How Reinsurance Premiums are Calculated?
The pricing of reinsurance policies i.e. the calculation of reinsurance premiums is a very complicated topic. The process is quite detailed and involves deep statistical analysis of huge volumes of data. The quality and quantity of this statistical data are very important for the reinsurers to ensure that they have determined the correct premium. Incomplete or incorrect information could lead to wrong pricing, the effects of which can be disastrous. Under-pricing would cause the insurer to pay out more money in the form of claims than they receive in the form of premiums. At the same time, overpricing would make the reinsurance cover too expensive and result in the reinsurer becoming competitive.
In this article, we will have a look at some of the basic details which are taken into account while determining reinsurance premiums.
Reinsurance For Different Types of Treaties
Firstly, it is important to note that the pricing of reinsurance policies is heavily dependent upon the type of policy. This is because the type of policy determines the quantum of money which will have to be paid out. For example, when proportional reinsurance treaties are signed, the reinsurer agrees to pay a fixed proportion of the losses incurred by the insurer. As such, the insurer pays a ceding commission to the reinsurer which is almost equal to that proportion.
For instance, if a reinsurer is agreeing to pay out 20% of the total losses, they will receive about 20% of the premiums collected. On the other hand, reinsurance treaties which are based on the excess of loss method are quite difficult to price. This is because the reinsurer has to take into account the probability of a loss arising when payouts go beyond a certain predefined level.
Which Factors are Considered While Deciding Insurance Premiums?
Reinsurance companies need to take into account a wide variety of factors before they decide on reinsurance premiums. Details regarding some of the factors have been mentioned below:
The bottom line is that the calculation of reinsurance premiums is a complicated activity wherein a lot of factors need to be taken into account and they must be converted into a mathematical equation so that they are factored in during the pricing process.
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