Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses [Abstract]

Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

7. Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Year to-date activity in the consolidated reserves for unpaid losses and LAE is summarized as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,		September 30,
	2020		2019
Balance at January 1	$	620,355	$	527,247
Less reinsurance recoverable		272,604		221,716
Net balance at January 1		347,751		305,531
Incurred related to:
Current year		257,572		214,080
Loss portfolio transfer		21,700		—
Prior years		33,259		7,781
Total incurred		312,531		221,861
Paid related to:
Current year		67,146		75,834
Loss portfolio transfer		21,700		—
Prior years		177,325		146,929
Total paid		266,171		222,763
Net balance at September 30		394,111		304,629
Plus reinsurance recoverable		361,780		260,667
Balance at September 30	$	755,891	$	565,296

The year to date impact from the unfavorable (favorable) net prior years’ loss development on each reporting segment is presented below:

	September 30,
	2020		2019
Specialty Commercial Segment	$	23,961	$	11,232
Standard Commercial Segment		2,350		(3,508)
Personal Segment		6,948		57
Corporate		—		—
Total unfavorable net prior year development	$	33,259	$	7,781

The following describes the primary factors behind each segment’s prior accident year reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:

Nine months ended September 30, 2020:

● Specialty Commercial Segment. Our Commercial Auto business unit experienced net unfavorable development in the 2018 and prior accident years both in the primary and excess commercial automobile liability lines of business, partially offset by net favorable development in the excess commercial automobile lines of business in the 2019 accident year. Our E&S Casualty business unit experienced net unfavorable development primarily in our primary liability line of business and our E&S package insurance products in the  2017, 2016, 2015 and 2013 and prior accident years, partially offset by net favorable development in the 2019, 2018 and 2014 accident years. We experienced net favorable development in our E&S Property business unit, partially offset by net unfavorable development in our Aerospace & Programs and Professional Liability business units.

● Standard Commercial Segment. Our Commercial Accounts business unit experienced net unfavorable development primarily in the general liability line of business in the 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2013 and prior accident years, partially offset by net favorable development in the 2019 and 2014 accident years primarily in the general liability line of business. Our Commercial Accounts business unit experienced net favorable development in the 2016 and 2015 accident years, partially offset by net unfavorable development in the 2017 and 2014 accident years, in the occupational accident line of business. The run-off from our former Workers Compensation operating unit experienced net favorable development in the 2014 and prior accident years, partially offset by net unfavorable development in the 2015 accident year.

● Personal Segment. Net unfavorable development in our Specialty Personal Lines business unit was mostly attributable to the 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 accident years, partially offset by favorable development in the 2015 and prior accident years. The net development during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was driven predominately by unfavorable development attributable to more recent treaty years where we retain a greater portion of the claims.

Nine months ended September 30, 2019:

● Specialty Commercial Segment. Our Commercial Auto business unit experienced net unfavorable development in the 2017 and prior accident years primarily in the primary commercial automobile liability line of business, partially offset by net favorable development in the primary commercial automobile line of business in the 2018 accident year. Our E&S Casualty business unit experienced net unfavorable development primarily in our E&S package insurance products in the 2017 and prior accident years, partially offset by net favorable development in the 2018 accident year. We experienced net favorable development in our E&S Property and Professional Liability business units, partially offset by net unfavorable development in our Aerospace & Programs business unit.

● Standard Commercial Segment. Our Commercial Accounts business unit experienced net favorable development in the 2018, 2017, 2014 and 2012 and prior accident years primarily in the general liability line of business, partially offset by net unfavorable development primarily in the general liability line of business in the 2016 and 2015 accident years. Our Commercial Accounts business unit experienced net favorable development in the 2017 and 2015 accident years in the occupational accident line of business. The run-off from our former Workers Compensation operating unit experienced net favorable development in the 2015 and 2012 and prior accident years, partially offset by net unfavorable development in the 2014 and 2013 accident years.

● Personal Segment. Net unfavorable development in our Specialty Personal Lines business unit was mostly attributable to the 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 and prior accident years, partially offset by favorable development in the 2017, 2015 and 2013 accident years.