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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) which, for insurance companies, differ in some respects from the statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory authorities. These financial statements include the accounts of Atlantic American Corporation (“Atlantic American” or the “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with the Parent, the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Operating results achieved in any historical period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period. At December 31, 2015, the Parent owned four insurance subsidiaries, Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bankers Fidelity Assurance Company (together known as “Bankers Fidelity”), and American Southern Insurance Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Safety Insurance Company (together known as “American Southern”), in addition to one non-insurance subsidiary, xCalibre Risk Services, Inc. The Parent has issued a guarantee of all liabilities of Bankers Fidelity. Premium Revenue and Cost Recognition Life insurance premiums are recognized as revenue when due; accident and health insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the premium paying period and property and casualty insurance premiums are recognized as revenue over the period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. Benefits and expenses are accrued as incurred and are associated with premiums as they are earned so as to result in recognition of profits over the lives of the contracts. For traditional life insurance and long-duration health insurance, this association is accomplished by the provision of a future policy benefits reserve and the deferral and subsequent amortization of the costs of acquiring business, “deferred policy acquisition costs” (principally commissions, premium taxes, and other incremental direct costs of issuing policies). Deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized over the estimated premium-paying period of the related policies using assumptions consistent with those used in computing the policy benefits reserve. The Company provides for insurance benefits and losses on accident, health, and property-casualty claims based upon estimates of projected ultimate losses. Deferred policy acquisition costs for property and casualty insurance and short-duration health insurance are amortized over the effective period of the related insurance policies. Contingent commissions, if contractually applicable, are ultimately payable to agents based on the underlying profitability of a particular insurance contract or a group of insurance contracts, and are periodically evaluated and accrued as earned. In periods in which revisions are made to the estimated loss reserves related to the particular insurance contract or group of insurance contracts subject to such commissions, corresponding adjustments are also made to the related accruals. Deferred policy acquisition costs are expensed when such costs are deemed not to be recoverable from future premiums (for traditional life and long-duration health insurance) and from the related unearned premiums and investment income (for property and casualty and short-duration health insurance). Intangibles Intangibles consist of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired and is not amortized. Other indefinite-lived intangibles represent the value of licenses and are not amortized. The Company periodically reviews its goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles to determine if any adverse conditions exist that could indicate impairment. Conditions that could trigger impairment include, but are not limited to, a significant change in business climate that could affect the value of the related asset, an adverse action, or an assessment by a regulator. No impairment of the Company’s recorded intangibles was identified during the periods presented. Investments The Company’s investments in both fixed maturities, which include bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, and equity securities, which include common and non-redeemable preferred stocks, are classified as “available-for-sale” and, accordingly, are carried at fair value with the after-tax difference from amortized cost, as adjusted if applicable, reflected in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. The fair values for fixed maturities and equity securities are largely determined by either independent methods prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), which do not differ materially from publicly quoted market prices, when available, or independent broker quotations. The Company owns certain fixed maturities that do not have publicly quoted market values, but had an estimated fair value as determined by management of $2,237 at December 31, 2015. Such values inherently involve a greater degree of judgment and uncertainty and therefore ultimately greater price volatility than the value of securities with publicly quoted market values. Policy loans and real estate are carried at historical cost. Other invested assets are comprised of investments in limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and real estate joint ventures, and are accounted for using the equity method. If the value of a common stock, preferred stock, other invested asset, or publicly traded bond declines below its cost or amortized cost, if applicable, and the decline is considered to be other than temporary, a realized loss is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the investment to its estimated fair value, which becomes the new cost basis. The evaluation for an other than temporary impairment is a quantitative and qualitative process, which is subject to risks and uncertainties in the determination of whether declines in the fair value of investments are other than temporary. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things, changes in general economic conditions, an issuer’s financial condition or near term recovery prospects and the effects of changes in interest rates. In evaluating a potential impairment, the Company considers, among other factors, management’s intent and ability to hold the securities until price recovery, the nature of the investment and the expectation of prospects for the issuer and its industry, the status of an issuer’s continued satisfaction of its obligations in accordance with their contractual terms, and management’s expectation as to the issuer’s ability and intent to continue to do so, as well as ratings actions that may affect the issuer’s credit status. Premiums and discounts related to investments are amortized or accreted over the life of the related investment as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned or declared. The cost of securities sold is based on specific identification. Unrealized gains (losses) in the value of invested assets are accounted for as a direct increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity, net of deferred tax and, accordingly, have no effect on net income. Income Taxes Deferred income taxes represent the expected future tax consequences when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. They arise from differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax laws and tax rates as those changes are enacted. The provision for income taxes represents the total amount of income taxes due related to the current year, plus the change in deferred income taxes during the year. A valuation allowance is recognized if, based on management’s assessment of the relevant facts, it is more likely than not that some portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Earnings Per Common Share Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common and participating shares outstanding during the relevant period. Diluted earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of common and participating shares outstanding during the relevant period, plus options outstanding, if applicable, using the treasury stock method and the assumed conversion of the Series D preferred stock, if dilutive. Unless otherwise indicated, earnings per common share amounts are presented on a diluted basis. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and investments in short-term, highly liquid securities with original maturities of three months or less from date of purchase. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). Under this guidance, an entity is required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 offers specific accounting guidance for a lessee, a lessor and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective adoption, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial statements upon the adoption of this guidance. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10) (“ASU 2016-01”). ASU 2016-01 provides updated guidance for the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The new guidance will require investments in equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in net income except for those equity securities that result in consolidation or are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under existing guidance, the Company measures investments in equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value with changes in fair value reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company is required to adopt the guidance effective January 1, 2018 through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. Early adoption is not allowed. The impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements will depend on the composition of the Company’s investment portfolio on the date of adoption. As of December 31, 2015, equity securities available-for-sale totaled $23,131, with unrealized gains of $12,178 in accumulated other comprehensive income that would have been classified in retained earnings. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This amendment defers the effective date of the previously issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), until the interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Earlier adoption is permitted for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2014-09 provides updated guidance for recognizing revenue. The guidance excludes insurance contracts and financial instruments. Revenue is to be recognized when, or as, goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that an entity is expected to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on our consolidated financial statements upon the adoption of this guidance. In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-09, Financial Services – Insurance (Topic 944): Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts(“ASU 2015-09”). The main objective of ASU 2015-09 is to enhance disclosures about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, specifically the development of claims, the frequency and severity of claims, and expanded disclosures about reserves that are discounted. ASU 2015-09 will also require insurance entities to disclose information about significant changes in methodologies and assumptions used to calculate the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, including reasons for the change and effects on the financial statements. The amendments in ASU 2015-09 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Since ASU 2015-09 is a disclosure only update, the Company does not expect its adoption to have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions are used in developing and evaluating deferred income taxes, deferred acquisition costs, insurance reserves, investments, and receivables, among others, and actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of presentation and significant accounting policies concepts. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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