Certified Reinsurer information

Pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment to Regulations No. 17, 20 and 20-A (11 NYCRR 125), any unauthorized assuming insurer or any alien group of insurers that meets DFS requirements may qualify as a Certified Reinsurer.

• List of Currently Certified Reinsurers

Depending on the financial strength rating granted by the Department, a Certified Reinsurer will be allowed to post less than 100% collateral and still enable an authorized insurer to qualify for full reserve credit with respect to reinsurance contracts renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2011, or the date the reinsurer becomes certified.

Application to Qualify as a Certified Reinsurer

Pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment to Regulations No. 17, 20 and 20-A (11 NYCRR 125), any unauthorized assuming insurer or any alien group of insurers that meets DFS requirements may qualify as a Certified Reinsurer. To qualify, a company must submit an initial application accompanied by a payment of $2,000. 

Certified Reinsurer initial applications and payments are submitted and managed in DFS Connect. A payment request will be made as part of the application process. DFS Connect accepts ACH and credit card payments. 

To get started visit DFS Connect:

DFS Connect

For instructions on accessing or help using DFS Connect, see the DFS Connect User Guide and read our DFS Connect for Insurance Companies FAQs.

Annual Renewal

After initial application, annual renewals and payments can continue to be submitted using DFS Connect. A payment request will be made as part of the submission process. DFS Connect accepts ACH and credit card payments.

Annual renewals are due on or before the first day of July.

Filing Requirements to Qualify as Certified Reinsurer

• The company must be domiciled and licensed to transact insurance or reinsurance in a qualified jurisdiction.
• The company must maintain capital and surplus, or its equivalent, of no less than $250,000,000, in compliance with Section 125.4 (h)(7)(iv)(h) of Regulation No. 20.
• The company must maintain a financial strength rating from two or more acceptable rating agencies, based on interactive communication between the rating agency and the assuming insurer. Acceptable rating agencies include:
  • Standard & Poor's
  • Moody's Investors Service
  • Fitch Ratings
  • A.M. Best Company
  • any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization acceptable to the Superintendent.
• An assuming insurer applying to be a certified reinsurer shall agree to post %100 security upon the entry of an order of rehabilitation, liquidation or conservation against the ceding insurer for the benefit of the ceding insurer or its estate.
• For a certified reinsurer domiciled in the United States, the most recent applicable NAIC Annual Statement Blank, and either Schedule F (for a property/casualty reinsurer) or Schedule S (for a life or health reinsurer) must be provided.
• For a certified reinsurer not domiciled in the United States, the most recent Form CR-F (for a property/casualty reinsurer) or Form CR-S (for a life or health reinsurer), as such forms shall be prescribed by the superintendent are required.
• The company must disclose past, current or pending regulatory actions against them.
• The company must provide a list, by cedent, of all overdue reinsurance claims payable that are more than 90 days past due or are in dispute regarding reinsurance assumed by the applicant from U.S. domestic ceding insurers.& Identify whether any of the listed cedents are in administrative supervision or receivership.
• The company must provide a report of an independent auditor on the financial statements of the certified reinsurer.
• For a certified reinsurer not domiciled in the United States, audited financial statements, regulatory financial statement filings, and an actuarial opinion as filed with the certified reinsurer's domestic regulator, accompanied by a translation into the English language as appropriate.
• Upon the initial application for certification, the insurer shall provide the Superintendent with audited financial statements filed with its non-United States jurisdiction regulator for at least the previous two years.
• The company must disclose past or current participation in any solvent scheme of arrangement, or similar procedure that involves United States ceding insurers. A certified reinsurer that proposes participation by the certified reinsurer in a solvent scheme of arrangement shall provide the superintendent with prior notice of such scheme as early as practicable.
• The company must submit a properly executed Certificate of Certified Reinsurer Form CR-1 (PDF) on a form prescribed by the Superintendent as evidence of its submission to the jurisdiction of this state.
• The company must submit a certification from its domestic regulator that the certified reinsurer is in good standing and maintains capital in excess of the jurisdiction's highest regulatory action level.
• The reinsurer must agree that all reinsurance contracts will include the provisions of Sections 125.4(h)(10) of Regulation No. 20 of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
• The company must provide a statement that it agrees to submit such other information that the Superintendent may reasonably require in accordance with Section 125.4(h)(7)(vii)(g).
• The company must provide a statement that it will comply with any other conditions that the Superintendent requires to ensure the creditworthiness of the reinsurer in accordance with Section 125.4(h)(7)(iii)(e).

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