Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Liability For Future Policy Benefits And Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense [Abstract]

Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

(9) Policy Claims and Other Benefits Payable

Changes in policy claims and other benefits payable were as follows:

	Year ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Policy claims and other benefits payable, beginning of period	$	268,136		$	238,157		$	245,829
Less reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable		323,195			263,003			264,049
Net balance, beginning of period		(55,059	)		(24,846	)		(18,220	)
Incurred related to current year		162,256			143,518			138,139
Incurred related to prior years (1)		2,230			(522	)		212
Total incurred		164,486			142,996			138,351
Claims paid related to current year, net of reinsured policy claims received		(181,670	)		(203,015	)		(167,621	)
Reinsured policy claims received related to prior years, net of claims paid		57,192			29,546			23,661
Total paid		(124,478	)		(173,469	)		(143,960	)
Foreign currency translation		315			260			(1,017	)
Net balance, end of period		(14,736	)		(55,059	)		(24,846	)
Add reinsured policy claims and other benefits payable		322,137			323,195			263,003
Balance, end of period	$	307,401		$	268,136		$	238,157

⁽¹⁾  Includes the difference between our estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported at year end and the actual incurred claims reported after year end.

See Note 1 (Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) for details regarding the accounting for policyholder liabilities.