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REINSURANCE
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]  
REINSURANCE REINSURANCE
The Company periodically enters into fixed quota-share coinsurance agreements in the normal course of business, primarily to provide additional capacity for future growth, optimize capital, limit losses, and minimize exposure to significant risks. For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. These reinsurance transactions are indemnity reinsurance agreements that do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. In the event that the reinsurer is unable to meet their obligations, the Company remains liable for the reinsured claims.

The following table reconciles direct earned premiums, direct benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement gains and losses, and reserve remeasurement gains and losses to net amounts after the effect of reinsurance for the years ended December 31.
(In millions)202520242023
Earned premiums:
Direct$13,760 $13,562 $14,318 
Ceded(368)(284)(404)
Assumed156 162 209 
Net earned premiums$13,548 $13,440 $14,123 
Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement:
Direct$8,174 $8,098 $8,599 
Ceded (249)(153)(147)
Assumed62 63 142 
Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement7,987 8,008 8,594 
Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses:
Direct(683)(558)(394)
Ceded(11)11 
Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses(694)(558)(383)
Total benefits and claims, net$7,293 $7,450 $8,211 

The Company reported a deferred reinsurance gain liability related to reinsurance transactions, which represents ceded reserves in excess of consideration paid or consideration received in excess of assumed reserves. The remaining consolidated deferred reinsurance gain liability of $125 million and $146 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, is included in future policy benefits in the consolidated balance sheets and is being amortized over the expected lives of the policies. The amortization is included in benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of earnings.

The Company also reported a reinsurance recoverable with a remaining balance, net of allowance for credit losses of $161 million and $163 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of both December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related allowance for credit losses was $4 million. The allowance for credit losses is estimated using a PD / LGD method and the key credit quality indicator is the credit rating of the Company’s significant reinsurance counterparties. The Company uses external credit ratings focused on these reinsurers' financial strength and credit worthiness. As of December 31, 2025, the Company's significant reinsurance counterparties were rated A+. The Company monitors these credit ratings periodically, but not less frequently than quarterly.

Aflac Re is a Bermuda domiciled insurer that reinsures certain policies issued by ALIJ. The inter-segment amounts associated with these internal reinsurance transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

In October 2024, ALIJ entered into a coinsurance transaction whereby it ceded 30% of the liabilities associated with certain cancer insurance policies and riders to Aflac Re. This transaction transferred approximately $1.8 billion of reserves associated with these policies. Approximately $1.7 billion of assets were transferred from ALIJ to Aflac Re as consideration for assuming the reinsurance risk. This internal reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re has no financial statement impact on a consolidated basis, except for the effect of foreign currency accounting.
In December 2023, the Company entered into a novation agreement under which Aflac Re assumed the duties, obligations and liabilities through reinsurance of business ALIJ previously ceded to an external reinsurer and recorded a pretax loss of $151 million in 2023.

In October 2023, ALIJ entered into a coinsurance transaction whereby it ceded 30% of the liabilities associated with certain cancer insurance policies and riders to Aflac Re. This transaction transferred approximately $1.9 billion of reserves associated with these policies. Approximately $1.7 billion of assets were transferred from ALIJ to Aflac Re as consideration for assuming the reinsurance risk. This internal reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re has no financial statement impact on a consolidated basis, except for the effect of foreign currency accounting.

In January 2023, ALIJ entered into a coinsurance transaction whereby it ceded 28% of the liabilities associated with certain cancer insurance policies and riders to Aflac Re. This transaction transferred approximately $2.1 billion of reserves associated with these policies. Approximately $1.9 billion of assets were transferred from ALIJ to Aflac Re as consideration for assuming the reinsurance risk. This internal reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re has no financial statement impact on a consolidated basis, except for the effect of foreign currency accounting.

In January 2023, ALIJ also entered into an external coinsurance transaction to cede 1.5% of the liabilities associated with the same cancer insurance policies and riders, in connection with which ALIJ transferred cash consideration to the reinsurer.