Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

16. Commitments and Contingencies:

We have several leases, primarily for office facilities and computer equipment, which expire in various years through 2022. Certain of these leases contain renewal options. Rental expense amounted to $2.8 million, $2.5 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):


Year
2018	$	2,398
2019		2,251
2020		2,151
2021		1,155
2022		507
2023 and thereafter		-
Total minimum lease payments (a)	$	8,462

(a) Minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of $35 thousand due in the future under non-cancelable subleases.

From time to time, assessments are levied on us by the guaranty association of the states where we offer our insurance products. Such assessments are made primarily to cover the losses of policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated insurers. Since these assessments can generally be recovered through a reduction in future premium taxes paid, we capitalize the assessments that can be recovered as they are paid and amortize the capitalized balance against our premium tax expense. We paid assessments of $36 thousand and $0.1 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We are engaged in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, none of which, either individually or in the aggregate, are believed likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, in the opinion of management. The various legal proceedings to which we are a party are routine in nature and incidental to our business.