Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with these notes and those included in the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated herein by reference.

Pertinent accounting and disclosure pronouncements issued from time to time by the FASB are adopted by the Company as they become effective. Recent pronouncements are discussed below.

a) Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted FASB guidance on lease accounting which requires balance sheet recognition of all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The Company's adoption of this guidance is discussed in Note 7.

b) Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the FASB’s current expected credit loss standard ("CECL") which requires the immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of certain financial assets measured at amortized cost, including the Company’s reinsurance recoverables, held to maturity securities and its accounts and notes receivable. CECL replaces the current incurred loss impairment model that recognizes losses when a probability threshold is met with a requirement to recognize lifetime expected credit losses immediately when a financial asset is originated or purchased and at subsequent measurement dates. The expected credit losses, and subsequent adjustment to such losses, are recorded through an allowance account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, with the net carrying value of the asset presented on the consolidated balance sheet.

The guidance also modifies the impairment model for available for sale fixed maturity securities by requiring the recognition of other than temporary impairments ("OTTI") relating to credit losses through an allowance account, as opposed to a charge that cannot be revised should the underlying security recover. Under the guidance, the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position will no longer impact the determination as to whether an OTTI loss exists.

The guidance relating to financial assets measured at amortized cost was adopted on a modified retrospective basis, resulting in a net of tax adjustment to January 1, 2020 retained earnings of $2.3. The Company’s total credit loss allowance relating to financial assets increased from $30.1 as of January 1, 2020 to $35.4 at June 30, 2020. The June 30, 2020 allowance was comprised of $15.0 related to reinsurance recoverables and $20.4 related to accounts and notes receivable. At adoption, the allowance included $14.5 related to reinsurance recoverables, $15.5 related to accounts and notes receivable, and an immaterial amount related to held to maturity securities.

The Company performs an ongoing evaluation of reinsurance balances outstanding and uses a probability-of-default methodology to estimate the credit allowance for uncollectible amounts. Allowances for uncollectible accounts and notes receivable are established based on a review of amounts outstanding, historical charge off activity, and current and forecasted economic conditions.

The revised impairment guidance for available for sale fixed maturity securities was adopted on a prospective basis. Related disclosures relative to this standard’s impact on the Company’s investment portfolio are included in Note 3.

The financial accounting and reporting process relies on estimates and on the exercise of judgment. In the opinion of management all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring accruals necessary for a fair presentation of interim periods' results and financial position have been recorded. Amounts shown in the consolidated financial statements and applicable notes are stated (except as otherwise indicated and as to share data) in millions, which amounts may not add to totals shown due to truncation. Necessary reclassifications are made in prior periods' financial statements whenever appropriate to conform to the most current presentation.