Md. Code Regs. 31.09.09.11

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 31.09.09.11 - Annual Certifications

A. The board of directors of each insurer shall appoint one or more illustration actuaries.

B. The illustration actuary shall certify that the disciplined current scale used in illustrations is in conformity with the Actuarial Standard of Practice No. 24 Compliance with the NAIC Life Insurance Illustrations Model Regulations, promulgated by the Actuarial Standards Board, and that the illustrated scales used in insurer-authorized illustrations meet the requirements of this chapter.

C. The illustration actuary:

(1) Shall be a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries;

(2) Shall be familiar with the standard of practice regarding life insurance policy illustrations;

(3) May not have been found by the Commissioner, following appropriate notice and hearing to have:

(a) Violated any provision of, or any obligation imposed by, the insurance law, or other law, in the course of dealings as an illustration actuary,

(b) Been found guilty of fraudulent or dishonest practices,

(c) Demonstrated incompetence, lack of cooperation, or untrustworthiness to act as an illustration actuary, or

(d) Resigned or been removed as an illustration actuary within the past 5 years as a result of acts or omissions indicated in any adverse report on examination or as a result of a failure to adhere to generally acceptable actuarial standards;

(4) May not fail to notify the Commissioner of any action taken by a commissioner of another state similar to that under §C(3) of this regulation;

(5) Shall disclose in the annual certification whether, since the last certification, a currently payable scale applicable for business issued within the previous 5 years and within the scope of the certification has been reduced for reasons other than changes in the experience factors underlying the disciplined current scale; and

(6) Shall disclose in the annual certification one of the following methods used to allocate overhead expenses for all illustrations:

(a) Fully allocated expenses,

(b) Marginal expenses, or

(c) A generally recognized expense table based on fully allocated expenses representing a significant portion of insurance companies and approved by the Commissioner.

D. Filing of Certification.

(1) The illustration actuary shall file a certification with the board of directors of the insured and with the Commissioner as follows:

(a) Annually for all policy forms for which illustrations are used; and

(b) Before a new policy form is illustrated.

(2) If an error in a previous certification is discovered, the illustration actuary shall notify the board of directors of the insurer and the Commissioner promptly.

E. If an illustration actuary is unable to certify the scale for any policy form illustration the insurer intends to use, the actuary shall notify the board of directors of the insurer and the Commissioner promptly of this inability to certify.

F. A responsible officer of the insurer, other than the illustration actuary, shall certify annually that the:

(1) Illustration formats meet the requirements of this chapter and that the scales used in insurer-authorized illustrations are those scales certified by the illustration actuary; and

(2) Company has provided its agents with information about the expense allocation method used by the company in its illustrations and disclosed as required in §C(6) of this regulation.

G. The annual certifications shall be provided to the Commissioner before each year by a date determined by the insurer.

H. If an insurer changes the illustration actuary responsible for all or a portion of the company's policy forms, the insurer shall notify the Commissioner of that fact promptly and disclose the reason for the change.

I. The following shall be disclosed in the annual certification:

(1) If nonguaranteed elements illustrated for new policies are not consistent with those illustrated for similar in force policies; and

(2) If nonguaranteed elements illustrated for both new and in force policies are not consistent with the nonguaranteed elements actually being paid, charged, or credited to the same or similar forms.

Md. Code Regs. 31.09.09.11