INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ___

   No  X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ___    No  X

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.      Yes          No  _X_  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes X     No ___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [ X ]

Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company  in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  

Large accelerated filer __

   Accelerated filer  X     Non-accelerated filer          Smaller reporting company __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes ___   No X

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, as of June 30, 2015 was $98,596,000.

17,223,233 shares of common stock were outstanding as of May 31, 2016.

FORM 10-K CROSS REFERENCE INDEX

Forward-Looking Statements

This report on Form 10−K contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Our forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated by reference in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as the growth of our business and operations, our business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, plans, future capital expenditures and references to future successes may be considered forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.  

Numerous risks and uncertainties may impact the matters addressed by our forward-looking statements, any of which could negatively and materially affect our future financial results and performance.  We describe some of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in Item 1A-Risk Factors of this report.

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and, therefore, the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this report, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any forward-looking event discussed in this report may not occur. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or other developments, unless the securities laws require us to do so.

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

Business Overview

Independence Holding Company is a Delaware corporation (NYSE: IHC) that was formed in 1980.  We are a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business with principal executive offices located at 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. At December 31, 2015, we owned approximately 92% of the outstanding common stock of American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ:AMIC), which owns Independence American Insurance Company ("Independence American"), IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. (“Specialty Benefits”) and controlling interests in certain agencies and call centers. AMIC owned IHC Risk Solutions LLC (“Risk Solutions”) in 2015, but sold all of its interest on March 31, 2016. In January 2016, IHC’s Board of Directors preliminarily determined to take the steps necessary to take AMIC private.

Our website is located at www.ihcgroup.com.  Detailed information about IHC, its corporate affiliates and insurance products and services can be found on our website. In addition, we make our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to such reports available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The information on our website, however, is not incorporated by reference in, and does not form part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

IHC primarily provides specialized disability and health coverages and related services to commercial customers and individuals.  We focus on niche products and/or narrowly defined distribution channels primarily in the United States.  Our wholly owned insurance company subsidiaries, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life") and Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life") market their products through independent and affiliated brokers, producers and agents.  Independence American also distributes through these sources as well as to consumers through dedicated controlled distribution companies and through company-owned websites.

Madison National Life, Standard Security Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Insurance Group." IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or "IHC", or are implicit in the terms "we", "us" and "our".

On March 31, 2016, AMIC sold Risk Solutions, its managing general underwriter of excess or stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups that desire to manage the risk of large medical claims (“Medical Stop-Loss”) to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a division of Swiss Re (“Swiss Re”).  In addition, under the purchase and sale agreement, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is co-insured by Westport Insurance Corporation (“Westport”), Swiss Re’s largest US carrier, as of January 1, 2016.  The aggregate purchase price was $152,500,000 in cash, subject to adjustments and settlements.  Approximately 89% of the purchase price was allocated to AMIC, with the balance being paid to Standard Security Life and other IHC subsidiaries. The aforementioned transaction is collectively referred to as the “Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction”. The Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction resulted in a gain on the sale estimated at approximately $100 million. IHC’s block of Medical Stop-Loss business is in run-off. The sale of Risk Solutions and exit from the medical stop-loss business represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. The disposal transaction qualifies for reporting as discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2016 as a result of the Board of Directors commitment to a plan for its disposal in January 2016.

In 2016, IHC will retain the vast majority of the risk that it underwrites, and will focus on the following lines of business:

·

Multiple specialty health lines

·

Group disability, life and New York short-term statutory disability (“DBL”)

·

Pet insurance

·

Non-subscriber occupational accident

Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are each rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ("Best"). Standard Security Life is domiciled in New York and licensed as an insurance company in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Madison National Life is domiciled in Wisconsin, licensed to sell insurance products in 49 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa, and is an accredited reinsurer in New York. Independence American is domiciled in Delaware and licensed to sell insurance products in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We have been informed by Best that a Best rating is assigned after an extensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's financial condition and operating performance and is also based upon factors relevant to policyholders, agents, and intermediaries, and is not directed toward protection of investors. Best ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any of our securities.  

Our administrative companies underwrite, market, administer and/or price life and health insurance business for our owned and affiliated carriers, and, to a lesser extent, for non-affiliated insurance companies.  They receive fees for these services and do not bear any of the insurance risk of the companies to which they provide services, other than through profit commissions. During 2015, our principal administrative companies were: (i) Risk Solutions, which was sold on March 31, 2016, a full-service managing general underwriter of medical stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups in the middle to larger employer markets; (ii) Specialty Benefits, a full-service marketing, technology and distribution company that focuses on small employer, individual and consumer products; and (iii) IHC Carrier Solutions LLC (“Carrier Solutions”), a program management, actuarial and regulatory compliance firm providing product development and valuation services for IHC’s fully insured health segment.  IHC also owns a significant equity interest in Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), a newly formed administration exchange for health and pet insurance. Ebix Health Exchange administers various lines of health insurance for IHC and non-affiliated carriers through Ebix Health Administration Exchange, Inc. (f/k/a IHC Health Solutions, Inc.) (“EHAE”).

In addition, AMIC owns or has a controlling interests in IPA Family, LLC ("IPA"), IPA Direct LLC (“IPAD”), Global Accident Facilities, LLC (“GAF”) and Healthinsurance.org LLC (“HIO”). IPA is a consumer direct sales agency that sells IHC’s ancillary health and life products and major medical products of national insurance companies.  IPAD is a consumer direct sales call center that sells IHC’s ancillary health and life products and major medical products of national insurance companies. GAF is a holding company for agencies that primarily produce occupational accident and injured on duty business. HIO is an online marketing company that owns www.healthinsurance.org, a lead generation site for individual health insurance.  Specialty Benefits, IPA, IPAD, GAF and HIO are collectively referred to as our “Agencies.”  Our Agencies earn commissions for selling life and health insurance products underwritten by IHC’s owned and affiliated insurance companies and also by unaffiliated carriers.  

 

For information pertaining to the Company's business segments, reference is made to Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report.

Our Philosophy

Our business strategy consists of maximizing underwriting profits through a variety of niche specialty health insurance, pet, occupational accident, and group disability and life products and through distribution channels that enable us to access specialized or underserved markets in which we believe we

have a competitive advantage.  Historically, our carriers have focused on establishing preferred relationships with producers who seek an alternative to larger, more bureaucratic health insurers, and on providing these producers with personalized service, competitive compensation and a broad array of products.  More recently, larger health insurers have begun to market our ancillary health products to supplement their major medical products. A growing portion of our business comes from direct-to-consumer initiatives.  While our management considers a wide range of factors in its strategic planning and decision-making, underwriting profit is consistently emphasized as the primary goal in all decisions. We seek relationships that will generate fee income and profit commissions for our administrative companies as well as risk income for our insurance carriers thereby permitting us to leverage IHC's vertically integrated organizational structure.

As a result of our increased control of distribution through corporate acquisitions, we have strengthened our ability to respond to market cycles in the health insurance sector by deploying our insurance underwriting activity across a larger number of business lines.  Prior to March 31, 2016, we emphasized writing stop-loss business through Risk Solutions and two managing general underwriters (“MGUs”) with whom we have done business for many years, including TRU Services, LLC (“TRU”), in which we have a significant equity interest. This has allowed us to be more selective in order to achieve better stop-loss underwriting results by terminating all under-performing non-owned programs.  While a substantial portion of our book of business is with smaller self-funded groups, we have recently focused on developing stop-loss solutions for plans with 100 or fewer employees. These plans are increasingly looking for affordable health-financing alternatives as a result of federal health care reform. We retained our interest in TRU after the Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction.  

As a result of the growth of Risk Solutions (including its captive and self-funded concept programs) and an expansion in the overall demand for stop-loss insurance, we experienced a significant increase in both our gross written and net earned stop-loss premiums. Our gross written and retained fully insured health premiums have decreased as a result of exiting the individual major medical line of business and significantly reducing our small group major medical block, however, our specialty health products have generated meaningful growth. We have experienced decreases in administrative costs as a percentage of premiums in our Medical Stop-Loss segments resulting from the efficiency initiatives implemented in the last several years. As we adjust our mix of business in the Fully Insured Health Segment from major medical to that of a specialty health insurance company, we have experienced a somewhat higher expense ratio (and higher profit margins) concomitant with these types of products.

Medical Stop-Loss

Standard Security Life was the primary carrier for our employer medical stop-loss products although, in 2015, we also wrote business for Madison National Life, Independence American and unaffiliated carriers. IHC’s carriers wrote approximately 97% of their medical stop-loss business through Risk Solutions, which was sold on March 31, 2016, and TRU, with the balance written through two independent MGUs. During 2015, IHC owned two managing general underwriters, Majestic Underwriters, LLC and Alliance Underwriters, LLC, which transferred their stop-loss blocks and employees to Risk Solutions as of January 1, 2012 in exchange for fee income based on the business transferred.  These two MGUs will be liquidated in 2016 as a result of the Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction. Risk Solutions was responsible for underwriting accounts in accordance with guidelines formulated and approved by its carriers, billing and collecting premiums, paying commissions to agents, third party administrators and/or brokers, and processing claims. With respect to the two MGUs with which we did business, we established underwriting guidelines, maintain approved policy forms and oversaw claims for reimbursement, as well as appropriate accounting procedures and reserves. In order to accomplish this, we audited their underwriting, claims and policy issuance practices to assure compliance with our guidelines, provided them with access to our medical management and cost containment expertise, and reviewed cases that required referral based on our underwriting guidelines. MGUs are non-

salaried contractors that receive fee income, generally a percentage of gross premiums produced by them on behalf of the insurance carriers they represent, and typically are entitled to additional income based on underwriting results. Once Westport receives the appropriate regulatory approval of their policies, Standard Security Life and Independence American will cease writing new business through Risk Solutions. Standard Security Life will cease writing through the other MGUs in 2016.

The agents and brokers that produce this business are non-salaried contractors that receive commissions.

Fully Insured Health

The Fully Insured Health Segment is comprised of the following categories: (i) ancillary benefits including dental, vision, short-term medical (“STM”), supplemental products (including fixed indemnity limited benefit, critical illness, and hospital indemnity); (ii) pet insurance; and (iii) non-subscriber occupational accident.  The segment had some run-off of discontinued major medical coverage. EHAE, Carrier Solutions and our Agencies collectively perform marketing, sales, underwriting and administrative functions on the majority of our Fully Insured Health business. Our pet insurance is currently marketed and administered by an independent agency.  Our expatriate health business is reinsured from a leading provider of international health, life and disability plans for specialized niche markets. Our non-subscriber occupational accident coverage is largely marketed and administered by one of our Agencies.

   

The Fully Insured Health Segment performs underwriting, risk selection and pricing, policy administration and management of the majority of our specialty health business, which totaled approximately $187 million of gross individual and group health premiums in 2015.  In addition, our Agencies produce Affordable Care Act and other coverages for multiple insurers and will continue to produce small group stop-loss for Westport.  The Agencies total book of business in 2015 was approximately $111 million.

 

The agents and brokers who produce the Fully Insured Health business are non-salaried contractors who receive commissions.

Other Products

Our other products are primarily distributed by general agents, agents and brokers. The short-term statutory disability benefit product in New York State is marketed primarily through independent general agents who are paid commissions based upon the amount of premiums produced. Madison National Life's disability and group life products are primarily sold in the Midwest to school districts, municipalities and hospital employer groups through a managing general agent that specializes in these target markets. Independence American also reinsures, and may begin writing, health products serving the needs of expatriates, third-party nationals and high net-worth local nationals.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS

Medical Stop-Loss

The Company has been a leading writer nationally of excess or stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups that desire to manage the risk of large medical claims ("Medical Stop-Loss"). Medical Stop-Loss insurance provides coverage to public and private entities that elect to self-insure their employees' medical coverage for losses within specified ranges, which permits such groups to manage the risk of excessive health insurance costs by limiting specific and aggregate losses to predetermined amounts.  This coverage is available on either a specific or a specific and aggregate basis, although the majority of the Insurance Group's policies covered both specific and aggregate claims. Plans were designed to fit the identified needs of the self-insured employer by offering a variety of deductibles (i.e., the level of claims after which the medical stop-loss benefits become payable).

In 2013, the Company began marketing self-funded medical plans for employers between 10 and 50 employees. These plans, which are currently marketed in a limited number of states, appeal to employers that wish to participate in cost savings and wellness initiatives that will lower their claims costs.  Sales of the small group self-funded plans grew significantly in 2015 as we increased distribution and made the product available in additional states. We expect that sales of the small group self-funded plans will continue to grow in 2016 as we increase distribution. During 2016, we will begin selling these plans on Westport paper.

IHC experienced an increase in premiums in the Medical Stop-Loss line of business in 2015 primarily from the marketing efforts of Risk Solutions.  The Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction closed on March 31, 2016 and as a result, this line is in run-off and will have substantially reduced premiums in 2017.   

Fully Insured Health Products

This line of business has the following categories: (i) ancillary benefits, including dental, vision, STM, supplemental products (including fixed indemnity limited benefit, critical illness, and hospital indemnity); (ii) pet insurance; and (iii) non-subscriber occupational accident.  Our major medical business shrank sharply in 2015 as it was placed in run-off.  IHC exited the major medical business as a result of healthcare reform which caused adverse underwriting results in 2013 and 2014. As a result of exiting this line of business we lost significant top line revenues in 2015, but bottom line performance improved materially. Earned premiums from ancillary products increased by 13% in 2015, which somewhat offset the reduction in major medical premiums. We expect continued growth in the ancillary lines of business, but an overall reduction in earned premiums for the segment in 2016.

Ancillary Products

This category is primarily comprised of dental, vision, STM, supplemental products (including fixed indemnity limited benefit, critical illness, and hospital indemnity). These are sold through multiple distribution strategies.

IHC sells group and individual dental products in all 50 states. We administer the majority of IHC's dental business and are also the primary distribution source of this line of business. The dental portfolio includes indemnity and PPO plans for employer groups of two or more lives and for individuals within affinity groups. Employer plans are offered on both employer paid and voluntary basis.  As part of the distribution of our dental products, we also offer vision benefits. Vision plans will offer a flat reimbursement amount for exams and materials. We expect the dental/vision business to grow modestly in 2016.

 

IHC sells STM products in the majority of states. STM is designed specifically for people with temporary needs for health coverage. Typically, STM products are written for a defined duration of at least 30 days and less than twelve months. Among the typical purchasers of STM products are people who are in between open enrollment periods or need coverage for a limited duration until their ACA plan becomes effective, and others who need insurance for a specified period of time less than 365 days.  IHC’s gross premium increased significantly in this line of business in 2015, which continued the trend from prior years. We anticipate continued significant growth in this line of business in 2016 in part due to increased demand for coverage and new distribution relationships.

The Company markets supplemental products to individuals and families. These lines of business are generally used as either a supplement to a major medical plan or in lieu of major medical coverage for persons that choose not to purchase such coverage. The main driver for growth in this line is that consumers are moving to higher-cost sharing on their individual major medical plans, and are looking for products to help them offset the additional risk of higher deductibles and out of pocket limits. The product lines included in this supplemental grouping are hospital indemnity plans, fixed indemnity limited benefit plans, critical illness and bundled packages of accident medical coverage, critical illness and life insurance. These products, which are available in most states, are not directly impacted by the ACA and are available through multiple distribution sources including Company owned direct-to-consumer websites, call center and career agents, general agents and on-line agencies.

IHC has medical benefit plans for employers that choose to offer non-EHB coverage to their employees. We offer a fixed indemnity limited benefit policy that offers affordable health coverage to hourly, part-time and/or seasonal employees, which is approved in a majority of states. Fixed indemnity limited benefit plans are a low cost alternative to major medical insurance that permit employees who do not otherwise have health insurance to begin to participate in the healthcare system.  In 2015, the Company recorded an increase in gross premiums and projects continued growth in 2016 as employers use these products to create a benefit package to attract and retain part-time employees.  

IHC entered into a reinsurance relationship with a leading producer of expatriate business, effective January 1, 2012, which provides employee benefit insurance, including medical, life, and disability, to expatriate employees of companies based in the United States.   IHC, through its insurance subsidiaries, reinsured 10% of the health risk on a quota share basis in 2015.  In addition, IHC’s carriers have filed these policies in the United States for employers that wish to purchase a domestic policy to cover their employees. IHC expects growth in this line of business in 2016.

Pet Insurance

The Company writes pet insurance through a marketing and administrative company that manages one of the largest blocks of this business in the United States.  During 2012, the Company, through Independence American, began to renew premium that had been underwritten by another insurance company. These plans are marketed to dog and cat owners through veterinary offices, independent marketing organizations, its nationwide call center, and increasingly, direct-to-consumer.  In 2015, Independence American had $33.6 million of earned premium from pet insurance, which represents 16% growth over 2014. We expect growth in premiums in 2016, but the amount of premiums expected to be generated in 2017 is currently less certain as a result of changing distribution and administrative relationships.

   

Occupational Accident

Independence American writes occupational accident insurance through marketing and administrative companies owned by GAF, and other exclusive arrangements with independent entities. This occupational accident product provides accidental death, accident disability and accident medical benefits for occupational injuries to employees of companies that have elected to not participate in the Texas Worker’s Compensation system (non-subscribers).  The product also gives the employer the option

to purchase coverage for employer’s liability, which protects the employer from an action brought by an injured worker. The employer is covered for damages and costs arising from the settlement of such action, subject to the terms and limits of the policy.  On December 31, 2013, GAF acquired an entity that provides administrative services for occupational accident insurance as well as Injured on Duty coverage, a form of occupational accident coverage.  It is expected that synergies can be achieved through coordination of administrative services with other entities owned by GAF. In 2015, Independence American recorded approximately $15.1 million of earned premiums from occupational accident business, while an additional $1.9 million of earned premiums was recorded by Standard Security Life.  The total premiums are expected to grow slightly in 2016.   

Major Medical Health Benefit Coverages

This category is primarily comprised of group major medical insurance and individual major medical policies, both of which are in run-off as we have exited that market. It is our belief that we would not have been able to earn an acceptable profit margin in this line of business in the future as a result of direct and indirect changes brought about by healthcare reform.

This category also includes reinsured international health plans sold to expatriates in 2015.

Group Disability; Life and DBL

Group Long-Term and Short-Term Disability

The Company sells group long-term disability ("LTD") products to employers that wish to provide this benefit to their employees. Depending on an employer's requirements, LTD policies (i) cover between 40% and 90% of insurable salary; (ii) have elimination periods (i.e., the period between the commencement of the disability and the start of benefit payments) of between 30 and 730 days; and (iii) terminate after two, five, or ten years, or extend to age 65 or the employee's Social Security normal retirement date. Benefit payments are reduced by social security, workers compensation, pension benefits and other income replacement payments. Optional benefits are available to employees, including coverage for partial or residual disabilities, survivor benefits and cost of living adjustments. The Company also markets short-term disability ("STD") policies that provide a weekly benefit to disabled employees until the earlier of:  recovery from disability, eligibility for long-term disability benefits or the end of the STD benefit period. The Company anticipates moderate growth in 2016.

New York Short-Term Disability (DBL)

Standard Security Life markets DBL.  All companies with more than one employee in New York State are required to provide DBL insurance for their employees. DBL coverage provides temporary cash payments to replace wages lost as a result of disability due to non-occupational injury or illness.  The DBL policy provides for (i) payment of 50% of salary to a maximum of $170 per week; (ii) a maximum of 26 weeks in a consecutive 52 week period; and (iii) benefit commencement on the eighth consecutive day of disability. Policies covering fewer than 50 employees have fixed rates approved by the New York State Insurance Department. Policies covering 50 or more employees are individually underwritten.  Standard Security Life's DBL premiums increased 6% in 2015 and we anticipate moderate growth in 2016 due to continued marketing efforts.  

Group Term Life

The Company sells group term life products, including group term life, accidental death and dismemberment ("AD&D"), supplemental life and supplemental AD&D and dependent life.  As with its group disability business, IHC anticipates modest growth in this line of business through expansion of its sales of these group term life products through existing distribution sources.  

Individual Life, Annuities and Other

Madison National Life ceded 100% of its remaining runoff life and annuity policies to National Guardian Life Insurance Company in 2015. In addition, Madison National Life ceased writing any life or annuity policies in the summer of 2015.

 

The following lines of Standard Security Life's in-force business are in runoff: individual accident and health, individual life (of which a significant portion was 100% ceded to National Guardian Life Insurance Company in 2015), single premium immediate annuities, disability income and miscellaneous insurance business.  

 

In addition to its core life and health lines of business distributed as described above, IHC’s acquisition group acquired blocks of existing life insurance, annuity and disability policies from other insurance companies, guaranty associations and liquidators. Most of the acquired blocks have been primarily life, annuities or disability policies. IHC exited this line of business in 2015.

The Company's average retention of gross and assumed Medical Stop-Loss exposure was 69% in 2015, 74% in 2014, and 84% in 2013.

IHC retained approximately 92% in 2015, and 91% in 2014, of gross and assumed Fully Insured Health exposure compared to approximately 86% in 2013. The Company purchases quota share reinsurance and excess reinsurance in amounts deemed appropriate by its risk committee. The Company monitors its retention amounts by product line, and has the ability to adjust its retention as appropriate.

Reinsurance is used to reduce the potentially adverse financial impact of large individual or group risks, and to reduce the strain on statutory income and surplus related to new business.  By using reinsurance, the Insurance Group is able to write policies in amounts larger than it could otherwise accept.  The amount reinsured is the portion of each policy in excess of the retention limit on a particular policy.

As a result of closing the Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is co-insured as of January 1, 2016.

In 2015, Madison National Life and Standard Security Life together entered into a coinsurance and sale agreement with an unaffiliated reinsurer to cede substantially all of their individual life and annuity policy blocks currently in run-off.

Effective May 31, 2013, Madison National Life entered into a coinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated reinsurer, to cede approximately $218 million of life and annuity reserves. During 2014 and 2015, a large portion of the reserves were transferred to the reinsurer in accordance with the terms of an assumption agreement.

The following reinsurers represent approximately 73% of the total ceded premium for the year ended December 31, 2015:

Contrarian Re, LLC		28%
International Casualty Company		18%
RGA Reinsurance Company		17%
American Fidelity Assurance Company		5%
National Guardian Life Insurance Company		5%
		73%

The Insurance Group remains liable with respect to the insurance in-force, which has been reinsured in the unlikely event that the assuming reinsurers are unable to satisfy their obligations. The Insurance Group cedes business (i) to individual reinsurance companies that are rated "A-" or better by Best or (ii) upon provision of adequate security. The ceding of reinsurance does not discharge the primary liability of the original insurer to the insured. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Insurance Group's ceded reinsurance in-force was $6.4 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively.

For further information pertaining to reinsurance, reference is made to Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

The Company's cash, cash equivalents and securities portfolio are managed by employees of IHC and its affiliates, and ultimate investment authority rests with IHC's in-house investment group. As a result of the nature of IHC's insurance liabilities, IHC endeavors to maintain a significant percentage of its assets in investment grade securities, cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2015, approximately 99.8% of the fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA. The internal investment group provides a summary of the investment portfolio and the performance thereof at the meetings of the Company's board of directors.

 

As required by insurance laws and regulations, the Insurance Group establishes reserves to meet obligations on policies in-force. These reserves are amounts that, with additions from premiums expected to be received and with interest on such reserves at certain assumed rates, are calculated to be sufficient to meet anticipated future policy obligations.   Premiums and reserves are based upon certain assumptions with respect to mortality, morbidity on health insurance, lapses and interest rates effective at the time the polices are issued. The Insurance Group also establishes appropriate reserves for substandard business, annuities and additional policy benefits, such as waiver of premium and accidental death.  Standard Security Life and Madison National Life are also required by law to have an annual asset adequacy analysis, which, in general, projects the amount and timing of cash flows to the estimated maturity date of liabilities, prepared by the certifying actuary for each insurance company. The Insurance Group invests their respective assets, which support the reserves and other funds in accordance with applicable insurance law, under the supervision of their respective board of directors. The Company manages interest rate risk seeking to maintain a portfolio with a duration and average life that falls within the band of the duration and average life of the applicable liabilities. The Company occasionally utilizes options to modify the duration and average life of the assets.

Under Wisconsin insurance law, there are restrictions relating to the percentage of an insurer's admitted assets that may be invested in a specific issuer or in the aggregate in a particular type of investment. With respect to the portion of an insurer's assets equal to its liabilities plus a statutorily-determined security surplus amount, a Wisconsin insurer cannot, for example, invest more than a certain percentage of its assets in non-amortizable evidences of indebtedness, securities of any issuer and its affiliates (other than a subsidiary and the United States government), or common stock of any corporation and its affiliates (other than a subsidiary or mutual funds).

Under New York insurance law, there are restrictions relating to the percentage of an insurer's admitted assets that may be invested in a specific issuer or in the aggregate in a particular type of investment. For example, a New York life insurer cannot invest more than a certain percentage of its admitted assets in common or preferred shares of any one institution, obligations secured by any one property (other than those issued, guaranteed or insured by the United States or any state government or agency thereof), or medium and lower grade obligations. In addition, there are certain qualitative investment restrictions.   

Under Delaware insurance law, there are restrictions relating to the percentage of an insurer's admitted assets that may be invested in a specific issuer or in the aggregate in a particular type of investment.  In addition, there are qualitative investment restrictions.

The Company's total pre-tax investment performance for each of the last three years is summarized below, including amounts recognized in net income and unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income or loss (in thousands):

Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities recognized through other comprehensive income (loss) represents the pre-tax change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities arising during the year net of reclassification adjustments and includes the portion attributable to noncontrolling interests.  The Company does not have any non-performing fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2015.

We compete with many large insurance companies, small regional health insurers and managed care organizations.  Although most life insurance companies are stock companies, mutual companies also write life insurance in the United States.  Mutual companies may have certain competitive advantages since profits inure directly to the benefit of the policyholders.

The health insurance industry tends to be cyclical, and excess products, such as medical stop-loss, tend to be more volatile than fully insured health products.  During a “soft” market cycle, a larger number of companies offer insurance on a certain line of business, which causes premiums in that line to trend downward.  In a “hard” market cycle, insurance companies limit their writings in certain lines of business following periods of excessive losses and insurance and reinsurance companies redeploy their capital to lines that they believe will achieve higher margins.

IHC is an insurance holding company; and as such, IHC and its subsidiary carriers and administrative companies are subject to regulation and supervision by multiple state insurance regulators, including the New York State Insurance Department (Standard Security Life's domestic regulator), the Wisconsin Department of Insurance (Madison National Life's domestic regulator) and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Delaware (Independence American’s domestic regulator).  Each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American is subject to regulation and

supervision in every state in which it is licensed to transact business. These supervisory agencies have broad administrative powers with respect to the granting and revocation of licenses to transact business, the licensing of agents, the approval of policy forms, the approval of commission rates, the form and content of mandatory financial statements, reserve requirements and the types and maximum amounts of investments which may be made. Such regulation is primarily designed for the benefit of policyholders rather than the stockholders of an insurance company or insurance holding company.

Certain transactions within the IHC holding company system are also subject to regulation and supervision by such regulatory agencies.  All such transactions must be fair and equitable.  Notice to or prior approval by the applicable insurance department is required with respect to transactions affecting the ownership or control of an insurer and of certain material transactions, including dividend declarations, between an insurer and any person in its holding company system. Under New York, Wisconsin and Delaware insurance laws, "control" is defined as the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person.  Under New York law, control is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or holds, with the power to vote ten percent or more of the voting securities of any other person. In Wisconsin, control is presumed if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or holds with the power to vote more than ten percent of the voting securities of another person. In Delaware, control is presumed if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or holds with the power to vote ten percent or more of the voting securities of any other person. In all three states, the acquisition of control of a domestic insurer needs to be approved in advance by the Commissioner of Insurance. See Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 for information as to restrictions on the ability of the Company's insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends.

Risk-based capital requirements are imposed on life and property and casualty insurance companies. The risk-based capital ratio is determined by dividing an insurance company's total adjusted capital, as defined, by its authorized control level risk-based capital.  Companies that do not meet certain minimum standards require specified corrective action.  The risk-based capital ratios for each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American exceed such minimum ratios.

At December 31, 2015, the Company, including its direct and indirect majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, collectively had approximately 450 employees.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Many of the factors that affect our business and operations involve risk and uncertainty. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones that we face, but are those that we have identified as being the most significant factors.  Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not know about, or that we deem less significant than those identified below, may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations and the trading price of our common stock.

Risks related to our Business

Our investment portfolio is subject to various risks that may result in realized investment losses.  In particular, decreases in the fair value of fixed maturities may greatly reduce the value of our investments, and as a result, our financial condition may suffer.

We are subject to credit risk in our investment portfolio. Defaults by third parties in the payment or performance of their obligations under these securities could reduce our investment income and realized investment gains or result in the continued recognition of investment losses. The value of our investments may be materially adversely affected by increases in interest rates, downgrades in the preferred stocks and bonds included in our portfolio and by other factors that may result in the continued

recognition of other-than-temporary impairments. Each of these events may cause us to reduce the carrying value of our investment portfolio.  

In particular, at December 31, 2015, fixed maturities represented $428.6 million or 87.8% of our total investments of $488.2 million. The fair value of fixed maturities and the related investment income fluctuates depending on general economic and market conditions. The fair value of these investments generally increases or decreases in an inverse relationship with fluctuations in interest rates, while net investment income realized by us will generally increase or decrease in line with changes in market interest rates. In addition, actual net investment income and/or cash flows from investments that carry prepayment risk, such as mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, may differ from those anticipated at the time of investment as a result of interest rate fluctuations. An investment has prepayment risk when there is a risk that the timing of cash flows that result from the repayment of principal might occur earlier than anticipated because of declining interest rates or later than anticipated because of rising interest rates. The impact of value fluctuations affects our Consolidated Financial Statements. Because all of our fixed maturities are classified as available for sale, changes in the fair value of our securities are reflected in our stockholders' equity (accumulated other comprehensive income or loss). No similar adjustment is made for liabilities to reflect a change in interest rates. Therefore, interest rate fluctuations and economic conditions could adversely affect our stockholders' equity, total comprehensive income (loss) and/or cash flows. For mortgage-backed securities, credit risk exists if mortgagees default on the underlying mortgages. Although, at December 31, 2015, approximately 99.8% of the fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA, all of our fixed maturities are subject to credit risk. If any of the issuers of our fixed maturities suffer financial setbacks, the ratings on the fixed maturities could fall (with a concurrent fall in fair value) and, in a worst case scenario, the issuer could default on its financial obligations. If the issuer defaults, we could have realized losses associated with the impairment of the securities.

We regularly monitor our investment portfolio to ensure that investments that are other-than-temporarily impaired are identified in a timely fashion, properly valued and any impairment is charged against earnings in the proper period. Assessment factors include, but are not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and rating of the issuer, whether any collateral is held and the Company's intent to sell, or be required to sell, debt securities before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis. However, the determination that a security has incurred an other-than-temporary decline in value requires the judgment of management. Inherently, there are risks and uncertainties involved in making these judgments. Therefore, changes in facts and circumstances and critical assumptions could result in management’s decision that further impairments have occurred. This could lead to additional losses on investments, particularly those that management has the intent and ability to hold until recovery in value occurs.

Our earnings could be materially affected by an impairment of goodwill.

 

Goodwill represented $53.4 million of our $1.2 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2015. We review our goodwill annually for impairment or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. We regularly assess whether any indicators of impairment exist, which requires a significant amount of judgment. Such indicators may include: a sustained significant decline in our share price and market capitalization; a decline in our expected future cash flows; a significant adverse change in the business climate; and/or slower growth rates, among others. Any adverse change in one of these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  If we experience a sustained decline in our results of operations and cash flows, or other indicators of impairment exist, we may incur a material non-cash charge to earnings relating to impairment of our goodwill, which could have a material adverse effect on our results.

If rating agencies downgrade our insurance companies, our results of operations and competitive position in the industry may suffer.

Ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are all rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, Inc. A.M. Best's ratings reflect its opinions of an insurance company's financial strength, operating performance, strategic position, and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders and are not evaluations directed to investors.  The ratings of our carriers are subject to periodic review by A.M. Best, and we cannot assure the continued maintenance of our current ratings.  Because these ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies, if A.M. Best reduces the ratings of any of our carriers from current levels, our competitive position in the industry, and therefore our business could be adversely affected.  A significant downgrade could result in a substantial loss of business, as policyholders might move to other companies with higher claims-paying and financial strength ratings.

Our loss reserves are based on an estimate of our future liability, and if actual claims prove to be greater than our reserves, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

We maintain loss reserves to cover our estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, where material, including legal and other fees, and costs not associated with specific claims but related to the claims payment functions for reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, we cannot be sure that current reserves will prove adequate. If our reserves are insufficient to cover our actual losses and loss adjustment expenses, we would have to augment our reserves and incur a charge to our earnings, and these charges could be material. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability.  Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based on our assessment of known facts and circumstances. Many factors could affect these reserves, including economic and social conditions, frequency and severity of claims, medical trend resulting from the influences of underlying cost inflation, changes in utilization and demand for medical services, and changes in doctrines of legal liability and damage awards in litigation. Many of these items are not directly quantifiable in advance. Additionally, there may be a significant reporting lag between the occurrence of the insured event and the time it is reported to us.  The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of liabilities, particularly those in which the various considerations affecting the type of claim are subject to change and in which long periods of time may elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made. Reserve estimates are continually refined in a regular and ongoing process as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled and are reflected in the results of the periods in which such estimates are changed.

Our inability to assess underwriting risk accurately could reduce our net income.

Our success is dependent on our ability to assess accurately the risks associated with the businesses on which we retain risk. If we fail to assess accurately the risks we retain, we may fail to establish the appropriate premium rates and our reserves may be inadequate to cover our losses, requiring augmentation of the reserves, which in turn would reduce our net income.

Our agreements with our producers that underwrite on our behalf require that each such producer follow underwriting guidelines published by us and amended from time to time.  Failure to follow these guidelines may result in termination or modification of the agreement. We perform periodic audits to confirm adherence to the guidelines, but it is possible that we would not detect a breach in the guidelines for some time after the infraction, which could result in a material impact on the Net Loss Ratio (defined as insurance benefits, claims and reserves divided by the difference between premiums earned and underwriting expenses) for that producer and could have an adverse impact on our operating results.  

We may be unsuccessful in competing against larger or better-established business rivals.

We compete with a large number of other companies in our selected lines of business.  We face competition from specialty insurance companies and HMOs, and from diversified financial services companies and insurance companies that are much larger than we are and that have far greater financial, marketing and other resources. Some of these competitors also have longer experience and more market recognition than we do in certain lines of business. In addition to competition in the operation of our business, we face competition from a variety of sources in attracting and retaining qualified employees. We cannot assure you that we will maintain our current competitive position in the markets in which we operate, or that we will be able to expand operations into new markets. If we fail to do so, our results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

We rely on reinsurance arrangements to help manage our business risks, and failure to perform by the counterparties to our reinsurance arrangements may expose us to risks we had sought to mitigate.

 

We utilize reinsurance to mitigate our risks in various circumstances. Reinsurance does not relieve us of our direct liability to our policyholders, even when the reinsurer is liable to us. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers.  Our reinsurers may be unable or unwilling to pay the reinsurance recoverable owed to us now or in the future or on a timely basis. A reinsurer’s insolvency, inability or unwillingness to make payments under the terms of its reinsurance agreement with us could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We have risks from exiting the individual life and annuities business.  

We exited the individual life and annuities business in July 2015 when our subsidiaries, Madison National Life and Standard Security Life, entered into an agreement to coinsure substantially all of their run-off blocks of individual life and annuities and sold MNL's infrastructure related to those blocks, to National Guardian Life Insurance Company (“NGL”).  Key risks associated with exiting the business include:

·

our ability to identify and implement key customer, technology systems, and other transition actions to avoid or minimize negative effects on retained businesses;

·

our ability to assess and manage any loss of synergies that the exited business had with our retained businesses; and

·

our ability to manage capital, liquidity, and other challenges that may arise in the event of an exit that results in significant cash expenditures or a financial loss.

Further, if NGL defaults on its reinsurance commitments and/or its administration commitments, then the policies may come back to us.  Since we have sold our infrastructure, we would not have the ability to administer the business because we no longer have the IT systems or staff to support the business.  We may have to incur expenses to rebuild our capabilities, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems and to safeguard the security of our data could adversely affect our business.

 

Our business depends significantly on effective information systems, and we have different information systems for our various businesses. We have committed and will continue to commit significant resources to develop, maintain and enhance our existing information systems, transition existing systems to upgraded systems, and develop new information systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, and changing customer preferences.  

Moreover, our computer systems have been, and will continue to be, subject to computer viruses or other malicious codes, unauthorized access, cyber-attacks, hackers or other computer-related

penetrations. To date, we are not aware of a material breach of cybersecurity. We commit significant resources to administrative and technical controls to prevent cyber incidents and protect our information technology, but our preventative actions to reduce the risk of cyber threats may be insufficient to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, denial of service and other cyber-attacks or security breaches. Such an event could compromise our confidential information as well as that of our clients and third parties, with whom we interact, impede or interrupt business operations and may result in other negative consequences, including remediation costs, loss of revenue, additional regulatory scrutiny and litigation and reputational damage.  

Our database and systems are also vulnerable to damage or interruption from system outages, disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, acts of terrorism, blackouts, power loss, telecommunications failures, and similar events, which would compromise our ability to conduct business. In the event of such failures, our systems may not be available to our customers or business partners for an extended period of time, which could hurt our relationships with our customers and business partners.

Our failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems and protect the security of such systems could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to protect our policyholders' confidential information and privacy could adversely affect our business.

 

In the conduct of our business, we are subject to privacy regulations and to confidentiality obligations. For example, the collection and use of patient data in our health insurance operations is the subject of national and state legislation, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, and certain other activities we conduct are subject to the privacy regulations of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. We also have contractual obligations to protect certain confidential information we obtain from our existing vendors, partners and policyholders. These obligations generally include protecting such confidential information in the same manner and to the same extent as we protect our own confidential information. If we do not properly comply with privacy regulations and protect confidential information, we could experience adverse consequences, including regulatory sanctions, such as penalties, fines and loss of license, as well as loss of reputation and possible litigation.

Risks Related to our Industry

Our industry is highly regulated and we are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which may adversely affect our ability to achieve our business objectives.  Also, changes in regulations may affect our businesses and reduce our profitability and limit our growth. Moreover, if we fail to comply with these regulations, we may be subject to penalties, including fines and suspensions, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to state insurance laws and regulated by the insurance departments of the various states in which they are domiciled and licensed, which, among other things, conduct periodic examination of insurance companies.  State laws grant insurance regulatory authorities broad administrative powers with respect to various aspects of our insurance businesses, including:

·

licensing companies and agents to transact business and regulating their respective conduct in the market;

·

restricting agreements with large revenue-producing agents;

·

approving policy forms and premium rates;

·

cancelling and non-renewal of policies;

·

requiring certain methods of accounting and prescribing the form and content of records of financial condition required to be filed;

·

calculating the value of assets to determine compliance with statutory requirements;

·

establishing statutory capital and reserve requirements, such as for unearned premiums and losses;

·

regulating certain premium rates and requiring deposits for the benefit of policyholders;

·

establishing maximum interest rates on insurance policy loans and minimum rates for guaranteed crediting rates on life insurance policies;

·

establishing standards of solvency, including risk-based capital measurements, which are a measure developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and used by state insurance regulators to identify insurance companies that potentially are inadequately capitalized;

·

mandating certain insurance benefits and restricting the size of risks insurable under a single policy;

·

regulating unfair trade and claims practices, including the imposition of restrictions on marketing and sales practices, distribution arrangements and payment of inducements;

·

requiring the filing of annual and other reports relating to the financial condition of insurance companies, holding company issues and other matters;

·

approving changes in control of insurance companies;

·

restricting transactions between insurance companies and their affiliates, including the payment of dividends to affiliates; and

·

regulating the nature or types, concentration or amounts, quality and valuation of investments.

Currently, the U.S. federal government does not directly regulate the business of insurance. However, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into law in July 2010 by President Obama, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”).  While the CFPB does not have direct jurisdiction over insurance products, it is possible that regulations promulgated by the CFPB may extend its authority more broadly to cover certain insurance products and thereby may adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act, along with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, regulates corporate governance, executive compensation and other areas, as well as laws relating to federal trade restrictions, privacy/data security, crop insurance and terrorism risk insurance laws. Additionally, federal legislation and administrative policies in other areas can significantly and adversely affect insurance companies, including general financial services regulation, securities regulation, privacy regulation, tort reform legislation, and taxation.  

We are uncertain as to the impact that this new legislation and regulatory guidance will have on the Company and cannot assure that it will not adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, compliance with applicable laws and regulations is time consuming and personnel-intensive, and changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase our direct and indirect compliance efforts and other expenses of doing business.

Healthcare reform may further adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

Although health insurance is generally regulated at the state level, legislative actions have been taken at the federal level to impose added restrictions on our business.  The ACA was signed into law in March 2010.  Provisions of the ACA and related reforms are causing sweeping and fundamental changes to the U.S. health care system that are expected to significantly affect the health insurance industry.  The effects on our Company’s business include, in particular, a requirement that we pay rebates to customers if the loss ratios for some of our product lines are less than specified percentages; the need to reduce commissions and the consequent risk that insurance producers may sell less of our products than they have in the past; limits on lifetime and annual benefit maximums; a prohibition from imposing any pre-existing condition exclusion; limits on our ability to rescind coverage except for intentional fraud; increased costs to modify and/or sell our products; the need to provide a minimum standard for coverage, so that all plans must cover at least 60 percent of the typical person’s medical bills and include a set of

“essential health benefits” from hospitalization to mental health to rehabilitative services to maternity care; intensified competitive pressures that limit our ability to increase rates; significant risk of customer loss; new and higher taxes and fees to generate the revenues to implement the ACA; additional administrative costs to implement the requirements of healthcare reform; and the need to operate with a lower expense structure at both the business segment and enterprise level.

The ACA also affects us as an employer because it significantly affects the provision of both health care services and benefits in the United States.  The ACA may impact our cost of providing our employees with health insurance and/or benefits, and may also impact various other aspects of our business. We are continuing to assess the impact of the ACA on our health care benefit costs.

We are unable to predict what additional legislation or regulation, if any, relating to the health care industry or third-party coverage and reimbursement may be enacted in the future or what effect such legislation or regulation would have on our business.  

We will continue to monitor the implementation of ACA and reassess our business strategies accordingly.  We have made, and are continuing to make, significant changes to our operations, products and strategy to adapt to the new environment.  However, if our plans for operating in the new environment are unsuccessful or if there is less demand than we expect for our products in the new environment, our results could be adversely affected.       

Changes in state regulations, or the application thereof, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

State insurance regulators and the NAIC regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations or in interpretations thereof, are often made for the benefit of the consumer at the expense of the insurer and thus could have an adverse effect on our business.  We cannot predict what impact, if any, the results of these studies or other such proposals, if enacted, may have on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  

If we fail to comply with extensive state and federal regulations, we will be subject to penalties, which may include fines and suspension and which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Some states have imposed time limits for the payment of uncontested covered claims and require health care and dental service plans to pay interest on uncontested claims not paid promptly within the required time period. Some states have also granted their insurance regulatory agencies additional authority to impose monetary penalties and other sanctions on health and dental plans engaging in certain unfair payment practices. If we were unable, for any reason, to comply with these requirements, it could result in substantial costs to us and could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

A large portion of our business depends on our compliance with applicable laws and regulations and our ability to maintain valid licenses and approvals for our operations. Regulatory authorities have broad discretion to grant, renew, revoke or deny licenses and approvals.  In some instances, we follow practices based on our interpretations of regulations, or interpretations that we believe to be generally followed by the industry, which may be different from the requirements or interpretations of regulatory authorities.  If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals and do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our insurance-related activities or otherwise penalize us. That type of action could have a material adverse effect on our business. Also, changes in the level of regulation of the insurance industry (whether federal, state or foreign), or changes in laws or regulations themselves or interpretations by regulatory authorities, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Legal and regulatory investigations and actions are increasingly common in the insurance business and may result in financial losses and harm our reputation.

We face a significant risk of litigation and regulatory investigations and actions in the ordinary course of operating our businesses, including the risk of class action lawsuits and individual lawsuits relating, among other things, to sales or underwriting practices, payment of contingent or other sales commissions, claims payments and procedures, product design, disclosure, administration, additional premium charges for premiums paid on a periodic basis, interest crediting practices, denial or delay of benefits and breaches of fiduciary or other duties to customers. Plaintiffs in class action and other lawsuits against us may seek very large or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, which may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. We are also subject to various regulatory inquiries, such as information requests, subpoenas, market conduct exams and books and record examinations, from state and federal regulators and other authorities, which may result in fines, recommendations for corrective action or other regulatory actions. Even if we ultimately prevail in the litigation, regulatory action or investigation, we could suffer significant reputational harm, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

The effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on our business are uncertain.

As industry practices and legal, judicial, social and other environmental conditions change, unexpected and unintended liability for claims and coverage may emerge. These changing conditions may adversely affect our business by either extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. In some instances, these changes may not become apparent until sometime after we have issued insurance or reinsurance contracts that are affected by the changes. As a result, the full extent of liability under our insurance or reinsurance contracts may not be known for a significant period after a contract is issued, and our financial position and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

Our results may fluctuate as a result of factors generally affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry.

The results of companies in the insurance and reinsurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. The industry and our financial condition and results of operations may be affected significantly by:

·

Fluctuations in interest rates, inflationary pressures and other changes in the investment environment, which affect returns on invested capital;

·

Rising levels of actual costs that are not known by companies at the time they price their products;

·

Losses related to epidemics, terrorist activities, random acts of violence or declared or undeclared war;

·

Development of judicial interpretations relating to the scope of insurers' liability;  

·

The overall level of economic activity and the competitive environment in the industry;

·

Greater than expected use of health care services by members;

·

New mandated benefits or other regulatory changes that change the scope of business or increase our costs; and

·

Failure of MGUs, agents, third-party administrators and producers to adhere to the underwriting guidelines, market-conduct practices and other requirements (as applicable) under their agreements with us.

The occurrence of any or a combination of these factors, which is beyond our control, could have a material adverse effect on our results.

We may experience periods with excess underwriting capacity and unfavorable premium rates because the insurance and reinsurance business is historically cyclical, which could cause our results to fluctuate.

The insurance and reinsurance business historically has been a cyclical industry characterized by periods of intense price competition due to excessive underwriting capacity, as well as periods when shortages of capacity permitted an increase in pricing and, thus, more favorable premium levels. An increase in premium levels is often, over time, offset by an increasing supply of insurance and reinsurance capacity, either by capital provided by new entrants or by the commitment of additional capital by existing insurers or reinsurers, which may cause prices to decrease.  Any of these factors could lead to a significant reduction in premium rates, less favorable policy terms and fewer opportunities to underwrite insurance risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.

Failures elsewhere in the insurance industry could obligate us to pay assessments through guaranty associations.

Virtually all states require insurers licensed to do business in that state to bear a portion of the loss suffered by some insureds as the result of impaired or insolvent insurance companies. When an insurance company becomes insolvent, state insurance guaranty associations have the right to assess other insurance companies doing business in their state for funds to pay obligations to policyholders of the insolvent company, up to the state-specific limit of coverage. The total amount of the assessment is based on the number of insured residents in each state, and each company’s portion is based on its proportionate share of premium volume in the relevant lines of business. The future failure of a large life, health or annuity insurer could trigger assessments which we would be obligated to pay. Further, amounts for historical insolvencies may be assessed over many years, and there can be significant uncertainty around the total obligation for a given insolvency. Existing liabilities may not be sufficient to fund the ultimate obligations of a historical insolvency, and we may be required to increase our liability, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

ITEM 1B.

 UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.

 PROPERTIES

IHC

IHC has entered into a renewable short-term arrangement with Geneve Corporation, an affiliate, for the use of 6,750 square feet of office space as its corporate headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

Standard Security Life

Standard Security Life leases 13,000 square feet of office space in New York, New York as its corporate headquarters.

Madison National Life

Madison National Life leases 15,357 square feet of space in Madison, Wisconsin as its corporate headquarters.

IHC Administrative Services

IHC Administrative Services leases 49,117 square feet of office space in Phoenix, Arizona as its corporate headquarters.

Risk Solutions

Risk Solutions leased 6,200 square feet of office space in Marlton, New Jersey, and 11,230 square feet of office space in Enfield, Connecticut as its corporate headquarters.

GAF

GAF subsidiaries lease 11,355 square feet of office space in Dallas, Texas and 11,210 square feet of office space in Marshfield, Massachusetts as their corporate headquarters.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our businesses. We have established reserves that we believe are sufficient given information presently available relating to our outstanding legal proceedings and claims.  We do not anticipate that the result of any pending legal proceeding or claim will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or cash flows, although there could be such an effect on our results of operations for any particular period.

ITEM 4.  

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED

STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

The Company's common stock trades under the symbol IHC on the New York Stock Exchange.  The following table shows for the periods indicated the high and low sales prices for IHC's common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

				HIGH			LOW
QUARTER ENDED:
	December 31, 2015		$	15.81		$	12.90
	September 30, 2015			13.80			11.76
	June 30, 2015			14.10			11.29
	March 31, 2015			14.05			11.63
QUARTER ENDED:
	December 31, 2014		$	14.47		$	12.71
	September 30, 2014			14.88			12.41
	June 30, 2014			14.48			12.50
	March 31, 2014			14.50			11.36

IHC's stock price closed at $13.85 on December 31, 2015.

Holders of Record

At May 1, 2016, the number of record holders of IHC's common stock was 1,932. The number of record owners was determined from the Company’s stockholder records maintained by the Company’s transfer agent.

Dividends

IHC declared a cash dividend of $.045 per share on its common stock on each of June 22, 2015 and December 23, 2015 for a total annual dividend of $.09 per share.

IHC declared a cash dividend of $.035 per share on its common stock on each of June 26, 2014 and December 22, 2014 for a total annual dividend of $.07 per share.

IHC declared a cash dividend of $.035 per share on its common stock on each of June 6, 2013 and December 27, 2013 for a total annual dividend of $.07 per share.

Share Repurchase Program

IHC has a program, initiated in 1991, under which it repurchases shares of its common stock. In August 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of IHC’s common stock, in addition to prior authorizations, under the 1991 plan. At December 31, 2015, there were 324,911 shares still authorized to be repurchased under the plan. Share repurchases during the fourth quarter of 2015 are summarized as follows:

Performance Graph

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the five year cumulative total return of IHC’s common stock with that of the Russell 2000 Index and the S & P 500 Life & Health Insurance index. The graph assumes that dividends were reinvested and is based on a $100 investment on December 31, 2010. Indices data was obtained from Research Data Group, Inc.  The performance graph represents past performance and should not be considered to be an indication of future performance.

ITEM 6.

 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following is a summary of selected consolidated financial data of the Company for each of the last five years.

The Selected Financial Data should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in Item 8 of this report. Total assets, stockholders’ equity and book value per common share data for prior years have been revised to reflect an immaterial error correction related to deferred tax assets and liabilities. For further discussion of this error refer to Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report.

ITEM 7.

 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (NYSE: IHC), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life"),  Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"), and Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc. and IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc. IHC also owns a significant equity interest in: (i) Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), a newly formed administration exchange for health and pet insurance; and (ii) a managing general underwriter (“MGU”) that writes medical stop-loss. Prior to March 31, 2016, we sold medical stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups through our wholly owned full service MGU, IHC Risk Solutions, LLC (“Risk Solutions”). Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”.

IHC’s health insurance products serve niche sectors of the commercial market through multiple classes of business and varied distribution channels.  Medical Stop-Loss was marketed to employer groups that self-insure their medical risks. With regard to those persons in the growing individual market, IHC’s products offer coverage for individuals and families with STM needs, and fixed indemnity limited benefit and scheduled benefit plans through select distribution partners.  We offer pet insurance for dogs and cats in all 50 states through a national distributor. Our fixed indemnity limited benefit product is primarily purchased by hourly workers and others who are generally not eligible for coverage under their employer’s group medical plan. The dental and vision products are marketed to large and small groups as well as individuals. With respect to IHC’s life and disability business, Madison National Life has historically sold almost all of this business through one distribution source specializing in serving school districts and municipalities.

While management considers a wide range of factors in its strategic planning and decision-making, underwriting profit is consistently emphasized as the primary goal in all decisions as to whether or not to increase our retention in a core line, expand into new products, acquire an entity or a block of business, or otherwise change our business model.  Management's assessment of trends in healthcare and morbidity, with respect to medical stop-loss, fully insured medical, disability and DBL; mortality rates with respect to life insurance; and changes in market conditions in general play a significant role in determining the rates charged, deductibles and attachment points quoted, and the percentage of business retained. IHC also seeks transactions that permit it to leverage its vertically integrated organizational structure by generating fee income from production and administrative operating companies as well as risk income for its carriers and profit commissions.  Management has always focused on managing the costs of its operations and providing its insureds with the best cost-containment tools available.

The following is a summary of key performance information and events:

Results of operations are summarized as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

·

Net income of $1.71 per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $.92 per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

o

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes a $6.7 million gain, net of tax, resulting from the deconsolidation of a subsidiary and corresponding joint venture transaction. See discussion on Gain on Sale of Subsidiary to Joint Venture.

o

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes a gain of $3.3 million, net of tax, on the sale of the infrastructure associated with the administration of substantially all of our individual life and annuity policies ceded during the third quarter. See discussion on Other Income.

o

The results for 2014 include credits to federal income taxes of $2.5 million as a result of the reduction in AMIC’s valuation allowance related to its net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2014;

·

Consolidated investment yield (on an annualized basis) of 2.8% in 2015 compared to 3.3% in 2014; and

·

Book value of $18.73 per common share at December 31, 2015 compared to $17.25 at December 31, 2014.

The following is a summary of key performance information by segment:

·

The Medical Stop-Loss segment reported income before taxes of $23.1 million and $21.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively;

o

Premiums earned increased $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to 2014. The increase in premiums earned is primarily due to increased volume of business produced by IHC Risk Solutions.

o

Underwriting experience for the Medical Stop-Loss segment, as indicated by its U.S. GAAP Combined Ratios, is as follows for the years indicated (in thousands):

			2015			2014			2013
Premiums Earned		$	209,765		$	176,941		$	166,302
Insurance Benefits, Claims & Reserves			153,919			122,469			115,599
Expenses			40,104			37,710			42,164
Loss Ratio(A)			73.4%			69.2%			69.5%
Expense Ratio (B)			19.1%			21.3%			25.4%
Combined Ratio (C)			92.5%			90.5%			94.9%

(A)

Loss ratio represents insurance benefits claims and reserves divided by premiums earned.

(B)

Expense ratio represents net commissions, administrative fees, premium taxes and other underwriting expenses divided by premiums earned.

(C)

The combined ratio is equal to the sum of the loss ratio and the expenses ratio.

o

Loss ratios increased primarily from the assumed lines of medical stop-loss business and from our affiliated owned MGU due to higher claims experience while expense ratios decreased due to lower commission expenses.

·

The Fully Insured Health segment reported $6.5 million of income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to losses before taxes of $2.0 million for the comparable period in 2014.  The increase in profitability is largely due to lower loss ratios and lower combined ratios in 2015 primarily as a result of exiting the market for major medical health plans for individuals and families and small group major medical (collectively “Major Medical”) and a $0.5 million gain recorded upon the acquisition of a controlling interest in Global Accident Facilities, LLC (“GAF”);

o

For the year ended December 31, 2015, premiums earned in the Fully Insured Health segment decreased by $47.0 million over the comparable period in 2014. A decrease in the premiums earned from Major Medical of $58.4 million is largely the result of the strategic decision to focus on specialty health products. The decrease in Major Medical premiums was partially offset by increases in the specialty health business as a result of new product launches and broader marketing of our short-term medical plans, and by growth in pet insurance and occupational accident lines of business;

o

Underwriting experience, as indicated by its U.S. GAAP Combined Ratios, for the Fully Insured segment are as follows for the years indicated (in thousands):

			2015		2014		2013
Premiums Earned		$	171,912	$	218,949	$	248,870
Insurance Benefits, Claims & Reserves			93,916		146,431		177,290
Expenses			71,641		75,929		76,236
Loss Ratio			54.6%		66.9%		71.2%
Expense Ratio			41.7%		34.7%		30.6%
Combined Ratio			96.3%		101.6%		101.8%

o

The lower loss ratios in 2015 are primarily attributable to the effects of exiting Major Medical.  In 2014, we began to adjust our mix of business from Major Medical to specialty health insurance lines of business and, as a result, loss ratios have improved although expense ratios associated with these types of products are somewhat higher.

·

Income before taxes from the Group disability, life and DBL segment in 2015 increased $3.6 million compared to prior year results. The increase is primarily the result of increased volume and retentions in the long term disability (“LTD”) line combined with lower loss ratios;

·

Losses before taxes from the Individual life, annuities and other segment decreased $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to a $5.1 million pre-tax gain recorded in connection with the sale of infrastructure associated with the administration of substantially all of our individual life and annuity policies ceded during the third quarter of 2015 in addition to less amortization of deferred costs in correlation to the coinsurance and assumptions of certain ceded life and annuity policies;

·

Losses before tax from the Corporate segment for the year ended December 31, 2015 were comparable to the same period in 2014; and

·

Premiums by principal product for the years indicated are as follows (in thousands):

Gross Direct and Assumed
Earned Premiums:			2015			2014			2013
Medical Stop-Loss		$	302,709		$	240,865		$	199,064
Fully Insured Health			186,716			241,486			288,809
Group disability; life and DBL			116,500			107,049			102,663
Individual life, annuities and other			23,552			26,186			28,342
		$	629,477		$	615,586		$	618,878

Net Premiums Earned:			2015			2014			2013
Medical Stop-Loss		$	209,765		$	176,941		$	166,302
Fully Insured Health			171,912			218,949			248,870
Group disability; life and DBL			85,953			64,260			60,004
Individual life, annuities and other			11,904			18,898			20,815
		$	479,534		$	479,048		$	495,991

Information pertaining to the Company's business segments is provided in Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. GAAP. The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies and practices is provided in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report. Management has identified the accounting policies described below as those that, due to the judgments, estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, are critical to an understanding of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and this Management's Discussion and Analysis.

Insurance Premium Revenue Recognition and Policy Charges

Premiums for short-duration medical insurance contracts are intended to cover expected claim costs resulting from insured events that occur during a fixed period of short duration. The Company has the ability to not renew the contract or to revise the premium rates at the end of each annual contract period to cover future insured events. Insurance premiums from annual health contracts are collected monthly and are recognized as revenue evenly as insurance protection is provided.

Premiums related to long-term and short-term disability contracts are recognized on a pro rata basis over the applicable contract term.

Traditional life insurance products consist principally of products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and benefits, primarily term and whole life insurance products. Premiums from these products are recognized as revenue when due.

Annuities and interest-sensitive life contracts, such as universal life and interest-sensitive whole life, are contracts whose terms are not fixed and guaranteed. Premiums from these policies are reported as funds on deposit. Policy charges consist of fees assessed against the policyholder for cost of insurance (mortality risk), policy administration and early surrender. These revenues are recognized when assessed against the policyholder account balance.

Policies that do not subject the Company to significant risk arising from mortality or morbidity are considered investment contracts. Deposits received from such contracts are reported as other policyholder funds. Policy charges for investment contracts consist of fees assessed against the policyholder account for maintenance, administration and surrender of the policy prior to contractually specified dates, and are recognized when assessed against the policyholder account balance.

Insurance Liabilities

The Company maintains loss reserves to cover its estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, where material, (including legal, other fees, and costs not associated with specific claims but related to the claims payment function)  for reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period.  These loss reserves are based on actuarial assumptions and are maintained at levels that are in accordance with U.S. GAAP accounting principles.  Many factors could affect these reserves, including economic and social conditions, frequency and severity of claims, medical trend resulting from the influences of underlying cost inflation, changes in utilization and demand for medical services, and changes in doctrines of legal liability and damage awards in litigation. Therefore, the Company’s reserves are necessarily based on estimates, assumptions and analysis of historical experience.

The Company’s results depend upon the variation between actual claims experience and the assumptions used in determining reserves and pricing products. Reserve assumptions and estimates require significant judgment and, therefore, are inherently uncertain. The Company cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that will be paid for actual claims or the timing of those payments. The Company's estimate of loss represents management's best estimate of the Company's liability at the balance sheet date.

Loss reserves differ for short-duration and long-duration insurance policies, including annuities. Reserves are based on approved actuarial methods, but necessarily include assumptions about expenses, mortality, morbidity, lapse rates and future yield on related investments.

Policy Benefits and Claims

All of the Company’s short-duration contracts are generated from its accident, health, disability and pet insurance business, and are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the amount of loss inherent in that period’s claims, including losses incurred for which claims have not been reported. Short-duration contract loss estimates rely on actuarial observations of ultimate loss experience for similar historical events.

The Company believes that its liability for policy benefits and claims is reasonable and adequate to satisfy its ultimate liability.  The Company primarily uses its own loss development experience, but will also supplement that with data from its outside actuaries, reinsurers and industry loss experience as warranted. To illustrate the impact that Loss Ratios have on the Company’s loss reserves and related expenses, each hypothetical 1% change in the Loss Ratio for the health business (i.e., the ratio of insurance benefits, claims and settlement expenses to earned health premiums) for the year ended December 31, 2015, would increase reserves (in the case of a higher ratio) or decrease reserves (in the case of a lower ratio) by approximately $4.5 million with a corresponding increase or decrease in the pre-tax expense for  insurance benefits, claims and reserves in the Consolidated Statement of Income.  Depending on the circumstances surrounding a change in the Loss Ratio, other pre-tax amounts reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income could also be affected, such as amortization of deferred acquisition costs and commission expense.

The liability for policy benefits and claims by segment is as follows (in thousands):

			December 31, 2015
			Policy		Policy		Policy Benefits
			Benefits		Claims		and Claims
Medical Stop-Loss		$	100,088	$	-	$	100,088
Fully Insured Health			41,477		-		41,477
Group Disability			85,416		12,570		97,986
Individual Accident and Health
	and Other		5,694		198		5,892
		$	232,675	$	12,768	$	245,443

			December 31, 2014
			Policy		Policy		Policy Benefits
			Benefits		Claims		and Claims
Medical Stop-Loss		$	80,128	$	-	$	80,128
Fully Insured Health			50,285		-		50,285
Group Disability			88,360		10,950		99,310
Individual Accident and Health
	and Other		6,881		199		7,080
		$	225,654	$	11,149	$	236,803

Medical Stop-Loss

All of the Company’s Medical Stop-Loss policies are short-duration and are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the amount of loss inherent in that period’s claims or open claims from prior periods, including losses incurred for claims that have not been reported (“IBNR”). Short-duration contract loss estimates rely on actuarial observations of ultimate loss experience for similar historical events.

The two “primary” assumptions underlying the calculation of policy benefits and claims for Medical Stop-Loss business are (i) projected Net Loss Ratio, and (ii) claim development patterns.  The projected Net Loss Ratio is set at expected levels consistent with the underlying assumptions (“Projected Net Loss Ratio”). Claim development patterns are set quarterly as reserve estimates are developed and are based on recent claim development history (“Claim Development Patterns”).  The Company uses the Projected Net Loss Ratio to establish reserves until developing losses provide a better indication of ultimate results and it is feasible to set reserves based on Claim Development Patterns.  The Company has concluded that a reasonably likely change in the Projected Net Loss Ratio assumption could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity (“Material Effect”) but a reasonably likely change in the Claim Development Pattern would not have a Material Effect.

Projected Net Loss Ratio

Generally, during the first twelve months of an underwriting year, policy benefits and claims for Medical Stop-Loss are first set at the Projected Net Loss Ratio, which is set using assumptions developed using completed prior experience trended forward. The Projected Net Loss Ratio is the Company’s best estimate of future performance until such time as developing losses provide a better indication of ultimate results.  

While the Company establishes a best estimate of the Projected Net Loss Ratio, actual experience may deviate from this estimate.  This was the case with the 2012, 2013 and 2014 underwriting years which increased by 0.4, 2.8 and 5.9 Net Loss Ratio points, respectively. After the recorded reserve estimate, it is reasonably likely that the actual experience will fall within a range up to five Net Loss Ratio points above or below the expected Projected Net Loss Ratio for the 2015 underwriting year at December 31, 2015. The impact of these reasonably likely changes at December 31, 2015, would be an increase in net reserves (in the case of a higher ratio) or a decrease in net reserves (in the case of a lower ratio) of up to approximately $5.6 million with a corresponding increase or decrease in the pre-tax expense for insurance benefits, claims and reserves in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Major factors that affect the Projected Net Loss Ratio assumption in reserving for Medical Stop-Loss relate to: (i) frequency and severity of claims; (ii) changes in medical trend resulting from the influences of underlying cost inflation, changes in utilization and demand for medical services, the impact of new medical technology and changes in medical treatment protocols; and (iii) the adherence to the Company’s underwriting guidelines. Changes in these underlying factors are what determine the reasonably likely changes in the Projected Net Loss Ratio as discussed above.   

Claim Development Patterns

Subsequent to the first twelve months of an underwriting year, the Company’s developing losses provide a better indication of ultimate losses. At this point, claims have developed to a level where Claim Development Patterns can be applied to generate reasonably reliable estimates of ultimate claim levels.  Development factors based on historical patterns are applied to paid and reported claims to estimate fully developed claims. Claim Development Patterns are reviewed quarterly as reserve estimates are developed and are based on recent claim development history. The Company must determine whether changes in

development represent true indications of emerging experience or are simply due to random claim fluctuations.

The Company also establishes its best estimates of claim development factors to be applied to more developed treaty year experience.  While these factors are based on historical Claim Development Patterns, actual claim development may vary from these estimates.  The Company does not believe that reasonably likely changes in its actual claim development patterns would have a Material Effect.   

Predicting ultimate claims and estimating reserves in Medical Stop-Loss is more complex than fully insured medical and disability business due to the “excess of loss” nature of these products with very high deductibles applying to specific claims on any individual claimant and in the aggregate for a given group.  The level of these deductibles makes it more difficult to predict the amount and payment pattern of such claims.  Fluctuations in results for specific coverage are primarily due to the severity and frequency of individual claims, whereas fluctuations in aggregate coverage are largely attributable to frequency of underlying claims rather than severity. Liabilities for first dollar medical reserves and disability coverages are computed using completion factors and expected Net Loss Ratios derived from actual historical premium and claim data.

Due to the short-term nature of Medical Stop-Loss, redundancies or deficiencies will typically emerge during the course of the following year rather than over a number of years.  For Employer Stop-Loss, as noted above, the Company maintains its reserves based on underlying assumptions until it determines that an adjustment is appropriate based on emerging experience from all of its MGUs for prior underwriting years. 

Fully Insured Health

The liability for policy benefits and claims for fully insured medical and dental business is established using historical claim development patterns. Claim development by number of months elapsed from the incurred month is studied each month and development factors are calculated. These claim development factors are then applied to the amount of claims paid to date for each incurred month to estimate fully complete claims. The difference between fully complete claims and the claims paid to date is the estimated reserve. Total reserves are the sum of the reserves for all incurred months.

The primary assumption in the determination of fully insured policy benefits and claims is that historical claim development patterns tend to be representative of future claim development patterns. Factors that may affect this assumption include changes in claim payment processing times and procedures, changes in product design, changes in time delay in submission of claims, and the incidence of unusually large claims. The reserving analysis includes a review of claim processing statistical measures and large claim early notifications; the potential impacts of any changes in these factors are minimal. The time delay in submission of claims tends to be stable over time and not subject to significant volatility. Since our analysis considered a variety of outcomes related to these factors, the Company does not believe that any reasonably likely change in these factors will have a Material Effect.

Group Disability

The Company’s Group Disability segment is comprised of Long Term Disability (“LTD”) and Disability Benefits Law (“DBL”).  The two “primary” assumptions on which Group Disability policy benefits and claims are based are: (i) morbidity levels; and (ii) recovery rates. If morbidity levels increase, for example due to an epidemic or a recessionary environment, the Company would increase reserves because there would be more new claims than expected.  In regard to the assumed recovery rate, if disabled lives recover more quickly than anticipated then the existing claims reserves would be reduced; if less quickly, the existing claims reserves would be increased. Advancements in medical treatments could affect future recovery, termination, and mortality rates. With respect to LTD only, other assumptions are:  (i) changes in market interest rates; (ii) changes in offsets; (iii) advancements in medical treatments; and (iv) cost of living.  Changes in market interest rates could change reserve assumptions

since the payout period could be as long as 40 years. Changes in offsets such as Social Security benefits, retirement plans and state disability plans also impact reserving. As a result of the forgoing assumptions, it is possible that the historical trend may not be an accurate predictor of the future development of the block. As with most long term insurance reserves that require judgment, the reserving process is subject to uncertainty and volatility and fluctuations may not be indicative of the claim development overall.

While the Company believes that larger variations are possible, the Company does not believe that reasonably likely changes in its “primary” assumptions would have a Material Effect.

Individual Accident and Health and Other

This segment is a combination of closed lines of business as well as certain small existing lines.  While the assumptions used in setting reserves vary between these different lines of business, the assumptions would generally relate to the following: (i) the rate of disability; (ii) the morbidity rates on specific diseases; and (iii) accident rates. The reported reserves are based on management’s best estimate for each line within this segment. General uncertainties that surround all insurance reserving methodologies would apply.  However, since the Company has so few policies of this type, volatility may occur due to the small number of claims.

Management believes that the Company's methods of estimating the liabilities for policy benefits and claims provided appropriate levels of reserves at December 31, 2015. Changes in the Company's policy benefits and claims estimates are recorded through a charge or credit to its earnings.

Future Policy Benefits

The liability for future policy benefits consists of the liabilities associated with the Company’s long-duration contracts, primarily its life and annuity products. For traditional life insurance products, the Company computes the liability for future policy benefits primarily using the net premium method based on anticipated investment yield, mortality, and withdrawals. These methods are widely used in the life insurance industry to estimate the liabilities for insurance reserves. Inherent in these calculations are management and actuarial judgments and estimates that could significantly impact the ending reserve liabilities and, consequently, operating results. Actual results may differ, and these estimates are subject to interpretation and change.

Management believes that the Company's methods of estimating the liabilities for future policy benefits provided appropriate levels of reserves at December 31, 2015. Changes in the Company's future policy benefits estimates are recorded through a charge or credit to its earnings.

Other Policyholders’ Funds

Other policyholders’ funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sales of products, such as universal life, interest-sensitive life and annuities. Policyholder funds are comprised primarily of deposits received and interest credited to the benefit of the policyholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses.

Interest credited to policyholder funds represents interest accrued or paid on interest-sensitive life policies and investment policies. Amounts charged to operations (including interest credited and benefit claims incurred in excess of related policyholder account balances) are reported as insurance benefits, claims and reserves-life and annuity. Credit rates for certain annuities and interest-sensitive life policies are adjusted periodically by the Company to reflect current market conditions, subject to contractually guaranteed minimum rates.

Deferred Acquisition Costs

Costs that vary with and are primarily related to the successful acquisition of insurance policies and investment type contracts are deferred and recorded as deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC").  These costs are principally broker fees, agent commissions, and the purchase prices of the acquired blocks of insurance policies and investment type policies. DAC is amortized to expense and reported separately in the Consolidated Statements of Income. All DAC within a particular product type is amortized on the same basis using the following methods:    

For traditional life insurance and other premium paying policies, amortization of DAC is charged to expense over the related premium revenue recognition period.  Assumptions used in the amortization of DAC are determined based upon the conditions as of the date of policy issue or assumption and are not generally revised during the life of the policy.  

For long duration type contracts, such as annuities and universal life business, amortization of DAC is charged to expense over the life of the underlying contracts based on the present value of the estimated gross profits ("EGPs") expected to be realized over the life of the book of contracts.  EGPs consist of margins based on expected mortality rates, persistency rates, interest rate spreads, and other revenues and expenses. The Company regularly evaluates its EGPs to determine if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier estimates should be revised. If the Company determines that the current assumptions underlying the EGPs are no longer the best estimate for the future due to changes in actual versus expected mortality rates, persistency rates,  interest rate spreads, or other revenues and expenses,  the future EGPs are updated using the new assumptions and prospective unlocking occurs.  These updated EGPs are utilized for future amortization calculations.   The total amortization recorded to date is adjusted through a current charge or credit to the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts determined to result in a  replacement contract that is substantially changed from the original contract will be accounted for as an extinguishment of the original contract, resulting in a release of the unamortized deferred acquisition costs, unearned revenue, and deferral of sales inducements associated with the replaced contract.

Investments

The Company has classified all of its investments as either available-for-sale or trading securities. These investments are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported through other comprehensive income (loss) for available-for-sale securities or as unrealized gains or losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income for trading securities. Available-for-sale securities totaled $437.0 million and $597.8 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Premiums and discounts on debt securities purchased at other than par value are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income, using the constant yield method over the period to maturity. Net realized gains and losses on investments are computed using the specific identification method and are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income on the trade date.

Fair value is determined using quoted market prices when available. In some cases, we use quoted market prices for similar instruments in active markets and/or model-derived valuations where inputs are observable in active markets. When there are limited or inactive trading markets, we use industry-standard pricing methodologies, including discounted cash flow models, whose inputs are based on management assumptions and available current market information. Further, we retain independent pricing vendors to assist in valuing certain instruments. Most of the securities in our portfolio are classified in either Level 1 or Level 2 of the Fair Value Hierarchy.

 The Company periodically reviews and assesses the vendor’s qualifications and the design and appropriateness of its pricing methodologies.  Management will on occasion challenge pricing information on certain individual securities and, through communications with the vendor, obtain

information about the assumptions, inputs and methodologies used in pricing those securities, and corroborate it against documented pricing methodologies. Validation procedures are in place to determine completeness and accuracy of pricing information, including, but not limited to: (i) review of exception reports that (a) identify any zero or un-priced securities; (b) identify securities with no price change; and (c) identify securities with significant price changes; (ii) performance of trend analyses; (iii) periodic comparison of pricing to alternative pricing sources; and (iv) comparison of pricing changes to expectations based on rating changes, benchmarks or control groups.  In certain circumstances, pricing is unavailable from the vendor and broker pricing information is used to determine fair value. In these instances, management will assess the quality of the data sources, the underlying assumptions and the reasonableness of the broker quotes based on the current market information available. To determine if an exception represents an error, management will often have to exercise judgment. Procedures to resolve an exception vary depending on the significance of the security and its related class, the frequency of the exception, the risk of material misstatement, and the availability of information for the security. These procedures include, but are not limited to: (i) a price challenge process with the vendor; (ii) pricing from a different vendor; (iii) a reasonableness review; and (iv) a change in price based on better information, such as an actual market trade, among other things.  Management considers all facts and relevant information obtained during the above procedures to determine the proper classification of each security in the Fair Value Hierarchy.

Declines in value of securities available-for-sale that are judged to be other-than-temporary are determined based on the specific identification method. The Company reviews its investment securities regularly and determines whether other-than-temporary impairments have occurred. The factors considered by management in its regular review to identify and recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities include, but are not limited to:  the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the Company's intent to sell, or be required to sell, the debt security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; adverse changes in ratings announced by one or more rating agencies; subordinated credit support; whether the issuer of a debt security has remained current on principal and interest payments; current expected cash flows; whether the decline in fair value appears to be issuer specific or, alternatively, a reflection of general market or industry conditions including the effect of changes in market interest rates. If the Company intends to sell a debt security, or it is more likely than not that it would be required to sell a debt security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, the entire difference between the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date would be recognized by a charge to total other-than-temporary impairment losses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.  If a decline in fair value of a debt security is judged by management to be other-than-temporary and; (i) the Company does not intend to sell the security; and (ii) it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of the security’s amortized cost, the Company assesses whether the present value of the cash flows to be collected from the security is less than its amortized cost basis. To the extent that the present value of the cash flows generated by a debt security is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists. For any such security, the impairment is bifurcated into (a) the amount of the total impairment related to the credit loss, and (b) the amount of the total impairment related to all other factors. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to the credit loss is recognized by a charge to total other-than-temporary impairment losses in the Consolidated Statement of Income, establishing a new cost basis for the security. The amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to all other factors is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). It is reasonably possible that further declines in estimated fair values of such investments, or changes in assumptions or estimates of anticipated recoveries and/or cash flows, may cause further other-than-temporary impairments in the near term, which could be significant.

In assessing corporate debt securities for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company evaluates the ability of the issuer to meet its debt obligations and the value of the company or specific collateral securing the debt position. For mortgage-backed securities where loan level data is not available, the Company uses a cash flow model based on the collateral characteristics. Assumptions about loss severity and defaults used in the model are primarily based on actual losses experienced and defaults

in the collateral pool. Prepayment speeds, both actual and estimated, are also considered. The cash flows generated by the collateral securing these securities are then determined with these default, loss severity and prepayment assumptions. These collateral cash flows are then utilized, along with consideration for the issue’s position in the overall structure, to determine the cash flows associated with the mortgage-backed security held by the Company. In addition, the Company evaluates other asset-backed securities for other-than-temporary impairment by examining similar characteristics referenced above for mortgage-backed securities.  The Company evaluates U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. Government corporations, U.S. Government agencies, and obligations of states and political subdivisions for other-than-temporary impairment by examining the terms and collateral of the security.

Equity securities may experience other-than-temporary impairment in the future based on the prospects for full recovery in value in a reasonable period of time and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security to recovery. If a decline in fair value is judged by management to be other-than-temporary or management does not have the intent or ability to hold a security, a loss is recognized by a charge to total other-than-temporary impairment losses in the Consolidated Statement of Income. For the purpose of other-than-temporary impairment evaluations, redeemable preferred stocks are evaluated in a manner similar to debt securities. Declines in the creditworthiness of the issuer of debt securities with both debt and equity-like features are evaluated using the equity model in consideration of other-than-temporary impairment.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 Goodwill carrying amounts are evaluated for impairment, at least annually, at the reporting unit level that is equivalent to an operating segment. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, further evaluation is required to determine if a write-down of goodwill is required. In determining the fair value of each reporting unit, we used an income approach, applying a discounted cash flow method that included a residual value.  Based on historical experience, we make assumptions as to: (i) expected future performance and future economic conditions, (ii) projected operating earnings, (iii) projected new and renewal business as well as profit margins on such business, and (iv) a discount rate that incorporated an appropriate risk level for the reporting unit. Any impairment of goodwill would be charged to expense. No impairment charge for goodwill was required in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Other intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives and are subject to impairment testing. Any impairment of other intangible assets would be charged to expense. No impairment charges for intangible assets were required in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

At December 31, 2015, the Company’s market capitalization was less than its book value indicating a potential impairment of goodwill.  As a result, the Company assessed the factors contributing to the performance of IHC stock in 2015.  The Company does not believe that an impairment of goodwill exists at this time.

If we experience a sustained decline in our results of operations and cash flows, or other indicators of impairment exist, we may incur a material non-cash charge to earnings relating to impairment of our goodwill, which could have a material adverse effect on our results.

 

Deferred Income Taxes

The provision for deferred income taxes is based on the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized by applying enacted statutory tax rates to temporary differences between amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is recognized for the portion of deferred tax assets that, in management's judgment, is not likely to be realized.  A liability for uncertain tax positions is recorded when it is more likely than not that a tax position will not be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The effect on deferred income taxes of a change in tax rates or laws is

recognized in income tax expense in the period that includes the enactment date.   The Company has certain tax-planning strategies that were used in determining that a valuation allowance was not necessary on its deferred taxes. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2014

Information by business segment for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

Premiums Earned

In 2015, premiums earned increased $0.5 million over the comparable period of 2014. The increase is primarily due to: (i) a $32.8 million increase in earned premiums from the Medical Stop-Loss segment as a result of higher volume; (ii) a $21.7 million increase in the Group disability, life and DBL segment primarily due to increased volume and retentions in the group term life and LTD lines; partially offset by (iii) a decrease of $47.0 million in the Fully Insured Health segment as a result of a $58.4 million decrease in premiums from exiting Major Medical, partially offset by premium increases in the

ancillary lines (primarily short-term medical), fixed indemnity limited benefit products, pet, and occupational accident lines of business as a result of higher volume; and (iv) a decrease of $7.0 million in the Individual life, annuities and other segment primarily as a result of a reinsurance transaction in the third quarter of 2015 whereby the Company ceded substantially all of its ordinary life and annuity business.

Net Investment Income

Total net investment income decreased $4.4 million.  The overall annualized investment yields were 2.8% and 3.3% in 2015 and 2014, respectively. The overall decrease was primarily a result of a decrease in investment income on bonds, equities and short-term investments as the Company transferred approximately $208.0 million of cash to an unaffiliated reinsurer in connection with a coinsurance and sale transaction on July 31, 2015 (see Note 8). The annualized investment yields on bonds, equities and short-term investments were 2.8% and 3.2% in 2015 and 2014, respectively. In addition, there were decreases in income from partnerships and policy loans for the year ended December 31, 2015. IHC has approximately $150.9 million in highly rated shorter duration securities earning on average 1.2% at December 31, 2015. A portfolio that is shorter in duration enables us, if we deem prudent, the flexibility to reinvest in much higher yielding longer-term securities, which would significantly increase investment income.

Gain on Sale of Subsidiary to Joint Venture

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company finalized a joint venture with Ebix, Inc. in which IHC sold its wholly owned administrative subsidiary, IHC Health Solutions (now known as Ebix Health Administration Exchange, Inc.), in exchange for a 60% ownership interest in Ebix Health Exchange and $6.0 million in cash proceeds. The transaction resulted in a loss of control over the subsidiary (due to a lack of the majority of the voting interest on the Board of Managers) and therefore the subsidiary was deconsolidated from the Company’s financial statements. The Company recognized a net gain of $9.9 million, pre-tax, on the transaction (see Note 6).

Net Realized Investment Gains and Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings

The Company had net realized investment gains of $3.1 million in 2015 compared to $7.7 million in 2014. These amounts include gains and losses from sales of fixed maturities and equity securities available-for-sale and other investments. Decisions to sell securities are based on management's ongoing evaluation of investment opportunities and economic and market conditions, thus creating fluctuations in gains and losses from period to period.

The Company recognized $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities available-for-sale during 2015 due to the length of time and extent an equity security was below cost.

Fee Income and Other Income

Fee income decreased $7.7 million in 2015 compared to 2014 primarily as a result of decreased Major Medical volume in the Fully Insured Health segment.  

Other income increased in 2015 primarily as a result of a $5.1 million pre-tax gain recorded in connection with a coinsurance and sale agreement. In the third quarter of 2015, Madison National Life and Standard Security Life together entered into the aforementioned coinsurance and sale agreement to cede substantially all of their individual life and annuity policy blocks and sell the related infrastructure associated with the administration of such policies (see Note 8). In addition, the Company recorded a $0.5 million gain in 2015 on the acquisition of a controlling interest in GAF (see Note 6) and a gain of $0.7 million in 2015 on the sale of Innovative Medical Risk Management (see Note 6).

Insurance Benefits, Claims and Reserves

In 2015, insurance benefits, claims and reserves decreased $18.8 million over the comparable period in 2014. The decrease is primarily attributable to: (i) a decrease of $52.5 million in the Fully Insured Health segment, primarily due to lower loss ratios in 2015 and a decrease of $48.4 million in benefits, claims and reserves related to the run-off of the Major Medical; offset in part by increases in the volume of ancillary products, pet and occupational accident lines of business; (ii) a decrease of $7.9 million in the Individual life, annuities and other segment primarily as a result of a reinsurance transaction in the third quarter of 2015 whereby the Company ceded substantially all of its ordinary life and annuity business; partially offset by (iii) an increase of $31.5 million in benefits, claims and reserves in the Medical Stop-Loss segment as a result of an increase in premium volume and higher loss ratios; and (iv) an increase of $10.1 million in the group disability, life and DBL segment, primarily due to increased volume and retention in the group term life and LTD lines partially offset by lower loss ratios.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $5.6 million over the comparable period in 2014. The decrease is primarily attributable to: (i) a decrease of $9.0 million in the Fully Insured Health segment largely due to the run-off of the Major Medical and the deconsolidation of IHC Health Solutions, partially offset by increases in general expenses as a result of the higher volume of ancillary, pet and occupational accident business, which tends to have a higher expense structure than major medical; (ii) a decrease of $0.9 million in the Medical Stop-Loss segment primarily as a result of lower commission expenses; and (iii) a decrease of $4.7 million in Individual life, annuity and other segment primarily due to lower amortization of deferred costs in correlation with the assumptions of certain ceded life and annuity policies; partially offset by (iv) an increase of $9.0 million in the group disability, life and DBL segment primarily due to increased commission expense in the group term life and LTD lines as a result of new business and changes in retention levels.  

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for 2015 was 36.7%.  In 2014, the Company recorded a $2.5 million credit to federal income taxes as a result of the reduction in AMIC’s valuation allowance related to its deferred tax asset at December 31, 2014.  Excluding this transaction, the effective tax rate for 2014 was 38.1%.  The lower effective tax rate in 2015 was primarily due to: (i) a decrease in the amount of non-deductible expenses as a result of the Affordable Care Act as a percentage of income in 2015 compared to 2014; and (ii) a decrease in state taxes as a percentage of income in 2015; partially offset by (iii) a decrease in benefits from tax-advantaged securities as a percentage of income in 2015.

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2013

Information by business segment for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

Premiums Earned

In 2014, premiums earned decreased $16.9 million over the comparable period of 2013. The decrease is primarily due to: (i) a decrease of $29.9 million from the Fully Insured Health segment primarily as a result of a $76.1 million decrease in premiums from exiting the major medical line and the New York vision block and from a decrease in the small group major medical line, partially offset by increases in the ancillary lines (primarily short-term medical ($7.0 million) and fixed indemnity limited benefit ($4.6 million)), pet insurance ($10.2 million), international ($4.9 million) and occupational accident ($11.7 million) lines of business as a result of higher volume; and (ii) a decrease of $1.9 million of earned premiums in the Individual life, annuities and other segment, primarily as a result of business ceded in connection with a coinsurance agreement during the second quarter of 2013; partially offset by (iii) a $10.6 million increase in earned premiums from the Medical Stop-Loss segment as a result of higher volume; and (iv) a $4.3 million increase in the Group disability, life and DBL segment primarily due to increased premiums from the DBL and LTD lines.   

Net Investment Income

Total net investment income decreased $5.8 million.  The overall annualized investment yields were 3.3% and 3.8% in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The overall decrease was primarily a result of a decrease in investment income on bonds, equities and short-term investments due to the transfer of $215.1 million of invested assets in the second quarter of 2013 related to a coinsurance treaty and lower income from partnerships. The annualized investment yields on bonds, equities and short-term investments were 3.2% and 3.5% in 2014 and 2013, respectively. IHC has approximately $149.4 million in highly rated shorter duration securities earning on average 1.4% at December 31, 2014. A portfolio that is shorter in duration enables us, if we deem prudent, the flexibility to reinvest in much higher yielding longer-term securities, which would significantly increase investment income.

Net Realized Investment Gains

The Company had net realized investment gains of $7.7 million in 2014 compared to $19.8 million in 2013. These amounts include gains and losses from sales of fixed maturities and equity securities available-for-sale and other investments. Decisions to sell securities are based on management's ongoing evaluation of investment opportunities and economic and market conditions, thus creating fluctuations in gains and losses from period to period. A significant portion of the net realized investment gains in 2013 resulted from sales of invested assets in connection with the transfer of assets related to a coinsurance agreement.

Fee Income and Other Income

Fee income decreased $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily as a result of decreased volume in certain lines of the Fully Insured Health segment partially offset by increased volume in the Medical Stop-Loss segment.

There was no significant change in other income.

Insurance Benefits, Claims and Reserves

In 2014, insurance, benefits, claims and reserves decreased $28.8 million over the comparable period in 2013. The decrease is primarily attributable to: (i) a decrease of $30.9 million in the Fully Insured Health segment, primarily due to a decrease of $61.5 million in benefits, claims and reserves related to the run-off of the major medical business and the New York vision block and from lower loss ratios in 2014; partially offset by increases in the volume of ancillary products ($6.9 million), pet insurance ($6.6 million), international ($3.5 million) and occupational accident business ($7.9 million); and (ii) a decrease of $4.8 million in the Individual life, annuity and other segment, primarily as a result of business ceded in connection with a coinsurance agreement during the second quarter of 2013; partially offset by (iii) an increase of $6.9 million in benefits, claims and reserves in the Medical Stop-Loss segment as a result of an increase in premium volume; and (iv) no overall change in the group disability, life and DBL segment primarily due to increased volume in the LTD line and DBL lines which were offset by lower loss ratios in the group term life line in 2014.

Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

In 2013, the Company wrote-off $9.3 million of deferred acquisition costs in connection with a coinsurance agreement. Excluding this write-off, amortization of deferred acquisition costs decreased $0.9 million.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.7 million. The decrease is primarily due to: (i) a decrease of $3.3 million in the Medical Stop-Loss segment, primarily lower commission expenses due to the mix of business; (ii) a decrease of $5.8 million in the Fully Insured Health segment largely due to exiting the major medical line and from a decrease in the small group major medical line offset by general expenses as a result of the higher volume of ancillary, pet, international and occupational accident business in 2014, which tends to have a higher expense structure than major medical and includes the new health insurance tax in 2014; partially offset by (iii) an increase of $0.9 million in the group disability, life  and DBL segment due to increased volume in the DBL line and higher commission rates in the LTD line; (iv) an increase of $4.3 million in Individual life, annuity and other segment primarily due to the amortization of deferred costs in correlation with the assumptions of certain ceded life and annuity policies; and (v) an increase of $2.2 million in Corporate primarily due to employee compensation expense, which varies with changes in IHC’s stock price and book value.

Income Taxes

In 2014, the Company recorded a $2.5 million credit to federal income taxes as a result of the reduction in AMIC’s valuation allowance related to its deferred tax asset at December 31, 2014.  Excluding this transaction, the effective tax rate for 2014 was 38.1%. The effective tax rate for 2013 was 35.5%. The higher effective tax rate in 2014 was primarily due to an increase in non-deductible expenses in 2014 as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

LIQUIDITY

Insurance Group

The Insurance Group normally provides cash flow from: (i) operations; (ii) the receipt of scheduled principal payments on its portfolio of fixed maturities; and (iii) earnings on investments. Such cash flow is partially used to fund liabilities for insurance policy benefits. These liabilities represent long-term and short-term obligations.

Corporate

Corporate derives its funds principally from: (i) dividends from the Insurance Group; (ii) management fees from its subsidiaries; and (iii) investment income from Corporate liquidity. Regulatory constraints historically have not affected the Company's consolidated liquidity, although state insurance laws have provisions relating to the ability of the parent company to use cash generated by the Insurance Group. The Insurance Group declared and paid $10.6 million, $10.0 million and $12.0 million of cash dividends to Corporate in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Corporate utilizes cash primarily for the payment of general overhead expenses, common stock dividends, common stock repurchases and debt repayment.

Cash Flows

The Company had $19.2 million and $25.1 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

For year ended December 31, 2015, operating activities of the Company utilized $164.7 million of cash, investment activities provided $168.3 million, and $9.5 million of cash was utilized for financing activities. The decrease in cash from operating activities, and the corresponding increase in cash from investing activities, primarily reflects the transfer of approximately $208.0 million of cash to an unaffiliated reinsurer during the third quarter of 2015 in connection with a reinsurance and sale

transaction. Investing activities also reflect $4.5 million of proceeds received from the deconsolidation of subsidiaries, net of the cash divested in the transactions. Financing activities include $1.8 million for treasury share purchases, $1.7 million utilized for the purchase of AMIC shares and remaining IPA interests from noncontrolling interests, $2.6 million for the repayment of debt, and $1.4 million for the payment of dividends.

The Company has $516.1 million of liabilities for future policy benefits and policy benefits and claims that it expects to ultimately pay out of current assets and cash flows from future business and from reinsurance. If necessary, the Company could utilize the cash received from maturities and repayments of its fixed maturity investments if the timing of claim payments associated with the Company's insurance resources does not coincide with future cash flows. For the year ended December 31, 2015, cash received from the maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities was $42.6 million.

The Company believes it has sufficient cash to meet its currently anticipated business requirements over the next twelve months including working capital requirements and capital investments.

BALANCE SHEET

The Company had receivables from reinsurers of $480.9 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $278.2 million at December 31, 2014. The increase is a result of a coinsurance agreement in the third quarter of 2015 whereby the Company ceded substantially all of its individual life and annuity policy blocks (see Note 8). All of such reinsurance receivables are from highly rated companies or are adequately secured. No allowance for doubtful accounts was necessary at December 31, 2015.

Also as a result of the aforementioned coinsurance transaction in the third quarter of 2015: (i) deferred acquisition costs decreased $31.2 million; (ii) other investments (policy loans) decreased $9.9 million; and (iii) other assets increased $7.7 million for estimated deferred expenses which will be amortized over the life of the underlying reinsured contracts.

In connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in GAF during the second quarter of 2015 (see Note 6), the Company recorded $5.7 million of goodwill, $5.5 million of intangible assets, $1.9 million of deferred tax liabilities and $3.8 million of long term debt.

As a result of the deconsolidation of a subsidiary during the third quarter of 2015 (see Note 6), goodwill and net intangible assets decreased by $3.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and other investments increased $10.8 million representing the equity investment in Ebix Health Exchange. The carrying value of the investment in Ebix Health Exchange is $9.8 million at December 31, 2015.

There were $2.6 million of debt repayments during 2015.

The increase in IHC’s stockholders' equity in 2015 is primarily due to $29.9 million of net income attributable to IHC partially offset by $3.5 million of other comprehensive losses attributable to IHC, $1.8 million of treasury stock purchases and $1.6 million of common stock dividends declared.

Asset Quality and Investment Impairments

The nature and quality of insurance company investments must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations, which have been promulgated primarily for the protection of policyholders. Although the Company's gross unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities totaled $8.2 million at December 31, 2015, approximately 99.8% of the Company’s fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA. The Company marks all of its available-for-sale securities to fair value through accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. These investments tend to carry less default risk and, therefore, lower interest rates than other types of fixed maturity investments. At

December 31, 2015, approximately 0.2% (or $1.0 million) of the carrying value of fixed maturities was invested in non-investment grade fixed maturities (a commercial mortgage obligation). Investments in such securities have different risks than investment grade securities, including greater risk of loss upon default, and thinner trading markets. The Company does not have any non-performing fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2015.

Certain fixed maturities, primarily municipal obligations, in our investment portfolio are insured by financial guaranty insurance companies. The insurance, however, does not enhance the credit ratings on these securities. The following table summarizes the credit quality of our fixed maturity portfolio, as rated, at December 31, 2015:

Bond Ratings	As Rated
AAA	16.1%
AA	59.1%
A	21.1%
BBB	3.5%
Total Investment Grade	99.8%
BB or lower	0.2%
Total Fixed Maturities	100.0%

 

Changes in interest rates, credit spreads, and investment quality ratings may cause the market value of the Company’s investments to fluctuate.  The Company does not have the intent to sell nor is it more likely than not that the Company will have to sell debt securities in unrealized loss positions that are not other-than-temporarily impaired before recovery.  In the event that the Company’s liquidity needs require the sale of fixed maturity securities in unfavorable interest rate, liquidity or credit spread environments, the Company may realize investment losses.

The Company reviews its investments regularly and monitors its investments continually for impairments, as discussed in Note 1(G) (iv) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report. The Company recorded $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities available-for-sale during 2015 due to the length of time and extent an equity security was below cost. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company did not record any other-than-temporary impairment losses. At December 31, 2015, there were no securities with fair values less than 80% of their amortized cost.

The unrealized losses on all available-for-sale securities have been evaluated in accordance with the Company's impairment policy and were determined to be temporary in nature at December 31, 2015. In 2015, the Company recorded $0.6 million of net unrealized losses on available-for sale securities, pre-tax, in other comprehensive income (loss) prior to DAC and reclassification adjustments. From time to time, as warranted, the Company may employ investment strategies to mitigate interest rate and other market exposures. Further deterioration in credit quality of the companies backing the securities, further deterioration in the condition of the financial services industry, a continuation of the current imbalances in liquidity that exist in the marketplace, a continuation or worsening of the current economic recession, or additional declines in real estate values may further affect the fair value of these securities and increase the potential that certain unrealized losses be designated as other-than-temporary in future periods and the Company may incur additional write-downs.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the amount we paid to acquire subsidiaries and other businesses over the fair value of their net assets at the date of acquisition.  The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually and between annual tests if an event or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Goodwill is considered impaired when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

All goodwill carrying amounts are evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level which is equivalent to an operating segment. Goodwill was allocated to each reporting unit or operating segment at the time of acquisition.  At December 31, 2015, total goodwill was $52.9 million, of which $47.2 million was attributable to the Fully Insured Health segment and $5.7 million to the Medical Stop Loss segment.    

Based upon the goodwill impairment testing performed at December 31, 2015, the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and no impairment charge was required.  Fair value exceeded carrying value by 10% or more in both the Fully Insured Health and the Medical Stop Loss segments.  

In determining the fair value of each reporting unit, we used an income approach, applying a discounted cash flow method that included a residual value.  Based on historical experience, we made assumptions as to: (i) expected future performance and future economic conditions, (ii) projected operating earnings, (iii) projected new and renewal business as well as profit margins on such business, and (iv) a discount rate that incorporated an appropriate risk level for the reporting unit.  

Management uses a significant amount of judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s reporting units.  The key assumptions underlying the fair value process are subject to uncertainty and change.  The following represent some of the potential risks that could impact these assumptions and the related expected future cash flows: (i) increased competition; (ii) an adverse change in the insurance industry and overall business climate; (iii) changes in state and federal regulations; (iv) rating agency downgrades of our insurance companies; and (v) a sustained and significant decrease in our share price and market capitalization.  Our market capitalization as of December 31, 2015 was below the sum of our reporting units’ fair values. As a result, the Company assessed the factors contributing to the performance of IHC stock in 2015, and concluded that the market capitalization does not represent the fair value of the Company.  The Company noted several factors that have led to a difference between the market capitalization and the fair value of the Company, including (i) the Company’s stock is thinly traded and a sale of even a small number of shares can have a large percentage impact on the price of the stock, (ii) Geneve Corporation and insiders own approximately 57% of the outstanding shares, which has had a significant adverse impact on the number of shares available for sale and therefore the trading potential of IHC stock, and (iii) lack of analyst coverage of the Company. If we experience a sustained decline in our results of operations and cash flows, or other indicators of impairment exist, we may incur a material non-cash charge to earnings relating to impairment of our goodwill, which could have a material adverse effect on our results.

Liability for Policy Benefits and Claims

The following table summarizes the prior year net favorable amount of policy benefits and claims incurred in 2015 according to the year in which it relates, together with the opening balances of the corresponding liability for policy benefits and claims (net of reinsurance recoverable) (in thousands):

	Policy Benefits and Claims			Prior Year Amount
		at January 1, 2015			Incurred in 2015
2014	$	112,097		$	(8,219)
2013		23,911			(844)
2012		3,840			(84)
2011 and Prior		18,424			659
Total	$	158,272		$	(8,488)

The following sections describe, for each segment, the unfavorable (favorable) development in the liability for policy benefits and claims experienced in 2015, together with the key assumptions and changes therein affecting the reserve estimates.

Medical Stop-Loss

The Company experienced a net unfavorable development of $3.6 million in the Medical Stop-Loss segment related to higher than expected claims experience on business written primarily in 2014. The high claim experience came primarily from business written by TRU and our small group self-funded plans.

 

Fully Insured Health

The Fully Insured Health segment had a favorable development of $7.9 million of which approximately $5.7 million was due to the run-off of the Major Medical business. Favorable developments were also noted in other fully insured lines, primarily the STM and fixed indemnity limited benefit lines.

Group Disability

The Group Disability segment had a favorable development of $4.5 million primarily related to benefits and claims experience related to the 2014 LTD and DBL businesses.  

Due to the long-term nature of LTD, in establishing the liability for policy benefits and claims, the Company must make estimates for case reserves, IBNR, and reserves for Loss Adjustment Expenses (“LAE”).  Case reserves generally equal the actuarial present value of the liability for future benefits to be paid on claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The IBNR reserve is established based upon historical trends of existing incurred claims that were reported after the balance sheet date. The LAE reserve is calculated based on an actuarial expense study.  Since the LTD block of policies is relatively small, with the potential for very large claims on individual policies, results can vary from year to year. If a small number of claimants with large claim reserves were to recover or several very large claims were incurred, the results could distort the Company’s policy benefits and claims estimates from year to year. High termination rates and offsets caused favorable development in LTD prior year reserves. With respect to DBL, the liability for policy benefits and claims for the most recent quarter of earned premium is established using a Net Loss Ratio methodology.  The Net Loss Ratio is determined by applying the completed prior four quarters of historical Net Loss Ratios to the last quarter of earned premium.  Policy benefits and claims associated with the premium earned prior to the last quarter are established using a

completion factor methodology. The completion factors are developed using the historical payment patterns for DBL. The favorable development in the DBL line is due to lower than expected claims.

There were normal fluctuations to the Company's experience factor. The IBNR factors were updated to reflect the current experience. The reserving process used by management was consistent from 2014 to 2015.

Individual Life, Annuities and Other

All other lines, primarily blanket and other individual health products, experienced unfavorable development of $0.3 million.

Due to its strong capital ratios, broad licensing and excellent asset quality and credit-worthiness, the Insurance Group remains well positioned to increase or diversify its current activities. It is anticipated that future acquisitions or other expansion of operations will be funded internally from existing capital and surplus and parent company liquidity. In the event additional funds are required, it is expected that they would be borrowed or raised in the public or private capital markets to the extent determined to be necessary or desirable. In November 2004, December 2003 and March 2003, the Company borrowed $15.0 million, $12.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively, through pooled trust preferred issuances by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts. In 2011, the amortizing term loan was amended and increased to $10.0 million. See Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.

IHC enters into a variety of contractual obligations with third parties in the ordinary course of its operations, including liabilities for insurance reserves, funds on deposit, debt and operating lease obligations.  However, IHC does not believe that its cash flow requirements can be fully assessed based solely upon an analysis of these obligations.  Future cash outflows, whether they are contractual obligations or not, also will vary based upon IHC’s future needs.  Although some outflows are fixed, others depend on future events.

The chart below reflects the maturity distribution of IHC’s contractual obligations at December 31, 2015 (in thousands):  

For 2016, we anticipate:

·

A decrease in premiums and earnings due to exiting the medical stop-loss business as a result of the closing of the Risk Solutions Sale and Coinsurance Transaction.

·

Continued significant increase in specialty health premiums (including short-term and supplemental health products, such as dental, accidental medical, gap and critical illness products), and continued decrease in major medical premiums, which is in run-off. Increasing emphasis on direct-to-consumer and career advisor distribution initiatives as we believe this will be a growing means for selling health insurance in the coming years, and accompanying start-up costs of expanding our sales through our call center, career model (including our newly launched Aspira A Mas outreach to the Hispanic community) and transactional websites.

·

Increasing retention in our group life and disability lines of business. In 2016, we expect a continuation of the increase in premiums from group long-term and short-term disability driven by higher retention amounts and a full year of premiums generated by a relatively new distribution partnership.

·

Continued evaluation of strategic transactions.  As a result of the sale of Risk Solutions, we have significant cash.  We plan to redeploy some of this cash in making investments and acquisitions to bolster existing or new lines of business.  Specialty Benefits has made one such investment in a call center that will begin writing substantially all of its specialty health business with carriers affiliated with IHC.  We are currently negotiating several similar transactions.

·

Continued focus on administrative efficiencies, including a reduced operating loss at EHAE.

·

Initiating the process to take AMIC private.

On March 31, 2016, IHC and its subsidiary Independence American Holdings Corp. sold the stock of Risk Solutions.  In addition, under the purchase and sale agreement, all of the in-force stop-loss business of Standard Security Life and Independence American produced by Risk Solutions is co-insured by Westport as of January 1, 2016.  The aggregate purchase price was $152.5 million in cash, subject to adjustments and settlements.  This transaction resulted in a gain on the sale estimated at approximately $100 million.  As a result, IHC is highly liquid and has excess capital; however its Medical Stop-Loss line of business will be in run-off, which will have a negative impact on future earnings.

The Company will remain highly liquid in 2016 as a result of the continuing shorter duration of the portfolio. As a result, the yields on our investment portfolio were, and continue to remain, lower than in prior years and investment income may continue to be depressed for 2016. IHC has approximately $150.9 million in highly rated shorter maturity securities earning on average 1.2%; our portfolio as a whole is rated, on average, AA. The low duration of our portfolio enables us, if we deem prudent, the flexibility to reinvest in much higher yielding longer-term securities, which would significantly increase investment income in the future.  A low duration portfolio such as ours also mitigates the adverse impact of potential inflation.  IHC will continue to monitor the financial markets and invest accordingly.

Our results depend on the adequacy of our product pricing, our underwriting, the accuracy of our reserving methodology, returns on our invested assets, and our ability to manage expenses.  We will also need to be diligent with the increased rate review scrutiny to effect timely rate changes and will need to stay focused on the management of medical cost drivers as medical trend levels cause margin pressures.  Therefore, factors affecting these items, as well as unemployment and global financial markets, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT

MARKET RISK

The Company manages interest rate risk by seeking to maintain an investment portfolio with a duration and average life that falls within the band of the duration and average life of the applicable liabilities. Options may be utilized to modify the duration and average life of such assets.

The following summarizes the estimated pre-tax change in fair value (based upon hypothetical parallel shifts in the U.S. Treasury yield curve) of the fixed income portfolio (excluding redeemable preferred stocks) assuming immediate changes in interest rates at specified levels at December 31, 2015:

		Change in Interest Rates
		200 basis point rise		100 basis point rise		Base scenario		100 basis point decline		200 basis point decline
Corporate securities	$	150,128	$	158,453	$	166,846	$	176,006	$	180,944
CMO’s		3,892		4,064		4,251		4,455		4,549
U.S. Government obligations		43,244		44,006		44,794		45,605		45,605
Agency MBSs		34		35		35		36		36
GSEs		10,791		11,164		11,562		11,993		12,135
State & Political Subdivisions		169,165		186,296		194,666		202,881		215,126
Foreign governments		2,045		2,178		2,324		2,484		2,557
Total estimated fair value	$	379,299	$	406,196	$	424,478	$	443,460	$	460,952
Estimated change in value	$	(45,179)	$	(18,282)			$	18,982	$	36,474

The Company monitors its investment portfolio on a continuous basis and believes that the liquidity of the Insurance Group will not be adversely affected by its current investments. This monitoring includes the maintenance of an asset-liability model that matches current insurance liability cash flows with current investment cash flows. This is accomplished by first creating an insurance model of the Company's in-force policies using current assumptions on mortality, lapses and expenses. Then, current investments are assigned to specific insurance blocks in the model using appropriate prepayment schedules and future reinvestment patterns.

The results of the model specify whether the investments and their related cash flows can support the related current insurance cash flows. Additionally, various scenarios are developed changing interest rates and other related assumptions. These scenarios help evaluate the market risk due to changing interest rates in relation to the business of the Insurance Group.

In the Company's analysis of the asset-liability model, a 100 to 200 basis point change in interest rates on the Insurance Group's liabilities would not be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. With respect to its liabilities, if interest rates were to increase, the risk to the Company is that policies would be surrendered and assets would need to be sold. This is not a material exposure to the Company since a large portion of the Insurance Group's interest sensitive policies are burial policies that are not subject to the typical surrender patterns of other interest sensitive policies, and many of the Insurance Group's universal life and annuity policies were acquired from liquidated companies which tend to exhibit lower surrender rates than such policies of continuing companies. Additionally, there are charges to help offset the benefits being surrendered. If interest rates were to decrease substantially, the risk to the Company is that some of its investment assets would be subject to early redemption. This is not a material exposure because the Company would have additional unrealized gains in its investment portfolio to help offset the future reduction of investment income. With respect to its investments, the Company employs (from time to time as warranted) investment strategies to mitigate interest rate and other market exposures.

ITEM  8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 74.

ITEM  9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(f). The Company’s internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of its financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Due to inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatement. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, and in connection with this assessment, management believes that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

On April 30, 2015, American Independence Corp, a consolidated subsidiary of the Company increased its ownership in Global Accident Facilities, LLC (“GAF”) from 40% to 80%. Management excluded from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting GAF’s internal control over financial reporting. GAF constituted approximately 1.2% of total assets as of December 31, 2015, and approximately 0.6% of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015, which are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company will incorporate GAF into its assessment of internal control over financial reporting in 2016.  

A material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 Management concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Company did not maintain an effective control environment, risk assessment process and process level controls over the financial reporting for income taxes. Specifically the Company:

·

Did not have sufficient tax accounting resources with adequate knowledge of the Company’s process and controls over financial reporting related to income taxes to effectively design, operate, and document controls over accounting for income taxes;

·

Did not have an adequate risk assessment process related to income tax accounting to identify and appropriately account for income taxes associated with significant, non-routine transactions; and

·

Did not have effective process level controls over completeness, existence, accuracy and disclosure of deferred tax balances.

These material weaknesses resulted in immaterial errors within the deferred tax balances in the Company’s December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet and in the Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three-year period ended December 31, 2015. The immaterial errors were corrected before the issuance of our December 31, 2015 Form 10-K, and these corrections had no impact on the Consolidated Statement of Income, the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income or the Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 or 2015.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Remediation Plan

The Company intends to take steps during 2016 to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting for income taxes. The Company has begun and will continue:

·

Augmenting existing tax staff with additional skilled tax accounting resources and providing additional training to existing staff on the design and operation of tax related financial reporting and corresponding internal controls;

·

Enhancing risk assessment processes that operate over accounting for income taxes, with a particular focus on the tax accounting and disclosure for unusual and complex transactions; and

·

Reviewing the processes and controls in place to measure and record transactions related to tax accounting to enhance the effectiveness of the design and operation of those controls.

The Company has begun to implement the remediation efforts described above; however, until the remediation actions are fully implemented and the operational effectiveness of related internal controls validated through testing, the material weaknesses described above will continue to exist.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

At the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Office (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, the identification of  material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting for income taxes, as discussed in “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”, and our resulting inability to file this Annual Report on Form 10-K by March 15, 2016, our CEO and CFO have concluded our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as amended) were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our Management, including the CEO and CFO, identified no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015, that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE

GOVERNANCE

The names of our executive officers and directors and their age, title, and biography as of April 30, 2016 are set forth below:

Directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company and until their successors are elected. Officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Larry R. Graber

Since March 2012, Chief Life and Annuity Actuary and Senior Vice President of IHC; for more than five years prior thereto, Senior Vice President — Life and Annuities of IHC; for more than the past five years, a director and President of Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. (“Madison National Life”), a wholly owned subsidiary of IHC; for more than the past five years, a director and President of Southern Life and Health Insurance Company, an insurance company and wholly owned subsidiary of  Geneve Holdings, Inc., the controlling shareholder of IHC, with principal offices in Homewood, Alabama; for more than the past five years, a director of Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York (“Standard Security Life”), a wholly owned subsidiary of IHC.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Graber should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Graber has extensive experience in many facets of the insurance business, particularly relating to the acquisition and administration of blocks of life insurance.

Teresa A. Herbert

For more than the past five years, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President; for more than the past five years, Vice President of Geneve Corporation (“Geneve”), a private company controlled by Geneve Holdings, Inc. (“GHI”), a private diversified holding company; for more than the past five years, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of American Independence Corp., a public company traded on Nasdaq and a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company (“AMIC”); since March 2011, a director of AMIC.

David T. Kettig

Since February 2015, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Acting General Counsel of IHC; since April 2009, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of IHC; since August 2013, President of AMIC; from April 2009 to March 2012, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of AMIC; since March 2011, a director of AMIC; for more than the past five years, President and a director of Independence American Insurance Company; since March 2012, President and since May 2012, a director of Standard Security Life.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Kettig should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Kettig has extensive experience in diverse, complex businesses and transactions, corporate governance, legal affairs, risk management, and insurance.  

Allan C. Kirkman

For more than the past five years, a member of each of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee; since March 2011, Chairman of the Compensation Committee.  For more than five years prior to his retirement in October 2005, Executive Vice President of Mellon Bank, N.A., a national bank.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Kirkman should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Kirkman has extensive experience in diverse, complex businesses and transactions, including that involving public companies in the financial services fields.

John L. Lahey

For more than the past five years, a member of the Audit Committee; since March 2011, a member of the Compensation Committee; since March 1987, President of Quinnipiac University, a private university located in Hamden, Connecticut; since 1995, a member of the Board of Trustees of Yale-New Haven Hospital, a hospital located in New Haven, Connecticut; since 1994, a director of the UIL Holdings Corporation, a publicly held utility holding company with principal offices in New Haven, Connecticut; since December 2015, a director, Audit and Compliance Committee member, and Executive Committee member of Avangrid, Inc., a diversified energy and utility company that is the successor-in-interest by merger to UIL Holdings Corporation, with principal offices in New Haven, Connecticut; since 2004, a director of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, the only national non-profit organization committed exclusively to cancer gene and cell therapy research; since June 2006, a director of Standard Security Life.  Mr. Lahey also serves as a director and Chairman of the Board of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Inc.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Lahey should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows: Mr. Lahey has extensive executive experience in major organizations and has valuable expertise in management and corporate governance.

Steven B. Lapin

For more than the past five years, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of IHC; since March 2011, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of Geneve, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GHI, IHC’s controlling stockholder; for more than five years prior to March 2011,  President and Chief Operating Officer and a director of Geneve; for more than five years prior to June 2015, President and a director of The Aristotle Corporation, a private company controlled by GHI; since April 2011, a director of AMIC, a public company traded on Nasdaq and majority-owned subsidiary of

IHC; for more than the past five years, a director of Madison National; for more than the past five years, a director of Standard Security Life.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Lapin should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Lapin has extensive experience in diverse, complex businesses and transactions, corporate governance of public companies, risk management and insurance.

James G. Tatum

Since June 2002, Chairman of the Audit Committee; for more than the past five years, member of the Compensation Committee; for more than the past five years, a director of Standard Security Life; for more than the past five years, sole proprietor of J. Tatum Capital, LLC, a registered investment advisor, located in Birmingham, Alabama, managing funds primarily for individual and trust clients; Chartered Financial Analyst for more than twenty-five years; since March 2011, a director of AMIC; since March 2011, a member of the Audit Committee of AMIC.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Tatum should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Tatum has extensive executive experience in major organizations and has valuable expertise with financial issues, risk management and oversight.

Roy T.K. Thung

Since March 2011, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board; since January 2000, Chief Executive Officer of IHC; since July 1999, President of IHC; for more than five years prior to July 1999, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IHC; for more than the past five years, Executive Vice President of Geneve, a private company controlled by IHC’s controlling shareholder; since July 2002, a director of AMIC; from November 2002 until March 2012, Chief Executive Officer and President of AMIC; since March 2012, Chief Executive Officer of AMIC; for more than the past five years, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Standard Security Life; for more than the past five years, Chairman of the Board of Madison National Life.

The experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Thung should serve as one of IHC’s directors are described as follows:  Mr. Thung has extensive experience in diverse, complex businesses and transactions, including involving public companies in the insurance industry.  

 

Family Relationships

 

None.

Corporate Governance Documents

In furtherance of its longstanding goals of providing effective governance of IHC’s business and affairs for the long-term benefit of stockholders and promoting a culture and reputation of the highest ethics, integrity and reliability, the Board has adopted:

·

a Code of Business Ethics that applies to IHC’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, controller and other IHC employees performing similar functions (the “Code of Ethics”);

·

a Corporate Code of Conduct that applies to all employees, officers and directors of IHC and its subsidiaries and affiliates (the “Code of Conduct”);

·

Corporate Governance Guidelines (“Guidelines”) to advance the functioning of the Board and its committees and set forth the Board’s expectations as to how it should perform its functions; and

·

written charters for its Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board (the “Charters”).

The Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, the Guidelines and the Charters can be found on IHC’s website at www.ihcgroup.com, and are also available in print to any stockholder who requests them.  The information on IHC’s website, however, is not incorporated by reference in, and does not form part of, this annual report.  The Board does not anticipate modifying the Code of Ethics or the Code of Conduct, or granting any waivers to either, but were any such waiver or modification to occur, it would promptly be disclosed on IHC’s website.  

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board has determined that at least one member of the Audit Committee, Mr. Tatum, is an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Nomination of Director Candidates

In light of GHI’s majority voting power, the Board has determined that the Board, rather than a nominating committee, is the most appropriate body to identify director candidates and select nominees for presentation at the annual meeting of stockholders.  In making nominations, the Board seeks candidates with outstanding business experience who will bring such experience to the management and direction of IHC.  The minimum criteria employed by the Board in its selection of candidates, is set forth in the Guidelines, along with certain other factors that inform the selection process.  All directors serving on the Board participate in the consideration of director nominees.  Furthermore, in light of GHI’s voting power, the Board has determined that no policy with respect to consideration of candidates recommended by security holders other than GHI’s would be appropriate.  

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Committees

The Board has standing Audit and Compensation Committees.  Committee memberships are as follows:

 

Audit Committee.  The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to: (i) select an independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) review and approve management’s plan for engaging IHC’s independent registered public accounting firm during the year to perform non-audit services and consider what effect these services will have on the independence of IHC’s independent registered public accounting firm; (iii) review IHC’s annual financial statements and other financial reports which require approval by the Board; (iv) oversee the integrity of IHC’s financial statements, IHC’s systems of disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting and IHC’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (v) review the scope of audit plans of IHC’s internal audit function and

independent registered public accounting firm and the results of their audits; and (vi) evaluate the performance of IHC’s internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm.

Each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements of the NYSE and applicable SEC rules and regulations.  The Audit Committee and the Board have determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and that Mr. Tatum qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 401(h)(2) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to compensation matters, is responsible for determining or ratifying (as the case may be) the compensation of IHC’s executive officers and administers IHC’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.  The Compensation Committee has sole authority to determine the compensation for IHC’s Chief Executive Officer and President.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

Our directors and executive officers have not been involved in any of the following events during the past ten years:

1.

any bankruptcy petition filed by or against such person or any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;

2.

any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

3.

being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities or to be associated with any person practicing in banking or securities activities;

4.

being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action, the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;

5.

being subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

6.

being subject of or party to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

“Say-on- Pay” and “Say-on-Frequency”

The Compensation Committee considered the voting results of the advisory, non-binding “say-on-pay” vote at IHC’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities.  IHC’s stockholders expressed their support of the compensation for our CEO, CFO and the three other most-highly compensated officers in respect of 2013, with a substantial majority of the votes cast voting to approve the compensation of IHC’s named executive officers described in IHC’s 2014 proxy statement.  Following the Compensation Committee’s review and consideration of this stockholder support, as well as the other factors discussed in more detail below, we determined to make no changes to our approach to executive compensation.

At IHC’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a majority of IHC’s stockholders voted for “say-on-pay” proposals to occur every three years.  In light of this voting result on the frequency of “say-on-pay” proposals, the Board decided that IHC will present “say-on-pay” proposals every three years until the next required vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on named executive officer compensation.  Accordingly, we held such a vote at our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and we currently expect to hold the next “say-on-pay” vote at IHC’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  We currently expect the next stockholder vote on the frequency of stockholder votes on named executive officer compensation to also occur at IHC’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Compensation Objectives

Compensation of each of IHC’s executive officers is intended to be based on performance of IHC and the executive.  The Compensation Committee has responsibility for establishing and reviewing the compensation of IHC’s CEO and for reviewing the compensation for all of IHC’s executive officers.

In establishing executive officer compensation, the following are among the Compensation Committee’s objectives:

·

attract and retain individuals of superior ability and managerial talent;

·

ensure compensation is aligned with IHC’s corporate strategies, business objectives and the long-term interests of IHC’s stockholders; and

·

enhance incentives to increase IHC’s stock price and maximize stockholder value by providing a portion of total compensation in IHC equity and equity-related instruments.

IHC’s overall compensation program is structured to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executive officers by paying them competitively, consistent with IHC’s success and their contributions to such success.  To this end, base salary and bonus are designed to reward annual achievements and to be commensurate with an executive’s scope of responsibilities, demonstrated leadership abilities and management experience and effectiveness.  Other elements of compensation focus on motivating and challenging IHC’s executive officers to achieve superior, long-term, sustained results.

Implementation of Objectives

Salaries

The salary of an IHC executive officer is based on his or her level of responsibility, experience and qualifications and recent performance.  Adjustments to salary are made in response to changes in any of the foregoing factors and changes in market conditions.  Executive officer salaries are typically reviewed by the Compensation Committee every twelve months.  The Compensation Committee has sole

authority to determine the compensation for IHC’s Chief Executive Officer.  Neither the Compensation Committee nor IHC has retained a compensation consultant or similar organization for assistance in reviewing or setting executive officer salaries or other compensation.

Cash Bonuses

Following the close of each fiscal year, IHC’s Chief Executive Officer and President makes determinations that are communicated to the Compensation Committee as to cash bonuses for IHC’s executive officers (excluding himself), based on an analysis of: (i) any contractual commitments set forth in an employment agreement; (ii) IHC’s performance in the year ended versus IHC’s plan for such year; and (iii) a subjective evaluation of a variety of factors as to each executive officer’s individual contribution during the year.  The Compensation Committee then convenes outside the presence of the Chief Executive Officer and President and, following appropriate deliberation, approves or ratifies bonuses for all IHC executive officers.   

The salaries paid and annual bonuses awarded to IHC’s named executive officers in respect of 2015 are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

Equity Awards

IHC’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) provided the opportunity for the Compensation Committee to make equity incentive awards to, among others, IHC’s executive officers. While there are outstanding grants under the 2006 Plan, it has expired and no new grants may be made under it.  The Board of Directors has approved a 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) on substantially the same terms as the 2006 Plan, and it will be submitted for shareholder approval at the next meeting of shareholders, which is expected to be held later this year. The following describes the 2016 Plan and is largely consistent with the 2006 Plan.

 The types of equity awards that may be granted under the 2016 Plan are:  (i) options; (ii) share appreciation rights (“SARs”); (iii) restricted shares, restricted share units (which are shares granted after certain vesting conditions are met) and unrestricted shares; (iv) deferred share units; and (v) performance awards.  The Compensation Committee determines the type and amount of the award with reference to factors that include the present value of the award relative to the executive officer’s salary and anticipated cash bonus, the anticipated importance of the executive’s position to IHC’s future results, and the size of the executive’s total compensation relative both to other executives within IHC and to compensation levels at other companies.  

Within the limitations of the 2016 Plan, the Compensation Committee may modify an award to: (i) accelerate the rate at which an option or SAR may be exercised (including, without limitation, permitting an option or SAR to be exercised in full without regard to the installment or vesting provisions or whether the option or SAR is at the time exercisable); (ii) accelerate the vesting of any award; (iii) extend or renew outstanding awards; or (iv) accept the cancellation of outstanding awards.  However, the Compensation Committee may not, without stockholder approval, cancel an outstanding option that is underwater for the purpose of reissuing the option to a grantee within six months thereafter at a lower exercise price, or granting a replacement award of a different type.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, no modification of an outstanding award can materially and adversely affect a grantee’s rights thereunder, unless the grantee provides written consent, there is an express 2016 Plan provision permitting the Compensation Committee to act unilaterally to make the modification, or the Compensation Committee reasonably concludes that the modification is not materially adverse to the grantee.

Options

Incentive stock options (“ISOs”) and non-incentive stock options (“Non-ISOs”) may be granted under the 2016 Plan.  At the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, any option may be

exercisable, in whole or in part, immediately upon the grant thereof, or only after the occurrence of a specified event, or only in installments, which installments may vary.  The term of any option may not exceed ten years from the grant date; provided, however, that in the case of an ISO granted to an employee of IHC or any of its affiliates who owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting stock on the grant date (“Employee Ten Percent Holder”), the term of the ISO shall not exceed five years from the grant date.  The exercise price of an option is determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that if an ISO is granted to an Employee Ten Percent Holder (as defined in the Plan), the per share exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the closing price per share on the NYSE on the grant date (“Fair Market Value”); and provided further that for all other options, the per share exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date.  Neither IHC nor the Compensation Committee can allow for a repricing without stockholder approval.

Each of IHC’s named executive officers holds stock options, having varying exercise prices and expiration dates (based on the date granted).  Please see the information set forth in the tables below for additional information.  IHC does not have a target level of stock ownership applicable to any of its employees, including the named executive officers.  

Share Appreciation Rights (SARs)

The Compensation Committee may grant SARs either concurrently with the grant of an option or with respect to an outstanding option (in which case the SAR will extend to all or a portion of the shares covered by the related option, the exercise price is the same as the exercise price of the related option, and the SAR is exercisable at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related option will be exercisable), or independent of any option.  The Compensation Committee may also grant SARs that are exercisable only upon or in respect of a change in control (as defined in the Plan) or any other specified event.  The per share exercise price of a SAR cannot be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value, and the SARs may only be exercised when the Fair Market Value of the shares underlying the SAR exceeds the exercise price of the SAR.  Neither IHC nor the Compensation Committee can allow for a repricing without stockholder approval.  

Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and Unrestricted Shares

Subject to applicable law, an award of 2,475 restricted shares (or such other amount that the Board may determine on a prospective basis) will be granted to each non-employee director of IHC on the date immediately following each annual meeting of IHC’s stockholders.  One-third of those restricted shares will vest on each of the next three annual anniversaries of the date the restricted shares were awarded.  In the event that a non-employee director terminates his or her membership on the Board for any reason, the director will immediately forfeit any unvested restricted shares.

At any time within the thirty-day period (or other shorter or longer period that the Compensation Committee selects in its sole discretion) in which a grantee who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees receives an initial award of either restricted shares or restricted share units, the Compensation Committee may permit the grantee to irrevocably elect to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the shares that would otherwise be transferred to the grantee upon the vesting of such award.

Deferred Share Units

The Compensation Committee may permit any director, consultant or member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees to irrevocably elect to forego the receipt of cash or other compensation (including shares), and in lieu thereof to have IHC credit to an internal Plan account a number of deferred share units having a Fair Market Value equal to the shares and other compensation deferred.

Performance Awards

The Compensation Committee may grant a performance award based on one or more of the following to measure IHC, affiliate, and/or business unit performance during a specified performance period: (i) gross or net premiums; (ii) profit margin; (iii) insured lives; (iv) basic, diluted, or adjusted earnings per share; (v) sales or revenue; (vi) earnings before interest, taxes, and other adjustments (in total or on a per share basis); (vii) basic or adjusted net income; (viii) returns on equity, assets, capital, revenue or similar measure; (ix) economic value added; (x) working capital; (xi) total stockholder return; and (xii) product development, product market share, research, licensing, litigation, human resources, information services, mergers, acquisitions, or sales of assets of affiliates or business units. Performance measures may vary from performance period to performance period and from grantee to grantee.

A grantee will be eligible to receive payment in respect of a performance award only to the extent that the performance measure(s) for such award is achieved, and it is determined that all or some portion of such grantee’s award has been earned for the performance period.  The Compensation Committee reviews whether, and to what extent, the performance measure(s) for a particular performance period (of not less than one fiscal year) have been achieved and, if so, determines the amount of the performance award to be paid.  The Compensation Committee may use negative discretion to decrease, but not increase, the amount of the award otherwise payable based upon such performance.  

At any time prior to the date that is at least six months before the close of a performance period (or shorter or longer period that the Compensation Committee selects), the Compensation Committee may permit a grantee who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees to irrevocably elect to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the cash or shares that would otherwise be transferred to the grantee upon the vesting of a performance award.

Termination, Rescission and Recapture of Awards

Each award under the Plan granted to an employee is intended to align such employee’s long-term interest with those of IHC.  Therefore, if the employee discloses confidential or proprietary information of IHC, provides services to a competitor of IHC, solicits a non-administrative employee of IHC, or has engaged in activities which conflict with IHC’s interests (including any breaches of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty), the employee is acting contrary to IHC’s long-term interests.  Accordingly, except as otherwise expressly provided in an award agreement, IHC may terminate any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred awards, rescind any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to the award, or recapture any common stock (whether restricted or unrestricted) or proceeds from the employee’s sale of shares issued pursuant to the award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, IHC may, in its sole and absolute discretion, choose not to terminate, rescind or recapture upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events.

Tax Implications

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the Tax Code to add Section 162(m)(6), which limits the amount that certain health care insurers, including the Company, may deduct for tax years starting after 2012. Section 162(m)(6) limits the tax deduction to $500,000 per individual, and makes no exception for performance-based compensation or commissions. In addition, the limit applies to compensation, including deferred compensation, paid to all current and former employees and most independent contractors, not just to compensation paid to a narrow group of current top executives. The rule became effective for employer tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. Consequently, the Company is limited to a $500,000 deduction for compensation paid to each named executive officer.

 Section 162(m)(1) of the Tax Code limits the amount a publicly-held corporation may deduct for compensation paid to the CEO and certain named executive officers to $1 million per year per executive, makes an exception for performance-based compensation and commissions, and excludes the compensation paid to former covered executives once they are no longer covered. Since the Company is

subject to Section 162(m)(6), the performance-based exclusion available under Section 162(m)(1) is not available to the Company.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to compensation matters, and is responsible for establishing and approving the compensation of IHC’s executive officers.  The Compensation Committee has sole authority to determine the compensation for IHC’s Chief Executive Officer.  The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Form 10-K with management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer.  

Compensation Committee

Mr. Allan C. Kirkman (Chairman)

Mr. John L. Lahey

Mr. James G. Tatum

Compensation Risk Assessment

The Compensation Committee considered the Company's compensation policies and practices and concluded that they did not need to be modified.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table lists the annual compensation for IHC’s CEO, CFO and its three other most highly compensated executive officers in 2015 for the years 2015, 2014 and 2013.