Summary of Statement No. 60

Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises (Issued 6/82)

Summary

This Statement extracts the specialized principles and practices from the AICPA insurance industry related Guides and Statements of Position and establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for insurance enterprises other than mutual life insurance enterprises, assessment enterprises, and fraternal benefit societies.

Insurance contracts, for purposes of this Statement, need to be classified as short-duration or long-duration contracts. Long-duration contracts include contracts, such as whole-life, guaranteed renewable term life, endowment, annuity, and title insurance contracts, that are expected to remain in force for an extended period. All other insurance contracts are considered short-duration contracts and include most property and liability insurance contracts.

Premiums from short-duration contracts ordinarily are recognized as revenue over the period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. Claim costs, including estimates of costs for claims relating to insured events that have occurred but have not been reported to the insurer, are recognized when insured events occur.

Premiums from long-duration contracts are recognized as revenue when due from policyholders. The present value of estimated future policy benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders less the present value of estimated future net premiums to be collected from policyholders are accrued when premium revenue is recognized. Those estimates are based on assumptions, such as estimates of expected investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations, and expenses, applicable at the time the insurance contracts are made. Claim costs are recognized when insured events occur.

Costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of insurance contracts (acquisition costs) are capitalized and charged to expense in proportion to premium revenue recognized.

Investments are reported as follows: common and nonredeemable preferred stocks at market, bonds and redeemable preferred stocks at amortized cost, mortgage loans at outstanding principal or amortized cost, and real estate at depreciated cost. Realized investment gains and losses are reported in the income statement below operating income and net of applicable income taxes. Unrealized investment gains and losses, net of applicable income taxes, are included in stockholders' (policyholders') equity.