Master Certificate: What It is, How It Works

What is a Master Certificate?

A Master Certificate formalizes a reinsurance agreement, providing details about the involved parties, covered risks, and governing laws. If amendments are made to the agreement, a master certificate may be restated to reflect the changes.

Understanding Master Certificate

Agreements between insurers and reinsurers tend to be less complicated than agreements with policyholders. Insurers and reinsurers are considered sophisticated companies that understand industry nuances and legal requirements. Policyholders, on the other hand, are typically not insurance experts and require a comprehensive understanding of the agreement. The master certificate contains all the details of the reinsurance agreement.

Key Takeaways

• A master certificate is an agreement between insurers and reinsurers that defines terms and states obligations.
• It is relatively simple compared to agreements with policyholders.
• Reinsurers can terminate the agreement if ownership interest changes or if a ceding insurer is downgraded by a ratings agency.

Obligations of the Parties

A master certificate defines all the terms of a reinsurance treaty, including obligations of the reinsurer and insurer, funding and reimbursement processes, and delivery of notifications for policies covered by the agreement. For example, the certificate may require the insurer to provide the reinsurer with a statement indicating the applicable loss reserves.

The certificate also outlines dispute resolution processes between the ceding insurer and reinsurer, as well as communication of errors and omissions. The agreement may be terminated if certain events occur, such as the reinsurer’s failure to maintain acceptable capital or receiving a poor rating. The reinsurer can also terminate the agreement if there are changes in the insurer’s ownership interest or if the ceding insurer is downgraded by a ratings agency.

An insurance company’s credit rating reflects its financial strength and ability to pay claims. It is not an indicator of the performance of the company’s securities for investors. Multiple independent agencies rate insurance companies’ financial strength, including A.M. Best, Fitch, Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA), Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s.