Reinsurance as Governance: Governmental Risk Management Pools as a Case Study in the Governance Role Played by Reinsurance Institutions

96 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2015 Last revised: 23 Aug 2017

See all articles by Marcos A. Mendoza

Marcos A. Mendoza

University of Connecticut School of Law; Washburn University School of Law; TASB, Inc.

Date Written: March 3, 2015

Abstract

Scholars have eloquently detailed the "Insurance as Governance" concept, the potential capacity for reinsurer regulatory influence on insurers, and the many aspects under which these theories may arise. This Article takes the next step in analyzing the complex reinsurer-insurer relationship through empirical research into how carriers are actually influenced by reinsurers, and what effect this has on the parties. In other words, "Reinsurance as Governance."

As a case study in the governance role played by reinsurance institutions, this Article organizes survey interview responses of senior officials in the governmental entity self-insured risk management pool sector into four distinct discussion areas: (i) how reinsurers influence pools in general and in the key areas of underwriting, claims, and finance/solvency; (ii) the duty of utmost good faith and its effect; (iii) the level to which pools afford accommodation to reinsurers; and (iv) whether reinsurer influence varies based on pool circumstances, or external factors. While analysis of the data collected showed varying degrees of regulation or governance by reinsurers, the Article concludes that not only does a form of reinsurance influence or 'governance' clearly exist in the largely unregulated world of self-insured pools, whether characterized as direct, indirect, or regulatory in nature, but also that the governance effect is an open and recognized influence that is accepted by the pools.

To build a foundation for this research, this Article includes the history of self-funded governmental entity pooling; the typical legal construction of such pools in the United States based on the original Texas model; a detailed overview of reinsurance operative concepts, including utmost good faith and 'follow the fortunes'; and the basic theories of insurance and reinsurance as governance.

Keywords: Reinsurance, Governance, Regulation, Insurance as Governance, Reinsurance as Governance, Pooling, Self-Insurance, Risk Management, Utmost Good Faith, Follow the Fortunes, Interlocal, Public Entity, Governmental Entity, Claims, Underwriting, Financial Solvency

JEL Classification: G30, G39, K10, K19, L20, L21, L32

Suggested Citation

Mendoza, Marcos A., Reinsurance as Governance: Governmental Risk Management Pools as a Case Study in the Governance Role Played by Reinsurance Institutions (March 3, 2015). Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2573253

Marcos A. Mendoza (Contact Author)

University of Connecticut School of Law ( email )

65 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
United States

HOME PAGE: http://ilc.law.uconn.edu/faculty-staff/fellows

Washburn University School of Law ( email )

1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
United States

TASB, Inc. ( email )

12007 Research Blvd
TASB
Austin, TX 78759
United States
5124673614 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
1,051
Abstract Views
11,881
Rank
39,185
PlumX Metrics