investment contract

Industry1

1. 944-20Insurance Activities944 Financial Services—Insurance

   ASC 944-20 sets the framework for insurance accounting based on the nature of the contract rather than the type of entity: contracts are classified at inception as short-duration (fixed short coverage period, insurer can cancel or reprice each period, 944-20-15-7) or long-duration (not subject to unilateral change, services rendered over an extended period, 944-20-15-10), with sub-models for traditional, universal life-type, participating, and financial guarantee contracts. It also defines when a contract with a reinsurer actually transfers insurance risk (significant insurance risk plus reasonable possibility of significant loss, 944-20-15-41) and prescribes recognition and with-and-without measurement for multiple-year retrospectively rated contracts. Contracts lacking indemnification or significant insurance risk are accounted for under the deposit method (340-30) or as investment contracts.