2019 Mississippi Code
Title 83 - Insurance
Chapter 7 - Life Insurance
General Provisions
§ 83-7-23. Standard valuation law
(1) Title and definitions:
(a) This section shall be known as the Standard Valuation Law.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply on or after the operative date of the valuation manual:
(i) The term “accident and health insurance” means contracts that incorporate morbidity risk and provide protection against economic loss resulting from accident, sickness, or medical conditions and as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(ii) The term “appointed actuary” means a qualified actuary who is appointed in accordance with the valuation manual to prepare the actuarial opinion required in subsection (3)(b) of this section.
(iii) The term “company” means an entity, which:
(A) Has written, issued, or reinsured life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and has at least one (1) such policy in force or on claim; or
(B) Has written, issued, or reinsured life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in any state and is required to hold a certificate of authority to write life insurance, accident and health insurance, or deposit-type contracts in this state.
(iv) The term “deposit-type contract” means contracts that do not incorporate mortality or morbidity risks and as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(v) The term “life insurance” means contracts that incorporate mortality risk, including annuity and pure endowment contracts, and as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(vi) The term “NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(vii) The term “policyholder behavior” means any action a policyholder, contract holder or any other person with the right to elect options, such as a certificate holder, may take under a policy or contract subject to this section, including, but not limited to, lapse, withdrawal, transfer, deposit, premium payment, loan, annuitization, or benefit elections prescribed by the policy or contract but excluding events of mortality or morbidity that result in benefits prescribed in their essential aspects by the terms of the policy or contract.
(viii) The term “principle-based valuation” means a reserve valuation that uses one or more methods or one or more assumptions determined by the insurer and is required to comply with subsection (12) of this section as specified in the valuation manual.
(ix) The term “qualified actuary” means an individual who is qualified to sign the applicable statement of actuarial opinion in accordance with the American Academy of Actuaries qualification standards for actuaries signing such statements and who meets the requirements specified in the valuation manual.
(x) The term “tail risk” means a risk that occurs either where the frequency of low probability events is higher than expected under a normal probability distribution or where there are observed events of very significant size or magnitude.
(xi) The term “valuation manual” means the manual of valuation instructions adopted by the NAIC as specified in this section or as subsequently amended.
(2) Reserve valuation:
(a) Policies and contracts issued prior to the operative date of the valuation manual.
(i) The Insurance Commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of every life insurance company doing business in this state issued on or after April 14, 1948, and prior to the operative date of the valuation manual, except that, in the case of an alien company, such valuation shall be limited to its United States business. In calculating such reserves, the commissioner may use group methods and approximate averages for fractions of a year or otherwise. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves herein required of any foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept any valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any other state or other jurisdiction when such other valuation complies with the minimum standard provided in this section.
(ii) The provisions set forth in subsections (3), (3-a), (3-b), (4), (4-a), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (10) of this section shall apply to all policies and contracts, as appropriate, subject to this section issued on or after April 14, 1948, and prior to the operative date of the valuation manual and the provisions set forth in subsections (11) and (12) of this section shall not apply to any such policies and contracts.
(iii) The minimum standard for the valuation of policies and contracts issued prior to April 14, 1948, shall be that provided by the laws in effect immediately prior to that date.
(b) Policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual:
(i) The commissioner shall annually value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance contracts, annuity and pure endowment contracts, accident and health contracts, and deposit-type contracts of every company issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required of a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept a valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction when the valuation complies with the minimum standard provided in this section.
(ii) The provisions set forth in subsections (11) and (12) of this section shall apply to all policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.
(3) Computation of minimum standard: Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3-a) and (3-b) of this section the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued before the operative date of Section 83-7-25 shall be that provided by the laws in effect immediately before such date.
Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3-a) and (3-b) of this section, the minimum standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of Section 83-7-25 (the standard nonforfeiture law) shall be the commissioners reserve valuation methods defined in subsections (4), (4-a) and (7) of this section, three and one-half percent (3-½%) interest, or in the case of policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued on or after September 1, 1975, four percent (4%) interest for such policies issued prior to January 1, 1980, five and one-half percent (5-½%) interest for single premium life insurance policies and four and one-half percent (4-½%) interest for all other such policies issued on and after January 1, 1980, and the following tables:
(a) For all ordinary policies of life insurance issued on the standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, – the Commissioners 1941 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table for such policies issued before the operative date of subsection (5-a) of Section 83-7-25 of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance as amended; the Commissioners 1958 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table for such policies issued on or after the operative date of subsection (5-a) of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance as amended (Section 83-7-25(5-a)) and before the operative date of subsection (5-c) of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance as amended (Section 83-7-25(5-c)), provided that for any category of such policies issued on female risks all modified net premiums and present values referred to in this section may be calculated according to an age not more than six (6) years younger than the actual age of the insured; and for such policies issued on or after the operative date of subsection (5-c) of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance as amended (Section 83-7-25(5-c)):
(i) The Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table, or
(ii) At the election of the insurer for any one or more specified plans of life insurance, the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table with Ten-Year Select Mortality Factors, or
(iii) Any ordinary mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies.
(b) For industrial life insurance policies issued on the standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, – the 1941 Standard Industrial Mortality Table for such policies issued prior to the operative date of subsection (5-b) of Section 83-7-25, the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance as amended, and for such policies issued on or after such operative date the Commissioners 1961 Standard Industrial Mortality Table or any industrial mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies.
(c) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, the 1937 Standard Annuity Mortality Table or, at the option of the company, the Annuity Mortality Table for 1949, Ultimate, or any modification of either of these tables approved by the commissioner.
(d) For group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies, the Group Annuity Mortality Table for 1951, any modification of such table approved by the commissioner, or, at the option of the company, any of the tables or modifications of tables specified for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(e) For total and permanent disability benefits in or supplementary to ordinary policies or contracts, – for policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1966, the tables of Period 2 disablement rates and the 1930 to 1950 termination rates of the 1952 Disability Study of the Society of Actuaries, with due regard to the type of benefit or any tables of disablement rates and termination rates, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which are approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies; for policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1961, and prior to January 1, 1966, either such tables or, at the option of the company, the Class (3) Disability Table (1926); and for policies issued prior to January 1, 1961, the Class (3) Disability Table (1926). Any such table shall, for active lives, be combined with a mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance policies.
(f) For accidental death benefits in or supplementary to policies – for policies issued on or after January 1, 1966, the 1959 Accidental Death Benefits Table or any accidental death benefits table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such policies; for policies issued on or after January 1, 1961, and prior to January 1, 1966, either such table or, at the option of the company, the Inter-Company Double Indemnity Mortality Table; and for policies issued prior to January 1, 1961, the Inter-Company Double Indemnity Mortality Table. Either table shall be combined with a mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance policies.
(g) For group life insurance, life insurance issued on the substandard basis and other special benefits – such tables as may be approved by the commissioner.
(3-a) Computation of minimum standard for annuities:
(a) Except as provided in subsection (3-b), the minimum standard for the valuation of all individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after the operative date of this subsection (3-a), as defined herein, and for all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after such operative date under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall be the commissioner’s reserve valuation methods defined in subsections (4) and (4-a) of this section and the following tables and interest rates:
(i) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued before January 1, 1980, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, – the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the commissioner, and six percent (6%) interest for single premium immediate annuity contracts, and four percent (4%) interest for all other individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(ii) For individual single premium immediate annuity contracts issued on or after January 1, 1980, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, – the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any individual annuity mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such contracts, or any modification of these tables approved by the commissioner, and seven and one-half percent (7-½%) interest.
(iii) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after January 1, 1980, other than single premium immediate annuity contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality Table, or any individual annuity mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such contracts, or any modification of these tables approved by the commissioner, and five and one-half percent (5-½%) interest for single premium deferred annuity and pure endowment contracts and four and one-half percent (4-½%) interest for all other such individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(iv) For all annuities and pure endowments purchased prior to January 1, 1980, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits purchased under such contracts, the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table, or any modification of this table approved by the commissioner, and six percent (6%) interest.
(v) For all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after January 1, 1980, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits purchased under such contracts, the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table, or any group annuity mortality table, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, which is approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for such annuities and pure endowments, or any modification of these tables approved by the commissioner, and seven and one-half percent (7-½%) interest.
(b) After September 1, 1975, any insurer may file with the commissioner a written notice of its election to comply with the provisions of this subsection (3-a) after a specified date before January 1, 1979, which shall be the operative date of this subsection for such insurer, provided an insurer may elect a different operative date for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts from that elected for group annuity and pure endowment contracts. If an insurer makes no such election, the operative date of this subsection for such insurer shall be January 1, 1979.
(3-b) Computation of minimum standard by calendar year of issue:
(a) Applicability of this subsection. The interest rates used in determining the minimum standard for the valuation of the following shall be the calendar year statutory valuation interest rates as defined in this subsection:
(i) Life insurance policies issued in a particular calendar year, on or after the operative date of Section (5-c) of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance (Section 83-7-25(5-c));
(ii) Individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued in a particular calendar year on or after January 1, 1984;
(iii) Annuities and pure endowments purchased in a particular calendar year on or after January 1, 1984, under group annuity and pure endowment contracts; and
(iv) The net increase, if any, in a particular calendar year after January 1, 1984, in amounts held under guaranteed interest contracts shall be the calendar year statutory valuation interest rates as defined in this subsection.
(b) Calendar year statutory valuation interest rates.
(i) The calendar year statutory valuation interest rates, I, shall be determined as follows and the results rounded to the nearer one-quarter of one percent (¼ of 1%):
(A) For life insurance,
I =.03 + W (R1 -.03) + W/2 (R2 -.09);(B) For single premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and from guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options,
I =.03 + W (R -.03) where R1 is the lesser of R and.09, R2 is the greater of R and.09, R is the reference interest rate defined in this section, and W is the weighting factor defined in this section;(C) For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on an issue year basis, except as stated in (B) above, the formula for life insurance stated in (A) above shall apply to annuities and guaranteed interest contracts with guarantee durations in excess of ten (10) years and the formula for single premium immediate annuities stated in (B) above shall apply to annuities and guaranteed interest contracts with guarantee duration of ten (10) years or less;
(D) For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the formula for single premium immediate annuities stated in (B) above shall apply;
(E) For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a change in fund basis, the formula for single premium immediate annuities stated in (B) above shall apply.
(ii) However, if the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for any life insurance policies issued in any calendar year determined without reference to this sentence differs from the corresponding actual rate for similar policies issued in the immediately preceding calendar year by less than one-half of one percent (½ of 1%), the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for such life insurance policies shall be equal to the corresponding actual rate for the immediately preceding calendar year. For purposes of applying the immediately preceding sentence, the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies issued in a calendar year shall be determined for 1980 (using the reference interest rate defined for 1979) and shall be determined for each subsequent calendar year regardless of when Section (5-c) of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance (Section 83-7-25(5-c)) becomes operative.
(c) Weighting factors.
(i) The weighting factors referred to in the formulas stated above are given in the following tables:
(A) Weighting factors for life insurance:
| Guarantee Duration (Years) | Weighting Factors |
|---|---|
| 10 or less | .50 |
| More than 10, but not more than 20 | .45 |
| More than 20 | .35 |
(B) Weighting factor for single premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options:
.80
(C) Weighting factors for other annuities and for guaranteed interest contracts, except as stated in (B) above, shall be as specified in tables 1, 2 and 3 below, according to the rules and definitions in 4 and 5 below:
1. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue year basis:
| Guarantee Duration (Years) | Weighting Factor for Plan Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | |
| 5 or less: | .80 | .60 | .50 |
| More than 5, but not more than 10: | .75 | .60 | .50 |
| More than 10, but not more than 20: | .65 | .50 | .45 |
| More than 20: | .45 | .35 | .35 |
2. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change in fund basis, the factors shown in 1 above increased by:
| Plan Type | ||
|---|---|---|
| A | B | C |
| .15 | .25 | .05 |
3. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue year basis (other than those with no cash settlement options) which do not guarantee interest on considerations received more than one (1) year after issue or purchase and for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change in fund basis which do not guarantee interest rates on considerations received more than twelve (12) months beyond the valuation date, the factors shown in 1 or derived in 2 increased by:
| Plan Type | ||
|---|---|---|
| A | B | C |
| .05 | .05 | .05 |
4. For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, the guarantee duration is the number of years for which the contract guarantees interest rates in excess of the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for life insurance policies with guarantee duration in excess of twenty (20) years. For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the guarantee duration is the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date annuity benefits are scheduled to commence.
5. Plan type as used in the above tables is defined as follows:
Plan Type A: At any time policyholder may withdraw funds only (1) with an adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurance company, or (2) without such adjustment but in installments over five (5) years or more, or (3) as an immediate life annuity, or (4) no withdrawal permitted. Plan Type B: Before expiration of the interest rate guarantee, policyholder may withdraw funds only (1) with adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurance company, or (2) without such adjustment but in installments over five (5) years or more, or (3) no withdrawal permitted. At the end of interest rate guarantee funds may be withdrawn without such adjustment in a single sum or installments over less than five (5) years. Plan Type C: Policyholder may withdraw funds before expiration of interest rate guarantee in a single sum or installments over less than five (5) years either (1) without adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurance company, or (2) subject only to a fixed surrender charge stipulated in the contract as a percentage of the fund.(ii) A company may elect to value guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options and annuities with cash settlement options on either an issue year basis or on a change in fund basis. Guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options and other annuities with no cash settlement options must be valued on an issue year basis. As used in this subsection, an issue year basis of valuation refers to a valuation basis under which the interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation standard for the entire duration of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of issue or year of purchase of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract, and the change in fund basis of valuation refers to a valuation basis under which the interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation standard applicable to each change in the fund held under the annuity or guaranteed interest contract is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of the change in the fund.
(d) Reference interest rate.
(i) The reference interest rate referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection shall be defined as follows:
(A) For all life insurance, the lesser of the average over a period of thirty-six (36) months and the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year next preceding the year of issue, of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(B) For single premium immediate annuities and for annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or year of purchase of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(C) For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a year of issue basis, except as stated in (B) above, with guarantee duration in excess of ten (10) years, the lesser of the average over a period of thirty-six (36) months and the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(D) For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a year of issue basis, except as stated in (B) above, with guarantee duration of ten (10) years or less, the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(E) For other annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(F) For other annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a change in fund basis, except as stated in (B) above, the average over a period of twelve (12) months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of the change in the fund, of the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
(e) Alternative method for determining reference interest rates.
In the event that the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, is no longer published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or in the event that the NAIC determines that the monthly average of the composite yield on seasoned corporate bonds, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., is no longer appropriate for the determination of the reference interest rate, then an alternative method for determination of the reference interest rate, which is adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and approved by regulation promulgated by the commissioner, may be substituted.
(4) Reserve valuation method-life insurance and endowment benefits: Except as otherwise provided in subsections (4-a) and (7), reserves according to the commissioners reserve valuation method, for the life insurance and endowment benefits of policies providing for a uniform amount of insurance and requiring the payment of uniform premiums, shall be the excess, if any, of the present value, at the date of valuation, of such future guaranteed benefits provided for by such policies, over the then present value of any future modified net premiums therefor. The modified net premiums for any such policy shall be such uniform percentage of the respective contract premiums for such benefits that the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of all such modified net premiums shall be equal to the sum of the then present value of such benefits provided for by the policy and the excess of (a) over (b), as follows:
(a) A net level annual premium equal to the present value, at the date of issue, of such benefits provided for after the first policy year, divided by the present value, at the date of issue, of an annuity of one (1) per annum payable on the first and each subsequent anniversary of such policy on which a premium falls due; provided, however, that such net level annual premium shall not exceed the net level annual premium on the nineteen-year premium whole life plan for insurance of the same amount at an age one (1) year higher than the age at issue of such policy.
(b) A net one-year term premium for such benefits provided for in the first policy year.
Provided that for any life insurance policy issued on or after January 1, 1987, for which the contract premium in the first policy year exceeds that of the second year and for which no comparable additional benefit is provided in the first year for such excess and which provides an endowment benefit or a cash surrender value or a combination thereof in an amount greater than such excess premium, the reserve according to the commissioners reserve valuation method as of any policy anniversary occurring on or before the assumed ending date defined herein as the first policy anniversary on which the sum of any endowment benefit and any cash surrender value then available is greater than such excess premium shall, except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), be the greater of the reserve as of such policy anniversary calculated as described in the preceding paragraph and the reserve as of such policy anniversary calculated as described in that paragraph, but with (i) the value defined in subparagraph (a) of that paragraph being reduced by fifteen percent (15%) of the amount of such excess first year premium, (ii) all present values of benefits and premiums being determined without reference to premiums or benefits provided for by the policy after the assumed ending date, (iii) the policy being assumed to mature on such date as an endowment, and (iv) the cash surrender value provided on such date being considered as an endowment benefit. In making the above comparison the mortality and interest bases stated in subsections (3-a) and (3-b) shall be used.
Reserves according to the commissioners reserve valuation method for: (i) life insurance policies providing for a varying amount of insurance or requiring the payment of varying premiums; (ii) group annuity and pure endowment contracts purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation, established or maintained by an employer (including a partnership or sole proprietorship) or by an employee organization, or by both, other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended; (iii) disability and accidental death benefits in all policies and contracts; and (iv) all other benefits, except life insurance and endowment benefits in life insurance policies and benefits provided by all other annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall be calculated by a method consistent with the principles of the preceding paragraphs of this subsection.
(4-a) Reserve valuation method-annuity and pure endowment benefits: This subsection shall apply to all annuity and pure endowment contracts other than group annuity and pure endowment contracts purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation, established or maintained by an employer (including a partnership or sole proprietorship) or by an employee organization, or by both, other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code, as now or hereafter amended.
Reserves according to the commissioners annuity reserve method for benefits under annuity or pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, shall be the greatest of the respective excesses of the present values, at the date of valuation, of the future guaranteed benefits, including guaranteed nonforfeiture benefits, provided for by such contracts at the end of each respective contract year, over the present value, at the date of valuation, of any future valuation considerations derived from future gross considerations, required by the terms of such contract, that become payable prior to the end of such respective contract year. The future guaranteed benefits shall be determined by using the mortality table, if any, and the interest rate, or rates, specified in such contracts for determining guaranteed benefits. The valuation considerations are the portions of the respective gross considerations applied under the terms of such contracts to determine nonforfeiture values.
(5) Minimum reserves: In no event shall a company’s aggregate reserves for all life insurance policies, excluding disability and accidental death benefits, issued on or after the operative date of the standard nonforfeiture law (Section 83-7-25), be less than the aggregate reserves calculated in accordance with the methods set forth in subsections (4), (4-a), (7) and (8) and the mortality table or tables and rate or rates of interest used in calculating nonforfeiture benefits for such policies.
(6) Optional reserve calculation: Reserves for all policies and contracts issued prior to the effective date of Section 83-7-25 (the standard nonforfeiture law) may be calculated, at the option of the company, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for all such policies and contracts than the minimum reserves required by the laws in effect immediately prior to such date.
Reserves for any category of policies, contracts or benefits as established by the commissioner, issued on or after the operative date of Section 83-7-25 (the standard nonforfeiture law), may be calculated, at the option of the company, according to any standards which produce greater aggregate reserves for such category than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided, but the rate or rates of interest used for policies and contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall not be greater than the corresponding rate or rates of interest used in calculating any nonforfeiture benefits provided for in the policies or contracts.
Any company which at any time shall have adopted any standard of valuation producing greater aggregate reserves than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided may, with the approval of the commissioner, adopt any lower standard of valuation, but not lower than the minimum herein provided.
(7) Reserve calculation-valuation net premium exceeding the gross premium charges: If in any contract year the gross premium charged by any life insurance company on any policy or contract is less than the valuation net premium for the policy or contract calculated by the method used in calculating the reserve thereon, but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest, the minimum reserve required for such policy or contract shall be the greater of either the reserve calculated according to the mortality table, rate of interest and method actually used for such policy or contract, or the reserve calculated by the method actually used for such policy or contract but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest and replacing the valuation net premium by the actual gross premium in each contract year for which the valuation net premium exceeds the actual gross premium. The minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest referred to in this section are those standards stated in subsections (3) and (3-b).
Provided that for any life insurance policy issued on or after January 1, 1987, for which the gross premium in the first policy year exceeds that of the second year and for which no comparable additional benefit is provided in the first year for such excess and which provides an endowment benefit or a cash surrender value or a combination thereof in an amount greater than such excess premium, the foregoing provisions of this subsection (7) shall be applied as if the method actually used in calculating the reserve for such policy were the method described in subsection (4), ignoring the second paragraph of subsection (4). The minimum reserve at each policy anniversary of such a policy shall be the greater of the minimum reserve calculated in accordance with subsection (4), including the second paragraph of that subsection, and the minimum reserve calculated in accordance with this subsection (7).
(8) Reserve calculation-indeterminate premium plans: In the case of any plan of life insurance which provides for future premium determination, the amounts of which are to be determined by the insurance company based on then estimates of future experience, or in the case of any plan of life insurance or annuity which is of such a nature that the minimum reserves cannot be determined by the methods described in subsections (4), (4-a) and (7), the reserves which are held under any such plan must:
(a) Be appropriate in relation to the benefits and the pattern of premiums for that plan, and
(b) Be computed by a method which is consistent with the principles of this Standard Valuation Law as determined by regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
(9) Actuarial opinion of reserves:
(a) Actuarial opinion prior to the operative date of the valuation manual.
(i) General. Every life insurance company doing business in this state annually shall submit the opinion of a qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by regulation are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions which satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts and comply with applicable laws of this state. The commissioner by regulation shall define the specifics of this opinion and add any other items deemed to be necessary to its scope.
(ii) Actuarial analysis of reserves and assets supporting reserves.
(A) Every life insurance company, except as exempted by or in accordance with regulation, shall also annually include in the opinion required by paragraph (a) of this subsection an opinion of the same qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by regulation, when considered in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including, but not limited to, the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts including, but not limited to, the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.
(B) The commissioner may provide by regulation for a transition period for establishing any higher reserves which the qualified actuary may deem necessary in order to render the opinion required by this subsection.
(iii) Each opinion required by subsection (9)(a)(ii) of this subsection shall be governed by the following provisions:
(A) A memorandum, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by regulation, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.
(B) If the insurance company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified by regulation or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the regulations or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare such supporting memorandum as is required by the commissioner.
(iv) Every opinion required by subsection (9)(a) shall be governed by the following provisions:
(A) The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending on or after December 31, 1994.
(B) The opinion shall apply to all business in force including individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by regulation.
(C) The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the Actuarial Standards Board and on such additional standards as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe.
(D) In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.
(E) For the purposes of this section, “qualified actuary” means a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries who meets the requirements set forth in such regulations.
(F) Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the qualified actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person, other than the insurance company and the commissioner, for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to the actuary’s opinion.
(G) Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the company or the qualified actuary shall be defined in regulations by the commissioner.
(H) Any memorandum in support of the opinion, and any other material provided by the company to the commissioner in connection therewith, shall be kept confidential by the commissioner and shall not be made public and shall not be subject to subpoena, other than for the purpose of defending an action seeking damages from any person by reason of any action required by this section or by regulations promulgated hereunder; however, the memorandum or other material may otherwise be released by the commissioner with the written consent of the company or to the American Academy of Actuaries upon request stating that the memorandum or other material is required for the purpose of professional disciplinary proceedings and setting forth procedures satisfactory to the commissioner for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material. Once any portion of the confidential memorandum is cited by the company in its marketing or is cited before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or is released by the company to the news media, all portions of the confidential memorandum shall be no longer confidential.
(b) Actuarial opinion of reserves after the operative date of the valuation manual.
(i) General. Every company with outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts or deposit-type contracts in this state and subject to regulation by the commissioner shall annually submit the opinion of the appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts are computed appropriately, are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts and comply with applicable laws of this state. The valuation manual will prescribe the specifics of this opinion including any items deemed to be necessary to its scope.
(ii) Actuarial analysis of reserves and assets supporting reserves. Every company with outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts or deposit-type contracts in this state and subject to regulation by the commissioner, except as exempted in the valuation manual, shall also annually include in the opinion required by subparagraph (i) of this subsection (9)(b), an opinion of the same appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified in the valuation manual, when considered in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including, but not limited to, the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts, including, but not limited to, the benefits under and expenses associated with the policies and contracts.
(iii) Each opinion required by subsection (9)(b)(ii) shall be governed by the following provisions:
(A) A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual, and acceptable to the commissioner, shall be prepared to support each actuarial opinion.
(B) If the insurance company fails to provide a supporting memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period specified in the valuation manual or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the valuation manual or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the commissioner.
(iv) Requirements for all opinions subject to subsection (9)(b):
(A) The opinion shall be in form and substance as specified in the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.
(B) The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year ending on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.
(C) The opinion shall apply to all policies and contracts subject to subsection (9) (b) (ii), plus other actuarial liabilities as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(D) The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from time to time by the Actuarial Standards Board or its successor, and on such additional standards as may be prescribed in the valuation manual.
(E) In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.
(F) Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the appointed actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person (other than the insurance company and the commissioner) for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to the appointed actuary’s opinion.
(G) Disciplinary action by the commissioner against the company or the appointed actuary shall be defined in regulations by the commissioner.
(10) For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual is the minimum standard of valuation required under subsection (2)(b). For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after April 14, 1948, and prior to the operative date of the valuation manual, the minimum standard valuation is the standard prescribed by the applicable laws and regulations of this state.
(11) Valuation manual for policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual:
(a) For policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual is the minimum standard of valuation required under subsection (2)(b), except as provided under paragraph (e) or (g) of this subsection.
(b) The operative date of the valuation manual is January 1 of the first calendar year following the first July 1 as of which all of the following have occurred:
(i) The valuation manual has been adopted by the NAIC by an affirmative vote of at least forty-two (42) members, or three-fourths (¾) of the members voting, whichever is greater.
(ii) The Standard Valuation Law, as amended by the NAIC in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by states representing greater than seventy-five percent (75%) of the direct premiums written as reported in the following annual statements submitted for 2008: life, accident and health annual statements; health annual statements; or fraternal annual statements.
(iii) The Standard Valuation Law, as amended by the NAIC in 2009, or legislation including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by at least forty-two (42) of the following fifty-five (55) jurisdictions: The fifty (50) States of the United States, American Samoa, the American Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
(c) Unless a change in the valuation manual specifies a later effective date, changes to the valuation manual shall be effective on January 1 following the date when change to the valuation manual has been adopted by the NAIC by an affirmative vote representing:
(i) At least three-fourths (¾) of the members of the NAIC voting, but not less than a majority of the total membership; and
(ii) Members of the NAIC representing jurisdictions totaling greater than seventy-five percent (75%) of the direct premiums written as reported in the following annual statements most recently available prior to the vote in subsection (c)(i)(A): life, accident and health annual statements, health annual statements, or fraternal annual statements.
(d) The valuation manual must specify all of the following:
(i) Minimum valuation standards for and definitions of the policies or contracts subject to subsection (2)(b). Such minimum valuation standards shall be:
(A) The commissioner’s reserve valuation method for life insurance contracts, other than annuity contracts, subject to subsection (2)(b);
(B) The commissioners annuity reserve valuation method for annuity contracts subject to subsection (2)(b); and
(C) Minimum reserves for all other policies or contracts subject to subsection (2)(b).
(ii) Which policies or contracts or types of policies or contracts that are subject to the requirements of a principle-based valuation in subsection (12)(a) and the minimum valuation standards consistent with those requirements;
(iii) For policies and contracts subject to a principle-based valuation under subsection (12):
(A) Requirements for the format of reports to the commissioner under subsection (12)(b)(iii) and which shall include information necessary to determine if the valuation is appropriate and in compliance with this section;
(B) Assumptions shall be prescribed for risks over which the company does not have significant control or influence.
(C) Procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the actuarial function, and a process for appropriate waiver or modification of such procedures.
(iv) For policies not subject to a principle-based valuation under subsection (12) the minimum valuation standard shall either:
(A) Be consistent with the minimum standard of valuation prior to the operative date of the valuation manual; or
(B) Develop reserves that quantify the benefits and guarantees, and the funding, associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events that have a reasonable probability of occurring.
(v) Other requirements, including, but not limited to, those relating to reserve methods, models for measuring risk, generation of economic scenarios, assumptions, margins, use of company experience, risk measurement, disclosure, certifications, reports, actuarial opinions and memorandums, transition rules and internal controls; and
(vi) The data and form of the data required under subsection (13), with whom the data must be submitted, and may specify other requirements including data analyses and reporting of analyses.
(e) In the absence of a specific valuation requirement or if a specific valuation requirement in the valuation manual is not, in the opinion of the commissioner, in compliance with this section, then the company shall, with respect to such requirements, comply with minimum valuation standards prescribed by the commissioner by regulation.
(f) The commissioner may engage a qualified actuary, at the expense of the company, to perform an actuarial examination of the company and opine on the appropriateness of any reserve assumption or method used by the company, or to review and opine on a company’s compliance with any requirement set forth in this section. The commissioner may rely upon the opinion, regarding provisions contained within this section, of a qualified actuary engaged by the commissioner of another state, district or territory of the United States. As used in this paragraph, the term “engage” includes employment and contracting.
(g) The commissioner may require a company to change any assumption or method that in the opinion of the commissioner is necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the valuation manual or this section; and the company shall adjust the reserves as required by the commissioner. The commissioner may take other disciplinary action as permitted.
(12) Requirements of a principle-based valuation:
(a) A company must establish reserves using a principle-based valuation that meets the following conditions for policies or contracts as specified in the valuation manual:
(i) Quantify the benefits and guarantees, and the funding, associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events that have a reasonable probability of occurring during the lifetime of the contracts. For polices or contracts with significant tail risk, reflects conditions appropriately adverse to quantify the tail risk.
(ii) Incorporate assumptions, risk analysis methods and financial models and management techniques that are consistent with, but not necessarily identical to, those utilized within the company’s overall risk-assessment process, while recognizing potential differences in financial reporting structures and any prescribed assumptions or methods.
(iii) Incorporate assumptions that are derived in one (1) of the following manners:
(A) The assumption is prescribed in the valuation manual.
(B) For assumptions that are not prescribed, the assumptions shall:
1. Be established utilizing the company’s available experience, to the extent it is relevant and statistically credible; or
2. To the extent that company data is not available, relevant, or statistically credible, be established utilizing other relevant, statistically credible experience.
(iv) Provide margins for uncertainty including adverse deviation and estimation error, such that the greater the uncertainty the larger the margin and resulting reserve.
(b) A company using a principle-based valuation for one or more policies or contracts subject to this subsection as specified in the valuation manual shall:
(i) Establish procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the actuarial valuation function consistent with those described in the valuation manual.
(ii) Provide to the commissioner and the board of directors an annual certification of the effectiveness of the internal controls with respect to the principle-based valuation. Such controls shall be designed to assure that all material risks inherent in the liabilities and associated assets subject to such valuation are included in the valuation, and that valuations are made in accordance with the valuation manual. The certification shall be based on the controls in place as of the end of the preceding calendar year.
(iii) Develop, and file with the commissioner upon request, a principle-based valuation report that complies with standards prescribed in the valuation manual.
(c) A principle-based valuation may include a prescribed formulaic reserve component.
(13) Experience reporting for policies in force on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.
(a) A company shall submit mortality, morbidity, policyholder behavior, or expense experience and other data as prescribed in the valuation manual.
(b) Experience reporting required by paragraph (a) of this subsection; actuarial memorandums required by subsection (9)(b); reserve examinations, and materials in support thereof, required by subsection (11)(f); materials supporting certification required by subsection (12)(b)(ii); and principle based reserve reports required by subsection (12)(b)(iii) are memorandum in support of the opinion and other material provided by the company to the commissioner in connection therewith, and are subject to subsection (9)(a)(iii)(H) of this section.
(14) Sharing of information.
(a) In order to assist in the performance of the commissioner’s duties, the commissioner, at his option, may share information obtained pursuant to this section with other state, federal and international regulatory agencies and with the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries, with the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline or its successor, and with state, federal and international law enforcement officials.
(b) The commissioner may receive documents, materials, data and other information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, data or information, from the NAIC and its affiliates and subsidiaries, from regulatory or law enforcement officials of other foreign or domestic jurisdictions and from the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline or its successor and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, data or other information received with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the data, document, material or other information, and such information shall be treated by all courts in this state as privileged and confidential as it would be treated under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of such data, document, material or other information.
(c) The commissioner may enter into agreements governing sharing and use of information consistent with this section.
(d) In this subsection (14) “regulatory agency,” “law enforcement agency” and the “NAIC” include, but are not limited to, their employees, agents, consultants and contractors.
(15) Single state exemption.
(a) The commissioner may exempt specific product forms or product lines of a domestic company that is licensed and doing business only in Mississippi from the requirements of subsection (11) provided:
(i) The commissioner has issued an exemption in writing to the company and has not subsequently revoked the exemption in writing; and
(ii) The company computes reserves using assumptions and methods used prior to the operative date of the valuation manual in addition to any requirements established by the commissioner and promulgated by regulation.
(b) For any company granted an exemption under this subsection, subsections (3), (3-a), (3-b), (4), (4-a), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) shall be applicable. With respect to any company applying this exemption, any reference to subsection (11) found in subsections (3), (3-a), (3-b), (4), (4-a), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) shall not be applicable.
