Assessments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Assessments [Abstract]

Assessments

14. Assessments

In the event a property and casualty insurer operating in a jurisdiction where Positive Insurance Company also operates becomes or is declared insolvent, state insurance regulations provide for the assessment of other insurers to fund any capital deficiency of the insolvent insurer.  Generally, this assessment is based upon the ratio of an insurer’s voluntary premiums written to the total premiums written for all insurers in that particular jurisdiction.  The Company receives such assessments from the Pennsylvania Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association for which it accrued liabilities of $194,715 and $171,550 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  These accruals are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets. Positive Insurance Company has not recorded applicable premium tax credits at December 31, 2019 and 2018 related to guaranty assessments. Total guaranty fund expense, net of prior years’ refunds and premium tax credits, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $70,076 and $35,623, respectively.

The Pennsylvania MCARE Fund is a special fund established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ensure reasonable compensation for persons injured due to medical negligence. Healthcare providers who render 50% or more of his or her healthcare business or practice within Pennsylvania are required to obtain statutory excess professional liability coverage with MCARE by paying a certain percentage (assessment) of the prevailing primary premium charged by the Pennsylvania Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association to MCARE. Positive Insurance Company assesses its policyholders as required by MCARE in addition to collecting the premium assessed. The assessments collected from policyholders are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets, and no income is recognized by Positive Insurance Company. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, Positive Insurance Company had liabilities of $340,851 and $678,236, respectively, for amounts collected on behalf of MCARE.

The New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (“NJPIGA”) was created by the State of New Jersey to provide a safety net for policyholders and claimants of insolvent property-casualty insurance companies. Positive Insurance Company assesses its policyholders as required by NJPIGA in addition to collecting the premium assessed. The assessments collected from policyholders are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets, and no income is recognized by Positive Insurance Company. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, Positive Insurance Company had liabilities of $40,301 and $36,777, respectively, for amounts collected on behalf of NJPIGA.