by variable interest entities ("VIEs") that are included on our consolidated balance sheet) and $.1 billion were assets managed for third parties. Our general account investment strategies are to:

• provide largely stable investment income from a diversified high quality fixed income portfolio;

• maximize and maintain a stable spread between our investment income and the yields we pay on insurance products;

• sustain adequate liquidity levels to meet operating cash requirements, including a margin for potential adverse developments;

• continually monitor and manage the relationship between our investment portfolio and the financial characteristics of our insurance liabilities such as durations and cash flows; and

• maximize total return through active strategic asset allocation and investment management.

Investment activities are an important and integral part of our business because investment income is a significant component of our revenues. The profitability of many of our insurance products is significantly affected by spreads between interest yields on investments and rates credited on insurance liabilities. Also, certain insurance products are priced based on long term assumptions including investment returns. Although substantially all credited rates on SPDAs, FPDAs and interest sensitive life products may be changed annually (subject to minimum guaranteed rates), changes in crediting rates may not be sufficient to maintain targeted investment spreads in all economic and market environments. In addition, competition, minimum guaranteed rates and other factors, including the impact of surrenders and withdrawals, may limit our ability to adjust or to maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. As of December 31, 2018, the average yield, computed on the cost basis of our fixed maturity portfolio, was 5.1 percent, and the average interest rate credited or accruing to our total insurance liabilities (excluding interest rate bonuses for the first policy year only and excluding the effect of credited rates attributable to variable or fixed index products) was 4.6 percent.

We manage the equity-based risk component of our fixed index annuity products by:

• purchasing options on equity indices with similar payoff characteristics; and

• adjusting the participation rate to reflect the change in the cost of such options (such cost varies based on market conditions).

The prices of the options we purchase to manage the equity-based risk component of our fixed index annuities vary based on market conditions. All other factors held constant, the prices of the options generally increase with increases in the volatility of the applicable indices, which may reduce the profitability of the fixed index products, cause us to lower participation rates, or both. Accordingly, volatility of the indices is one factor in the uncertainty regarding the profitability of our fixed index products.

Our invested assets are predominately fixed rate in nature and their value fluctuates with changes in market rates, among other factors (such as changes in the overall compensation for risk required by the market as well as issuer specific changes in credit quality). We seek to manage the interest rate risk inherent in our business by managing the durations and cash flows of our fixed maturity investments along with those of the related insurance liabilities. For example, one management measure we use is asset and liability duration. Duration measures expected change in fair value for a given change in interest rates. If interest rates increase by 1 percent, the fair value of a fixed maturity security with a duration of 5 years is typically expected to decrease in value by approximately 5 percent. When the estimated durations of assets and liabilities are similar, absent other factors, a change in the value of assets related to changes in interest rates should be largely offset by a change in the value of liabilities. We calculate asset and liability durations using our estimates of future asset and liability cash flows. At December 31, 2018, the estimated duration of our fixed income securities (as modified to reflect estimated prepayments and call premiums) and the estimated duration of our insurance liabilities were approximately 8.6 years and 8.4 years, respectively.

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COMPETITION

The markets in which we operate are competitive. Compared to CNO, many companies in the financial services industry are larger, have greater capital, technological and marketing resources, have greater access to capital and other sources of liquidity at a lower cost, offer broader and more diversified product lines, have greater brand recognition, have larger staffs and higher ratings. Banks, securities brokerage firms and other financial intermediaries also market insurance products or offer competing products, such as mutual fund products, traditional bank investments and other investment and retirement funding alternatives. We also compete with many of these companies and others in providing services for fees. In most areas, competition is based on a number of factors including pricing, service provided to distributors and policyholders and ratings. CNO's subsidiaries must also compete to attract and retain the allegiance of agents, insurance brokers and marketing companies.

In the individual health insurance business, companies compete primarily on the bases of marketing, service and price. Pursuant to federal regulations, the Medicare supplement products offered by all companies have standardized policy features. This increases the comparability of such policies and intensifies competition based on other factors. See "Insurance Underwriting" and "Governmental Regulation" for additional information. In addition to competing with the products of other insurance companies, commercial banks, mutual funds and broker dealers, our insurance products compete with health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and other health care-related institutions which provide medical benefits based on contractual agreements.

Our principal competitors vary by product line. Our main competitors for agent-sold long-term care insurance products include Northwestern Mutual, Mutual of Omaha and New York Life. Our main competitors for agent-sold Medicare supplement insurance products include Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, United HealthCare and Mutual of Omaha. Our main competitors for life insurance sold through direct marketing channels include Gerber Life, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life and subsidiaries of Torchmark Corporation. Our main competitors for supplemental health products sold through our Washington National segment include AFLAC, subsidiaries of Allstate, Colonial Life and Accident Company and subsidiaries of Torchmark Corporation.

In some of our product lines, such as life insurance and fixed annuities, we have a relatively small market share. Even in some of the lines in which we are one of the top writers, our market share is relatively small. For example, while, based on an Individual Long-Term Care Insurance Survey, our Bankers Life subsidiary ranked sixth in new annualized premiums of individual long-term care insurance in the first half of 2018 with a market share of approximately 7 percent, the top five writers of individual long-term care insurance had new annualized premiums with a combined market share of approximately 79 percent during the period. In addition, while, based on a 2017 Medicare Supplement Loss Ratios report, we ranked sixth in direct premiums earned for Medicare supplement insurance in 2017 with a market share of 2.7 percent, the top writer of Medicare supplement insurance had direct premiums with a market share of 35 percent during the period.

Most of our major competitors have higher financial strength ratings than we do. Recent industry consolidation, including business combinations among insurance and other financial services companies, has resulted in larger competitors with even greater financial resources. Furthermore, changes in federal law have narrowed the historical separation between banks and insurance companies, enabling traditional banking institutions to enter the insurance and annuity markets and further increase competition. This increased competition may harm our ability to maintain or improve our profitability.

In addition, because the actual cost of products is unknown when they are sold, we are subject to competitors who may sell a product at a price that does not cover its actual cost. Accordingly, if we do not also lower our prices for similar products, we may lose market share to these competitors. If we lower our prices to maintain market share, our profitability will decline.

The Colonial Penn segment has faced increased competition from other insurance companies who also distribute products through direct marketing. In addition, the demand and cost of television advertising appropriate for Colonial Penn's campaigns fluctuates from period to period and will impact the average cost to generate a TV lead.

We must attract and retain sales representatives to sell our insurance and annuity products. Strong competition exists among insurance and financial services companies for sales representatives. We compete for sales representatives primarily on the basis of our financial position, financial strength ratings, support services, compensation, products and product features. Our competitiveness for such agents also depends upon the relationships we develop with these agents.

An important competitive factor for life insurance companies is the financial strength ratings they receive from nationally recognized rating organizations. Agents, insurance brokers and marketing companies who market our products and

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prospective purchasers of our products use the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries as an important factor in determining whether to market or purchase. Ratings have the most impact on our sales of supplemental health and life products to consumers at the worksite. Financial strength ratings provided by A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"), Moody's Investor Services, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") and S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") are the rating agency's opinions of the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay policyholder claims and obligations when due. They are not directed toward the protection of investors, and such ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. The most recent ratings actions are described below.

On January 9, 2019, A.M. Best affirmed its "A-" financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries. The outlook for these ratings remains stable. The "A-" rating is assigned to companies that have an excellent ability, in A.M. Best's opinion, to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.  A.M. Best ratings for the industry currently range from "A++ (Superior)" to "F (In Liquidation)" and some companies are not rated.  An "A++" rating indicates a superior ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders.  A.M. Best has sixteen possible ratings.  There are three ratings above the "A-" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and twelve ratings that are below that rating.

On October 4, 2018, Moody's upgraded the financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries to "A3" from "Baa1" and the outlook for these ratings is stable. Moody's actions resulted from the Company's announcement that Bankers Life had closed on its agreement to cede certain long-term care policies as further described in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Reinsurance". Moody’s financial strength ratings range from "Aaa" to "C".  These ratings may be supplemented with numbers "1", "2", or "3" to show relative standing within a category.  In Moody's view, an insurer rated "A" offers good financial security, however, certain elements may be present which suggests a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. Moody's has twenty-one possible ratings.  There are six ratings above the "A3" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and fourteen ratings that are below that rating.

On August 2, 2018, Fitch affirmed its "BBB+" financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries and revised the outlook for these ratings to positive from stable. The positive outlook for these ratings reflected Fitch's view that such ratings could be upgraded over the next 12 to 18 months based on the Company's announcement that Bankers Life had entered into an agreement to cede certain long-term care policies as further described in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Reinsurance". A "BBB" rating, in Fitch's opinion, indicates that there is currently a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. The capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations on a timely basis is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impact this capacity. Fitch ratings for the industry range from "AAA Exceptionally Strong" to "C Distressed" and some companies are not rated. Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category. Fitch has nineteen possible ratings. There are seven ratings above the "BBB+" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and eleven ratings that are below that rating.

On August 2, 2018, S&P affirmed the financial strength ratings of "BBB+" of our primary insurance subsidiaries and revised the outlook for these ratings to positive from stable. S&P's actions resulted from the Company's announcement that Bankers Life had entered into an agreement to cede certain long-term care policies as further described in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Reinsurance". S&P financial strength ratings range from "AAA" to "R" and some companies are not rated.  An insurer rated "BBB" or higher is regarded as having financial security characteristics that outweigh any vulnerabilities, and is highly likely to have the ability to meet financial commitments. An insurer rated "BBB", in S&P's opinion, has good financial security characteristics, but is more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are higher-rated insurers.  Pluses and minuses show the relative standing within a category.  S&P has twenty-one possible ratings.  There are seven ratings above the "BBB+" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and thirteen ratings that are below that rating.

Rating agencies have increased the frequency and scope of their credit reviews and requested additional information from the companies that they rate, including us.  They may also adjust upward the capital and other requirements employed in the rating agency models for maintenance of certain ratings levels.  We cannot predict what actions rating agencies may take, or what actions we may take in response.  Accordingly, downgrades and outlook revisions related to us or the life insurance industry may occur in the future at any time and without notice by any rating agency.  These could increase policy surrenders and withdrawals, adversely affect relationships with our distribution channels, reduce new sales, reduce our ability to borrow and increase our future borrowing costs.

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INSURANCE UNDERWRITING

Under regulations developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the "NAIC") (an association of state regulators and their staffs) and adopted by the states, we are prohibited from underwriting our Medicare supplement policies for certain first-time purchasers. If a person applies for insurance within six months after becoming eligible by reason of age, or disability in certain limited circumstances, the application may not be rejected due to medical conditions. Some states prohibit underwriting of all Medicare supplement policies. For other prospective Medicare supplement policyholders, such as senior citizens who are transferring to our products, the underwriting procedures are relatively limited, except for policies providing prescription drug coverage.

Before issuing long-term care products, we generally apply detailed underwriting procedures to assess and quantify the insurance risks. We require medical examinations of applicants (including blood and urine tests, where permitted) for certain health insurance products and for life insurance products which exceed prescribed policy amounts. These requirements vary according to the applicant's age and may vary by type of policy or product. We also rely on medical records and the potential policyholder's written application. In recent years, there have been significant regulatory changes with respect to underwriting certain types of health insurance. An increasing number of states prohibit underwriting and/or charging higher premiums for substandard risks. We monitor changes in state regulation that affect our products, and consider these regulatory developments in determining the products we market and where we market them.

Our supplemental health policies are individually underwritten using a simplified issue application. Based on an applicant's responses on the application, the underwriter either: (i) approves the policy as applied for; (ii) approves the policy with reduced benefits; or (iii) rejects the application.

Our life insurance products include policies that are underwritten individually and low face-amount life insurance products that utilize standardized underwriting procedures. After initial processing, insurance underwriters obtain the information needed to make an underwriting decision (such as medical examinations, doctors' statements and special medical tests). After collecting and reviewing the information, the underwriter either: (i) approves the policy as applied for; (ii) approves the policy with an extra premium charge because of unfavorable factors; or (iii) rejects the application.

We underwrite group insurance policies based on the characteristics of the group and its past claim experience. Graded benefit life insurance policies are issued without medical examination or evidence of insurability. There is minimal underwriting on annuities.

LIABILITIES FOR INSURANCE PRODUCTS

At December 31, 2018, the total balance of our liabilities for insurance products was $23.5 billion. These liabilities are generally payable over an extended period of time. The profitability of our insurance products depends on pricing and other factors. Differences between our expectations when we sold these products and our actual experience could result in future losses.

Liabilities for insurance products are calculated using management's best judgments, based on our past experience and standard actuarial tables, of mortality, morbidity, lapse rates, investment experience and expense levels with due consideration of provision for adverse development where prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). For all of our insurance products, we establish an active life reserve, a liability for due and unpaid claims, claims in the course of settlement and incurred but not reported claims. In addition, for our health insurance business, we establish a reserve for the present value of amounts not yet due on incurred claims. Many factors can affect these reserves and liabilities, such as economic and social conditions, inflation, hospital and pharmaceutical costs, changes in doctrines of legal liability and extra-contractual damage awards. Therefore, our reserves and liabilities are necessarily based on extensive estimates, assumptions and historical experience. Establishing reserves is an uncertain process, and it is possible that actual claims will materially exceed our reserves and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Our financial results depend significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims experience is consistent with the assumptions we used in determining our reserves and pricing our products. If our assumptions are incorrect with respect to future claims, future policyholder premiums and policy charges or the investment income on assets supporting liabilities, or our reserves are insufficient to cover our actual losses and expenses, we would be required to increase our liabilities, which would negatively affect our operating results.

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REINSURANCE

Consistent with the general practice of the life insurance industry, our subsidiaries enter into indemnity reinsurance agreements with other insurance companies in order to reinsure portions of the coverage provided by our insurance products. Indemnity reinsurance agreements are intended to limit a life insurer's maximum loss on a large or unusually hazardous risk or to diversify its risk. Indemnity reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer's primary liability to the insured. Our reinsured business is ceded to numerous reinsurers. Based on our periodic review of their financial statements, insurance industry reports and reports filed with state insurance departments, we believe the assuming companies are able to honor all contractual commitments.

As of December 31, 2018, the policy risk retention limit of our insurance subsidiaries was generally $.8 million or less. Reinsurance ceded by CNO represented 12 percent of gross combined life insurance inforce and reinsurance assumed represented .5 percent of net combined life insurance inforce. Our principal reinsurers at December 31, 2018 were as follows (dollars in millions):

Name of Reinsurer	Reinsurance receivables		Ceded life insurance inforce		A.M. Best rating
Wilton Re (a)	$	3,046.4	$	1,129.8	A+
Jackson National Life Insurance Company ("Jackson") (b)	1,323.8		642.3		A+
RGA Reinsurance Company (c)	258.0		102.9		A+
Swiss Re Life and Health America Inc.	3.7		636.3		A+
Munich American Reassurance Company	3.2		518.5		A+
SCOR Global Life USA Reinsurance Company	1.3		80.9		A+
All others (d)	289.0		210.6
	$	4,925.4	$	3,321.3

________________

(a) In addition to the life insurance business, Wilton Re has assumed certain long-term care business through a 100% indemnity coinsurance agreement. Such business had total insurance policy liabilities of $2.8 billion at December 31, 2018.

(b) In addition to the life insurance business, Jackson has assumed certain annuity business from our insurance subsidiaries through a coinsurance agreement. Such business had total insurance policy liabilities of $1.0 billion at December 31, 2018.

(c) RGA Reinsurance Company has assumed a portion of the long-term care business of Bankers Life on a coinsurance basis.

(d) No other single reinsurer represents more than 3 percent of the reinsurance receivables balance or has assumed greater than 2 percent of the total ceded life insurance business inforce.

EMPLOYEES

At December 31, 2018, we had approximately 3,300 full time employees, including 1,280 employees supporting our Bankers Life segment, 290 employees supporting our Colonial Penn segment and 1,730 employees supporting our shared services and our Washington National, long-term care in run-off and corporate segments. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that we have good relations with our employees.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION

Insurance Regulation and Oversight

Our insurance businesses are subject to extensive regulation and supervision by the insurance regulatory agencies of the jurisdictions in which they operate. This regulation and supervision is primarily for the benefit and protection of customers, and not for the benefit of investors or creditors. State laws generally establish supervisory agencies that have broad regulatory authority, including the power to:

• grant and revoke business licenses;

• regulate and supervise sales practices and market conduct;

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• establish guaranty associations;

• license agents;

• approve policy forms;

• approve premium rates and premium rate increases for some lines of business such as long-term care and Medicare supplement;

• establish reserve requirements;

• prescribe the form and content of required financial statements and reports;

• determine the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and surplus;

• perform financial, market conduct and other examinations;

• define acceptable accounting principles; and

• regulate the types and amounts of permitted investments.

In addition, the NAIC develops model laws and regulations, many of which have been adopted by state legislators and/or insurance regulators, relating to:

• reserve requirements;

• risk-based capital ("RBC") standards;

• codification of insurance accounting principles;

• investment restrictions;

• restrictions on an insurance company's ability to pay dividends;

• credit for reinsurance; and

• product illustrations.

The Company's insurance subsidiaries are required to file detailed annual reports, in accordance with prescribed statutory accounting rules, with regulatory authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which they do business. As part of their routine oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed examinations, generally once every three to five years, of the books, records and accounts of insurers domiciled in their states. These examinations are generally coordinated under the direction of the lead state and typically include all insurers operating in a holding company system pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the NAIC.

The NAIC has developed a principle-based reserving approach for life insurance products which will replace the current formulaic approach to determining policy reserves with an approach that more closely reflects the risks of the products. The principle-based approach became effective on January 1, 2017, and there is a three-year transition period where the approach is optional until it is required to be used for all life insurance products issued on or after January 1, 2020. The new approach will impact the financial statements of our insurance subsidiaries prepared under statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. The Company is implementing the new approach to its reserves on new life insurance products as they are introduced through the transition period.

State regulatory authorities and industry groups have developed several initiatives regarding market conduct, including the form and content of disclosures to consumers, advertising, sales practices and complaint handling. Various state insurance departments periodically examine the market conduct activities of domestic and non-domestic insurance companies doing business in their states, including our insurance subsidiaries. The purpose of these market conduct examinations is to determine if operations are consistent with the laws and regulations of the state conducting the examination. In addition, market conduct

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has become one of the criteria used by rating agencies to establish the financial strength ratings of an insurance company. For example, A.M. Best's ratings analysis now includes a review of the insurer's compliance program.

Most states mandate minimum benefit standards and benefit ratios for accident and health insurance policies. We are generally required to maintain, with respect to our individual long-term care policies, minimum anticipated benefit ratios over the entire period of coverage of not less than 60 percent. With respect to our Medicare supplement policies, we are generally required to attain and maintain an actual benefit ratio, after three years, of not less than 65 percent. We provide to the insurance departments of all states in which we conduct business annual calculations that demonstrate compliance with required minimum benefit ratios for both long-term care and Medicare supplement insurance. These calculations are prepared utilizing statutory lapse and interest rate assumptions. In the event that we fail to maintain minimum mandated benefit ratios, our insurance subsidiaries could be required to provide retrospective refunds and/or prospective rate reductions. We believe that our insurance subsidiaries currently comply with all applicable mandated minimum benefit ratios.

Our insurance subsidiaries are required, under guaranty fund laws of most states, to pay assessments up to prescribed limits to fund policyholder losses or liabilities of insolvent insurance companies. Typically, assessments are levied on member insurers on a basis which is related to the member insurer's proportionate share of the business written by all member insurers. Assessments can be partially recovered through a reduction in future premium taxes in some states.

The NAIC has adopted the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment Model Act ("ORSA"), which has been enacted by each of our insurance subsidiaries’ domiciliary states. ORSA requires that insurers maintain a risk management framework and conduct an internal own risk and solvency assessment of the insurer’s material risks in normal and stressed environments. The assessment must be documented in an annual summary report, a copy of which must be submitted to insurance regulators as required or upon request.

The NAIC has adopted the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Model Act ("CGAD"), which has been enacted by our lead state insurance regulator. CGAD requires an annual filing by an insurer or insurance group that provides a detailed narrative and sample documentation on corporate governance structure and policies and practices.

The NAIC has adopted a model law governing cybersecurity consumer protections in 2017 with enactment by states thereafter. In addition, effective March 1, 2017, the New York Department of Financial Services (the "NYDFS") has a new cybersecurity regulation which includes transitional phase-in periods up to two years. An annual Certification of Compliance involving our cybersecurity program is required to be filed with the NYDFS.

Insurance Holding Company Regulations

All U.S. jurisdictions in which our insurers conduct business, except the Virgin Islands, have enacted laws or regulations regarding the activities of insurance holding company systems, including acquisitions, the terms of surplus debentures, the terms of transactions between or involving insurance companies and their affiliates and other related matters. Various reporting and approval requirements apply to transactions between or involving insurance companies and their affiliates within an insurance holding company system, depending on the size and nature of the transactions. Generally, all transactions between an insurance company and an affiliate must be fair and reasonable. Currently, the Company and its insurance subsidiaries are registered as a holding company system pursuant to such laws and regulations in the domiciliary states of the insurance subsidiaries.

All U.S. jurisdictions in which our insurers conduct business, except the Virgin Islands, have also enacted legislation or regulations that affect the acquisition (or sale) of control of insurance companies. The nature and extent of such legislation and regulations vary from state to state. Generally, these regulations require an acquirer of control to file detailed information and the plan of acquisition, and to obtain administrative approval prior to the acquisition of control. "Control" is generally defined as the direct or indirect power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person and is rebuttably presumed to exist if a person or group of affiliated persons directly or indirectly owns or controls 10 percent or more of the voting securities of another person.

Insurance regulators may prohibit the payment of dividends or other payments by our insurance subsidiaries to parent companies if they determine that such payment could be adverse to our policyholders or contract holders. Otherwise, the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is subject to state insurance department regulations and is based on the financial statements of our insurance subsidiaries prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities, which differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These regulations generally permit dividends to be paid by the insurance company if such dividends are not in excess of unassigned surplus and, for any 12-month period, are in amounts less than the greater of, or in some states, the lesser of:

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• statutory net gain from operations or statutory net income for the prior year; or

• 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus at the end of the preceding year.

If an insurance company has negative earned surplus, any dividend payments require the prior approval of the director or commissioner of the applicable state insurance department.

In accordance with an order from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Washington National may not distribute funds to any affiliate or shareholder, except pursuant to agreements with affiliates that have been approved, without prior notice to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. In addition, the RBC and other capital requirements described below can also limit, in certain circumstances, the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends.

Insurance regulations require an annual enterprise risk report that identifies the material risks within the insurance holding company system that could pose enterprise risk to the insurer and which must be submitted to insurance regulators as required.

Long-Term Care Regulations

The NAIC has adopted model long-term care policy language providing nonforfeiture benefits and has proposed a rate stabilization standard for long-term care policies. Various bills are introduced from time to time in the U.S. Congress which propose the implementation of certain minimum consumer protection standards in all long-term care policies, including guaranteed renewability, protection against inflation and limitations on waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Federal legislation permits premiums paid for qualified long-term care insurance to be tax-deductible medical expenses and for benefits received on such policies to be excluded from taxable income.

Our insurance subsidiaries that have long-term care business have made insurance regulatory filings seeking actuarially justified rate increases on our long-term care policies. Most of our long-term care business is guaranteed renewable, and, if necessary rate increases are not approved, we may be required to write off all or a portion of the deferred acquisition costs and the present value of future profits (collectively referred to as "insurance acquisition costs") and establish a premium deficiency reserve. If we are unable to raise our premium rates because we fail to obtain approval for actuarially justified rate increases in one or more states, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Capital Requirements

Using statutory statements filed with state regulators annually, the NAIC calculates certain financial ratios to assist state regulators in monitoring the financial condition of insurance companies. A "usual range" of results for each ratio is used as a benchmark. An insurance company may fall out of the usual range for one or more ratios because of specific transactions that are in themselves immaterial or eliminated at the consolidated level. Generally, an insurance company will become subject to regulatory scrutiny if it falls outside the usual ranges of four or more of the ratios, and regulators may then act, if the company has insufficient capital, to constrain the company's underwriting capacity. In the past, variances in certain ratios of our insurance subsidiaries have resulted in inquiries from insurance departments, to which we have responded. These inquiries have not led to any restrictions affecting our operations.

The NAIC's RBC requirements provide a tool for insurance regulators to determine the levels of statutory capital and surplus an insurer must maintain in relation to its insurance and investment risks and the need for possible regulatory attention. The basis of the system is a formula that applies prescribed factors to various risk elements in an insurer’s business to report a minimum capital requirement proportional to the amount of risk assumed by the insurer. The life and health insurer RBC formula is designed to measure annually: (i) the risk of loss from asset defaults and asset value fluctuations; (ii) the risk of loss from adverse mortality and morbidity experience; (iii) the risk of loss from mismatching of assets and liability cash flow due to changing interest rates; and (iv) business risks.

In addition, the RBC requirements currently provide for a trend test if a company's total adjusted capital is between 100 percent and 150 percent of its RBC at the end of the year. The trend test calculates the greater of the decrease in the margin of total adjusted capital over RBC:

• between the current year and the prior year; and

• for the average of the last 3 years.

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It assumes that such decrease could occur again in the coming year. Any company whose trended total adjusted capital is less than 95 percent of its RBC would trigger a requirement to submit a comprehensive plan to the regulatory authority proposing corrective actions aimed at improving its capital position. The 2018 statutory annual statements of each of our insurance subsidiaries reflect total adjusted capital in excess of the levels that would subject our subsidiaries to any regulatory action.

Although we are under no obligation to do so, we may elect to contribute additional capital or retain greater amounts of capital to strengthen the surplus of certain insurance subsidiaries. Any election to contribute or retain additional capital could impact the amounts our insurance subsidiaries pay as dividends to the holding company. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is also impacted by various criteria established by rating agencies to maintain or receive higher ratings and by the capital levels that we target for our insurance subsidiaries.

The NAIC is working to develop a group capital measure to be utilized as an analytical tool to supplement the existing holding company analysis as opposed to a capital standard. The measure is expected to be based on the aggregation of existing regulatory capital calculations for all entities within the insurance holding company system.

Regulation of Investments

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to state laws and regulations that require diversification of their investment portfolios and limit the amount of investments in certain investment categories, such as below-investment grade bonds, equity real estate and common stocks. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations would cause investments exceeding regulatory limitations to be treated as non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring statutory surplus, and, in some instances, would require divestiture of such non-qualifying investments. The investments made by our insurance subsidiaries complied in all material respects with such investment regulations as of December 31, 2018.

Other Federal and State Laws and Regulations

Federal and state law and regulation require financial institutions to protect the security and confidentiality of personal information, including health-related and customer information, and to notify customers and other individuals about their policies and practices relating to their collection and disclosure of health-related and customer information and their practices relating to protecting the security and confidentiality of that information. State laws regulate use and disclosure of social security numbers and federal and state laws require notice to affected individuals, law enforcement, regulators and others if there is a breach of the security of certain personal information, including social security numbers. Federal and state laws and regulations regulate the ability of financial institutions to make telemarketing calls and to send unsolicited e-mail or fax messages to consumers and customers. Federal and state lawmakers and regulatory bodies may be expected to consider additional or more detailed regulation regarding these subjects and the privacy and security of personal information. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has issued regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act relating to standardized electronic transaction formats, code sets and the privacy of member health information. These regulations, and any corresponding state legislation, affect our administration of health insurance.

The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 seeks to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism, money laundering or other illegal activities. To the extent required by applicable laws and regulations, CNO and its insurance subsidiaries have adopted anti-money laundering ("AML") programs that include policies, procedures and controls to detect and prevent money laundering, have designated compliance officers to oversee the programs, provide for on-going employee training and ensure periodic independent testing of the programs. CNO's and the insurance subsidiaries' AML programs, to the extent required, also establish and enforce customer identification programs and provide for the monitoring and the reporting to the Department of the Treasury of certain suspicious transactions.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act") generally provides for enhanced federal supervision of financial institutions, including insurance companies in certain circumstances, and financial activities that represent a systemic risk to financial stability or the U.S. economy. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, a Federal Insurance Office has been established within the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and its authority will likely extend to most lines of insurance that are written by the Company, although the Federal Insurance Office is not empowered with any general regulatory authority over insurers. The director of the Federal Insurance Office serves in an advisory capacity to the newly established Financial Stability Oversight Council and will have the ability to recommend that an insurance company or an insurance holding company be subject to heightened prudential standards by the Federal Reserve, if it is determined that financial distress at the company could pose a threat to financial stability in the U.S.

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The Dodd-Frank Act also provides for the preemption of state laws when inconsistent with certain international agreements, and would streamline the state-level regulation of reinsurance and surplus lines insurance. Under certain circumstances, the FDIC can assume the role of a state insurance regulator and initiate liquidation proceedings under state law.

The asset management activities of 40|86 Advisors and our other investment advisory subsidiary are subject to various federal and state securities laws and regulations. The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are the principal regulators of our asset management operations.

Broker-Dealer and Securities Regulation

We have a broker-dealer subsidiary that is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to federal and state regulation, including, but not limited to, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Agents and employees registered or associated with our broker-dealer subsidiary are subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and to examination requirements and regulation by the SEC, FINRA and state securities commissioners. The SEC and other governmental agencies, as well as state securities commissions in the U.S., have the power to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in censure, fines, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or suspension and termination or limitation of the activities of the regulated entity or its employees.

FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (the "Tax Reform Act") which enacted a broad range of changes to the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") including individual and corporate reforms and numerous changes to U.S. international tax provisions. The Tax Reform Act reduced the corporate tax rate to 21 percent and made significant changes to the taxation of life insurance companies. Among other things, the Tax Reform Act modified the computation of life insurance reserves, increased the capitalization rate and extended the amortization period for policy acquisition costs, imposed limitations on the deductibility of performance-based compensation to "covered employees" and interest expense, and allowed for the expensing of certain capital expenditures. For net operating losses ("NOLs") arising after December 31, 2017, the Tax Reform Act limits the ability to utilize NOL carryforwards to 80% of taxable income. In addition, NOLs arising after 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely, but carryback is prohibited. Our net deferred tax assets and liabilities were revalued at the newly enacted U.S. corporate rate, and the impact was recognized in our tax expense in 2017, the year of enactment.

Our annuity and life insurance products generally provide policyholders with an income tax advantage, as compared to other savings investments such as certificates of deposit and bonds, because taxes on the increase in value of the products are deferred until received by policyholders. With other savings investments, the increase in value is generally taxed as earned. Annuity benefits and life insurance benefits, which accrue prior to the death of the policyholder, are generally not taxable until paid. Life insurance death benefits are generally exempt from income tax. Also, benefits received on immediate annuities (other than structured settlements) are recognized as taxable income ratably, as opposed to the methods used for some other investments which tend to accelerate taxable income into earlier years. The tax advantage for annuities and life insurance is provided in the Code and is generally followed in all states and other United States taxing jurisdictions.

Congress has considered, from time to time, possible changes to the U.S. tax laws, including elimination of the tax deferral on the accretion of value of certain annuities and life insurance products. It is possible that further tax legislation will be enacted which would contain provisions with possible adverse effects on our annuity and life insurance products.

Our insurance company subsidiaries are taxed under the life insurance company provisions of the Code. Provisions in the Code require a portion of the expenses incurred in selling insurance products to be deducted over a period of years, as opposed to immediate deduction in the year incurred. This provision increases the tax for statutory accounting purposes, which reduces statutory earnings and surplus and, accordingly, decreases the amount of cash dividends that may be paid by the life insurance subsidiaries.

Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, capital loss carryforwards and NOLs. In evaluating our deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of our deferred tax assets depends upon generating future taxable income during the periods in which our temporary differences become deductible and before our NOLs expire. In addition, the use of our NOLs is dependent, in part, on whether the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") ultimately agrees with the tax positions we have taken in previously filed tax returns and that we plan to take in future tax returns. Accordingly, with respect to our deferred tax assets, we assess the need for a valuation allowance on an ongoing basis.

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As of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we have established a valuation allowance equal to the portion of the net deferred tax assets whose realization is uncertain. The determination of the amount of valuation allowance established is made by assessing the effects of limitations or issues on the value of our net deferred tax assets expected to be fully recognized in the future.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

CNO and its businesses are subject to a number of risks including general business and financial risk. Any or all of such risks could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of CNO. In addition, please refer to the "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" included in "Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations".

Potential continuation of a low interest rate environment for an extended period of time may negatively impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In recent periods, interest rates have been at or near historically low levels. Some of our products, principally traditional whole life, universal life, fixed rate and fixed index annuity contracts, expose us to the risk that low or declining interest rates will reduce our spread (the difference between the amounts that we are required to pay under the contracts and the investment income we are able to earn on the investments supporting our obligations under the contracts). Our spread is a key component of our net income. Investment income is also an important component of the profitability of our health products, especially long-term care and supplemental health policies. In addition, interest rates impact the liability for the benefits we provide under our agent deferred compensation plan (as it is our policy to immediately recognize changes in assumptions used to determine this liability).

If interest rates were to decrease further or remain at low levels for an extended period of time, we may have to invest new cash flows or reinvest proceeds from investments that have matured or have been prepaid or sold at yields that have the effect of reducing our net investment income as well as the spread between interest earned on investments and interest credited to some of our products below present or planned levels. To the extent prepayment rates on fixed maturity investments or mortgage loans in our investment portfolio exceed our assumptions, this could increase the impact of this risk. We can lower crediting rates on certain products to offset the decrease in investment yield. However, our ability to lower these rates may be limited by: (i) contractually guaranteed minimum rates; or (ii) competition. In addition, a decrease in crediting rates may not match the timing or magnitude of changes in investment yields. Currently, the vast majority of our products with contractually guaranteed minimum rates have crediting rates set at the minimum rate. As a result, further decreases in investment yields would decrease the spread we earn and such spread could potentially become a loss.

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The following table summarizes the distribution of annuity and universal life account values, net of amounts ceded, by guaranteed interest crediting rates as of December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions):

Guaranteed	Fixed interest and fixed			Universal
rate	index annuities			life			Total
> 5.0% to 6.0%	$	.3		$	10.1		$	10.4
> 4.0% to 5.0%	29.1			273.1			302.2
> 3.0% to 4.0%	816.4			44.2			860.6
> 2.0% to 3.0%	1,817.0			218.1			2,035.1
> 1.0% to 2.0%	710.6			25.2			735.8
1.0% and under	5,576.2			410.6			5,986.8
	$	8,949.6		$	981.3		$	9,930.9
Weighted average	1.66		%	2.64		%	1.76		%

In addition, during periods of declining or low interest rates, life and annuity products may be relatively more attractive to consumers, resulting in increased premium payments on products with flexible premium features, repayment of policy loans and increased persistency (a higher percentage of insurance policies remaining in force from year-to-year).

Our expectation of future investment income is an important consideration in determining the amortization of insurance acquisition costs and analyzing the recovery of these assets as well as determining the adequacy of our liabilities for insurance products. Expectations of lower future investment earnings may cause us to accelerate amortization, write down the balance of insurance acquisition costs or establish additional liabilities for insurance products, thereby reducing net income in the future periods.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, we completed a comprehensive review of interest rate assumptions on all of our products which were updated to reflect the projected returns on our current investment portfolio. The new money rate is the rate of return we receive on cash flows invested at a current date. If new money rates are lower than the overall weighted average return we earn from our investment portfolio, and the lower rates persist, our overall earned rates will decrease. Specifically, our current projections assume new money rates ranging from 4.65 percent to 5.67 percent for one year (unchanged from prior year) and then grade over 5 years from these levels to an ultimate new money rate ranging from 5.23 percent to 6.00 percent (previously ranged from 5.73 percent to 6.50 percent), depending on the specific product. While subject to many uncertainties, we believe our assumptions for future new money rates are reasonable.

The remaining profit margins for the life contingent payout annuities in the Colonial Penn and Washington National segments and for the long-term care blocks in run-off are extremely low. Accordingly, future unfavorable changes to our assumptions are more likely to reduce earnings in the period such changes occur.

The following hypothetical scenarios illustrate the sensitivity of changes in interest rates to our products (based on our 2018 comprehensive actuarial review):

• The first hypothetical scenario assumes immediate and permanent reductions to current interest rate spreads on interest-sensitive products. We estimate that a pre-tax charge of approximately $52 million would occur if assumed spreads related to our interest-sensitive life and annuity products immediately and permanently decreased by 10 basis points.

• A second scenario assumes that new money rates remain at their current level indefinitely. We estimate that this scenario would result in a pre-tax charge of approximately $1 million related to an increase in deficiency reserves related to life contingent payout annuities and reduce future margins for all non-interest sensitive products by $95 million.

• The third scenario assumes current new money rates increase modestly such that our current portfolio yield remains level.  We estimate that this scenario would result in no charges, but would reduce margins for all non-interest sensitive products by $115 million.

• The fourth scenario assumes that new money rates decrease 200 basis points and remain at that level indefinitely. We estimate that this scenario would result in a pre-tax charge of approximately $50 million related to an increase in

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deficiency reserves related to life contingent payout annuities and our long-term care in run-off business. For all non-interest sensitive products combined, this scenario would reduce future margins by $551 million.

The long-term care reinsurance transaction entered into in September 2018 significantly reduced our exposure to adverse experience from this business. However, the retained blocks are still vulnerable to a variety of factors including lower interest rates, higher morbidity and higher persistency. Our 2018 comprehensive actuarial review of our retained long-term care blocks (the retained blocks in the Bankers Life and Long-term care in run-off segments) reflects the reduced exposure and updates to key assumptions including morbidity, mortality, voluntary termination rates, and interest rate assumptions. Such review indicated margins increased by $10 million in 2018 to approximately $242 million, or approximately 10 percent of related insurance liabilities net of insurance intangibles (such margins in the retained Bankers Life block increased $25 million to approximately $235 million, or approximately 13 percent of related insurance liabilities net of insurance intangibles). Given the potential interest rate exposure in these blocks of business, we are separately disclosing the results of the three hypothetical scenarios summarized above for these blocks only to illustrate the sensitivity of changes in interest rates on long-term care products (based on our 2018 comprehensive actuarial review):

• One scenario assumes that the new money rates available to invest cash flows from our retained long-term care blocks remain at their current level indefinitely. This scenario would reduce margins by approximately $25 million but would not result in a charge because margins would continue to be positive.

• A second scenario assumes that current new money rates available to invest cash flows from the retained long-term care blocks immediately decrease to approximately 5.49 percent and remain at that level indefinitely. This scenario would reduce margins in the block by approximately $34 million but would also not result in a charge.

• An additional scenario assumes that current new money rates available to invest cash flows from our long-term care blocks immediately decrease by approximately 220 basis points and remain at that level indefinitely. This scenario would result in a charge of $32 million and reduce margins in the blocks by approximately $195 million.

Although the hypothetical revisions described in the scenarios summarized above are not currently required or anticipated, we believe similar changes could occur based on past variances in experience and our expectations of the ranges of future experience that could reasonably occur. We have assumed that revisions to assumptions resulting in such adjustments would occur equally among policy types, ages and durations within each product classification. Any actual adjustment would be dependent on the specific policies affected and, therefore, may differ from such estimates. In addition, the impact of actual adjustments would reflect the net effect of all changes in assumptions during the period.

Sustained periods of low or declining interest rates may adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

There are risks to our business associated with broad economic conditions.

From 2008 to 2010, the U.S. economy experienced unusually severe credit and liquidity contraction and underwent a recession. Following several years of rapid credit expansion, a contraction in mortgage lending coupled with substantial declines in home prices and rising mortgage defaults resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities and major commercial and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to many sectors of the related credit markets, and to related credit default swaps and other derivative securities, caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital, to merge with larger and stronger institutions, to be subsidized by the U.S. government or, in some cases, to fail. These factors, combined with declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, precipitated an economic slowdown.

General factors such as the availability of credit, consumer spending, business investment, capital market conditions and inflation affect our business. For example, in an economic downturn, higher unemployment, lower family income, lower corporate earnings, lower business investment and lower consumer spending may depress the demand for life insurance, annuities and other insurance products. In addition, this type of economic environment may result in higher lapses or surrenders of policies.

Our business is exposed to the performance of the debt and equity markets. Adverse market conditions can affect the liquidity and value of our investments. The manner in which debt and equity market performance and changes in interest rates have affected, and will continue to affect, our business, financial condition, growth and profitability include, but are not limited to, the following:

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• The value of our investment portfolio has been materially affected in the past by changes in market conditions which resulted in substantial changes in realized and/or unrealized losses. Future adverse capital market conditions could result in additional realized and/or unrealized losses.

• Changes in interest rates also affect our investment portfolio. In periods of increasing interest rates, life insurance policy loans, surrenders and withdrawals could increase as policyholders seek higher returns. This could require us to sell invested assets at a time when their prices may be depressed by the increase in interest rates, which could cause us to realize investment losses. Conversely, during periods of declining interest rates, we could experience increased premium payments on products with flexible premium features, repayment of policy loans and increased percentages of policies remaining inforce. We could obtain lower returns on investments made with these cash flows. In addition, prepayment rates on investments may increase so that we might have to reinvest those proceeds in lower-yielding investments. As a consequence of these factors, we could experience a decrease in the spread between the returns on our investment portfolio and amounts to be credited to policyholders and contractholders, which could adversely affect our profitability. Further, reductions in interest rates could result in an acceleration of the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and the present value of future profits and a reduction in our projected loss recognition testing margins.

• The attractiveness of certain of our insurance products may decrease because they are linked to the equity markets and assessments of our financial strength, resulting in lower profits. Increasing consumer concerns about the returns and features of our insurance products or our financial strength may cause existing customers to surrender policies or withdraw assets, and diminish our ability to sell policies and attract assets from new and existing customers, which would result in lower sales and fee revenues.

Claims experience on our long-term care products could negatively impact our operations if actual experience diverges from historical patterns and our expectations.

In setting premium rates, we consider historical claims information and other factors, but we cannot predict future claims with certainty. This is particularly applicable to our long-term care insurance products, for which historical claims experience may not be indicative of future experience. Long-term care products tend to have fewer claims than other health products such as Medicare supplement products, but when claims are incurred, they tend to be much higher in dollar amount and longer in duration. Also, long-term care claims are incurred much later in the life of the policy than most other supplemental health products. As a result of these traits, it is difficult to appropriately price this product. For our long-term care insurance, actual persistency in later policy durations that is higher than our persistency assumptions could have a negative impact on profitability. If these policies remain inforce longer than we assumed, then we could be required to make greater benefit payments than anticipated when the products were priced. Mortality is a critical factor influencing the length of time a claimant receives long-term care benefits. Mortality continues to improve for the general population. Improvements in actual mortality compared to our pricing assumptions have adversely affected the profitability of long-term care products and if such trends continue, further losses may be realized.

Our Bankers Life segment has offered long-term care insurance since 1985. In recent years, the claims experience and persistency on the long-term care block in the Long-term care in run-off segment and a portion of the Bankers Life long-term care block have generally been higher than our pricing expectations which has resulted in higher benefit ratios and adversely affected our profitability. While we have received regulatory approvals for numerous premium rate increases in recent years pertaining to these blocks, there can be no assurance that future requests will be approved. Even with the rate increases that have been approved, these blocks experienced benefit ratios well in excess of 100 percent. For example, for 2018, 2017 and 2016, the annual benefit ratios in the Bankers Life segment ranged from 113.9 percent to 119.0 percent and the annual benefit ratios on the long-term care block in the Long-term care in run-off segment ranged from 163.6 percent to 182.8 percent.

The results of operations of our insurance business will decline if our premium rates are not adequate or if we are unable to increase rates.

We set the premium rates on our health insurance policies based on facts and circumstances known at the time we issue the policies and on assumptions about numerous variables, including the actuarial probability of a policyholder incurring a claim, the probable size of the claim, maintenance costs to administer the policies and the interest rate earned on our investment of premiums. In setting premium rates, we consider historical claims information, industry statistics, the rates of our competitors and other factors, but we cannot predict with certainty the future actual claims on our products. If our actual claims

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experience proves to be less favorable than we assumed and we are unable to raise our premium rates to the extent necessary to offset the unfavorable claims experience, our financial results will be adversely affected.

We review the adequacy of our premium rates regularly and file proposed rate increases on our health insurance products when we believe existing premium rates are too low. It is possible that we will not be able to obtain approval for premium rate increases from currently pending or future requests. If we are unable to raise our premium rates because we fail to obtain approval in one or more states, our financial results will be adversely affected. Moreover, in some instances, our ability to exit unprofitable lines of business is limited by the guaranteed renewal feature of most of our insurance policies. Due to this feature, we cannot exit such lines of business without regulatory approval, and accordingly, we may be required to continue to service those products at a loss for an extended period of time.

If we are successful in obtaining regulatory approval to raise premium rates, the increased premium rates may reduce the volume of our new sales and cause existing policyholders to allow their policies to lapse. This could result in a significantly higher ratio of claim costs to premiums if healthier policyholders allow their policies to lapse, while policies of less healthy policyholders continue inforce. This would reduce our premium income and profitability in future periods.

Our Medicare supplement health policies allow us to increase premium rates when warranted by our actual claims experience. These rate increases must be approved by the applicable state insurance departments, and we are required to submit actuarial claims data to support the need for such rate increases. The re-rate application and approval process on Medicare supplement health products is a normal recurring part of our business operations and reasonable rate increases are typically approved by the state departments as long as they are supported by actual claims experience and are not unusually large in either dollar amount or percentage increase. For policy types on which rate increases are a normal recurring event, our estimates of insurance liabilities assume we will be able to raise rates if experience on the blocks warrants such increases in the future.

As a result of higher persistency and resultant higher claims in our long-term care block in the Bankers Life segment than assumed in the original pricing, our premium rates were too low. Accordingly, we have been seeking approval from regulatory authorities for rate increases on portions of this business. Many of the rate increases have been approved by regulators and implemented, but it has become increasingly difficult to receive regulatory approval for the premium rate increases we have sought. If we are unable to obtain pending or future rate increases, the profitability of these policies and the performance of this block of business will be adversely affected. Most of our long-term care business is guaranteed renewable, and, if necessary rate increases are not approved, we would be required to recognize a loss and establish a premium deficiency reserve.

In some cases, we offer long-term care policyholders the opportunity to reduce their coverage amounts or accept non-forfeiture benefits as alternatives to increasing their premium rates. The financial impact of these alternatives could also result in policyholder anti-selection, meaning that policyholders who are less likely to incur claims may reduce their benefits, while policyholders who are more likely to incur claims may maintain full coverage and accept their rate increase.

Our reserves for future insurance policy benefits and claims may prove to be inadequate, requiring us to increase liabilities which results in reduced net income and shareholders' equity.

Liabilities for insurance products are calculated using management's best judgments, based on our past experience and standard actuarial tables of mortality, morbidity, lapse rates, investment experience and expense levels. For our health insurance business, we establish an active life reserve; a liability for due and unpaid claims, claims in the course of settlement and incurred but not reported claims; and a reserve for the present value of amounts on incurred claims not yet due. We establish reserves based on assumptions and estimates of factors either established at the Effective Date for business inforce or considered when we set premium rates for business written after that date.

Many factors can affect these reserves and liabilities, such as economic and social conditions, inflation, hospital and pharmaceutical costs, changes in life expectancy, regulatory actions, changes in doctrines of legal liability and extra-contractual damage awards. Therefore, the reserves and liabilities we establish are necessarily based on estimates, assumptions, industry data and prior years' statistics. It is possible that actual claims will materially exceed our reserves and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We have incurred significant losses beyond our estimates as a result of actual claim costs and persistency of our long-term care business included in our Bankers Life and Long-term care in run-off segments. The insurance policy benefits incurred for our long-term care products in our Bankers Life segment were $304.3 million, $302.4 million and $298.7 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The benefit ratios for our long-term care products in our Bankers Life segment were 119.0 percent, 116.2 percent and 113.9 percent in 2018, 2017 and 2016,

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respectively. The insurance policy benefits incurred for our long-term care products in our Long-term care in run-off segment were $271.3 million, $344.2 million and $355.0 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The benefit ratios for our long-term care products in our Long-term care in run-off segment were 182.8 percent, 163.6 percent and 166.1 percent in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our financial performance depends significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims experience and future expenses are consistent with the assumptions we used in setting our reserves. If our future claims are higher than our assumptions, and our reserves prove to be insufficient to cover our actual losses and expenses, we would be required to increase our liabilities, and our financial results could be adversely affected.

We may be required to accelerate the amortization of deferred acquisition costs or the present value of future profits or establish premium deficiency reserves.

Deferred acquisition costs represent incremental direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. The present value of future profits represents the value assigned to the right to receive future cash flows from contracts existing at the Effective Date. The balances of these accounts are amortized over the expected lives of the underlying insurance contracts. On an ongoing basis, we test these accounts recorded on our balance sheet to determine if these amounts are recoverable under current assumptions. In addition, we regularly review the estimates and assumptions underlying these accounts for those products for which we amortize deferred acquisition costs or the present value of future profits in proportion to gross profits or gross margins. If facts and circumstances change, these tests and reviews could lead to reduction in the balance of those accounts, and the establishment of a premium deficiency reserve. Such results could have an adverse effect on the results of our operations and our financial condition. See "Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Critical Accounting Policies, Present Value of Future Profits and Deferred Acquisition Costs."

Our operating results may suffer if policyholder surrender levels differ significantly from our assumptions.

Surrenders of our annuities and life insurance products can result in losses and decreased revenues if surrender levels differ significantly from assumed levels. At December 31, 2018, approximately 22 percent of our total insurance liabilities, or approximately $5.2 billion, could be surrendered by the policyholder without penalty. The surrender charges that are imposed on our fixed rate annuities typically decline during a penalty period, which ranges from five to twelve years after the date the policy is issued. Surrender charges are eliminated after the penalty period. Surrenders and redemptions could require us to dispose of assets earlier than we had planned, possibly at a loss. Moreover, surrenders and redemptions require faster amortization of either the acquisition costs or the commissions associated with the original sale of a product, thus reducing our net income. We believe policyholders are generally more likely to surrender their policies if they believe the issuer is having financial difficulties, or if they are able to reinvest the policy's value at a higher rate of return in an alternative insurance or investment product.

Changing interest rates may adversely affect our results of operations.

Our profitability is affected by fluctuating interest rates. While we monitor the interest rate environment and employ asset/liability and hedging strategies to mitigate such impact, our financial results could be adversely affected by changes in interest rates. Our spread-based insurance and annuity business is subject to several inherent risks arising from movements in interest rates. First, interest rate changes can cause compression of our net spread between interest earned on investments and interest credited to customer deposits. Our ability to adjust for such a compression is limited by the guaranteed minimum rates that we must credit to policyholders on certain products, as well as the terms on most of our other products that limit reductions in the crediting rates to pre-established intervals. As of December 31, 2018, the vast majority of our products with contractual guaranteed minimum rates had crediting rates set at the minimum. In addition, approximately 19 percent of our insurance liabilities were subject to interest rates that may be reset annually; 51 percent had a fixed explicit interest rate for the duration of the contract; 28 percent had credited rates that approximate the income we earn; and the remainder had no explicit interest rates. Second, if interest rate changes produce an unanticipated increase in surrenders of our spread-based products, we may be forced to sell invested assets at a loss in order to fund such surrenders. Third, the profits from many non-spread-based insurance products, such as long-term care policies, can be adversely affected when interest rates decline because we may be unable to reinvest the cash from premiums received at the interest rates anticipated when we sold the policies. Finally, changes in interest rates can have significant effects on the fair value and performance of our investments in general such as the timing of cash flows on many structured securities due to changes in the prepayment rate of the loans underlying such securities.

We employ asset/liability strategies that are designed to mitigate the effects of interest rate changes on our profitability but do not currently extensively employ derivative instruments for this purpose. We may not be successful in implementing these strategies and sustaining adequate investment spreads.

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We simulate our cash flows expected from existing business under various interest rate scenarios. With such estimates, we actively manage the relationship between the duration of our assets and the expected duration of our liabilities. When the estimated durations of assets and liabilities are similar, the effect of changes in market interest rates shall have largely offsetting effects on the value of the related assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2018, the estimated durations of our fixed income securities (as modified to reflect estimated prepayments and call premiums) and insurance liabilities were approximately 8.6 years and 8.4 years, respectively. We estimate that our fixed maturity securities and short-term investments, net of corresponding changes in insurance acquisition costs, would decline in fair value by approximately $345 million if interest rates were to increase by 10 percent from rates as of December 31, 2018. Our simulations incorporate numerous assumptions, require significant estimates and assume an immediate change in interest rates without any management reaction to such change. Consequently, potential changes in the values of our financial instruments indicated by the simulations will likely be different from the actual changes experienced under given interest rate scenarios, and the differences may be material. Because we actively manage our investments and liabilities, our net exposure to interest rates can vary over time.

Additionally, on July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom's ("U.K.") Financial Conduct Authority announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of the LIBOR rates after 2021, which is expected to result in these widely used reference rates no longer being available. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any such changes, any establishment of alternative reference rates or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the U.K. or elsewhere. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential changes, alternative reference rates or other reforms may adversely affect the trading market for LIBOR-based securities, including those held in our investment portfolio. Also, some of our liabilities reference LIBOR including our revolving credit agreement, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and borrowings related to VIEs.

General market conditions affect investments and investment income.

The performance of our investment portfolio depends in part upon the level of and changes in interest rates, risk spreads, real estate values, market volatility, the performance of the economy in general, the performance of the specific obligors included in our portfolio and other factors that are beyond our control. Changes in these factors can affect our net investment income in any period, and such changes can be substantial.

Financial market conditions can also affect our realized and unrealized investment gains (losses). During periods of rising interest rates, the fair values of our investments will typically decline. Conversely, during periods of falling interest rates, the fair values of our investments will typically rise.

We use derivatives in an effort to hedge higher potential returns to our fixed index annuity policyholders based on the increase in the value of a particular index. For derivative positions we hold that are in-the-money, we are exposed to credit risk in the event of default of our counterparty.

In addition, our investment borrowings from the FHLB are secured by collateral, the fair value of which can be significantly impacted by general market conditions. If the fair value of pledged collateral falls below specific levels, we would be required to pledge additional eligible collateral or repay all or a portion of the investment borrowings.

We face risk with respect to our reinsurance agreements.

We transfer exposure to certain risks to others through reinsurance arrangements. Under these arrangements, other insurers assume a portion of our losses and expenses associated with reported and unreported claims in exchange for a portion of policy premiums. The availability, amount and cost of reinsurance depend on general market conditions and may vary significantly. As of December 31, 2018, our reinsurance receivables and ceded life insurance inforce totaled $4.9 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively. Our six largest reinsurers accounted for 94 percent of our ceded life insurance inforce. We face credit risk with respect to reinsurance. When we obtain reinsurance, we are still liable for those transferred risks even if the reinsurer defaults on its obligations. The failure, insolvency, inability or unwillingness of one or more of the Company's reinsurers to perform in accordance with the terms of its reinsurance agreement could negatively impact our earnings or financial position.

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Our investment portfolio is subject to several risks that may diminish the value of our invested assets and negatively impact our profitability, our financial condition and our liquidity.

The value of our investment portfolio is subject to numerous factors, which may be difficult to predict, and are often beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• changes in interest rates and credit spreads, which can reduce the value of our investments as further discussed in the risk factor entitled "Changing interest rates may adversely affect our results of operations";

• changes in patterns of relative liquidity in the capital markets for various asset classes;

• changes in the perceived or actual ability of issuers to make timely repayments, which can reduce the value of our investments. This risk is significantly greater with respect to below-investment grade securities, which comprised 12 percent of the cost basis of our available for sale fixed maturity investments as of December 31, 2018; and

• changes in the estimated timing of receipt of cash flows. For example, our structured securities, which comprised 28 percent of our available for sale fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2018, are subject to variable prepayment on the assets underlying such securities, such as mortgage loans. When asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (collectively referred to as "structured securities") prepay faster than expected, investment income may be adversely affected due to the acceleration of the amortization of purchase premiums or the inability to reinvest at comparable yields in lower interest rate environments.

We have recorded writedowns of fixed maturity investments, equity securities and other invested assets as a result of conditions which caused us to conclude a decline in the fair value of the investment was other than temporary as follows: $2.6 million in 2018; $22.8 million in 2017; and $32.3 million in 2016 ($35.9 million, prior to the $3.6 million of impairment losses recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income). Our investment portfolio is subject to the risks of further declines in realizable value. However, we attempt to mitigate this risk through the diversification and active management of our portfolio.

In the event of substantial product surrenders or policy claims, we may be required to sell assets at a loss, thereby eroding the performance of our portfolio.

Because a substantial portion of our operating results are derived from returns on our investment portfolio, significant losses in the portfolio may have a direct and materially adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, losses on our investment portfolio could reduce the investment returns that we are able to credit to our customers of certain products, thereby impacting our sales and eroding our financial performance. Investment losses may also reduce the capital of our insurance subsidiaries, which may cause us to make additional capital contributions to those subsidiaries or may limit the ability of the insurance subsidiaries to make dividend payments to CNO.

Deteriorating financial performance of securities collateralized by mortgage loans and commercial mortgage loans may lead to writedowns, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in mortgage delinquency or recovery rates, declining real estate prices, challenges to the validity of foreclosures and the quality of service provided by service providers on securities in our portfolios could impact the value of our investments and such changes, if material, could lead us to determine that writedowns are appropriate.

The determination of the amount of realized investment losses recorded as impairments of our investments is highly subjective and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

The determination of realized investment losses recorded as impairments is based upon our ongoing evaluation and assessment of known risks. We consider a wide range of factors about the investment and use our best judgment in evaluating the cause of a decline in estimated fair value and in assessing prospects for recovery. Inherent in our evaluation are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. We update our evaluations regularly and reflect losses from impairments in operating results as such evaluations are revised. Our assessment of whether unrealized losses are other-than-temporary impairments requires significant judgment and future events may occur, or additional

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information may become available, which may necessitate changes in our ongoing assessments which may impact the level of future impairments of securities in our portfolio. Historical trends may not be indicative of future other-than-temporary impairments.

The determination of fair value of our fixed maturity securities results in unrealized investment gains and losses and is, in some cases, highly subjective and could materially impact our operating results and financial condition.

In determining fair value, we generally utilize market transaction data for the same or similar instruments. The degree of management judgment involved in determining fair values is inversely related to the availability of market observable information. Since significant observable market inputs are not available for certain securities, it may be difficult to value them. The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities may differ from the amount actually received to sell an asset or the amount paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Moreover, the use of different valuation assumptions may have a material effect on the fair values of the financial assets and financial liabilities. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, our total unrealized net investment gains before adjustments for insurance intangibles and deferred income taxes were $.3 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively.

Concentration of our investment portfolio in any particular sector of the economy or type of asset may have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

The concentration of our investment portfolio in any particular industry, group of related industries, asset classes (such as residential mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities), or geographic area could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. While we seek to mitigate this risk by having a broadly diversified portfolio, events or developments that have a negative impact on any particular industry, group of related industries or geographic area may have an adverse effect on the investment portfolio.

Our business is subject to extensive regulation, which limits our operating flexibility and could result in our insurance subsidiaries being placed under regulatory control or otherwise negatively impact our financial results.

Our insurance business is subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which we operate. See "Business of CNO - Governmental Regulation." Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to state insurance laws that establish supervisory agencies. The regulations issued by state insurance agencies can be complex and subject to differing interpretations. If a state insurance regulatory agency determines that one of our insurance company subsidiaries is not in compliance with applicable regulations, the subsidiary is subject to various potential administrative remedies including, without limitation, monetary penalties, restrictions on the subsidiary's ability to do business in that state and a return of a portion of policyholder premiums. In addition, regulatory action or investigations could cause us to suffer significant reputational harm, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our insurance subsidiaries are required to comply with statutory accounting principles ("SAP"). SAP (including principles that impact the calculation of RBC and our insurance liabilities) are subject to continued review by the NAIC in an effort to address emerging issues and improve financial reporting. Various proposals are currently being considered by the NAIC, some of which, if enacted, would negatively impact our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to RBC requirements. These requirements were designed to evaluate the adequacy of statutory capital and surplus in relation to investment and insurance risks associated with asset quality, mortality and morbidity, asset and liability matching and other business factors. The requirements are used by states as an early warning tool to discover companies that may be weakly-capitalized for the purpose of initiating regulatory action. Generally, if an insurer's RBC ratio falls below specified levels, the insurer is subject to different degrees of regulatory action depending upon the magnitude of the deficiency. The 2018 statutory annual statements of each of our insurance subsidiaries reflect RBC ratios in excess of the levels that would subject our insurance subsidiaries to any regulatory action.

In addition to the RBC requirements, certain states have established minimum capital requirements for insurance companies licensed to do business in their state. These regulators have the discretionary authority, in connection with the continual licensing of the Company's insurance subsidiaries, to limit or prohibit writing new business within its jurisdiction when, in the state's judgment, the insurance subsidiary is not maintaining adequate statutory surplus or capital or that the insurance subsidiary's further transaction of business would be hazardous to policyholders. The state insurance department rules provide several standards for the regulators to use in identifying companies which may be deemed to be in hazardous financial condition. One of the standards defines hazardous conditions as existing if an insurer's operating loss in the last twelve months or any shorter period of time, (including, but not limited to: (A) net capital gain or loss; (B) change in nonadmitted

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assets; and (C) cash dividends paid to shareholders), is greater than fifty percent of the insurer's remaining surplus. All of our insurance subsidiaries currently exceed these standards, if applicable.

Our broker-dealer and investment advisor subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision by the SEC, FINRA and certain state regulatory bodies. The SEC, FINRA and other governmental agencies, as well as state securities commissions, may examine or investigate the activities of broker-dealers and investment advisors. These examinations or investigations often focus on the activities of the registered representatives and registered investment advisors doing business through such entities and the entities' supervision of those persons. It is possible that any examination or investigation could lead to enforcement action by the regulator and/or may result in payments of fines and penalties, payments to customers, or both, as well as changes in systems or procedures of such entities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

Furthermore, the SEC is reviewing the standard of conduct applicable to broker-dealers and investment advisors when those entities provide personalized investment advice about securities to retail customers. FINRA has also issued a report addressing how its member firms might identify and address conflicts of interest including conflicts related to the introduction of new products and services and the compensation of the member firms' associated persons. These regulatory initiatives could have an impact on Company operations and the manner in which broker-dealers and investment advisors distribute the Company's products.

Volatility in the securities markets, and other economic factors, may adversely affect our business, particularly our sales of certain life insurance products and annuities.

Fluctuations in the securities markets and other economic factors may adversely affect sales and/or policy surrenders of our annuities and life insurance policies. For example, volatility in the equity markets may deter potential purchasers from investing in fixed index annuities and may cause current policyholders to surrender their policies for the cash value or to reduce their investments. In addition, significant or unusual volatility in the general level of interest rates could negatively impact sales and/or lapse rates on certain types of insurance products.

Litigation and regulatory investigations are inherent in our business, may harm our financial condition and reputation, and may negatively impact our financial results.

Insurance companies historically have been subject to substantial litigation. In addition to the traditional policy claims associated with their businesses, insurance companies like ours face class action suits and derivative suits from policyholders and/or shareholders. We also face significant risks related to regulatory investigations and proceedings. The litigation and regulatory matters we are, have been, or may become, subject to include matters related to the classification of our career agents as independent contractors, sales, marketing and underwriting practices, payment of contingent or other sales commissions, claim payments and procedures, product design, product disclosure, administration, additional premium charges for premiums paid on a periodic basis, calculation of cost of insurance charges, changes to certain non-guaranteed policy features, denial or delay of benefits, charging excessive or impermissible fees on products, procedures related to canceling policies and recommending unsuitable products to customers. Certain of our insurance policies allow or require us to make changes based on experience to certain non-guaranteed elements ("NGEs") such as cost of insurance charges, expense loads, credited interest rates and policyholder bonuses. We intend to make changes to certain NGEs in the future. In some instances in the past, such action has resulted in litigation and similar litigation may arise in the future. Our exposure (including the potential adverse financial consequences of delays or decisions not to pursue changes to certain NGEs), if any, arising from any such action cannot presently be determined. Our pending legal and regulatory proceedings include matters that are specific to us, as well as matters faced by other insurance companies. State insurance departments have focused and continue to focus on sales, marketing and claims payment practices and product issues in their market conduct examinations. Negotiated settlements of class action and other lawsuits have had a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of CNO and our insurance subsidiaries.

We are, in the ordinary course of our business, a plaintiff or defendant in actions arising out of our insurance business, including class actions and reinsurance disputes, and, from time to time, we are also involved in various governmental and administrative proceedings and investigations and inquiries such as information requests, subpoenas and books and record examinations, from state, federal and other authorities. Recently, we and other insurance companies have been the subject of regulatory examinations regarding compliance with state unclaimed property laws. Such examinations have included inquiries related to the use of data available on the U.S. Social Security Administration's Death Master File to identify instances where benefits under life insurance policies, annuities and retained asset accounts are payable. It is possible that such examination or other regulatory inquiries may result in payments to beneficiaries, escheatment of funds deemed abandoned under state laws

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and changes to procedures for the identification and escheatment of abandoned property. See the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings." The ultimate outcome of these lawsuits, regulatory proceedings and investigations cannot be predicted with certainty. In the event of an unfavorable outcome in one or more of these matters, the ultimate liability may be in excess of liabilities we have established and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We could also suffer significant reputational harm as a result of such litigation, regulatory proceedings or investigations, including harm flowing from actual or threatened revocation of licenses to do business, regulator actions to assert supervision or control over our business, and other sanctions which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Managing operational risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss to us.

We are subject to operational risks including, among other things, fraud, errors, failure to document transactions properly or to obtain proper internal authorization, failure to comply with regulatory requirements or obligations under our agreements, information technology failures including cyber security attacks and failure of our service providers (such as investment custodians and information technology and policyholder service providers) to comply with our services agreements. The associates and agents who conduct our business, including executive officers and other members of management, sales managers, investment professionals, product managers, sales agents and other associates, do so in part by making decisions and choices that involve exposing us to risk. These include decisions involving numerous business activities such as setting underwriting guidelines, product design and pricing, investment purchases and sales, reserve setting, claim processing, policy administration and servicing, financial and tax reporting and other activities, many of which are very complex.

We seek to monitor and control our exposure to risks arising out of these activities through a risk control framework encompassing a variety of reporting systems, internal controls, management review processes and other mechanisms. However, these processes and procedures may not effectively control all known risks or effectively identify unforeseen risks. Management of operational risks can fail for a number of reasons including design failure, systems failure, cyber security attacks, human error or unlawful activities. If our controls are not effective or properly implemented, we could suffer financial or other loss, disruption of our business, regulatory sanctions or damage to our reputation. Losses resulting from these failures may have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

The occurrence of natural or man-made disasters or a pandemic could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We are exposed to various risks arising out of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, and man-made disasters, including acts of terrorism and military actions and pandemics. For example, a natural or man-made disaster or a pandemic could lead to unexpected changes in persistency rates as policyholders and contractholders who are affected by the disaster may be unable to meet their contractual obligations, such as payment of premiums on our insurance policies and deposits into our investment products. In addition, such a disaster or pandemic could also significantly increase our mortality and morbidity experience above the assumptions we used in pricing our products. The continued threat of terrorism and ongoing military actions may cause significant volatility in global financial markets, and a natural or man-made disaster or a pandemic could trigger an economic downturn in the areas directly or indirectly affected by the disaster or pandemic. These consequences could, among other things, result in a decline in business and increased claims from those areas. Disasters or a pandemic also could disrupt public and private infrastructure, including communications and financial services, which could disrupt our normal business operations.

A natural or man-made disaster or a pandemic could also disrupt the operations of our counterparties or result in increased prices for the products and services they provide to us. For example, a natural or man-made disaster or a pandemic could lead to increased reinsurance prices and potentially cause us to retain more risk than we otherwise would retain if we were able to obtain reinsurance at lower prices. In addition, a disaster or a pandemic could adversely affect the value of the assets in our investment portfolio if it affects companies' ability to pay principal or interest on their securities.

Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, could harm our business.

We depend heavily on our telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data we use to run our businesses and service our customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances which may be wholly or partly beyond our control. Further, we face the risk of operational and technology failures by others, including financial intermediaries, vendors and parties that provide services to us. If these parties do not perform as anticipated, we may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and

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other adverse effects on our business. Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, our information technology and other systems have been and may continue to be subject to attacks and unauthorized access, such as physical or electronic break-ins, unauthorized tampering or other security breaches, which could in turn compromise the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal financial and health information relating to customers. There can be no assurance that a future breach will not occur or, if any does occur, that it can be promptly detected and sufficiently remediated without materially impacting our business or our operations. 

Interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, whether due to actions by us or others, could delay or disrupt our ability to do business and service our customers, harm our reputation, subject us to litigation, regulatory sanctions and other claims, require us to incur significant expenses, lead to a loss of customers and revenues and otherwise adversely affect our business. Depending on the nature of the information compromised, in the event of a data breach or other unauthorized access to our customer data, we may also have obligations to notify customers about the incident and we may need to provide some form of remedy, such as a subscription to a credit monitoring service, for the individuals affected by the incident. A growing number of legislative and regulatory bodies have adopted consumer notification requirements in the event of unauthorized access to or acquisition of certain types of personal data. Such breach notification laws continue to evolve and may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another. Complying with these obligations could cause us to incur substantial costs (including fines) and could increase negative publicity surrounding any incident that compromises customer data. While we maintain insurance coverage that, subject to policy terms and conditions and a self-insured retention, is designed to address certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses or all types of claims that may arise in the continually evolving area of cyber risk.

Third parties to whom we outsource certain of our functions are also subject to the risks outlined above, and failures in their systems could adversely affect our business.

Our business could be interrupted or compromised if we experience difficulties arising from outsourcing relationships.

We outsource certain information technology and policy administration operations to third-party service providers. If we fail to maintain an effective outsourcing strategy or if third-party providers do not perform as contracted, we may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and a loss of business that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In the event that one or more of our third-party service providers becomes unable to continue to provide services, we may suffer financial loss and other negative consequences.

We have substantial indebtedness which may restrict our ability to take advantage of business, strategic or financing opportunities.

As of December 31, 2018, we had an aggregate principal amount of indebtedness of $925.0 million. Our indebtedness will require approximately $145 million in cash to service in 2019 (based on the principal amounts outstanding and applicable interest rates as of December 31, 2018). Our substantial indebtedness and the obligations under our debt agreements may restrict our ability to take advantage of business, strategic or financing opportunities.

In conjunction with the refinancing of its existing debt in 2015, the Company entered into a $150.0 million four-year unsecured revolving credit agreement on May 19, 2015, and made an initial drawing of $100.0 million, resulting in $50.0 million available for additional borrowings. On October 13, 2017, the Company entered into an amendment and restatement agreement (the "Amendment Agreement") with respect to its revolving credit agreement (as amended by the Amendment Agreement, the "Revolving Credit Agreement"). The Amendment Agreement, among other things, increased the total commitments available under the revolving credit facility from $150.0 million to $250.0 million, increased the aggregate amount of additional incremental loans the Company may incur from $50.0 million to $100.0 million and extended the maturity date of the revolving credit facility from May 19, 2019 to the earlier of October 13, 2022 and the date that is six months prior to the maturity date of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2020 (the "2020 Notes"), which is November 30, 2019. The amount drawn under the Revolving Credit Agreement continues to be $100.0 million. On May 19, 2015, the Company also issued $325.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2025 (together with the 2020 Notes, the "Notes"). The Revolving Credit Agreement contains various restrictive covenants and required financial ratios that we are required to meet or maintain and that will limit our operating flexibility. If we default under any of these covenants, the lenders could declare the outstanding principal amount of the loan, accrued and unpaid interest and all other amounts owing or payable thereunder to be immediately due and payable, which would have material

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adverse consequences to us. In such event, the holders of the Notes could elect to take similar action with respect to those debts. If that were to occur, we would not have sufficient liquidity to repay our indebtedness.

If we fail to pay interest or principal on our other indebtedness, including the Notes, we will be in default under the indenture governing such indebtedness, which could also lead to a default under agreements governing our existing and future indebtedness, including under the Revolving Credit Agreement. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we likely would not have sufficient funds to repay our indebtedness. Absent sufficient liquidity to repay our indebtedness, our management or our independent registered public accounting firm may conclude that there is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

The Revolving Credit Agreement and the Indenture for the Notes contain various restrictive covenants and required financial ratios that limit our operating flexibility. The violation of one or more loan covenant requirements will entitle our lenders to declare all outstanding amounts under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Notes to be due and payable.

Pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement, we agreed to a number of covenants and other provisions that restrict the Company's ability to borrow money and pursue some operating activities without the prior consent of the lenders. We also agreed to meet or maintain various financial ratios and balances. Our ability to meet these financial tests may be affected by events beyond our control. There are several conditions or circumstances that could lead to an event of default under the Revolving Credit Agreement, as described below.

The Revolving Credit Agreement contains certain financial, affirmative and negative covenants. The negative covenants in the Revolving Credit Agreement include restrictions that relate to, among other things and subject to customary baskets, exceptions and limitations for facilities of this type:

• subsidiary debt;

• liens;

• restrictive agreements;

• restricted payments during the continuance of an event of default;

• disposition of assets and sale and leaseback transactions;

• transactions with affiliates;

• change in business;

• fundamental changes;

• modification of certain agreements; and

• changes to fiscal year.

The Revolving Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain (each as calculated in accordance with the Revolving Credit Agreement): (i) a debt to total capitalization ratio of not more than 35.0 percent (30.0 percent prior to the Amendment Agreement) (such ratio was 22.5 percent at December 31, 2018); (ii) an aggregate ratio of total adjusted capital to company action level risk-based capital for the Company's insurance subsidiaries of not less than 250 percent (such ratio was estimated to be 393 percent at December 31, 2018); and (iii) a minimum consolidated net worth of not less than the sum of (x) $2,674 million plus (y) 50.0% of the net equity proceeds received by the Company from the issuance and sale of equity interests in the Company (the Company's consolidated net worth was $3,193.2 million at December 31, 2018 compared to the minimum requirement of $2,687.4 million).

The Revolving Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), which include, without limitation, the following:

• non-payment;

• breach of representations, warranties or covenants;

• cross-default and cross-acceleration;

• bankruptcy and insolvency events;

• judgment defaults;

• actual or asserted invalidity of documentation with respect to the Revolving Credit Agreement;

• change of control; and

• customary ERISA defaults.

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If an event of default under the Revolving Credit Agreement occurs and is continuing, KeyBank National Association (as the administrative agent) may accelerate the amounts and terminate all commitments outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

These covenants place significant restrictions on the manner in which we may operate our business and our ability to meet these financial covenants may be affected by events beyond our control. If we default under any of these covenants, the lenders could declare the outstanding principal amount of the loan, accrued and unpaid interest and all other amounts owing and payable thereunder to be immediately due and payable, which would have material adverse consequences to us. If the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement elect to accelerate the amounts due, the holders of the Notes could elect to take similar action with respect to those debts. If that were to occur, we would not have sufficient liquidity to repay our indebtedness.

The Indenture contains covenants that restrict the Company’s ability, with certain exceptions, to:

• incur certain subsidiary indebtedness without also guaranteeing the Notes;

• create liens;

• enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

• issue, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock of any Insurance Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture); and

• consolidate or merge with or into other companies or transfer all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

The Indenture provides for customary events of default (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), which include nonpayment, breach of covenants in the Indenture, failure to pay at maturity or acceleration of other indebtedness, a failure to pay certain judgments and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs, Wilmington Trust, National Association or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest, including any additional interest, on all of the Notes to be due and payable.

Our current credit ratings may adversely affect our ability to access capital and the cost of such capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our issuer credit and senior unsecured debt rating from all but one of the major rating agencies is below investment grade. If we were to require additional capital, either to refinance our existing indebtedness or for any other reason, our current senior unsecured debt ratings, as well as conditions in the credit markets generally, could restrict our access to such capital and adversely affect its cost. Disruptions, volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets, and our below investment grade rating could limit our ability to access external capital markets at times and on terms which allow us to meet our capital and liquidity needs. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity of the Holding Companies" for more information.

CNO is a holding company and its liquidity and ability to meet its obligations may be constrained by the ability of CNO's insurance subsidiaries to distribute cash to it.

CNO and CDOC, Inc. ("CDOC") are holding companies with no business operations of their own. CNO and CDOC depend on their operating subsidiaries for cash to make principal and interest payments on debt and to pay administrative expenses and income taxes. CNO and CDOC receive cash from our insurance subsidiaries, consisting of dividends and distributions, principal and interest payments on surplus debentures and tax-sharing payments, as well as cash from their non-insurance subsidiaries consisting of dividends, distributions, loans and advances. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of these significant subsidiaries for any reason could hinder the ability of such subsidiaries to pay cash dividends or other disbursements to CNO and/or CDOC, which would limit our ability to meet our debt service requirements and satisfy other financial obligations. In addition, CNO may elect to contribute additional capital to certain insurance subsidiaries to strengthen their surplus for covenant compliance or regulatory purposes (including, for example, maintaining adequate RBC level) or to provide the capital necessary for growth, in which case it is less likely that its insurance subsidiaries would pay dividends to the holding company. Accordingly, this could limit CNO's ability to meet debt service requirements and satisfy other holding company financial obligations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity of the Holding Companies" for more information.

CNO receives dividends and other payments from CDOC and from certain non-insurance subsidiaries. CDOC receives dividends and surplus debenture interest payments from our insurance subsidiaries and payments from certain of our non-insurance subsidiaries. Payments from our non-insurance subsidiaries to CNO or CDOC, and payments from CDOC to CNO, do not require approval by any regulatory authority or other third party. However, the payment of dividends or surplus

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debenture interest by our insurance subsidiaries to CDOC is subject to state insurance department regulations and may be prohibited by insurance regulators if they determine that such dividends or other payments could be adverse to our policyholders or contract holders. Insurance regulations generally permit dividends to be paid from statutory earned surplus of the insurance company without regulatory approval for any 12-month period in amounts equal to the greater of (or in some states, the lesser of):

• statutory net gain from operations or statutory net income for the prior year, or

• 10 percent of statutory capital and surplus as of the end of the preceding year.

However, as each of the immediate insurance subsidiaries of CDOC has negative earned surplus, any dividend payments from the insurance subsidiaries to CNO require the prior approval of the director or commissioner of the applicable state insurance department. In 2018, our insurance subsidiaries paid dividends of $213.9 million to CDOC. CNO expects to receive regulatory approval for future dividends from our insurance subsidiaries, but there can be no assurance that such payments will be approved or that the financial condition of our insurance subsidiaries will not deteriorate, making future approvals less likely.

CDOC holds surplus debentures from Conseco Life Insurance Company of Texas ("CLTX") with an aggregate principal amount of $749.6 million.  Interest payments on those surplus debentures do not require additional approval provided the RBC ratio of CLTX exceeds 100 percent (but do require prior written notice to the Texas state insurance department).  The estimated RBC ratio of CLTX was 329 percent at December 31, 2018.  CDOC also holds a surplus debenture from Colonial Penn with a principal balance of $160.0 million. Interest payments on that surplus debenture require prior approval by the Pennsylvania state insurance department. Dividends and other payments from our non-insurance subsidiaries, including 40|86 Advisors and CNO Services, LLC ("CNO Services"), to CNO or CDOC do not require approval by any regulatory authority or other third party.  However, insurance regulators may prohibit payments by our insurance subsidiaries to parent companies if they determine that such payments could be adverse to our policyholders or contractholders.

In addition, although we are under no obligation to do so, we may elect to contribute additional capital to strengthen the surplus of certain insurance subsidiaries for covenant compliance or regulatory purposes or to provide the capital necessary for growth. Any election regarding the contribution of additional capital to our insurance subsidiaries could affect the ability of our top tier insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is also impacted by various criteria established by rating agencies to maintain or receive higher financial strength ratings and by the capital levels that we target for our insurance subsidiaries, as well as the RBC compliance requirements under the Revolving Credit Agreement. CDOC made a capital contribution of $265.0 million to its insurance subsidiaries in 2018.

In addition, Washington National may not distribute funds to any affiliate or shareholder, except pursuant to agreements with affiliates that have been approved, without prior notice to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, in accordance with an order from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

We previously identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting which has been remediated, and our business may be adversely affected if we fail to maintain effective controls over financial reporting.

We have previously identified material weaknesses in internal controls which were subsequently remediated. We have emphasized the importance of performing and reviewing calculations consistent with the design of our internal control structure in an effort to ensure controls operate effectively.

We face the risk that, notwithstanding our efforts to date to identify and remedy the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, we may discover other material weaknesses in the future and the cost of remediating the material weakness could be high and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to use our existing NOLs may be limited by certain transactions, and an impairment of existing NOLs could result in a significant writedown in the value of our deferred tax assets, which could cause us to breach the debt to total capitalization covenant of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately $3.3 billion of federal tax NOLs resulting in deferred tax assets of approximately $.7 billion (of which $.5 billion expires in years 2023 through 2035 and $.2 billion has no expiration date). Section 382 of the Code imposes limitations on a corporation's ability to use its NOLs when it undergoes a 50 percent

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"ownership change" over a three year period. Although we underwent an ownership change in 2003 as the result of our reorganization, the timing and manner in which we will be able to utilize our NOLs is not currently limited by Section 382.

We regularly monitor ownership changes (as calculated for purposes of Section 382) based on available information and, as of December 31, 2018, our analysis indicated that we were below the 50 percent ownership change threshold that would limit our ability to utilize our NOLs. A future transaction or transactions and the timing of such transaction or transactions could trigger an ownership change under Section 382. Such transactions may include, but are not limited to, additional repurchases or issuances of common stock, acquisitions or sales of shares of CNO's stock by certain holders of its shares, including persons who have held, currently hold or may accumulate in the future 5 percent or more of CNO's outstanding common stock for their own account. In January 2009, CNO's Board of Directors adopted a Section 382 Rights Agreement designed to protect shareholder value by preserving the value of our NOLs. The Section 382 Rights Agreement has been amended and extended by the CNO Board of Directors on three occasions. The Amended Section 382 Rights Agreement provides a strong economic disincentive for any one shareholder knowingly, and without the approval of the Board of Directors, to become an owner of more than 4.99% of the Company's outstanding common stock (or any other interest in CNO that would be treated as "stock" under applicable Section 382 regulations) and for any owner of more than 4.99% of CNO's outstanding common stock as of the date of the Amended Section 382 Rights Agreement to increase their ownership stake by more than 1 percent of the shares of CNO's common stock then outstanding, and thus limits the uncertainty with regard to the potential for future ownership changes. However, despite the strong economic disincentives of the Amended Section 382 Rights Agreement, shareholders may elect to increase their ownership, including beyond the limits set by the Amended Section 382 Rights Agreement, and thus adversely affect CNO's ownership shift calculations. To further protect against the possibility of triggering an ownership change under Section 382, CNO's shareholders approved in 2010 an amendment to CNO's certificate of incorporation (the "Original Section 382 Charter Amendment") designed to prevent certain transfers of common stock which could otherwise adversely affect our ability to use our NOLs. CNO's shareholders approved amendments and extensions of the Original Section 382 Charter Amendment in 2013 and in 2016 (the "2016 Section 382 Charter Amendment"). The 2016 Section 382 Charter Amendment became effective July 31, 2016 and is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2019.

See the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Income Taxes" for further information regarding the Amended Section 382 Rights Agreement, the 2016 Section 382 Charter Amendment and CNO's NOLs.

If an ownership change were to occur for purposes of Section 382, we would be required to calculate an annual limitation on the use of our NOLs to offset future taxable income. The annual restriction would be calculated based upon the value of CNO's equity at the time of such ownership change, multiplied by a federal long-term tax exempt rate (2.51 percent at December 31, 2018), and the annual restriction could eliminate our ability to use a substantial portion of our NOLs to offset future taxable income. Additionally, the writedown of our deferred tax assets that would occur in the event of an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 could cause us to breach the debt to total capitalization covenant in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

The value of our deferred tax assets may be reduced to the extent our future profits are less than we have projected or the current corporate income tax rate is reduced, and such reductions in value may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our financial condition.

As of December 31, 2018, we had net deferred tax assets of $604.7 million. Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, capital loss carryforwards and NOLs. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets and assess the need for a valuation allowance on an ongoing basis. In evaluating our deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of our deferred tax assets depends upon generating sufficient future taxable income during the periods in which our temporary differences become deductible and before our capital loss carry-forwards and NOLs expire. Our assessment of the realizability of our deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. Failure to achieve our projections may result in an increase in the valuation allowance in a future period. Any future increase in the valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense which could have a material adverse effect upon our earnings in the future, and reduce shareholders' equity.

The value of our net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2018 reflects the current Federal corporate income tax rate of 21 percent. A reduction in the corporate income tax rate would cause a writedown of our net deferred tax assets, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

37

From time to time we may become subject to tax audits, tax litigation or similar proceedings, and as a result we may owe additional taxes, interest and penalties, or our NOLs may be reduced, in amounts that may be material.

In determining our provisions for income taxes and our accounting for tax-related matters in general, we are required to exercise judgment. We regularly make estimates where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The final determination of any tax audit, appeal of the decision of a taxing authority, tax litigation or similar proceedings may be materially different from that reflected in our financial statements. The assessment of additional taxes, interest and penalties could be materially adverse to our current and future results of operations and financial condition. See the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Income Taxes" for further information.

Our results of operations may be negatively impacted if our initiatives to restructure our insurance operations or our efforts to become more efficient are unsuccessful.

We have implemented or are in the process of implementing several initiatives to improve operating results, including: (i) focusing sales efforts on higher margin products; (ii) reducing operating expenses by eliminating or reducing marketing costs of certain products; (iii) streamlining administrative procedures and reducing personnel; (iv) using third party service providers to improve service and reduce expenses; and (v) increasing retention rates on our more profitable blocks of inforce business. Many of our initiatives address issues resulting from the substantial number of acquisitions of our Predecessor. Between 1982 and 1997, our Predecessor completed 19 transactions involving the acquisitions of 44 separate insurance companies. These prior acquisitions have contributed to the complexity and cost of our current administrative operating environment and make it challenging, in some instances, to operate our business within the expense levels assumed in the pricing of our products. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to become more efficient, our future earnings will be adversely affected.

In the event one or more of our third party service providers to whom we outsource certain of our functions becomes unable to continue to provide services or experiences a failure in their systems, our business could be adversely impacted.

Conversions to new systems can result in valuation differences between the prior system and the new system. We have recognized such differences in the past. Our planned conversions could result in future valuation adjustments, and these adjustments may have a material adverse effect on future earnings.

A decline in the current financial strength rating of our insurance subsidiaries could cause us to experience decreased sales, increased agent attrition and increased policyholder lapses and redemptions.

An important competitive factor for our insurance subsidiaries is the financial strength ratings they receive from nationally recognized rating organizations. Agents, insurance brokers and marketing companies who market our products and prospective purchasers of our products use the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries as an important factor in determining whether to market or purchase. Ratings have the most impact on our annuity, interest-sensitive life insurance and long-term care products.

The current financial strength ratings of our primary insurance subsidiaries from A.M. Best, Moody's, Fitch and S&P are "A-", "A3", "BBB+" and "BBB+", respectively.  A.M. Best has sixteen possible ratings.  There are three ratings above the "A-" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and twelve ratings that are below that rating. Moody's has twenty-one possible ratings.  There are six ratings above the "A3" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and fourteen ratings that are below that rating. Fitch has nineteen possible ratings. There are seven ratings above the "BBB+" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and eleven ratings that are below that rating. S&P has twenty-one possible ratings.  There are seven ratings above the "BBB+" rating of our primary insurance subsidiaries and thirteen ratings that are below that rating.

If our ratings are downgraded, we may experience declining sales of certain of our insurance products, defections of our independent and career sales force, and increased policies being redeemed or allowed to lapse. These events would adversely affect our financial results, which could then lead to ratings downgrades.

Competition from companies that have greater market share, higher ratings, greater financial resources and stronger brand recognition, may impair our ability to retain existing customers and sales representatives, attract new customers and sales representatives and maintain or improve our financial results.

The supplemental health insurance, annuity and individual life insurance markets are highly competitive. Competitors include other life and accident and health insurers, commercial banks, thrifts, mutual funds and broker-dealers.

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Our principal competitors vary by product line. Our main competitors for agent-sold long-term care insurance products include Northwestern Mutual, Mutual of Omaha and New York Life. Our main competitors for agent-sold Medicare supplement insurance products include Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, United HealthCare and Mutual of Omaha. Our main competitors for life insurance sold through direct marketing channels include Gerber Life, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life and subsidiaries of Torchmark Corporation. Our main competitors for supplemental health products sold through our Washington National segment include AFLAC, subsidiaries of Allstate, Colonial Life and Accident Company and subsidiaries of Torchmark Corporation.

In some of our product lines, such as life insurance and fixed annuities, we have a relatively small market share. Even in some of the lines in which we are one of the top writers, our market share is relatively small. For example, while, based on an Individual Long-Term Care Insurance Survey, our Bankers Life subsidiary ranked sixth in new annualized premiums of individual long-term care insurance in the first half of 2018 with a market share of approximately 7 percent, the top five writers of individual long-term care insurance had new annualized premiums with a combined market share of approximately 79 percent during the period. In addition, while, based on a 2017 Medicare Supplement Loss Ratios report, we ranked sixth in direct premiums earned for Medicare supplement insurance in 2017 with a market share of 2.7 percent, the top writer of Medicare supplement insurance had direct premiums with a market share of 35 percent during the period.

Most of our major competitors have higher financial strength ratings than we do. Many of our competitors are larger companies that have greater capital, technological and marketing resources and have access to capital at a lower cost. Recent industry consolidation, including business combinations among insurance and other financial services companies, has resulted in larger competitors with even greater financial resources. Furthermore, changes in federal law have narrowed the historical separation between banks and insurance companies, enabling traditional banking institutions to enter the insurance and annuity markets and further increase competition. This increased competition may harm our ability to maintain or improve our profitability.

In addition, because the actual cost of products is unknown when they are sold, we are subject to competitors who may sell a product at a price that does not cover its actual cost. Accordingly, if we do not also lower our prices for similar products, we may lose market share to these competitors. If we lower our prices to maintain market share, our profitability would decline.

The Colonial Penn segment has faced increased competition from other insurance companies who also distribute products through direct marketing. In addition, the demand and cost of television advertising appropriate for Colonial Penn's campaigns fluctuates from period to period and this will impact the average cost to generate a TV lead.

We must attract and retain sales representatives to sell our insurance and annuity products. Strong competition exists among insurance and financial services companies for sales representatives. We compete for sales representatives primarily on the basis of our financial position, financial strength ratings, support services, compensation, products and product features. Our competitiveness for such agents also depends upon the relationships we develop with these agents. Our Predecessor's bankruptcy continues to be an adverse factor in developing relationships with certain agents. If we are unable to attract and retain sufficient numbers of sales representatives to sell our products, our ability to compete and our revenues and profitability would suffer.

If we are unable to attract and retain agents and marketing organizations, sales of our products may be reduced.

Our products are marketed and distributed primarily through a dedicated field force of career agents and sales managers (in our Bankers Life segment) and through PMA and independent marketing organizations (in our Washington National segment). We must attract and retain agents, sales managers and independent marketing organizations to sell our products through those distribution channels. We compete with other insurance companies, financial services companies and other entities for agents and sales managers and for business through marketing organizations. If we are unable to attract and retain these agents, sales managers and marketing organizations, our ability to grow our business and generate revenues from new sales would suffer. In recent periods, our Bankers Life segment has faced challenges in retaining new agents, which has impacted sales of its products.

Federal and state legislation could adversely affect the financial performance of our insurance operations.

During recent years, the health insurance industry has experienced substantial changes, including those caused by healthcare legislation. Recent federal and state legislation and pending legislative proposals concerning healthcare reform

39

contain features that could severely limit, or eliminate, our ability to vary pricing terms or apply medical underwriting standards to individuals, thereby potentially increasing our benefit ratios and adversely impacting our financial results. In particular, Medicare reform could affect our ability to price or sell our products or profitably maintain our blocks inforce. For example, the Medicare Advantage program provides incentives for health plans to offer managed care plans to seniors. The growth of managed care plans under this program has decreased sales of the traditional Medicare supplement products we sell. Some current proposals contain government provided long-term care insurance which could affect the sales of our long-term care products.

Proposals currently pending in Congress and some state legislatures may also affect our financial results. These proposals include the implementation of minimum consumer protection standards in all long-term care policies, including: guaranteed premium rates; protection against inflation; limitations on waiting periods for pre-existing conditions; setting standards for sales practices for long-term care insurance; and guaranteed consumer access to information about insurers, including information regarding lapse and replacement rates for policies and the percentage of claims denied. Enactment of any proposal that would limit the amount we can charge for our products, such as guaranteed premium rates, or that would increase the benefits we must pay, such as limitations on waiting periods, or that would otherwise increase the costs of our business, could adversely affect our financial results.

The NAIC has developed a principle-based reserving approach for life insurance products which will replace the current formulaic approach to determining policy reserves with an approach that more closely reflects the risks of the products. The principle-based approach became effective on January 1, 2017, and there is a three-year transition period where the approach is optional until it is required to be used for all life insurance products issued on or after January 1, 2020. The new approach will impact the financial statements of our insurance subsidiaries prepared under statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. The Company is implementing the new approach to its reserves on new life insurance products as they are introduced through the transition period.

On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted and signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act made extensive changes to the laws regulating financial services firms and requires various federal agencies to adopt a broad range of new rules and regulations. Among other provisions, the Dodd-Frank Act provides for a new framework of regulation of over-the-counter derivatives markets. This requires us to clear certain types of transactions currently traded in the over-the-counter derivative markets and may limit our ability to customize derivative transactions for our needs. In addition, we will likely experience additional collateral requirements and costs associated with derivative transactions.

The Dodd-Frank Act also establishes a Financial Stability Oversight Council, which is authorized to subject nonbank financial companies deemed systemically significant to stricter prudential standards and other requirements and to subject such a company to a special orderly liquidation process outside the federal bankruptcy code, administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (although insurance company subsidiaries would remain subject to liquidation and rehabilitation proceedings under state law). In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act establishes a Federal Insurance Office within the Department of the Treasury. While not having a general supervisory or regulatory authority over the business of insurance, the director of this office will perform various functions with respect to insurance, including serving as a non-voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and making recommendations to the Council regarding insurers to be designated for more stringent regulation. The director is also required to conduct a study on how to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States, including by increased national uniformity through either a federal charter or effective action by the states.

Federal agencies have been given significant discretion in drafting the rules and regulations that will implement the Dodd-Frank Act. Consequently, many of the details and much of the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act may not be known for some time. In addition, this legislation mandated multiple studies and reports for Congress, which could result in additional legislative or regulatory action.

We cannot predict the requirements of the regulations ultimately adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act, the effect such regulations will have on financial markets generally, or on our businesses specifically, the additional costs associated with compliance with such regulations, or any changes to our operations that may be necessary to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Reinsurance may not be available, affordable or adequate to protect us against losses.

As part of our overall risk and capital management strategy, we have historically purchased reinsurance from external reinsurers as well as provided internal reinsurance support for certain risks underwritten by our business segments. The

40

availability and cost of reinsurance protection are impacted by our operating and financial performance as well as conditions beyond our control. For example, volatility in the equity markets and the related impacts on asset values required to fund liabilities may reduce the availability of certain types of reinsurance and make it more costly when it is available, as reinsurers are less willing to take on credit risk in a volatile market. Accordingly, we may be forced to incur additional expenses for reinsurance or may not be able to obtain sufficient new reinsurance on acceptable terms, which could adversely affect our ability to write future business or obtain statutory capital credit for new reinsurance.

Our insurance subsidiaries may be required to pay assessments to fund other companies' policyholder losses or liabilities and this may negatively impact our financial results.

The solvency or guaranty laws of most states in which an insurance company does business may require that company to pay assessments up to certain prescribed limits to fund policyholder losses or liabilities of other insurance companies that become insolvent. Insolvencies of insurance companies increase the possibility that these assessments may be required. These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer's financial strength and, in certain instances, may be offset against future premium taxes. We cannot estimate the likelihood and amount of future assessments. Although past assessments have not been material, if there were a number of large insolvencies, future assessments could be material and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial position.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property and may be subject to infringement claims.

We rely on a combination of contractual rights and copyright, trademark and trade secret laws to establish and protect our intellectual property. Although we use a broad range of measures to protect our intellectual property rights, third parties may infringe or misappropriate our intellectual property. We may have to litigate to enforce and protect our copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and know-how or to determine their scope, validity or enforceability, which represents a diversion of resources that may be significant in amount and may not prove successful. The loss of intellectual property protection or the inability to secure or enforce the protection of our intellectual property assets could adversely impact our business and its ability to compete effectively.

We also may be subject to costly litigation in the event that another party alleges our operations or activities infringe upon that party's intellectual property rights. We may also be subject to claims by third parties for breach of copyright, trademark, trade secret or license usage rights. Any such claims and any resulting litigation could result in significant expense and liability for damages or we could be enjoined from providing certain products or services to our customers or utilizing and benefiting from certain methods, processes, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets or licenses, or alternatively, we could be required to enter into costly licensing arrangements with third parties, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2.PROPERTIES.

Our headquarters and the administrative operations of our Washington National segment and certain administrative operations of our subsidiaries are located on a Company-owned corporate campus in Carmel, Indiana, immediately north of Indianapolis. We currently occupy five buildings on the campus with approximately 450,000 square feet of space.

Our Bankers Life segment is primarily administered from downtown Chicago, Illinois. We currently lease approximately 135,000 square feet of office space under an agreement which expires in 2023. We also lease 269 sales offices in various states totaling approximately 885,000 square feet. These leases generally are short-term in length, with remaining lease terms expiring between 2019 and 2025.

Our Colonial Penn segment is administered from a Company-owned office building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with approximately 127,000 square feet. We occupy approximately 45 percent of this space, with unused space leased to tenants.

Management believes that this office space is adequate for our needs.

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ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Information required for Item 3 is incorporated by reference to the discussion under the heading "Legal Proceedings" in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Litigation and Other Legal Proceedings" included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Officer	With CNO	Positions with CNO, Principal
Name and Age (a)	Since	Occupation and Business Experience (b)
Bruce Baude, 54	2012	Since July 2012, executive vice president, chief operations and technology officer. From 2008 to 2012, Mr. Baude was chief operating officer at Univita Health.
Gary C. Bhojwani, 51	2016	Since January 2018, chief executive officer. From April 2016 to December 2017, president of CNO.  From April 2015 until joining CNO, chief executive officer of GCB, LLC, an insurance and financial services consulting company that he founded.  Mr. Bhojwani served as a member of the board of management at Allianz SE, Chairman of Allianz of America, Allianz Life Insurance Company, and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company from 2012 to January 1, 2015. From 2007 to 2012, he served as president of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.
Yvonne K. Franzese, 60	2017	Since November 2017, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of CNO. From 2016 until joining CNO, chief human capital officer of TCF Bank. From 2007 to 2016, Ms. Franzese held various human resource positions at Allianz, including the chief human resources role for Allianz of North America.
Scott L. Goldberg, 48	2004	Since September 2013, president of Bankers Life.  Mr. Goldberg has held various other positions since joining CNO in 2004.
Michael D. Heard, 53	2013	Since March 2017, president of Washington National.  From 2013 to March 2017, senior vice president of enterprise operations for CNO.
Erik M. Helding, 46	2004	Since April 2016, executive vice president and chief financial officer.  From August 2012 to April 2016, senior vice president, treasury and investor relations.  Prior to August 2012, Mr. Helding was vice president, financial planning and analysis and he has held various finance positions since joining CNO in 2004.
Eric R. Johnson, 58	1997	Since September 2003, executive vice president and chief investment officer of CNO and president and chief executive officer of 40|86 Advisors, CNO's wholly-owned registered investment advisor. Since January 2018, executive in charge of corporate development activities. Mr. Johnson has held various investment management positions since joining CNO in 1997.
John R. Kline, 61	1990	Since July 2002, senior vice president and chief accounting officer. Mr. Kline has served in various accounting and finance capacities with CNO since 1990.
Gerardo Monroy, 51	2001	Since March 2017, chief marketing officer of CNO.  From August 2012 to March 2017, president of Colonial Penn.  Mr. Monroy has held various other positions since joining CNO in 2001.
Joel Schwartz, 55	2014	Since March 2017, president of Colonial Penn.  From 2014 to March 2017, Mr. Schwartz held various positions with Colonial Penn. Prior to joining CNO, he spent nine years with Lincoln Financial Group.
Matthew J. Zimpfer, 51	1998	Since June 2008, executive vice president and general counsel. Mr. Zimpfer has held various legal positions since joining CNO in 1998.

___________________________

(a) The executive officers serve as such at the discretion of the Board of Directors and are elected annually.

(b) Business experience is given for at least the last five years.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

MARKET INFORMATION AND DIVIDENDS

The Company's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CNO".

As of February 5, 2019, there were approximately 22,000 holders of the outstanding shares of common stock, including individual participants in securities position listings.

We commenced the payment of a dividend on our common stock in the second quarter of 2012. The dividend on our common stock is declared each quarter by our Board of Directors. In determining dividends, our Board of Directors takes into consideration our financial condition, including current and expected earnings and projected cash flows.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The performance graph below compares CNO's cumulative total shareholder return on its common stock for the period from December 31, 2013 through December 31, 2018 with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500 Index"), the Standard & Poor's Life and Health Insurance Index (the "S&P Life and Health Insurance Index") and the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index (the "S&P MidCap 400 Index"). The comparison for each of the periods assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2013 in each of CNO common stock, the stocks included in the S&P 500 Index, the stocks included in the S&P Life and Health Insurance Index and the stocks included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and that all dividends were reinvested. The stock performance shown in this graph represents past performance and should not be considered an indication of future performance of CNO's common stock.

*$100 invested on 12/31/13 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

	12/13		12/14		12/15		12/16		12/17		12/18
CNO Financial Group, Inc.	$	100.00	$	100.58	$	112.44	$	113.33	$	148.49	$	91.28
S&P 500 Index	100.00		114.87		116.36		129.05		157.22		150.33
S&P Life & Health Insurance Index	100.00		103.48		96.48		119.26		138.85		110.01
S&P MidCap 400 Index	100.00		110.93		108.49		129.65		150.71		134.01

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ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period (in 2018)	Total number of shares (or units)	Average price paid per share (or unit)		Total number of shares (or units) purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs	Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs(a)
					(dollars in millions)
October 1 through October 31	—	$	—	—	$	325.1
November 1 through November 30	20,674	17.95		18,791	324.7
December 1 through December 31	2,470,385	16.25		2,468,810	284.6
Total	2,491,059	16.26		2,487,601	284.6

_________________

(a) In May 2011, the Company announced a securities repurchase program of up to $100.0 million. In February 2012, June 2012, December 2012, December 2013, November 2014, November 2015 and May 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved, in aggregate, an additional $1,900.0 million to repurchase the Company's outstanding securities.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2018, relating to our common stock that may be issued under the CNO Financial Group, Inc. Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.

	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options and rights	Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options and rights		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in first column)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	6,539,168	$	17.77	5,296,134
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	—	—		—
Total	6,539,168	$	17.77	5,296,134

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ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA.

	Years ended December 31,
	2018			2017		2016			2015			2014
	(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
Insurance policy income	$	2,593.1		$	2,647.3	$	2,601.1		$	2,556.0		$	2,629.7
Net investment income	1,306.2			1,551.3		1,325.2			1,233.6			1,427.4
Net realized investment gains (losses)	352.1			50.3		8.3			(36.6		)	36.7
Total revenues	4,313.5			4,297.2		3,985.1			3,811.9			4,144.7
Interest expense	149.8			123.7		116.4			94.9			92.8
Total benefits and expenses	4,578.3			3,816.7		3,631.9			3,444.2			3,969.6
Income (loss) before income taxes	(264.8		)	480.5		353.2			367.7			175.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	50.2			304.9		(5.0		)	97.0			123.7
Net income (loss)	(315.0		)	175.6		358.2			270.7			51.4
PER SHARE DATA
Net income (loss), basic	$	(1.90	)	$	1.03	$	2.03		$	1.40		$	.24
Net income (loss), diluted	(1.90		)	1.02		2.01			1.39			.24
Dividends declared per common share	.39			.35		.31			.27			.24
Book value per common share outstanding	20.78			29.05		25.82			22.49			23.06
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings	165.5			170.0		176.6			193.1			212.9
Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings	165.5			172.1		178.3			195.2			217.7
Shares outstanding at period-end	162.2			166.9		173.8			184.0			203.3
BALANCE SHEET DATA - AT PERIOD END
Total investments	$	22,995.4		$	27,854.1	$	26,237.6		$	24,487.1		$	24,908.3
Total assets	31,439.8			33,110.3		31,975.2			31,125.1			31,155.9
Corporate notes payable	916.8			914.6		912.9			911.1			780.3
Total liabilities	28,068.9			28,262.8		27,488.3			26,986.6			26,467.7
Shareholders' equity	3,370.9			4,847.5		4,486.9			4,138.5			4,688.2
STATUTORY DATA - AT PERIOD END (a)
Statutory capital and surplus	$	1,652.8		$	1,904.4	$	1,956.8		$	1,739.2		$	1,654.4
Asset valuation reserve ("AVR")	233.3			246.8		253.3			196.9			203.1
Total statutory capital and surplus and AVR	1,886.1			2,151.2		2,210.1			1,936.1			1,857.5

____________________

(a) We have derived the statutory data from statements filed by our insurance subsidiaries with regulatory authorities which are prepared in accordance with statutory accounting principles, which vary in certain respects from GAAP.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

In this section, we review the consolidated financial condition of CNO and its consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and, where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance. Please read this discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Form 10-K.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Our statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this report and elsewhere (such as in filings by CNO with the SEC, press releases, presentations by CNO or its management or oral statements) relative to markets for CNO's products and trends in CNO's operations or financial results, as well as other statements, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "contemplate," "possible," "attempt," "seek," "should," "could," "goal," "target," "on track," "comfortable with," "optimistic," "guidance," "outlook" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.  You should consider statements that contain these words carefully because they describe our expectations, plans, strategies and goals and our beliefs concerning future business conditions, our results of operations, financial position, and our business outlook or they state other "forward-looking" information based on currently available information.  The "Risk Factors" in Item 1A provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements.  Assumptions and other important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements include, among other things:

• changes in or sustained low interest rates causing reductions in investment income, the margins of our fixed annuity and life insurance businesses, and sales of, and demand for, our products;

• expectations of lower future investment earnings may cause us to accelerate amortization, write down the balance of insurance acquisition costs or establish additional liabilities for insurance products;

• general economic, market and political conditions and uncertainties, including the performance and fluctuations of the financial markets which may affect the value of our investments as well as our ability to raise capital or refinance existing indebtedness and the cost of doing so;

• the ultimate outcome of lawsuits filed against us and other legal and regulatory proceedings to which we are subject;

• our ability to make anticipated changes to certain non-guaranteed elements of our life insurance products;

• our ability to obtain adequate and timely rate increases on our health products, including our long-term care business;

• the receipt of any required regulatory approvals for dividend and surplus debenture interest payments from our insurance subsidiaries;

• mortality, morbidity, the increased cost and usage of health care services, persistency, the adequacy of our previous reserve estimates, changes in the health care market and other factors which may affect the profitability of our insurance products;

• changes in our assumptions related to deferred acquisition costs or the present value of future profits;

• the recoverability of our deferred tax assets and the effect of potential ownership changes and tax rate changes on their value;

• our assumption that the positions we take on our tax return filings will not be successfully challenged by the IRS;

• changes in accounting principles and the interpretation thereof;

• our ability to continue to satisfy the financial ratio and balance requirements and other covenants of our debt agreements;

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• our ability to achieve anticipated expense reductions and levels of operational efficiencies including improvements in claims adjudication and continued automation and rationalization of operating systems;

• performance and valuation of our investments, including the impact of realized losses (including other-than-temporary impairment charges);

• our ability to identify products and markets in which we can compete effectively against competitors with greater market share, higher ratings, greater financial resources and stronger brand recognition;

• our ability to generate sufficient liquidity to meet our debt service obligations and other cash needs;

• changes in capital deployment opportunities;

• our ability to maintain effective controls over financial reporting;

• our ability to continue to recruit and retain productive agents and distribution partners;

• customer response to new products, distribution channels and marketing initiatives;

• our ability to achieve additional upgrades of the financial strength ratings of CNO and our insurance company subsidiaries as well as the impact of our ratings on our business, our ability to access capital, and the cost of capital;

• regulatory changes or actions, including: those relating to regulation of the financial affairs of our insurance companies, such as the calculation of risk-based capital and minimum capital requirements, and payment of dividends and surplus debenture interest to us; regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of products; and health care regulation affecting health insurance products;

• changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations which may affect or eliminate the relative tax advantages of some of our products or affect the value of our deferred tax assets;

• availability and effectiveness of reinsurance arrangements, as well as the impact of any defaults or failure of reinsurers to perform;

• the performance of third party service providers and potential difficulties arising from outsourcing arrangements;

• the growth rate of sales, collected premiums, annuity deposits and assets;

• interruption in telecommunication, information technology or other operational systems or failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data on such systems;

• events of terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters or other catastrophic events, including losses from a disease pandemic;

• ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures in identifying, monitoring and managing risks; and

• the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the SEC.

Other factors and assumptions not identified above are also relevant to the forward-looking statements, and if they prove incorrect, could also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statement.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  We assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements.

The reporting of RBC measures is not intended for the purpose of ranking any insurance company or for use in connection with any marketing, advertising or promotional activities.

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OVERVIEW

We are a holding company for a group of insurance companies operating throughout the United States that develop, market and administer health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance products.  We focus on serving the senior and middle-income markets, which we believe are attractive, underserved, high growth markets.  We sell our products through three distribution channels: career agents, independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of our product lines exclusively) and direct marketing.

We measure segment performance by excluding the loss related to reinsurance transactions, net realized investment gains (losses), fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities (net of related amortization), fair value changes and amendment related to the agent deferred compensation plan, income taxes and other non-operating items consisting primarily of earnings attributable to VIEs ("pre-tax operating earnings") because we believe that this performance measure is a better indicator of the ongoing business and trends in our business.  Our primary investment focus is on investment income to support our liabilities for insurance products as opposed to the generation of net realized investment gains (losses), and a long-term focus is necessary to maintain profitability over the life of the business.

The loss related to reinsurance transactions, net realized investment gains (losses), fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities (net of related amortization), fair value changes and amendment related to the agent deferred compensation plan and other non-operating items consisting primarily of earnings attributable to VIEs depend on market conditions or represent unusual items that do not necessarily relate to the underlying business of our segments.  Net realized investment gains (losses) and fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities (net of related amortization) may affect future earnings levels since our underlying business is long-term in nature and changes in our investment portfolio may impact our ability to earn the assumed interest rates needed to maintain the profitability of our business.

On September 27, 2018, the Company completed a long-term care reinsurance transaction pursuant to which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bankers Life, entered into an agreement to cede all of its legacy (prior to 2003) comprehensive and nursing home long-term care policies (with statutory reserves of $2.7 billion) through 100% indemnity coinsurance. In anticipation of the reinsurance agreement, the Company reorganized its business segments to move the block to be ceded from the "Bankers Life segment" to the "Long-term care in run-off segment" in the third quarter of 2018. All prior period segment disclosures have been revised to conform to management's current view of the Company's operating segments.

The Company’s insurance segments are described below:

• Bankers Life,which underwrites, markets and distributes Medicare supplement insurance, interest-sensitive life insurance, traditional life insurance, fixed annuities and long-term care insurance products to the middle-income senior market through a dedicated field force of career agents, financial and investment advisors, and sales managers supported by a network of community-based sales offices.  The Bankers Life segment includes primarily the business of Bankers Life and Casualty Company.  Bankers Life also has various distribution and marketing agreements with other insurance companies to use Bankers Life's career agents to distribute Medicare Advantage and PDP products in exchange for a fee.

• Washington National, which underwrites, markets and distributes supplemental health (including specified disease, accident and hospital indemnity insurance products) and life insurance to middle-income consumers at home and at the worksite.  These products are marketed through PMA and through independent marketing organizations and insurance agencies including worksite marketing.  The products being marketed are underwritten by Washington National. This segment's business also includes certain closed blocks of annuities and Medicare supplement policies which are no longer being actively marketed by this segment and were primarily issued or acquired by Washington National.

• Colonial Penn, which markets primarily graded benefit and simplified issue life insurance directly to customers in the senior middle-income market through television advertising, direct mail, the internet and telemarketing.  The Colonial Penn segment includes primarily the business of Colonial Penn.

• Long-term care in run-off consists of: (i) the long-term care business that was recaptured due to the termination of certain reinsurance agreements effective September 30, 2016 (such business is not actively marketed and was issued or acquired by Washington National and BCLIC); and (ii) certain legacy (prior to 2003) comprehensive and nursing home long-term care policies which were ceded in September 2018 (such business is not actively marketed and was issued by Bankers Life).

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The following summarizes our earnings for the three years ending December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions, except per share data):

	2018			2017			2016
Adjusted EBIT (a non-GAAP financial measure) (a):
Bankers Life	$	340.6		$	367.5		$	375.6
Washington National	121.9			98.3			102.9
Colonial Penn	14.8			22.6			1.7
Long-term care in run-off	22.9			53.1			18.4
Adjusted EBIT from business segments	500.2			541.5			498.6
Corporate Operations, excluding corporate interest expense	(71.0		)	(40.3		)	(42.5		)
Adjusted EBIT	429.2			501.2			456.1
Corporate interest expense	(48.0		)	(46.5		)	(45.8		)
Operating earnings before taxes	381.2			454.7			410.3
Tax expense on operating income	78.1			153.8			147.8
Net operating income	303.1			300.9			262.5
Net realized investment gains from sales and impairments (net of related amortization)	37.9			34.3			9.0
Net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings	(48.8		)	15.0			(1.4		)
Fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities (net of related amortization)	55.5			(2.5		)	9.6
Fair value changes and amendment related to agent deferred compensation plan	11.9			(12.2		)	3.1
Loss related to reinsurance transactions	(704.2		)	—			(75.4		)
Other	1.7			(8.8		)	(2.0		)
Non-operating income (loss) before taxes	(646.0		)	25.8			(57.1		)
Income tax expense (benefit):
On non-operating income (loss)	(135.7		)	9.0			(20.0		)
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items	107.8			142.1			(132.8		)
Net non-operating income (loss)	(618.1		)	(125.3		)	95.7
Net income (loss)	$	(315.0	)	$	175.6		$	358.2
Per diluted share:
Net operating income	$	1.83		$	1.75		$	1.47
Net realized investment gains from sales and impairments (net of related amortization and taxes)	.18			.13			.03
Net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings (net of taxes)	(.23		)	.06			—
Fair value changes in embedded derivative liabilities (net of related amortization and taxes)	.27			(.01		)	.04
Fair value changes and amendment related to agent deferred compensation plan (net of taxes)	.06			(.05		)	.01
Loss related to reinsurance transactions (net of taxes)	(4.00		)	—			(.27		)
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items	(.02		)	(.83		)	.74
Other	.01			(.03		)	(.01		)
Net income (loss)	$	(1.90	)	$	1.02		$	2.01

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____________

(a) Management believes that an analysis of net operating income provides a clearer comparison of the operating results of the Company from period to period because it excludes: (i) loss related to reinsurance transaction, including impact of taxes; (ii) net realized investment gains or losses from sales and impairments, net of related amortization and taxes; (iii) net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings, net of taxes; (iv) fair value changes due to fluctuations in the interest rates used to discount embedded derivative liabilities related to our fixed index annuities, net of related amortization and taxes; (v) fair value changes and amendment related to the agent deferred compensation plan, net of taxes; (vi) changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and other tax items; and (vii) other non-operating items consisting primarily of earnings attributable to VIEs. Adjusted EBIT is presented as net operating income excluding corporate interest expense and income tax expense. The table above reconciles the non-GAAP measure to the corresponding GAAP measure.

In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its budgeting process, financial analysis of segment performance and in assessing the allocation of resources. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures enhance an investor’s understanding of our financial performance and allows them to make more informed judgments about the Company as a whole. These measures also highlight operating trends that might not otherwise be apparent. However, Adjusted EBIT and net operating income are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities, as measures of liquidity, or as alternatives to net income as measures of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Adjusted EBIT and net operating income should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Adjusted EBIT and net operating income have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider such measures either in isolation or as substitutes for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Our definitions and calculation of Adjusted EBIT and net operating income are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies due to different methods of calculation.

At CNO, our mission is to enrich lives by providing financial solutions that help protect the health and retirement needs of middle-income Americans, while building enduring value for all our stakeholders. We remain committed to our strategic priorities to grow the franchise, launch new products and services, expand to the right to reach slightly younger, wealthier consumers within the middle market, and deploy excess capital to its highest and best use.

Our middle-market focus and diverse distribution is a key strength and opportunity for CNO. We have career agents at Bankers Life, wholly-owned and independent distributors at Washington National and a direct-to-consumer business at Colonial Penn to reach consumers according to their preferences. Our product portfolio mix is well-aligned to the retirement, healthcare, supplemental health and income accumulation needs of working-age consumers as well as those in and near retirement. As Americans live longer into their retirement years, consumers need holistic retirement income planning, which includes our insurance and annuity solutions, and the investments offered by our broker-dealer and growing force of registered investment advisors. Specifically, we are focused on the following priorities:

Growth

• Maximize our product portfolio to ensure it meets our customers’ needs for integrated products and advice covering a broad range of their financial goals

• Respond effectively to evolving customer preferences

• Expand and enhance elements of our broker-dealer and registered investment advisor program

• Continue our "expand to the right" strategy to reach slightly younger and wealthier consumers within the middle-income market

• Increase the speed-to-market for new products that are a good fit for our customers

• Make strategic, measured changes to our business practices to improve our competitive advantage

• Continue to invest in technology to support agent productivity and relationships with our customers

Increase profitability and return on equity

• Maintain our strong capital position and favorable financial metrics

• Work to increase our return on equity

• Maintain pricing discipline

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Effectively manage risk and deploy capital

• Maintain an active enterprise risk management process

• Utilize excess cash flow to maximize long-term returns

• Maintain a competitive dividend payout ratio

Continue to invest in talent

• Attract, retain and develop the best talent to help us drive sustainable growth

• Recruit, develop and retain our agent force

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management has made estimates in the past that we believed to be appropriate but were subsequently revised to reflect actual experience. If our future experience differs materially from these estimates and assumptions, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially affected.

We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. We continually evaluate the information used to make these estimates as our business and the economic environment change. The use of estimates is pervasive throughout our financial statements. The accounting policies and estimates we consider most critical are summarized below. Additional information on our accounting policies is included in the note to our consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

Investments

At December 31, 2018, the carrying value of our investment portfolio was $23.0 billion.

Interest income on fixed maturity securities is recognized when earned using a constant effective yield method giving effect to amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Dividends on equity securities are recognized when declared.

Our evaluation of investments for impairment requires significant judgments, including: (i) the identification of potentially impaired securities; (ii) the determination of their estimated fair value; and (iii) the assessment of whether any decline in estimated fair value is other than temporary.

We regularly evaluate all of our investments with unrealized losses for possible impairment.  Our assessment of whether unrealized losses are "other than temporary" requires significant judgment.  Factors considered include: (i) the extent to which fair value is less than the cost basis; (ii) the length of time that the fair value has been less than cost; (iii) whether the unrealized loss is event driven, credit-driven or a result of changes in market interest rates or risk premium; (iv) the near-term prospects for specific events, developments or circumstances likely to affect the value of the investment; (v) the investment's rating and whether the investment is investment-grade and/or has been downgraded since its purchase; (vi) whether the issuer is current on all payments in accordance with the contractual terms of the investment and is expected to meet all of its obligations under the terms of the investment; (vii) whether we intend to sell the investment or it is more likely than not that circumstances will require us to sell the investment before recovery occurs; (viii) the underlying current and prospective asset and enterprise values of the issuer and the extent to which the recoverability of the carrying value of our investment may be affected by changes in such values; (ix) projections of, and unfavorable changes in, cash flows on structured securities including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities; (x) our best estimate of the value of any collateral; and (xi) other objective and subjective factors.

Future events may occur, or additional information may become available, which may necessitate future realized losses in our portfolio.  Significant losses could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements in future periods.

The manner in which impairment losses on fixed maturity securities, available for sale, are recognized in the financial statements is dependent on the facts and circumstances related to the specific security.  If we intend to sell a security or it is more likely than not that we would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, the security is other-than-temporarily impaired and the full amount of the impairment is recognized as a loss through earnings.  If we do not expect

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to recover the amortized cost basis, we do not plan to sell the security, and if it is not more likely than not that we would be required to sell a security before the recovery of its amortized cost, less any current period credit loss, the recognition of the other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated.  We recognize the credit loss portion in net income and the noncredit loss portion in accumulated other comprehensive income.

We estimate the amount of the credit loss component of a fixed maturity security impairment as the difference between amortized cost and the present value of the expected cash flows of the security.  The present value is determined using the best estimate of future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate implicit to the security at the date of purchase or the current yield to accrete an asset-backed or floating-rate security.  The methodology and assumptions for establishing the best estimate of future cash flows vary depending on the type of security.

For most structured securities, cash flow estimates are based on bond-specific facts and circumstances that may include collateral characteristics, expectations of delinquency and default rates, loss severity, prepayment speeds and structural support, including overcollateralization, excess spread, subordination and guarantees.  For corporate bonds, cash flow estimates are derived from scenario-based outcomes of expected corporate restructurings or the disposition of assets using bond-specific facts and circumstances. The previous amortized cost basis less the impairment recognized in net income becomes the security's new cost basis.  We accrete the new cost basis to the estimated future cash flows over the expected remaining life of the security, except when the security is in default or considered nonperforming.

The remaining noncredit impairment, which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, is the difference between the security's estimated fair value and our best estimate of future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate prior to impairment.  The remaining noncredit impairment typically represents changes in the market interest rates, current market liquidity and risk premiums.  As of December 31, 2018, other-than-temporary impairments included in accumulated other comprehensive income totaled $.5 million (before taxes and related amortization).

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and, therefore, represents an exit price, not an entry price.  We carry certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including fixed maturities, equity securities, trading securities, investments held by VIEs, derivatives, separate account assets and embedded derivatives.  We carry our Company-owned life insurance policy ("COLI"), which is invested in a series of mutual funds, at its cash surrender value which approximates fair value. In addition, we disclose fair value for certain financial instruments, including mortgage loans, policy loans, cash and cash equivalents, insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products, investment borrowings, notes payable and borrowings related to VIEs.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments is largely dependent on the level to which pricing is based on observable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our view of market assumptions in the absence of observable market information.  Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices would be considered to have fair values based on the highest level of observable inputs, and little judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value.  Financial instruments that rarely trade would often have fair value based on a lower level of observable inputs, and more judgment would be utilized in measuring fair value.

Valuation Hierarchy

There is a three-level hierarchy for valuing assets or liabilities at fair value based on whether inputs are observable or unobservable.

• Level 1 – includes assets and liabilities valued using inputs that are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  Our Level 1 assets primarily include cash and cash equivalents and exchange-traded securities.

• Level 2 – includes assets and liabilities valued using inputs that are quoted prices for similar assets in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in a market that is not active, observable inputs, or observable inputs that can be corroborated by market data.  Level 2 assets and liabilities include those financial instruments that are valued by independent pricing services using models or other valuation methodologies.  These models consider various inputs such as credit rating, maturity, corporate credit spreads, reported trades and other inputs that are observable or derived from observable information in the marketplace or are supported by transactions executed in the marketplace. Financial assets in this category primarily include:  certain publicly registered and privately placed corporate fixed maturity securities; certain government or agency securities; certain mortgage and asset-backed securities; certain

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equity securities; most investments held by our consolidated VIEs; certain mutual fund investments; most short-term investments; and non-exchange-traded derivatives such as call options. Financial liabilities in this category include investment borrowings, notes payable and borrowings related to VIEs.

• Level 3 – includes assets and liabilities valued using unobservable inputs that are used in model-based valuations that contain management assumptions.  Level 3 assets and liabilities include those financial instruments whose fair value is estimated based on broker/dealer quotes, pricing services or internally developed models or methodologies utilizing significant inputs not based on, or corroborated by, readily available market information.  Financial assets in this category include certain corporate securities (primarily certain below-investment grade privately placed securities), certain structured securities, mortgage loans, and other less liquid securities.  Financial liabilities in this category include our insurance liabilities for interest-sensitive products, which includes embedded derivatives (including embedded derivatives related to our fixed index annuity products and to a modified coinsurance arrangement) since their values include significant unobservable inputs including actuarial assumptions.

At each reporting date, we classify assets and liabilities into the three input levels based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value for each asset and liability reported at fair value.  This classification is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new to the market and not yet established, the characteristics specific to the transaction and overall market conditions.  Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement and the ultimate classification of each asset and liability requires judgment and is subject to change from period to period based on the observability of the valuation inputs.

Below-investment grade corporate debt securities typically have different characteristics than investment grade corporate debt securities.  Based on historical performance, probability of default by the borrower is significantly greater for below-investment grade corporate debt securities and in many cases severity of loss is relatively greater as such securities are generally unsecured and often subordinated to other indebtedness of the issuer.  Also, issuers of below-investment grade corporate debt securities frequently have higher levels of debt relative to investment-grade issuers, hence, all other things being equal, are generally more sensitive to adverse economic conditions.  The Company attempts to reduce the overall risk related to its investment in below-investment grade securities, as in all investments, through careful credit analysis, strict investment policy guidelines, and diversification by issuer and/or guarantor and by industry.

Our fixed maturity investments are generally purchased in the context of long-term strategies, including funding insurance liabilities, so we do not generally seek to generate short-term realized gains through the purchase and sale of such securities.  In certain circumstances, including those in which securities are selling at prices which exceed our view of their underlying economic value, or when it is possible to reinvest the proceeds to better meet our long-term asset-liability objectives, we may sell certain securities. During 2018, we sold $1,295.8 million of fixed maturity investments which resulted in gross investment losses (before income taxes) of $65.8 million.

We actively manage the relationship between the duration and cash flows of our invested assets and the estimated duration and cash flows of benefit payments arising from contract liabilities. These efforts may cause us to sell investments before their maturity date and could result in the realization of net realized investment gains (losses). When the estimated durations of assets and liabilities are similar, the effect of changes in market interest rates shall have largely offsetting effects on the value of the related assets and liabilities. In certain circumstances, a mismatch of the durations or related cash flows of invested assets and insurance liabilities could have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position.

For more information on our investment portfolio and our critical accounting policies related to investments, see the note to our consolidated financial statements entitled "Investments".

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Present Value of Future Profits and Deferred Acquisition Costs

In conjunction with the implementation of fresh start accounting, we eliminated the historical balances of our Predecessor's deferred acquisition costs and the present value of future profits and replaced them with the present value of future profits as calculated on the Effective Date.

The value assigned to the right to receive future cash flows from contracts existing at the Effective Date is referred to as the present value of future profits. The balance of this account is amortized, evaluated for recovery, and adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains (losses) in the same manner as the deferred acquisition costs described below. We expect to amortize the balance of the present value of future profits as of December 31, 2018 as follows: 10 percent in 2019, 9 percent in 2020, 8 percent in 2021, 8 percent in 2022 and 7 percent in 2023.

Deferred acquisition costs represent incremental direct costs related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. For interest-sensitive life or annuity products, we amortize these costs in relation to the estimated gross profits using the interest rate credited to the underlying policies. For other products, we generally amortize these costs in relation to future anticipated premium revenue using the projected investment earnings rate.

Insurance acquisition costs are amortized to expense over the lives of the underlying policies in relation to future anticipated premiums or gross profits. The insurance acquisition costs for policies other than interest-sensitive life and annuity products are amortized with interest (using the projected investment earnings rate) over the estimated premium-paying period of the policies, in a manner which recognizes amortization expense in proportion to each year's premium income. The insurance acquisition costs for interest-sensitive life and annuity products are amortized with interest (using the interest rate credited to the underlying policy) in proportion to estimated gross profits. The interest, mortality, morbidity and persistency assumptions used to amortize insurance acquisition costs are consistent with those assumptions used to estimate liabilities for insurance products. For interest-sensitive life and annuity products, these assumptions are reviewed on a regular basis. When actual profits or our current best estimates of future profits are different from previous estimates, we adjust cumulative amortization of insurance acquisition costs to maintain amortization expense as a constant percentage of gross profits over the entire life of the policies.

When we realize a gain or loss on investments backing our interest-sensitive life or annuity products, we adjust the amortization of insurance acquisition costs to reflect the change in estimated gross profits from the products due to the gain or loss realized and the effect on future investment yields. We increased (decreased) amortization expense for such changes by $(.4) million, $1.0 million and $.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We also adjust insurance acquisition costs for the change in amortization that would have been recorded if fixed maturity securities, available for sale, had been sold at their stated aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields. Such adjustments are commonly referred to as "shadow adjustments" and may include adjustments to: (i) deferred acquisition costs; (ii) the present value of future profits; (iii) loss recognition reserves; and (iv) income taxes. We include the impact of this adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders' equity. The total pre-tax impact of such adjustments on accumulated other comprehensive income was a decrease of $45.3 million at December 31, 2018 (including $2.5 million for premium deficiencies that would exist on certain blocks of business if unrealized gains on the assets backing such products had been realized and the proceeds from our sales of such assets were invested at then current yields.) The total pre-tax impact of such adjustments on accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2017 was a decrease of $682.4 million (including $514.5 million for premium deficiencies that would exist on certain blocks of business (primarily long-term care products) if unrealized gains on the assets backing such products had been realized and the proceeds from our sales of such assets were invested at then current yields.)

At December 31, 2018, the balance of insurance acquisition costs was $1.7 billion. The recoverability of this amount is dependent on the future profitability of the related business. Each year, we evaluate the recoverability of the unamortized balance of insurance acquisition costs. These evaluations are performed to determine whether estimates of the present value of future cash flows, in combination with the related liability for insurance products, will support the unamortized balance. These future cash flows are based on our best estimate of future premium income, less benefits and expenses. The present value of these cash flows, plus the related balance of liabilities for insurance products, is then compared with the unamortized balance of insurance acquisition costs. In the event of a deficiency, such amount would be charged to amortization expense. If the deficiency exceeds the balance of insurance acquisition costs, a premium deficiency reserve is established for the excess. The determination of future cash flows involves significant judgment. Revisions to the assumptions which determine such cash flows could have a significant adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. The long-term care business in the Long-term care in run-off segment is not expected to generate significant future profits. While we expect the long-term care

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business in the Bankers Life segment to generate future profits, the margins are relatively thin. Accordingly, both of these long-term care blocks are vulnerable to changes in assumptions.

The table presented below summarizes our estimates of cumulative adjustments to insurance acquisition costs or premium deficiency reserves (when the deficiency exceeds the balance of insurance acquisition costs) resulting from hypothetical revisions to certain assumptions. Although such hypothetical revisions are not currently required or anticipated, we believe they could occur based on past variances in experience and our expectations of the ranges of future experience that could reasonably occur. We have assumed that revisions to assumptions resulting in the adjustments summarized below would occur equally among policy types, ages and durations within each product classification. Any actual adjustment would be dependent on the specific policies affected and, therefore, may differ from the estimates summarized below. In addition, the impact of actual adjustments would reflect the net effect of all changes in assumptions during the period.

Change in assumptions	Estimated adjustment to income before income taxes based on revisions to certain assumptions
	(dollars in millions)
Interest-sensitive life products:
5% increase to assumed mortality	$	(31	)
5% decrease to assumed mortality	31
15% increase to assumed expenses	(12		)
15% decrease to assumed expenses	12
10 basis point decrease to assumed spread	(10		)
10 basis point increase to assumed spread	10
20% increase to assumed lapses	(13		)
20% decrease to assumed lapses	15
Fixed index and fixed interest annuity products:
20% increase to assumed surrenders	(81		)
20% decrease to assumed surrenders	98
15% increase to assumed expenses	(9		)
15% decrease to assumed expenses	9
10 basis point decrease to assumed spread	(42		)
10 basis point increase to assumed spread	42
Other than interest-sensitive life and annuity products (a):
5% increase to assumed morbidity	(24		)
5% decrease to assumed mortality	(5		)
No increase in new money rate assumption after one year	(1		)

__________________

(a) We have excluded the effect of reasonably likely changes in lapse, surrender and expense assumptions for policies other than interest-sensitive life and annuity products.

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The following summarizes the persistency of our major blocks of insurance business summarized by segment and line of business:

	Years ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Bankers Life:
Medicare supplement (1)	85.1	%	85.0	%	85.9	%
Long-term care (1)	90.1	%	89.9	%	89.6	%
Fixed index annuities (2)	90.9	%	91.2	%	91.5	%
Other annuities (2)	83.0	%	85.2	%	85.8	%
Life (1)	88.5	%	87.5	%	87.1	%
Washington National:
Medicare supplement (1)	84.9	%	85.3	%	85.8	%
Supplemental health (1)	89.3	%	89.2	%	89.2	%
Life (1)	91.8	%	90.6	%	91.2	%
Colonial Penn:
Life (1)	83.1	%	83.4	%	83.0	%
Long-term care in run-off (1)	90.7	%	91.2	%	90.8	%

_____________________

(1) Based on number of inforce policies.

(2) Based on the percentage of the inforce block persisting.

Liabilities for Insurance Products - reserves for the future payment of long-term care policy claims

We calculate and maintain reserves for the future payment of claims to our policyholders based on actuarial assumptions.  For all our insurance products, we establish an active life reserve, a liability for due and unpaid claims, claims in the course of settlement and incurred but not reported claims.  In addition, for our health insurance business, we establish a reserve for the present value of amounts not yet due on claims.  Many factors can affect these reserves and liabilities, such as economic and social conditions, inflation, hospital and pharmaceutical costs, changes in doctrines of legal liability and extra-contractual damage awards.  Therefore, our reserves and liabilities are necessarily based on numerous estimates and assumptions as well as historical experience.  Establishing reserves is an uncertain process, and it is possible that actual claims will materially exceed our reserves and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.  For example, our long-term care policy claims may be paid over a long period of time and, therefore, loss estimates have a higher degree of uncertainty.  

The following summarizes the components of the reserves related to our long-term care business in our Bankers Life and Long-term care in run-off segments.

	2018		2017
	(Dollars in millions)
Amounts classified as future policy benefits:
Active life reserves	$	3,873.3	$	3,846.0
Reserves for the present value of amounts not yet due on claims	1,404.6		1,366.9
Future loss reserves	—		190.0
Premium deficiency reserves assuming net unrealized gains had been realized	—		266.1
Amounts classified as liability for policy and contract claims:
Liability for due and unpaid claims, claims in the course of settlement and incurred but not reported claims	211.7		200.1
Total	5,489.6		5,869.1
Reinsurance receivables	3,030.3		221.5
Long-term care reserves, net of reinsurance receivables	$	2,459.3	$	5,647.6

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The significant assumptions used to calculate the active life reserves include morbidity, persistency and investment yields. These assumptions are determined at the issuance date and do not change over the life of the policy.

The significant assumptions used to calculate the reserves for the present value of amounts not yet due on claims include future benefit payments, interest rates and claim continuance patterns. Interest rates are used to determine the present value of the future benefit payments and are based on the investment yield of assets supporting the reserves. Claim continuance assumptions are estimates of the expected period of time that claim payments will continue before termination due to recovery, death or attainment of policy maximum benefits. These estimates are based on historical claim experience for similar policy and coverage types. Our estimates of benefit payments, interest rates and claim continuance are reviewed regularly and updated to consider current portfolio investment yields and recent claims experience.

At December 31, 2017, we had established a future loss reserve of $190.0 million related to our long-term care business as the aggregate liability was not deficient, but our projections of estimated future profits (losses) indicated that profits would be recognized in earlier periods, followed by losses in later periods. Such reserves were calculated based on our estimate of the amount necessary to offset the losses in future periods and were established during the period the block was profitable. We estimated the future losses based on our current best estimates of morbidity, persistency, premium rates, maintenance expense and investment yields, which estimates were generally updated annually. As a result of the reinsurance transaction in September 2018, our projections of estimated future profits on the retained long-term care business indicated that there were no aggregate losses in future periods. Accordingly, the future loss reserve on this block of business was no longer required and the reserve was released and reflected as a component of the loss on the reinsurance transaction.

At December 31, 2017, we increased our long-term care reserves by $266.1 million to reflect the deficiency reserves that would have been recorded if our fixed maturity securities, available for sale, had been sold at their stated aggregate fair value and the proceeds reinvested at current yields. At December 31, 2018, such an increase is no longer required given the change in projected future profits (losses) reflecting the reinsurance transaction completed in September 2018 and the unrealized gains related to our fixed maturity securities, available for sale, at December 31, 2018.

The significant assumptions used to calculate the liability for due and unpaid claims, claims in the course of settlement and incurred but not reported claims are based on historical claim payment patterns and include assumptions related to the number of claims and the size and timing of claim payments. These assumptions are updated quarterly to reflect the most current information regarding claim payment patterns. In order to determine the accuracy of our prior estimates, we calculate the total redundancy (deficiency) of our prior claim reserve estimates. The 2017 claim reserve deficiency for long-term care claim reserves in our Bankers Life segment, as measured at December 31, 2018, was approximately $6.4 million.

Estimates of unpaid losses related to long-term care business have a higher degree of uncertainty than estimates for our other products due to the range of ultimate duration of these claims and the resulting variability in their cost (in addition to the variations in the lag time in reporting claims).  As an example, an increase in the loss ratio of 5 percentage points for claims incurred in 2018 related to our long-term care business would have resulted in an immediate decrease in our earnings of approximately $13 million.Our financial results depend significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims experience is consistent with the assumptions we used in determining our reserves and pricing our products.  If our assumptions with respect to future claims are incorrect, and our reserves are insufficient to cover our actual losses and expenses, we would be required to increase our liabilities, which would negatively affect our operating results.

Accounting for certain marketing agreements

Bankers Life has entered into various distribution and marketing agreements with other insurance companies to use Bankers Life's career agents to distribute prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans. These agreements allow Bankers Life to offer these products to current and potential future policyholders without investment in management and infrastructure. We receive fee income related to the plans sold through our distribution channels and incur distribution expenses paid to our agents who sell such products. As further discussed in the note to the consolidated financial statements entitled "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recently Issued Accounting Standards - Adopted Accounting Standards", we adopted the new revenue recognition guidance which was effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this new guidance had no impact on the fee revenue we recognized in any calendar year, but did impact the amounts we recognized during each quarterly period within a calendar year.

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The following summarizes the fee revenue, net of distribution expenses, earned through these marketing agreements (dollars in millions):

	2018		2017		2016
Fee revenue:
Medicare Advantage contracts	$	30.3	$	24.6	$	23.2
PDP contracts	2.9		3.3		3.1
Total revenue	33.2		27.9		26.3
Distribution expenses	13.3		10.9		9.3
Fee revenue, net of distribution expenses	$	19.9	$	17.0	$	17.0

Income Taxes

Our income tax expense includes deferred income taxes arising from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and NOLs. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid.  The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the changes are enacted.

A reduction of the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets by establishing a valuation allowance is required if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, all available evidence, both positive and negative, shall be considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is needed. This assessment requires significant judgment and considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expiring unused, and tax planning strategies. We evaluate the need to establish a valuation allowance for our deferred income tax assets on an ongoing basis. The realization of our deferred tax assets depends upon generating sufficient future taxable income of the appropriate type during the periods in which our temporary differences become deductible and before our NOLs expire.

Based on our assessment, it appears more likely than not that $604.7 million of our total deferred tax assets of $798.4 million will be realized through future taxable earnings. Accordingly, we have established a deferred tax valuation allowance of $193.7 million at December 31, 2018 ($189.9 million of which relates to our net federal operating loss carryforwards and $3.8 million relates to state operating deferred tax assets). As a result of the completion of the long-term care reinsurance transaction in the third quarter of 2018, we increased the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets by $104.8 million. The increase in life company NOLs generated by the tax loss on the reinsurance transaction is expected to impact our ability to utilize non-life NOLs in the future. Accordingly, we increased the valuation allowance for deferred taxes by $104.8 million. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future. If future results are less than projected, an increase to the valuation allowance may be required to reduce the deferred tax asset, which could have a material impact on our results of operations in the period in which it is recorded.

We use a deferred tax valuation model to assess the need for a valuation allowance. Our model is adjusted to reflect changes in our projections of future taxable income including changes resulting from the Tax Reform Act, investment strategies, the impact of the sale or reinsurance of business and the recapture of business previously ceded. Our estimates of future taxable income are based on evidence we consider to be objective and verifiable.

At December 31, 2018, our projection of future taxable income for purposes of determining the valuation allowance is based on our adjusted average annual taxable income which is assumed to increase by approximately 3.5 percent for the next five years, and level taxable income thereafter. In the projections used for our analysis, our adjusted average taxable income of approximately $465 million consisted of $85 million of non-life taxable income and $380 million of life taxable income.

Based on our assessment, we recognized a decrease to the allowance for deferred tax assets of $104.6 million in 2018. We have evaluated the recovery of our deferred tax assets and assessed the effect of limitations and/or interpretations on their value and have concluded that it is more likely than not that the value recognized will be fully realized in the future.

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Changes in our valuation allowance are summarized as follows (dollars in millions):

Balance, December 31, 2015	$	213.5
Increase in 2016	26.7			(a)
Balance, December 31, 2016	240.2
Decrease in 2017	(166.8		)	(b)
Cumulative effect of accounting change	15.7			(c)
Balance, December 31, 2017	89.1
Increase in 2018