Measuring Risk-Based Capital
Abstract
In order to assure policyholders that their benefits will be available when they are needed, the National Association ofInsurance Commissioners (NAIC) has begun regulating insurer capital through the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) Model Act for life insurance companies. The Model Act helps state insurance regulators plan to preserve and protect adequate insurance capital levels and maintain insurer solvency. The RBC requirements provide for a ratio which assesses the level of risk that is associated with an insurance company's assets. The purpose of the NAIC's RBC calculation is to develop the minimum amount of surplus needed given the risks assumed by the company. For example, the RBC model establishes a 30% risk factor for all unaffiliated common stock held by life insurance companies. This factor was established by using the S&P 500 as an indicator ofthe volatility ofthe stock market. However, questions arise regarding whether the S&P 500 is an accurate measure of the market risk associated with life insurer stock portfolios or whether another index would better reflect their risk. Therefore, after determining the market risk reflected by several different stock indexes and analyzing a sample of insurer stock portfolios, a discussion results about whether the RBC factor needs to be changed.