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Reserves for Losses and Loss Settlement Expenses | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2021
Insurance Loss Reserves [Abstract] |
Reserves for Losses and Loss Settlement Expenses | RESERVES FOR LOSSES AND LOSS SETTLEMENT EXPENSES Property insurance indemnifies an insured with an interest in physical property for loss of, or damage to, such property or the loss of its income-producing abilities. Casualty insurance primarily covers liability for damage to property of, or injury to, a person or entity other than the insured. In most cases, casualty insurance also obligates the insurance company to provide a defense for the insured in litigation, arising out of events covered by the policy. Liabilities for losses and loss settlement expenses reflect management's best estimates at a given point in time of what we expect to pay for claims that have been reported and those that have been incurred but not reported ("IBNR"), based on known facts, circumstances, and historical trends. Because property and casualty insurance reserves are estimates of the unpaid portions of incurred losses that have been reported to us, as well as losses that have been incurred but not reported, the establishment of appropriate reserves, including reserves for catastrophes, is an inherently uncertain and complex process. The ultimate cost of losses and related loss settlement expenses may vary materially from recorded amounts. We regularly update our reserve estimates as new information becomes available and as events unfold that may affect the resolution of unsettled claims. Changes in prior year reserve estimates, which may be material, are reported as a component of losses and loss settlement expenses incurred in the period such changes are determined. The determination of reserves (particularly those relating to liability lines of insurance that have relatively longer lag in claim reporting) requires significant work to reasonably project expected future claim reporting and payment patterns. If, during the course of our regular monitoring of reserves, we determine that coverages previously written are incurring higher than expected losses, we will take action that may include, among other things, increasing the related reserves. Any adjustments we make to reserves are reflected in operating results in the year in which we make those adjustments. We engage an independent actuary, Regnier Consulting Group, Inc., to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of our statutory reserves annually. On a quarterly basis, UFG's internal actuary performs a detailed actuarial review of IBNR reserves. This review includes a comparison of results from the most recent analysis of reserves completed by both our internal and external actuaries. Senior management meets with our internal actuary to review, on a regular and quarterly basis, the adequacy of carried reserves based on results from this actuarial analysis. There are two fundamental types or sources of IBNR reserves. We record IBNR reserves for "normal" types of claims and also specific IBNR reserves related to unique circumstances or events. A major hurricane is an example of an event that might necessitate establishing specific IBNR reserves because an analysis of existing historical data would not provide an appropriate estimate. We do not discount loss reserves based on the time value of money. The following table provides an analysis of changes in our property and casualty losses and loss settlement expense reserves at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (net of reinsurance amounts):
| March 31, 2021 |  | December 31, 2020
Gross liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at beginning of year | $ | 1,578,131 |  |  | $ | 1,421,754 |
Ceded losses and loss settlement expenses | (131,843) |  |  | (68,536) |
Net liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at beginning of year | $ | 1,446,288 |  |  | $ | 1,353,218 |
Losses and loss settlement expenses incurred for claims occurring during |  |  |
Current year | $ | 217,621 |  |  | $ | 887,119 |
Prior years | (13,259) |  |  | (17,652) |
Total incurred | $ | 206,398 |  |  | $ | 869,467 |
Losses and loss settlement expense payments for claims occurring during |  |  |
Current year | $ | 54,053 |  |  | $ | 354,635 |
Prior years | 123,533 |  |  | 421,762 |
Total paid | $ | 177,586 |  |  | $ | 776,397 |
Net liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at end of year | $ | 1,475,100 |  |  | $ | 1,446,288 |
Ceded loss and loss settlement expenses | 137,925 |  |  | 131,843 |
Gross liability for losses and loss settlement expenses at end of period | $ | 1,613,025 |  |  | $ | 1,578,131 |
There are a multitude of factors that can impact loss reserve development. Those factors include, but are not limited to: historical data, the potential impact of various loss reserve development factors and trends including historical loss experience, legislative enactments, judicial decisions, legal developments in imposition of damages, experience with alternative dispute resolution, results of our medical bill review process, the potential impact of salvage and subrogation and changes and trends in general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. All of these factors influence our estimates of required reserves and for long tail lines these factors can change over the course of the settlement of the claim. However, there is no precise method for evaluating the specific monetary impact of any individual factor on the development of reserves. Generally, we base reserves for each claim on the estimated ultimate exposure for that claim. We believe that it is appropriate and reasonable to establish a best estimate for reserves within a range of reasonable estimates, especially when we are reserving for claims for bodily injury, disabilities and similar claims, for which settlements and verdicts can vary widely. Our reserving philosophy may result in favorable reserve development in future years that will decrease losses and loss settlement expenses for prior year claims in the year of adjustment. We realize that this philosophy, coupled with what we believe to be aggressive and successful claims management and loss settlement practices, has resulted in year-to-year redundancies in reserves. We believe our approach produces recorded reserves that are reasonably consistent as to their relative position within a range of reasonable reserves from year-to-year. However, conditions and trends that have affected the reserve development for a given year do change. Therefore, such development cannot be used to project future reserve redundancies or deficiencies. We are not aware of any significant contingent liabilities related to environmental issues. Because of the type of property coverage we write, we have potential exposure to environmental pollution, mold and asbestos claims. Our underwriters are aware of these exposures and use riders or endorsements to limit exposure. Reserve Development The significant drivers of the favorable reserve development in the three-month period ended March 31, 2021. Three lines contributing the majority of the favorable development were commercial fire and allied lines, personal fire and allied lines and fidelity and surety. Both loss and loss adjustment expense contributed to the favorable development. A partial offset to the favorable development came from two lines which had unfavorable development with the largest portion coming from commercial liability and the remainder coming from reinsurance assumed. Commercial liability experienced unfavorable development primarily due to paid loss which was greater than reductions in reserves for unpaid loss; favorable loss adjustment expense ("LAE") development partially offset the unfavorable loss experience. The significant drivers of the favorable reserve development for the full year of 2020 were workers' compensation, commercial fire and allied lines, fidelity and surety and personal automobile. The favorable development for workers' compensation was primarily from reductions in reserves for reported claims which were more than sufficient to offset paid loss. Reductions in reserves for IBNR claims also contributed favorable development in addition to LAE where reductions in reserves more than sufficient to offset payments. Commercial fire and allied lines developed favorably because reductions in reserves for reported claims combined with reductions in reserves for IBNR claims were more than sufficient to offset paid loss. LAE also contributed favorable development with reductions in reserves more than sufficient to offset payments. Fidelity and surety loss developed favorably because a reduction in reserves for IBNR claims was more than sufficient to offset both paid loss and increases in reserves for reported claims. The personal automobile line of business developed favorably because reductions of reserves for reported claims combined with reductions of reserves for IBNR claims were more than sufficient to offset paid loss. LAE also contributed favorable development with reductions in reserves more than sufficient to offset payments. Much of the favorable development was offset by unfavorable development from three lines with the largest contribution coming from commercial liability, reinsurance assumed and commercial automobile. The commercial liability line of business experienced unfavorable development due to paid loss which was greater than reductions in reserves for unpaid loss. LAE developed favorably and partially offset the unfavorable loss development. The unfavorable development for reinsurance assumed was due to paid loss which was greater than reductions in reserves for unpaid loss. The commercial automobile line of business experienced unfavorable development because paid loss was greater than reductions in reserves for unpaid loss, but a portion of the unfavorable loss development was offset by favorable development from LAE where payments were more than offset by reductions of reserves for unpaid loss adjustment expense. On an all lines combined basis, favorable development is attributable to LAE which continues to benefit from additional litigation management efforts.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for liabilities related to future policy benefits and unpaid claims and claim adjustments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2560295 + Details
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