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Premium Deficiency Reserve
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Premium Deficiency Reserve [Abstract]  
Premium Deficiency Reserve
10.Premium Deficiency Reserve

Beginning in 2007, when we stopped writing Wall Street bulk business, we began to separately measure the performance of these transactions and established a premium deficiency reserve related to this business. The premium deficiency reserve reflects the present value of expected future losses and expenses that exceeded the present value of expected future premiums and already established loss reserves.
 
The components of the premium deficiency reserve at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 appear in the table below.
 
 
 December 31, 
 
 
2013
  
2012
  
2011
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
Present value of expected future premium
 
$
432
  
$
445
  
$
494
 
 
            
Present value of expected future paid losses and expenses
  
(1,101
)
  
(1,285
)
  
(1,455
)
 
            
Net present value of future cash flows
  
(669
)
  
(840
)
  
(961
)
 
            
Established loss reserves
  
621
   
766
   
826
 
 
            
Net deficiency
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(74
)
 
$
(135
)
 
            
Discount rate utilized at December 31,
  
1.6
%
  
1.3
%
  
2.3
%

Each quarter, we re-estimate the premium deficiency reserve on the remaining Wall Street bulk insurance in force. The premium deficiency reserve primarily changes from quarter to quarter as a result of two factors.  First, it changes as the actual premiums, losses and expenses that were previously estimated are recognized. Each period such items are reflected in our financial statements as earned premium, losses incurred and expenses. The difference between the amount and timing of actual earned premiums, losses incurred and expenses and our previous estimates used to establish the premium deficiency reserves has an effect (either positive or negative) on that period’s results. Second, the premium deficiency reserve changes as our assumptions relating to the present value of expected future premiums, losses and expenses on the remaining Wall Street bulk insurance in force change. Changes to these assumptions also have an effect on that period’s results.

The decrease in the premium deficiency reserve for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $26 million, $61 million and $44 million, respectively, as shown in the tables below. The decrease represents the net result of actual premiums, losses and expenses as well as a net change in assumptions for these periods. The change in assumptions for 2013 is primarily related to higher estimated ultimate premiums resulting principally from an increase in the projected persistency rate, somewhat offset by higher estimated ultimate losses resulting principally from an increase in the number of projected claims that will ultimately be paid. The change in assumptions for 2012 is primarily related to higher estimated ultimate losses resulting principally from an increase in the number of projected claims that will ultimately be paid. The change in assumptions for 2011 is primarily related to higher estimated ultimate premiums resulting principally from an increase in the projected persistency rate, somewhat offset by higher estimated ultimate losses resulting principally from an increase in the number of projected claims that will ultimately be paid.
 
The decrease in the premium deficiency reserve for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 appears in the table below.
 
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
2013
  
2012
  
2011
 
 
 
(In millions)
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
Premium Deficiency Reserve at beginning of period
 
  
$
(74
)
 
  
$
(135
)
 
  
$
(179
)
 
 
      
      
     
Paid claims and loss adjustment expenses
 
$
214
      
$
279
      
$
334
     
Decrease in loss reserves
  
(145
)
      
(60
)
      
(249
)
    
Premium earned
  
(96
)
      
(102
)
      
(120
)
    
Effects of present valuing on future premiums, losses and expenses
  
(1
)
      
(1
)
      
(8
)
    
 
                        
Change in premium deficiency reserve to reflect actual premium, losses and expenses recognized
      
(28
)
      
116
       
(43
)
 
                        
Change in premium deficiency reserve to reflect change in assumptions relating to future premiums, losses, expenses and discount rate (1)
      
54
       
(55
)
      
87
 
 
                        
Premium Deficiency Reserve at end of period
     
$
(48
)
     
$
(74
)
     
$
(135
)

(1)  A positive (negative) number for changes in assumptions relating to premiums, losses, expenses and discount rate indicates a redundancy (deficiency) of prior premium deficiency reserves.

Each quarter we perform a premium deficiency analysis on the portion of our book of business not covered by the premium deficiency described above. As of December 31, 2013, the analysis concluded that there was no premium deficiency on such portion of our book of business. For the reasons discussed below, our analysis of any potential deficiency reserve is subject to inherent uncertainty and requires significant judgment by management. To the extent, in a future period, expected losses are higher or expected premiums are lower than the assumptions we used in our analysis, we could be required to record a premium deficiency reserve on this portion of our book of business in such period.

The calculation of premium deficiency reserves requires the use of significant judgments and estimates to determine the present value of future premium and present value of expected losses and expenses on our business.  The calculation of future premium depends on, among other things, assumptions about persistency and repayment patterns on underlying loans.  The calculation of expected losses and expenses depends on assumptions relating to severity of claims and claim rates on current defaults, and expected defaults in future periods. These assumptions also include an estimate of expected rescission activity. Similar to our loss reserve estimates, our estimates for premium deficiency reserves could be adversely affected by several factors, including a deterioration of regional or economic conditions leading to a reduction in borrowers’ income and thus their ability to make mortgage payments, and a drop in housing values that could expose us to greater losses.  Assumptions used in calculating the deficiency reserves can also be affected by volatility in the current housing and mortgage lending industries.  To the extent premium patterns and actual loss experience differ from the assumptions used in calculating the premium deficiency reserves, the differences between the actual results and our estimates will affect future period earnings and could be material.