
Policyholder Surplus
A policyholder surplus is the assets of a policyholder-owned insurance company (also called a mutual insurance company) minus its liabilities. When an insurance company is publicly owned, its assets minus its liabilities are called shareholders’ equity rather than policyholder surplus. A policyholder surplus is the assets of a policyholder-owned insurance company minus its liabilities. These calculations include ratios such as reserve development to policyholder surplus, loss to policyholder surplus, net liabilities to policyholder surplus, and net premiums written to policyholder surplus, among others. A policyholder surplus is the assets of a policyholder-owned insurance company (also called a mutual insurance company) minus its liabilities. For example, insurance company examiners will consider the company’s change in policyholder surplus from year to year as one component of assessing whether the insurer is becoming financially stronger, weaker, or staying about the same.

What Is a Policyholder Surplus?
A policyholder surplus is the assets of a policyholder-owned insurance company (also called a mutual insurance company) minus its liabilities. Policyholder surplus is one indicator of an insurance company’s financial health. It gives an insurance company another source of funds, in addition to its reserves and reinsurance, in the event the company must pay a higher than expected amount of claims. When an insurance company is publicly owned, its assets minus its liabilities are called shareholders’ equity rather than policyholder surplus.



Understanding Policyholder Surplus
Policyholder surplus is one metric that insurance rating companies use when developing the simple letter ratings ranging from A++ to F. Consumers can turn to these ratings for help in choosing an insurance company because they indicate the strength of an insurer financially. It’s important for consumers to choose an insurer that can afford to pay its policyholders’ claims under varying circumstances, even if a widespread disaster like a severe storm means that thousands of policyholders are simultaneously filing claims.
Policyholder surplus is also a component of various other calculations that ratings companies use to evaluate insurance companies' financial strength. These calculations include ratios such as reserve development to policyholder surplus, loss to policyholder surplus, net liabilities to policyholder surplus, and net premiums written to policyholder surplus, among others. Calculations involving policyholder surplus are also used by state insurance regulators to determine which insurers might need their attention due to financial weakness or over-reliance on reinsurance. For publicly-traded insurance companies, the same calculations can be performed by substituting shareholders’ equity for policyholder surplus.
Interpreting the results of these calculations requires specialized knowledge, not just common sense. For example, insurance company examiners will consider the company’s change in policyholder surplus from year to year as one component of assessing whether the insurer is becoming financially stronger, weaker, or staying about the same. While it might seem like a significant increase in policyholder surplus from one year to the next would always be a good sign, it could sometimes indicate that the insurer is on the verge of insolvency.
Policyholder Surplus Creates Competitiveness
Related terms:
Accounting
Accounting is the process of recording, summarizing, analyzing, and reporting financial transactions of a business to oversight agencies, regulators, and the IRS. read more
Adjusted Surplus
Adjusted surplus is one indication of an insurance company's financial health. It is the statutory surplus adjusted for a possible drop in asset values. read more
Best's Capital Adequacy Relativity (BCAR)
Best's Capital Adequacy Relativity (BCAR) is a rating of an insurance company’s balance sheet strength. It examines an insurer’s leverage, underwriting activities, and financial performance. read more
Development To Policyholder Surplus
Development to policyholder surplus is the ratio of an insurer’s loss reserve development to its policyholders’ surplus. read more
Insolvency
Insolvency is a situation in which an individual or company cannot pay off bills and debts. read more
Net Leverage (Insurance)
Net leverage is the sum of an insurance company’s net written premiums ratio and its net liability ratio. It is a gauge of the insurer's financial health. read more
Net Premiums Written to Policyholder Surplus
Net Premiums Written To Policyholder Surplus is a ratio of an insurers gross premiums written less reinsurance ceded to its policyholders’ surplus. read more
Net Worth : Types & How to Calculate
Net worth is the value of the assets a person or corporation owns, minus the liabilities they owe. read more