INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY - Form 10-K SEC filing

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________________________________

FORM 10-K

☒ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

☐ Transition Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from: ________ to _________

Commission File Number: 001-32244

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		58-1407235
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD, STAMFORD, CT 06902

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 358-8000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value	IHC	NYSE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE

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 [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes [X] No [ ]

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

Large Accelerated Filer [ ]	Accelerated Filer [X]
Non-Accelerated Filer [ ]	Smaller Reporting Company ☒
	Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes ☒ No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange 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 sole, as of June 30, 2020 was $146,514,000.

As of March 5, 2021, there were 14,639,449 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

FORM 10-K CROSS REFERENCE INDEX

PART I				PAGE

	Item 1.	Business		4
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors		15
	Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments		29
	Item 2.	Properties		29
	Item 3.	Legal Proceedings		30
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		31

PART II
	Item 5.	Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder		31
			Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
	Item 6.	Selected Financial Data		32
	Item 7.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition		33
			and Results of Operations
	Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		54
	Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		54
	Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting		54
			and Financial Disclosure
	Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures		55
	Item 9B.	Other Information		55

PART III
	Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance		55
	Item 11.	Executive Compensation		56
	Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management		56
			and Related Stockholder Matters
	Item 13.	Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director		56
			Independence
	Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services		56

PART IV
	Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules		56

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.

PART I

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 health, pet and life insurance business with principal executive offices located at 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. IHC and its subsidiaries are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or "IHC", or are implicit in the terms "we", "us" and "our".

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 operates through (i) its insurance carriers: 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 and collectively sometimes referred to as the "IHC Carriers", which underwrite specialty health, pet, group life and short-term and long-term disability products and (ii) our Specialty Benefits division comprised of specialty health and pet divisions. We have three continuing business segments: Specialty Health segment, Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment, and corporate. Our individual life, annuities and other segment is in run-off.

The Specialty Health segment is comprised of (i) our traditional distribution through independent agents and national accounts, and (ii) our tech-enabled distribution through our call centers, career advisors, lead generation domains (www.healthinsurance.org, www.medicareresources.org, and www.petplace.com), transactional websites, and our lead generation company, Torchlight Technology Group LLC (“Torchlight”). The pet division is comprised of: PetPartners, Inc. (“PetPartners”), www.akcpetinsurance.com, www.petplace.com, www.mypetinsurance.com and our independent distribution channels. Independence American Insurance Company takes the risk on the pet insurance and many of the specialty health products sold by these divisions, but our agencies also sell life and health products from other insurance companies for which they earn commissions. Our proprietary platforms are designed to support multiple carriers and products, and we are recognized by the industry for our speed to market with innovative new products.

Standard Security Life focuses on underwriting and selling its New York short-term disability (“DBL”) and paid family leave rider (“PFL”) products through general agents primarily to small employers. Madison National Life emphasizes underwriting long-term and short-term disability (“LTD” and “STD”) and group life primarily to school districts and municipalities in the Upper Midwest through managing general agents and independent brokers, and a growing worksite marketing division. Independence American Insurance Company is our primary specialty health and pet underwriter. In 2020, Independence American Insurance Company began underwriting Medicare Supplement in many states.

The insurance agencies owned by IHC (collectively, the “IHC Agencies”) are as follows: IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. (“IHCSB”), Independence Brokerage Group, Inc. (“IBG”), My1HR, Inc. (“My1HR”), and a majority interest in PetPartners. IHCSB is our agency that operates through (i) our owned call centers, which currently has 65 licensed employee sales agents in three locations, (ii) our career advisors, which includes 225 licensed agents operating in 7 regions, and (iii) our direct-to-consumer (“D2C”) transactional websites, www.mypetinsurance.com and www.healthedeals.com. With respect to the

advisors, we typically provide them with leads (which they either “purchase” or “earn” through IHC production), but they are also expected to generate their own leads. IHC has used this distribution model for over ten years, and we expect to significantly enhance this distribution in 2021. With respect to the call centers, one of the offices is dedicated to servicing calls from members of USAA, while the others focus primarily on selling Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and ancillary IHC products to the senior market utilizing leads generated organically or purchased.

IBG is our agency that distributes through independent producers in the following ways: (i) through our regional sales directors who support non-owned general agents and call centers, (ii) through national account relationships, and (iii) through our 12 sales telebrokerage employees who function as company-owned general agents calling upon independent agents who have a book of business with small employers. My1HR is a technology company that develops quoting and cloud based enrollment platforms for carriers and key distribution partners. My1HR is also a Web Broker which developed and manages INSX Cloud. This platform enables agents to quote and enroll consumers in Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) plans as well as ancillary health products. During the 2020 Open Enrollment Period (November 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020), INSX Cloud was utilized by more than 3,000 independent agents who submitted almost 230,000 enrollments covering approximately 300,000 members, which were predominantly ACA compliant plans and also included specialty health products underwritten by the IHC Carriers as well as other carriers. PetPartners is a distributor and administrator of pet insurance underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company and an unaffiliated insurer. IHC owns a number of web domains and a lead-generation technology company through its subsidiary, IHC Domain Holdings, LLC (“Domain Holdings”). Domain Holdings owns Healthinsurance.org LLC (“HIO”), which is an on-line marketing company that owns www.healthinsurance.org and www.medicareresources.org, which are lead generation sites for Medicare and individual health and life insurance products. Domain Holdings also owns www.petplace.com, which is a lead generation site for pet insurance that directs those interested in purchasing such insurance to www.petpartners.com. Together these sites produce organic leads for IHCSB’s controlled agency force. IHCSB, Domain Holdings and My1HR together provide the backbone of our insure-tech operations by generating leads, enabling sales of products (both through IHC Carriers and highly rated unaffiliated insurers), and enable independent agents to access ACA (and IHC ancillary) policies through a licensed Web Broker.

The IHC Agencies and IHC Carriers perform underwriting, risk selection and pricing, policy administration and management for the majority of our specialty health business, which totaled $196.1 million of gross individual and group health premiums in 2020. In addition, the IHC Agencies sell other coverages for multiple insurers, including small group stop-loss, ACA plans and senior products. The IHC Agencies receive commissions and fees for these services and do not bear any of the insurance risk of the companies to which they provide services. While the majority of sales by IHC Carriers have been to individuals and small employers from independent producers, national accounts and affinity relationships, increasingly we have focused on sales from our controlled distribution. In general, companies that provide insurance through user-centric platforms, or create efficiencies in the insurance industry through technological advances, are referred to as “insuretech” companies. As further described in Outlook, we are increasingly focused on expanding our “insuretech” footprint by (i) generating leads through Domain Holdings, (ii) sales through IHCSB’s owned call center, career advisors and transactional sites, and (iii) expansion of the number of agents using INSX Cloud. Within this segment, the IHC Carriers sell the following products: (i) senior market products, including Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, dental, vision and hospital indemnity (“HIP”), (ii) ancillary benefits in the under-age-65 market, including dental, vision, short-term medical (“STM”), supplemental products including fixed indemnity limited benefit, critical illness, and HIP; (ii) pet insurance; and (iii) various life insurance and non-insurance Rx and telemedicine services. The segment includes run-off of a limited amount of discontinued major medical coverage and occupational accident from one producer that was sold in 2017. Several third party administrators, including Ebix Health Administration Exchange, Inc. (“EHAE”), perform claims and other administrative functions. IHC owns a 49% equity interest in Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), which owns EHAE.

In 2021, the IHC Carriers will retain the vast majority of the risk that they underwrite, and the IHC Agencies will focus on the following lines of business:

·Senior market products, including Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage

·Pet insurance

·Multiple specialty health lines

·Sales of ACA plans primarily through INSX Cloud

·Sales of stop-loss insurance for self-funded health plans for businesses of 5 to 100 employee lives

Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company 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. Independence American Insurance Company 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.

For information pertaining to the Company's business segments, reference is made to Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report.

Our Philosophy

Historically, our business strategy has focused on maximizing underwriting profits through a variety of niche specialty health insurance, pet, 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. In 2021 and beyond, we will continue to focus on sale of products underwritten by the IHC Carriers, but we will also focus much of our attention on the growth of our insuretech division. We are now at a point that much of the core infrastructure has been built and we are continuing to scale up the operations. Our focus will be on increasing our pet insurance sales and recruiting experienced advisors and call center agents who are certified to sell Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug Plans. We will also continue to enhance our lead generation expertise and capacity, and launch additional transactional websites. We have already begun building retention teams and we believe that these teams, combined with improvements to the consumer experience on our direct-to-consumer domains, will help to improve policy retention and lifetime value. Lastly, as we rapidly expand our data assets, we will introduce artificial intelligence capabilities to our data analytics with the intent to improve both conversion and retention rates.

As further described in Outlook, our goal in 2021 and beyond is to maximize the valuation of IHC through growth of our very profitable life and disability lines of business, while investing in the expansion of our “insuretech” capabilities to generate sales of specialty health, pet and Medicare products directly to consumers through our call centers, career advisors and websites.

DISTRIBUTION

Specialty Health

IHC distributes its specialty health products in a variety of ways. We distribute directly to consumers through our call centers, career advisors and www.heathedeals.com. In 2020 the core products sold by these agents were IHC’s STM and HIP plans as well as ACA-compliant offerings. In 2021, we plan

to emphasize the sale of Medicare Advantage plans underwritten by other carriers, and to a lesser extent, Medicare Supplement policies from Independence American Insurance Company and other carriers. Consumers often also purchase ancillary products, including dental, accident, telemedicine and Rx discounts plans, with a core plan. Our career advisors are licensed agents who sell both IHC and non-IHC products. IHC has used this distribution model for over ten years, but we have significantly enhanced this distribution model in 2020 and expect accelerated growth in 2021. Finally, we sell directly to consumers through www.healthedeals.com. In 2020, Independence American Insurance Company began selling its own Medicare Supplement through our call centers, advisors and select distributors of senior products.

IBG distributes through independent producers in the following ways: (i) through our regional sales directors who support non-owned general agents, (ii) through national account relationships such as Anthem, United Health as well as single state Blue Cross organizations and regional health plans, and (iii) through our 12 sales telebrokerage employees who function as company-owned general agents calling upon independent agents who have a book of business (often property & casualty) with small employers. Our employees earn production bonuses for assisting the agent in placing the health sale with IHC carriers or our carrier partners. The lead product for the owned general agency is small group stop-loss underwritten by multiple non-affiliated carriers, although they also sell our individual and group ancillary products. My1HR, through INSX Cloud, was used by over 3,000 agents in 2020 to distribute quote and enroll almost 230,000 ACA and specialty health plans. Regulations allow Health Reimbursement Account (“HRA”) dollars that employers have contributed on a pre-tax basis to be used by employees to purchase STM as well as ACA plans. The My1HR platform, which provides an enrollment tool to employees with little to no effort on the part of the employer, is well-suited for use with HRAs. In addition to health insurance, IHC’s other products are readily available on INSX Cloud for purchase including dental, critical illness and accident plans.

Pet Insurance

We distribute pet insurance in three ways: (i) through PetPartners, where IHC distributes, administers and underwrites the risk of two brands, PetPartners and AKC Pet Insurance, but will also delegate sales and marketing to unaffiliated companies or affinity groups, (ii) through three significant pet administrators where IHC only underwrites the risk, and (iii) through leads generated by www.petplace.com. We own 85% of the equity of PetPartners, which is a pet managing general agent that has an exclusive license agreement to use the American Kennel Club (“AKC”) brand, and has a proprietary administrative platform. In 2020, we generated a significant increase in sales through leads generated from the AKC, and have introduced several initiatives that we expect will increase penetration and conversion of this exclusive lead source in 2021 and beyond. In addition, PetPartners is seeking other internally controlled sales channels, including through employer and affinity groups. In 2019, we relaunched www.PetPlace.com, which we acquired in 2016, with significantly improved content curated by a board of veterinarians. Average daily visitors to the site is over 30,000 which will improve lead generation from this domain. At this time, the majority of Independence American Insurance Company’s pet business is distributed by three independent pet insurance administrators: MetLife (formerly PetFirst Healthcare, LLC (“PetFirst”), Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (“Pets Best”) and FIGO Pet Insurance, LLC (“FIGO”). IHC owns a 4.73% equity stake in FIGO.

Except for licensed agents who are employed in IHC's call center, most agents and brokers who produce the Specialty Health business are non-salaried contractors who receive commissions.

Disability and Life Products

Our disability and life products are primarily distributed by general agents, agents and brokers. The short-term statutory disability benefit product, including the paid family leave benefits, 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 Upper Midwest to school districts and municipalities through a managing general agent that

specializes in these target markets. Independence American Insurance Company also reinsured health products serving the needs of expatriates, third-party nationals and high net-worth local nationals, which is now in run out. The Abacus Group LLC (“Abacus”), specializes in worksite marketing of voluntary benefits and is producing life and disability business for Madison National Life.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS UNDERWRITTEN BY IHC CARRIERS

Specialty Health Products

In 2020, this line of business had the following categories: (i) ancillary benefits, including dental, vision, STM, and supplemental products (including fixed indemnity limited benefit, critical illness and hospital indemnity); (ii) pet insurance; and (iii) non-subscriber occupational accident. Earned premium is expected to increase in 2021 primarily due to: increased sales of pet insurance, new sales of employer sponsored and voluntary health plans and the continued growth of our owned call centers and advisors.

Ancillary Products

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

IHC sells group and individual dental products in most states. The dental portfolio includes indemnity and PPO plans for employer groups of two or more lives and for individuals. Employer plans are offered on both employer paid and voluntary basis. As part of the distribution of our individual dental products, we also offer vision benefits. Vision plans will offer a flat reimbursement amount for exams and materials. We expect to see a growth in vision sales primarily due to the launch of an individual vision product in the majority of states and new distribution partnerships.

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 although in 20 states we underwrite STM policies that last up to 36 months. STM products with a duration between twelve and 36 months are referred to as Extend STM products. 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-compliant plan becomes effective, and others who need insurance for a specified period of time. Our STM plans contain many, but not all, of the essential health benefits found in ACA-compliant plans. In addition, our STM plans often have lower deductibles and broader networks than many ACA-compliant policies, and are almost always more affordable for qualified purchasers. IHC’s gross premium decreased in this line of business in 2018 largely as a result of a ruling which limited STM to plans of 90-day duration or less. Effective October 1, 2018, an executive order from the Trump Administration reversed the previous executive order and restored the decision on the duration of STM to the states. Growth in this line of business in 2021 will be dictated in large part by the approach taken by the Biden Administration.

The Company markets supplemental products to individuals and families. These lines of business are generally used as either a supplement or in lieu of an ACA-compliant plan. 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 available through multiple distribution sources including Company owned direct-to-consumer websites, call center and career agents, general agents and on-line agencies. We anticipate growth in Independence American Insurance Company’s ancillary lines of business in 2021 from customers who purchase higher deductible ACA plans

on the INSX platform who will desire to also purchase supplemental plans to cover gaps in their ACA coverage, and will have more premium dollars to spend since their ACA cost will be reduced.

IHC offers gap plans for employer groups, which help employees manage the financial impact of deductibles on their employer-sponsored plans. We expect that this line of business will be flat in 2021 based on a change in distribution strategy, but will still be a significant portion of our employer group premium.

Pet Insurance

Independence American Insurance Company has products approved to sell in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We use four distinct forms (policies) to achieve diversity of premium targeting channels focused on purebred puppies (through AKC), shelter/rescue/animal welfare markets, direct to consumer, and affiliate partnerships. In 2021, we expect to file a first-of-its-kind group pet policy for the worksite market. We are currently in discussions with insurers that distribute in the worksite market and will begin contracting worksite brokers in advance of the 2022 enrollment season. We believe an advantage in our product design is flexibility allowing for consumers to build plans of coverage tailored to their needs and budget by offering an array of deductible and coinsurance options and the availability of unlimited policy “maximum” levels. In our owned distribution product, we embed alternative, holistic and behavioral coverage benefits, two levels of wellness options (many competitors do not cover wellness and preventative), hereditary and congenital conditions coverage, as well as the option to have veterinary exam fees covered as a benefit (one of the leading pet insurance providers today specifically excludes exam fees). In 2021, we anticipate significant growth in our target channels due to increased consumer awareness of the product category, new distribution partnerships, as well as improved conversion rates through our AKC and lead generation avenues.

PetPartners acquired a mobile app in June 2020, TailTrax, which features a host of high-engagement features to help pet parents manage the health and welfare of their pet. The app is being provided at no additional charge to policyholders and allows access to policy self-service including claims submission. The app is also offered on a subscription basis for non-policyholders, featuring 24/7 access to a vet-help line, discounts on pet services and products including prescription medications, and many of valuable tools.

Occupational Accident

The 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). This program is marketed through two competing general agents and only focuses on the micro market (under 10 lives). Overall premium levels are expected to remain relatively constant in 2021.

Group Disability, Life, DBL and PFL

Group Long-Term and Short-Term Disability

Madison National Life develops partnerships with distribution entities to develop targeted niche focused products that result in market dominate insurance solutions in both risk management and product design. Our products are filed to provide considerable flexibility to meet the needs of our partners and the related niches.

Our group life and disability products are offered on both an employer paid and a voluntary basis. They are designed to protect the covered employee’s income when the employee is not able to work due to illness or injury and pay a benefit to the beneficiary(ies) when an employee dies.

Madison National Life is the largest writer of k-12 school districts in 8 Midwestern states. We continue to work with our distribution partner to focus on product differentiation in the niche through product innovation – most recently having launched in 2020 a one of a kind Active Assailant Rider for school districts. We also continue to develop affinity relationships with large health carriers to provide our disability programs.

We are expanding our position in the worksite market with new product filings and administration/distribution partners to position us for growth in 2021 and beyond. The product lines included in the worksite offering are fixed indemnity limited benefit plans, critical illness, accident as well as life and disability insurance. These products, which are available in most states, are available through multiple distribution relationships. The Company anticipates moderate growth in 2021 for these products through expansion of its sales through existing and new distribution relationships.

New York Short-Term Disability and Paid Family Leave

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 Department of Financial Services (“NYSDFS”). Policies covering 50 or more employees are individually underwritten.

As of January 1, 2018, the DBL policy was amended to include PFL. The PFL benefit allows for parent bonding with a newborn or an adopted child, caring for a seriously ill family members and to help military families during times of need. Beginning January 1, 2018, with incremental changes until 2021, the benefit will be phased in. The maximum benefit (once completely phased in starting January 1, 2021) will be for 12 weeks at 67% of an employees’ weekly wage up to a maximum benefit of $869 per week. The PFL premium rate is set by the NYSDFS. In addition to mandating this benefit, the NYSDFS established a risk adjustment program so that all carriers would share on a pro rata basis in the ultimate profit or loss of the PFL business across three group sizes for the entire industry. The goal of the PFL risk adjustment program is to protect issuers from disproportionate adverse or favorable risks that might arise because PFL premium rates are community rated and not allowed to vary by risk factors.

Group Term Life

The Company sells group term life products, including group term life (which includes new term to 120 product), 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 ceased writing individual life and annuity policies in 2015 and the remaining policies in runoff are 100% ceded.

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 is 100% ceded), single premium immediate annuities, disability income and miscellaneous insurance business.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS SOLD BY IHC AGENCIES

Senior Products

Medicare Supplement

The IHC Agencies earn commissions and marketing fees from selling Medicare Supplements (also known as Medigap), which is insurance sold by private companies which help pay some of the healthcare costs that Medicare does not cover, including copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. The IHC Agencies sell Medicare Supplements manufactured by Insurance Company and a few carefully selected carriers.

Medicare Advantage

The IHC Agencies earn commissions and marketing fees from selling Medicare Advantage (“MA”), which is a type of HMO, PPO or Special Needs Plans sold by private companies, that contract with the federal government through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to cover all Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Many MA plans also include Medicare Part D (prescription drugs), known as MAPD plans, as well as other supplemental benefits, including dental, eyeglasses, transportation and hearing coverage. The IHC Agencies sell MA plans offered by a select few of the leading carriers in each market.

Other Products

Small Group Self-Funded

The IHC Agencies earn commissions and marketing fees from non-IHC carriers for selling employer group and individual insurance products, including self-funded programs for groups of five to 75 employees in 21 states. The self-funded plans are generally less expensive than ACA qualified group health coverage. In addition to earning commission overrides on group health sales the IHC Agencies use our proprietary quoting and enrollment tools to offer IHC ancillary plans along with self-funded plans.

Affordable Care Act Plans

The IHC Agencies earn commission overrides by offering ACA plans through 13 ACA carriers in many states. The majority of these customers are enrolled through My1HR, our wholly owned Web Broker, under the INSX Cloud brand. Independent agents can also use INSX Cloud to enroll their customers in ACA plans for which we earn a transaction fee.

REINSURANCE AND POLICY RETENTIONS

IHC retained approximately 97% of gross and assumed Specialty Health exposure in both 2020 and 2019.

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.

The following reinsurers represent approximately 91% of the total ceded premium for the year ended December 31, 2020:

RGA Reinsurance Company		47%
National Guardian Life Insurance Company		31%
Unicare Life and Health Insurance Company		7%
Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company		6%

		91%

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, 2020 and 2019, the Insurance Group's ceded life insurance in-force was $4.8 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively.

For information pertaining to reinsurance, reference is made to Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

INVESTMENTS AND RESERVES

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, 2020, 99.5% of the Company’s 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 two years is summarized below, including amounts recognized in net income and unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income or loss (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Consolidated Statements of Income:
Net investment income	$	`11,777`	$	`15,643`
Net investment gains		`1,346`		`4,705`
Other-than-temporary impairments		`-`		`(646)`

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities		`3,793`		`12,070`

Total pre-tax investment performance	$	`16,916`	$	`31,772`

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, 2020.

COMPETITION AND REGULATION

We compete with many large mutual and stock insurance companies, small regional health insurers and managed care organizations. 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. 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 NYSDFS (Standard Security Life's domestic regulator), the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (Madison National Life's domestic regulator) and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Delaware (Independence American Insurance Company’s domestic regulator). Each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company 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 18 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, accident and health 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 Insurance Company exceed such minimum ratios.

EMPLOYEES

We recognize that sustainable human capital complements and contributes to superior longer-term financial performance. We believe that our employees are our greatest assets. Our continued success and growth depends, in large part, upon the efforts of our employees and on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel.

At December 31, 2020, the Company, including its direct and indirect majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, collectively had approximately 550 employees.

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS

Risks related to our Business

We continue to face risks related to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that could impact our sales, operating results and financial condition.

Sales of our healthcare products, results of operations, and the overall financial condition of the Company could be adversely affected to the extent that the COVID-19 or any other epidemic or health care emergency harms the economy, our industry or the Company specifically. The COVID-19 outbreak situation is very fluid and we continue to closely monitor developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic to assess its ongoing impact on our business and operations, specifically:

·Many regulators have mandated that insurers cover COVID-19 testing costs, and in some cases costs for related treatment and vaccines, as well as waiving any applicable deductible and coinsurance member payments. These mandates are primarily directed at major medical carriers, but a minority include STM insurance products. Attempts to extend these mandates beyond STM will likely not impact our supplemental products. Additionally, some states are requiring coverage for telehealth services. Mandated extended coverage of COVID-19 claims may negatively impact the Company’s operating results, cash flows and financial condition as such extended coverage was not contemplated in the initial product pricing. Even though we have experienced lower overall utilization for non-COVID related expenses within our STM block that is enough to absorb expected cost increases related to COVID related claims so far, this may change in the future depending on the further outcome of the virus impacts and other related regulatory actions.

·Widespread unemployment due to the unprecedented state-mandated shutdowns of businesses could mean that policyholders may be unable to meet their obligations to pay premiums on our health, disability, life and pet policies. An increase in delayed, delinquent or non-collectable payments from customers may lead to cash flow volatility or shortfalls. Additionally, some regulators have mandated that insurers provide an extended grace period for premium collection and some require payment of claims during the grace period. Additional legal and regulatory responses include changes to insurance policy conditions such as suspension of cancellations and extensions of proof of loss deadlines. Some states have limited the impact to major medical insurance, while others have applied it to all policies in their states. These mandates may negatively impact the Company’s operating results and cash flows.

·The hiring and licensing by our marketing companies of sales agents who sell Medicare advantage and Medicare supplement as well as other products may be delayed, as many state regulators have limited licensing services. This may impact any future growth of the Company’s call centers and career agents, and negatively impact expected sales of these products and our financial results.

·Changes in utilization of medical facilities and services, medical expenses and other costs as a result of the impact of COVID-19 decrease the predictability of Medicare and Medicaid rates.

·Slower growth in STM sales as policyholders focus on acquiring coverage under special enrollments for ACA policies may negatively impact our sales of such products and our operating results.

·Higher unemployment could adversely affect our disability lines of business.

·Continued mandatory shut down orders may cause smaller companies to go out of business, impacting our DBL and PFL lines.

·Possible mandated coverages by regulators for other lines of business could adversely increase benefits with no increase in premiums.

·Having our employees work from home could cause reductions in our operating effectiveness. Most of our employees continue to work remotely in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which may impair our ability to manage our business or exacerbate certain risks to our business, including an increased demand for information technology resources, increased risk of phishing and other cybersecurity attacks, and increased risk of unauthorized dissemination of sensitive personal

information or proprietary or confidential information about us, our members or other third parties. Further, we will incur additional expenses to allow employees to work remotely and to help expand the safety of our employees.

·COVID-19 or any similar pandemic could increase mortality in our life products.

·The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to significant volatility in financial markets, including declines in equity markets, changes in interest rates and overall reduced liquidity in the investment markets.

·Our cost of reinsurance for policies many increase and/or we may have difficulty in finding reinsurance. Reinsurers may dispute, or seek to reduce or eliminate, coverage on policies as a result of any changes to policies or practices we make as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The extent of Covid-19’s impact on our business and operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, including, but not limited to, the transmission rate, duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, vaccine efficacy, the extent and effectiveness of the actions taken to contain the spread of the virus and address its impacts, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.

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 trends 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. 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.

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.

The results of operations of our insurance business will decline if our premium rates are not adequate or if we are unable to increase rates.

We set the premium rates on our insurance policies based on facts and assumptions about numerous variables, including the actuarial probability of a policyholder incurring a claim, the probable size of the claim, maintenance costs to administer the policies and the interest rate earned on our investment of premiums. In setting premium rates, we consider historical claims information, industry statistics, the rates of our competitors and other factors, but we cannot predict with certainty the future actual claims on our products. If our actual claims experience proves to be less favorable than we assumed our financial results will be adversely affected. If we are unable to raise premium rates to the extent necessary to offset the unfavorable claims experience due to the cyclical insurance marked or regulatory restraints, our financial results will be adversely affected.

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 or to bear a portion of the cost of insurance for high-risk or uninsured individuals. 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. Depending on state law, insurers can be assessed up to 2% of premium written for the relevant line of insurance in that state. 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.

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

Ratings are an important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies and are important to maintaining public confidence in our insurance companies and our products, and our ability to market our products. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company 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.

Our reliance upon third party administrators and other outsourcing arrangements may disrupt or adversely affect our operations.

We depend, and may in the future increase our dependence, on third parties for significant portions of our operations, including claims processing, premium billing, claims management, claims payment and voice communication services, and other systems-related support. This dependence makes our operations vulnerable to the third parties' failure to perform adequately under the contract due to internal or external factors. In the future, this dependence may increase as we may outsource additional areas of our business operations to additional vendors. There can be no assurance that any conversion or transition of business process functions from the Company to a vendor or between vendors will be seamless and these projects could result in significant operational challenges that cause financial difficulties. In addition, if our

relationships with our outsourcing partners are significantly disrupted or terminated for any reason or if the financial terms of such outsourcing partners change materially, we may not be able to find an alternative partner in a timely manner or on acceptable financial terms. A change in service providers, or a move of services from a third party to internal operations, could result in significant operational challenges, a decline in service quality and effectiveness, increased cost or less favorable contract terms. As a result, we may not be able to meet the demands of our customers and, in turn, our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed.

Our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected if our third party administrators, managing general agents, general agents or other producers exceed their authorities, otherwise breach obligations owed to us or commit fraud.

In connection with certain lines of business and insurance programs, we authorize third party administrators, managing general agents, general agents and other producers to write business and/or settle claims on our behalf within underwriting and claims settlement authorities prescribed by us. These parties pay claim amounts to the clients that have purchased insurance from us. If such an intermediary were to fail to pass such a payment through to the claimant or policyholder, we may remain liable for the deficiency because of applicable local laws or contractual obligations. Likewise, when a customer pays its policy premium to an agent or third party administrator for further remittance to us, that premium is generally considered to have been paid and the client is no longer liable for such amount even if we do not actually receive the premium. Consequently, we assume a degree of credit risk associated with the intermediaries we use with respect to our insurance and reinsurance business. Further, we have less control and supervision over these underwriters and claims staff than our own employees and rely on the controls of our agents to write business within the underwriting authorities and settle claims within guidelines provided by us. Although we monitor our business on an ongoing basis, our monitoring efforts may not be adequate and our agents may exceed their underwriting authorities or otherwise breach their obligations owed to us. To the extent that our agents exceed their authority, otherwise breach their obligations owed to us or commit fraud, this may result in a material adverse effect upon our financial condition and results of operations.

Reinsurers’ failure to perform or adverse developments in the business retained may expose us to risks that we had sought to mitigate.

We utilize reinsurance to mitigate our risks in various circumstances. Through reinsurance, we have the contractual right to collect the amount reinsured from our reinsurers. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, reinsurance does not relieve us of our direct liability to our policyholders. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. If we become liable for risks we have ceded to reinsurers or if our reinsurers cease to meet their obligations to us because they are insolvent or in a weakened financial position as a result of incurred losses or otherwise, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

We retain most of the risk for our own account on some business underwritten by our insurance companies. The determination to not purchase reinsurance, or to reduce the amount of reinsurance we purchase, for a particular risk or line of business is based on a variety of factors including market conditions, pricing, availability of reinsurance, the level of our capital and our loss history. Such determinations have the effect of increasing our financial exposure to losses associated with such risks or in such lines of business and, in the event of significant losses associated with such risks or lines of business, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our inability to maintain our existing and secure new relationships with strategic partners could harm our revenue and operating results.

Some of our lines of business are dependent on a concentrated number of strategic partners and referral sources from whom we obtain leads to support sales of insurance policies. The loss of one or more of these strategic partners and lead suppliers could significantly limit our ability to access target markets.

Our dependence on a concentrated number of strategic partners and third-party referral sources for new customers creates a risk that the termination of such relationship will lead to a significant reduction in revenues and revenue growth.

Any inability to secure, maintain or effectively manage relationship with strategic partners could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and operating results. Further, a material reduction of new referrals from any of our significant referral sources would harm our financial 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 from diversified financial services companies and insurance companies that are much larger than we are and that have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources. Some of these competitors also have greater experience, longer operating histories, larger customer bases, and more market recognition than we do in certain lines of business. In addition, some of our competitors may seek to consolidate through mergers and acquisitions or enter into strategic alliances. These consolidated entities and alliances may use their enhanced market power and broader capital base to take business from us or to drive down pricing, which could adversely affect the results of our operations. Failure to compete effectively against current or future competitors could result in loss of current or potential customers, which could adversely affect pricing, lower revenue, prevent us from maintaining profitability and diminish brand strength. There can be no assurance 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 may be unsuccessful in our continued efforts to execute on our strategies to diversify sources of income.

We have devoted significant effort and financial resources to build new products, distribution and service capabilities to diversify our product portfolio. We aim to continue implementing our strategies while maintaining current positions of strength in our existing businesses, as well as maintaining the strength of our balance sheet. Our success will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to achieve name recognition, accurately predict market trends, differentiate our product offerings from our competitors’ products, provide excellent customer service, attract and retain skilled employees, maintain comprehensive focus on all company priorities, develop new products in a timely manner and achieve market acceptance, effectively implement new technology and operational platforms, deepen our existing distribution relationships and add new distribution partners, and set appropriate prices for our products. If we do not successfully build brand awareness and grow market share, the business could stagnate or be adversely affected, which would harm operating results and financial condition.

If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business, operating results and financial condition may suffer.

We have recently experienced, and expect to continue to experience, significant growth, which has stressed operations, infrastructure and financial systems, and may also result in increased costs. If we do not effectively manage growth at any time, our financial condition could be harmed and the quality of our services could suffer. Furthermore, in order to successfully expand our business, we need to hire, integrate and retain highly skilled and motivated employees and continue to improve our existing systems for operational and financial management. These improvements could require significant capital expenditures

and place increasing demands on our management. If we do not successfully implement improvements in these areas, our business, operating results and financial condition will be harmed.

In connection with the implementation of our corporate strategies, we face risks associated with the acquisition or disposition of businesses, the entry into new lines of business, the integration of acquired businesses and the growth and development of these businesses.

In pursuing our corporate strategy, we may acquire other businesses or dispose of or exit businesses we currently own. The success of this strategy is dependent upon our ability to identify appropriate acquisition and disposition targets, negotiate transactions on favorable terms, complete transactions and, in the case of acquisitions, successfully integrate them into our existing businesses. If a proposed transaction is not consummated, the time and resources spent in researching it could adversely result in missed opportunities to locate and acquire other businesses. In addition, if we are not able to improve, refine or revise our systems and operational practices to integrate the acquisition, and enlarge the scale and scope of our business, our business may be adversely affected. Other risks include developing knowledge of and experience in the new business, integrating the acquired business into our systems and culture, recruiting professionals, and developing and capitalizing on new relationships with experienced market participants. If acquisitions are made, there can be no assurance that we will realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions, including, but not limited to, revenue growth, operational efficiencies or expected synergies. If we dispose of or otherwise exit certain businesses, there can be no assurance that we will not incur certain disposition related charges, or that we will be able to reduce overhead related to the divested assets.

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

Our business is highly dependent upon the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our computer systems, and we have different information systems for our various businesses. We rely on these systems to perform actuarial and other modeling functions necessary for writing business, to provide insurance quotes, to process our premiums and policies, to administer our products, to process and make claims payments, to establish our loss reserves, and to prepare our management and external financial statements and information. The failure of these systems could interrupt our operation and we could experience adverse consequences, including: (i) inadequate information on which to base pricing, underwriting and reserving decisions; (ii) inadequate information for accurate financial reporting; (iii) increases in administrative expenses; (iv) the loss of existing customers or key distributors; (v) difficulty in attracting new customers or distributors; (vi) an inability to comply with regulations or customer or vendor expectations, such as failure to meet prompt payment obligations; (vii) customer, provider and agent disputes; and (viii) litigation or regulatory enforcement exposure.

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, we may be unable to perform critical functions in a timely manner, and our systems may not be available to our employees, customers or business partners for an extended period of time. Any such interruptions may reduce our revenues or increase our expenses, and may also have an adverse impact upon our reputation, distribution partnerships, or our customer or vendor relationships. Such an occurrence may also impair our ability to timely and accurately complete our financial reporting and other regulatory obligations and may impact the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We also utilize and/or rely on computer systems developed and maintained by outsourcing relationships and key vendors. Their systems could experience the same risks, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business results.

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. Advances in technology that may render our current information technology systems obsolete will require upgrading and maintenance over time, which may require significant future commitments of resources and capital. If we upgrade or change systems, we may suffer interruptions in service, loss of data or reduced functionality. Despite any precautions we may take, such problems could result in, among other consequences, interruptions in our services, which could harm our reputation and financial results.

If we fail to comply with applicable privacy and security laws and respond to emerging security threats and potential security incidents, our business, reputation, results of operations, financial positions and cash flows could be materially affected.

Our computer systems have been, and will continue to be, subject to computer viruses or other malicious codes, unauthorized access, acts of vandalism, theft, misuse, cyber-attacks, hackers, corruption and destruction of data maintained online or digitally, and other computer-related penetrations. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with our processing of transactions including: (i) the processing of orders from our website; (ii) cause the release and possible destruction of confidential customer or business information; (iii) impede application processing; (iv) subject us and/or our service providers and intermediaries to regulatory fines and financial losses; and/or (v) cause reputational damage. Such threats require additional layers of security, which may disrupt or impact efficiency of operations. 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, disruption of our operations, additional regulatory scrutiny, sanctions (such as penalties, fines and loss of license) and litigation, and reputational damage.

Additionally, past or future negligence or misconduct by our employees or employees of our vendors or suppliers could result in misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, violations of laws by us, regulatory sanctions against us and/or serious reputational, legal or financial harm to our business, and the precautions we employ to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Although we employ controls and procedures designed to monitor the business decisions and activities of these individuals to prevent us from engaging in inappropriate activities, excessive risk taking, fraud or security breaches, these individuals may take such risks regardless of such controls and procedures and such controls and procedures may fail to detect all such decisions and activities. We review our compensation policies and procedures as part of our overall risk management program, but it is possible that such compensation policies and practices could inadvertently incentivize excessive or inappropriate risk taking. If these individuals take excessive or inappropriate risks, those risks could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The failure to safeguard the security of our data and protect our customers’ confidential information and privacy could adversely affect our business and expose us to substantial liability, reputational harm, loss of revenue and other damages.

In the conduct of our business, we are subject to privacy regulations and to confidentiality obligations. Our business depends on our clients’ and customers’ willingness to entrust us with their sensitive personal information. The collection, maintenance, protection, use, transmission, disclosure and disposal of sensitive personal information are regulated at the federal, state and industry levels. For example, the collection and use of patient data in our health insurance operations is regulated by 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. HIPAA also requires business associates as well as covered entities to comply with certain privacy and security requirements. In addition,

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, and in some instances may impose indemnity obligations on us relating to unlawful or unauthorized disclosure of any such information.

Despite the implementation of network security measures, our computer systems may be vulnerable to physical and electronic break-ins, computer viruses or malware, programming errors, attacks by third parties, unauthorized access, tampering, cyber-attacks, and other computer-related penetrations and similar disruptive problems. A breach of cybersecurity could compromise our confidential information, including personal identifiable information of our customers and employees, and information related to third parties with whom we interact. A person who is able to circumvent these security measures and penetrate our and our subsidiaries’ computer systems could access, view, misappropriate, alter, or delete any information in the systems, including personally identifiable customer information and proprietary business information. There have been large scale cyber-attacks and other cyber-security breaches within the insurance industry. As we increase the amount of personal information that we store and share digitally, our exposure to data security and related cyber-security risks increases, including the risk of undetected attacks, damage, loss or unauthorized access or misappropriation of proprietary or personal information, and the cost of attempting to protect against these risks also increases. In addition, while we review and assess the cybersecurity controls of our third party providers to whom we outsource certain services, as appropriate, and make changes to our business processes to manage these risks, such third parties and, in turn, their own service providers, may become subject to the same type of security breaches. If we do not properly comply with privacy regulations and protect confidential information and there is inappropriate access, use, or disclosure of personally identifiable customer information, we could experience adverse consequences, including regulatory sanctions, such as civil and criminal liability, penalties, fines and loss of license, as well as possible litigation. In addition, an increasing number of states require that customers be notified of unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of their information. This could also have an adverse impact on our image or customer relationships and, therefore, result in loss of distribution partners, lower sales, lapses of existing business, or increased expenses. We purchase cyber risk insurance and assess the adequacy of this insurance annually, but this insurance may not be sufficient in scope or amount to cover all of our losses from breaches of our data.

Our risk management policies and procedures may prove to be ineffective and leave us exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could adversely affect our businesses or result in losses.

We have developed an enterprise-wide risk management and governance framework to mitigate risk and loss to the Company. We maintain policies, procedures and controls intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the risks to which we are exposed. However, our enterprise risk management policies and procedures may not be sufficiently comprehensive and may not identify every risk to which we are exposed. There are inherent limitations to risk management strategies because there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. We cannot provide assurance that our risk management framework, including the underlying assumptions or strategies, will be accurate and effective.

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, closed on an agreement to coinsure substantially all of their run-off blocks of individual life and annuities and sold Madison National Life's infrastructure related to those blocks, to National Guardian Life Insurance Company (“NGL”). 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 and for regulatory and other legal actions, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We have risks from the Paid Family Leave Risk Adjustment Program.

Beginning January 1, 2018, a rider was added to all DBL policies adding benefits for PFL. This rider is mandated by the NYSDFS. The PFL premium rate charged is set by the NYSDFS. In addition to mandating this benefit, the NYSDFS established a risk adjustment program so that all carriers would share on a pro rata basis in the ultimate profit or loss of the PFL business across three group sizes for the entire industry. The goal of the PFL risk adjustment program is to protect issuers from disproportionate adverse or favorable risks that might arise because PFL premium rates are community rated and not allowed to vary by risk factors.

Since the NYSDFS established a risk adjustment program, the Company is required to record in its financial statements an accrual for a potential payment to, or recovery from, the risk adjustment program depending on how its loss ratio compares to the industry wide loss ratio. To determine the amount of this risk adjustment, knowledge of industry wide performance is necessary. The NYSDFS does not share the industry loss ratio data for the current reporting year until the following year. However, the Company uses unaudited industry available information to make its best estimate of its potential payment under the risk adjustment program until actual information is available.

We cannot predict the full effect of the risk adjustment program on the Company at this time, but it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Economic, governmental and competitive factors, and changes in societal attitudes such as work ethic, motivation or stability, can significantly affect the demand for and underwriting results from disability products.

Group life and disability insurance may also be affected by the characteristics of the employees insured, the amount of insurance employees may elect voluntarily, our risk selection process, our ability to retain employer groups with favorable risk characteristics, the geographical concentration of employees, and mortality rates. Claim incidence may also be influenced by unexpected catastrophic events such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and pandemic health events, which may also affect the cost of and availability of reinsurance coverage. Although pricing and renewal actions can be taken in reaction to higher claim rates, these actions take time to implement, and there is a risk that the market will not sustain increased prices. In addition, changes in economic and external conditions may not manifest themselves in claims experience for an extended period of time. It is difficult to predict how the above factors will affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

If we are unable to grow our pet insurance customer base and maintain high retention rates, our growth prospects and revenue will be adversely affected.

Our ability to grow the pet insurance business depends on expanding and retaining our customer base. We are focused primarily on expanding market share, and our primary competitive challenge is to educate pet owners as to the need for pet insurance and what makes our products attractive. The promotion of our brands will require us to make substantial investments, and we anticipate that, as our market becomes increasingly competitive, the acquisition of leads and policyholders may become increasingly more expensive. We have made and will to continue to make substantial investments in enrollment functionality of our websites (www.mypetinsurance.com, www.petplace.com, www.petpartners.com and www.AKCpetinsurance.com), our TailTrax app, the education of our sales and service staff, and activities that generate traffic to our web properties, increase customer engagement and enhance the customer experience. If the expenses that we incur in connection with these activities do not result in sufficient growth

in customers to offset the cost, our business, operating results and financial condition will be adversely affected.

Obtaining quality insurance sales leads is important to our pet business, but our ability to convert leads to policy sales is also a key success factor. Many factors impact conversion rate, including lead quality. If lead quality diminishes, conversion rates will be adversely affected. If competition for customers increases, our conversion rates may decline, even absent a degradation in lead quality. If our conversion rate does not meet expectations, our business may be adversely affected.

Our pet insurance business may be affected by changes in the economic environment as it is deemed by many to be discretionary. Pet owners may reduce or eliminate discretionary spending during an economic downturn, resulting in an increase in terminations, a material reduction in retention rate, and a reduction in the number of new policyholders. As a result, our business, operating results and financial condition may be significantly affected by changes in the economic environment.

Market and Financial Risks

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. Further, 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, 2020, fixed maturities represented $406.6 million or 85.9% of our total investments of $473.6 million. The fair value of fixed maturities and the related investment income fluctuates depending on general economic and market conditions and 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, 2020, 99.5% of the Company’s fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA, all of the 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). In a worst-case scenario, the issuer could default on its payment or performance of its obligations, which could reduce our investment income and realized investment gains or result in the continued recognition of investment 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.

Unanticipated changes in our tax provisions, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities could affect our financial performance.

Prior to the U.S. presidential election, President Biden provided some informal guidance on what tax law changes he would support. Among other things, President Biden proposed an increase in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 21% to 28% and a new alternative minimum tax on book income. If enacted, the Company’s effective tax rate could materially change as a result of changes in tax laws. If President Biden’s proposals are ultimately enacted into law, in whole or in part, they could materially impact our tax provision, cash tax liability and effective tax rate. The impact of current and future fiscal policy changes are unknown and could affect our business and financial condition.

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

Goodwill represented $74.9 million of our $1.1 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2020. 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 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.

Our operating results will be impacted by factors that impact our estimate of the constrained lifetime value of commissions revenue per approved member.

We recognize revenue for certain non-IHC carrier products policies that we have issued since January 1, 2020 based upon the total expected commissions we expect to receive over the life of the underlying polices, net of a constraint. We recognize commission revenue at the time the application for the policy is issued by the carrier equal to the estimated commissions we expect to collect over the lifetime of the policy. The constrained lifetime value (“LTV”) for each product line is an estimate and is based on a number of assumptions, which include, but are not limited to, estimated product duration related to member cancellation timing, forecasted commission amounts we expect to receive per issued member, carrier mix, the regulatory environment, and cancellations of insurance products offered by our carrier partners with which we have a relationship. These assumptions incorporate management’s judgment.

As we continue to evaluate our LTV estimation models, we may in the future make further changes based on a number of factors and such changes could result in increases or decreases in our revenue. These assumptions are based on historical trends and require significant judgment by our management in interpreting those trends and in applying the constraints. Changes in our historical trends will result in changes to our constrained LTV estimates in future periods and therefore could adversely affect our revenue and financial results in those future periods. As a result, negative changes in the factors upon which we estimate constrained LTVs, increased health insurance policy termination or a reduction in the lifetime commission amounts we expect to receive for selling the product to a member or other changes could harm our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, if we ultimately receive commission

payments that are less than the amount we estimated when we recognized commission revenue, we would need to write off the remaining commission receivable balance, which would adversely impact our business, operating results, and financial condition.

The forecasted average product duration is a significant factor in our estimation of constrained LTV. We receive commissions when we place health insurance policies with carriers with whom we are contracted to represent. When the member terminates coverage, or if we otherwise do not remain the agent on the policy, we no longer receive the related commission payment. Our forecasted average product duration and health insurance policy termination rate are calculated based on our historical data by product and distribution type. As a result, our inability to produce accurate forecasted average product and distribution type duration may adversely impact our business, operating results and financial condition.

Commission rates are a part of the significant factors in our estimation of constrained LTVs. The commission rates we receive are impacted by a variety of factors, including the particular health insurance products chosen by our members, the carriers offering those policies, our members’ state of residence, the laws and regulations in those jurisdictions, the average premiums of policies purchased through us and health care reform at the state and federal levels. Our commission revenue per member could decrease in the future as a result of reductions in contractual commission rates, the loss of a major carrier contract, a change in the mix of carriers whose products we sell during a given period, and increased health insurance policy termination rates, all of which are beyond our control and may occur on short notice. To the extent these and other factors cause our commission revenue per member to decline, our revenue may decline and our business, operating results and financial condition would be harmed.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

Changes in regulation, or the application thereof, may reduce our profitability and limit our growth.

Legislation or other regulatory reform that increases the regulatory requirements imposed on us or that changes the way we are able to do business may significantly harm our business or results of operations in the future. Further, state insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) regularly re-examine existing laws and regulations applicable to insurance companies and their products. Changes in these laws and regulations or in interpretations or enforcement thereof, enactment of new laws or regulations, or new judicial decisions affecting the insurance industry, 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. Such changes to insurance laws or regulations, or new insurance laws and regulations, may be more restrictive than current laws or regulations and could significantly increase our compliance costs. 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, prospects for growth and cash flows. If we were unable for any reason to comply with these requirements, it could result in substantial costs to us and may materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We cannot predict the full effect of these or any other regulatory initiatives on the Company at this time, but they could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Changes to health insurance laws may adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

Although health insurance is generally regulated at the state level, actions at the federal level have affected and will likely continue to affect our business. Since the ACA became law in March 2010, it has caused sweeping and fundamental changes to the U.S. health care and health insurance industries. We anticipate that the Biden Administration will work to strengthen the ACA. We will continue to monitor efforts to strengthen the ACA and reassess our business strategies accordingly. We will also monitor the changes proposed by the Biden administration to determine the expected timing of any changes and how

they will impact us. The nature of the changes that this administration will bring both to the ACA and ancillary markets is not known, so we are unable to predict what additional health insurance requirements, if any, will be implemented at the federal or state level, or the effect that any future legislation or regulation will have on our business or our growth opportunities. To the extent known, 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 are less successful than our competitors, or if there is less demand than we expect for our products in the new environment, our results could be adversely affected.

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 continually assessing the impact of the ACA on our health care benefit costs.

States may adopt new laws for pet insurance that may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

The NAIC may draft model laws that focuses on insurance for pets. States may enact new laws to adopt what the NAIC drafts, or a state may enact its own new laws or regulations that could affect our industry. Many states have considered and may continue to consider proposed legislation that could significantly affect our operations, including, for example, our ability to effect rate increases, to cancel or not issue existing policies, or how to market our product. Implementing changes in order to comply with new laws or regulations could also be time-consuming and costly.

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 risk of litigation in the ordinary course of operating our business, including the risk of class actions, regulatory actions and individual lawsuits relating, among other things, to sales or underwriting practices, payment of contingent or other sales commissions, claims payments and procedures, marketing, 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. Adverse judgments in one or more of such lawsuits could require us to pay significant damage amounts or to change aspects of our operations. 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. Further, industry trends, such as increased litigation against the insurance industry and individual insurers, the willingness of courts to expand covered causes of loss and the size of awards, rising jury awards, escalating medical costs, and increasing loss severity may render the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiaries inadequate for current and future losses. The unpredictability of court decisions in the insurance business could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operation and cash flows. In addition, the political divisiveness leading, in some cases, to the stalling of the legislative process, may cause judicial activism and result in rulings concerning our products, the way we sell our products, and the profitability of our products, which may result in greater differences in the regulatory approaches of the states.

We are also subject to various regulatory examinations, actions, inquiries and proceedings, such as information requests, subpoenas, market conduct exams and books and record examinations, from state and federal regulators and other authorities in the ordinary course of our business. Our subsidiaries, Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company, have been selected for a multistate market conduct exam (“MCE”), related to our STM, limited medical and fixed indemnity health insurance products for the period of January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017. In an effort to avoid long‐term litigation and/or administrative proceedings that would be required to resolve disputes between the three subsidiaries and the states involved in the MCE, the 5 lead states and the three subsidiaries entered into separate Regulatory Settlement Agreements ("RSAs") on July 14, 2020. The 37 participating

states have adopted the RSAs. The Company accrued $3,660,000 in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet in the second quarter and processed payment in October. The Company is also implementing a compliance plan. Furthermore, increased regulatory scrutiny and any resulting new investigations or proceedings could result in new legal actions or precedents and industry-wide regulations or practices that could adversely affect our business. Even if we ultimately prevail in the litigation, regulatory action or investigation, any such action or proceeding could significantly injure our reputation, cause negative publicity, adversely affect our financial strength ratings, place us at a competitive disadvantage in marketing or administering our products, or impair our ability to sell or retain insurance policies, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

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.

A large portion of our business depends on our compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 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.

In addition, our business depends on 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.

We may not receive approval for changes to an existing product, for a proposed new product or for pricing changes, or we may not receive such approvals in a timely manner.

States require licensure and regulatory approval prior to marketing new insurance products or changing premiums for existing products. From time to time, we seek updates to our existing products. We may also introduce new products which make changes that are more extensive to the product approved in a state. We may reevaluate and seek changes to product pricing, subject to the review and approval of the state regulators, who may reduce or disallow pricing changes. Such review has in the past resulted, and may in the future result, in delayed implementation of pricing changes and prevent us from making changes we believe are necessary to achieve targeted profitability, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. A delayed approval may require us to raise rates more quickly than we otherwise may desire. This could tarnish our reputation with new and/or existing customers and reduce retention rates, which could significantly damage our brand, result in the loss of expected revenue and otherwise harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

The failure to comply with rules and regulations regarding the protection of our customers’ confidential information and privacy could expose us to substantial liability.

The NAIC has adopted an Insurance Data Security Model Law, which, if adopted by a state will require insurers, insurance producers and other entities required to be licensed under state insurance laws to comply with certain requirements under state insurance laws, such as developing and maintaining a written information security program, conducting risk assessments and overseeing the data security practices of third-party vendors. The purpose of the model law is to establish standards for data security

and for the investigation and notification of insurance commissioners of cybersecurity events involving unauthorized access to, or the misuse of, certain nonpublic information. Certain states have adopted the model law, and we expect that additional states will begin adopting the model law, although it cannot be predicted whether or not, or in what form or when, they will do so. We are currently evaluating these regulations and their potential impact on our operations. In addition, certain state insurance regulators are developing or have developed regulations that may impose regulatory requirements relating to cybersecurity on insurance and reinsurance companies (potentially including insurance and reinsurance companies that are not domiciled, but are licensed, in the relevant state). For example, the New York State Department of Financial Services has adopted a regulation pertaining to cybersecurity for all banking, insurance entities and other financial services institutions under its jurisdiction, effective as of March 1, 2017, that requires them to establish and maintain a cybersecurity program “designed to protect consumers and ensure the safety and soundness of New York State's financial services industry.” We have established a cybersecurity program in place outlining our policies and procedures for the protection of our information systems and information stored on those systems that comports with the regulation and continue to evaluate this regulation and its potential impact on our operations, but depending on its implementation, we may be required to incur significant expense in order to meet its requirements. We expect cybersecurity risk management, prioritization and reporting to continue to be an area of significant focus by governments, regulatory bodies and self-regulatory organizations at all levels.

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 18,188 square feet of space in Madison, Wisconsin as its corporate headquarters.

Independence American Insurance Company

Independence American Insurance Company leases 12,253 square feet of office space in Phoenix, Arizona for its actuarial, agency and administrative operations.

IHCSB

IHCSB leases 8,479 square feet of office space in St. Louis Park, Minnesota as its corporate headquarters; 14,209 square feet of office space in Tampa, Florida and 10,297 square feet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for call center operations.

PetPartners

PetPartners leases 7,006 square feet of office space in Raleigh, North Carolina as its corporate headquarters.

Torchlight

Torchlight leases 4,600 square feet of office space in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as its 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.

Third Party Administrator

A third party administrator with whom we formerly did business (“Plaintiff” or “TPA”) commenced an action on May 17, 2017 in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (the “Texas Action”), naming IHC, Madison National Life, Standard Security Life, and Independence Brokerage Group, Inc. (formerly IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc.) as defendants (“Defendants”). In the action, which is currently stayed, the Plaintiff seeks contractual payments allegedly owed by Standard Security Life and Madison National Life totaling at least $3,082,000 through 2014, plus additional amounts for 2015 and 2016, and exemplary and punitive damages as allowed by law and fees and costs. During the stay, two arbitrations involving the same parties proceeded. The first arbitration resulted in a judicially-confirmed award in favor of Standard Security Life and Madison National Life in the amount of $5,641,000, which the Plaintiff has satisfied. The Company received payment on September 9, 2020 and recorded it in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income in the third quarter. The second arbitration resulted in no monetary obligations owed by any of the parties. The Defendants have not had to file an answer in the Texas Action. At the point they do have to file an answer to the Complaint, they will assert a variety of defenses, set-offs and counterclaims.

Multistate Market Conduct Examination (MCE)

As previously disclosed, our subsidiaries Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company were selected for MCE related to our STM, limited medical and fixed indemnity limited health insurance products for the period of January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017. The insurance departments of five jurisdictions (Delaware, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Kansas and South Dakota) served as lead states, and the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking and the Delaware Department of Insurance served as the managing lead states of the MCE. In addition to the five lead states, 37 other states participated in the MCE. Each of Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company responded to inquiries and document production requests in the MCE and proactively communicated and cooperated with the applicable regulatory agencies for the MCE. Each of these subsidiaries also provided a detailed action plan to regulators that summarized its enhanced compliance and control mechanisms.

July 14, 2020. The RSAs require the implementation of a compliance plan, impose certain requirements related to specified business practices and monetary payments. The thirty-seven participating states adopted the RSAs. The Company accrued $3,660,000 in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the second quarter and processed payment in October 2020. As set forth in the RSAs, the Company denies any wrongdoing or violation of any applicable laws or regulations, and the entry into the RSAs is not an admission or acknowledgment by the Company of any wrongdoing or liability.

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, 2020	$	43.43	$	36.64
	September 30, 2020		41.51		27.92
	June 30, 2020		32.92		22.00
	March 31, 2020		43.60		22.48

QUARTER ENDED:
	December 31, 2019	$	42.60	$	36.80
	September 30, 2019		39.40		35.76
	June 30, 2019		39.26		33.37
	March 31, 2019		41.04		34.63

IHC's stock price closed at $41.00 on December 31, 2020.

Holders of Record

At March 05, 2021, the number of record holders of IHC's common stock was 1,276. The number of record owners was determined from the Company’s stockholder records maintained by the Company’s transfer agent.

Dividends

IHC declared cash dividends of $.22 per share on its common stock on both March 16, 2020 and December 11, 2020, for a total annual dividend of $.44 per share.

IHC declared cash dividends of $.20 per share on its common stock on both March 18, 2019 and December 10, 2019, for a total annual dividend of $.40 per share.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

In November 2016, the stockholders approved the Independence Holding Company 2016 Stock Incentive Plan and in November 2020 approved amendments to that plan (the”2016 Plan, as amended”).

			Number of Securities
	Number of Securities to	Weighted Average	Remaining Available for
	Be Issued Upon Exercise	Exercise Price of	Future Issuance Under
Plan Category	of Outstanding Options	Outstanding Options	Compensation Plan

Equity Compensation Plan
Approved by Shareholders	786,380	$32.16	368,599

Tender Offer

On April 24, 2020, IHC commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price per share of $27.00, net, to the seller in cash. On May 21, 2020, at the close of business, the offer expired and the Company accepted for purchase 36,377 shares of its common stock at $27.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $982,000.

Share Repurchase Program

IHC has a program, initiated in 1991, under which it repurchases shares of its common stock. In August 2016, the Board of Directors increased the number of shares that can be repurchased to 3,000,000 shares of IHC common stock, excluding the shares under the aforementioned tender offer. As of December 31, 2020, 1,538,991 shares were still authorized to be repurchased.

Share repurchases during the fourth quarter of 2020 are summarized as follows:

2020
				Maximum Number
		Average Price		of Shares which
Month of	Shares	of Repurchased		can be
Repurchase	Repurchased	Shares		Repurchased

October	7,250	$	38.22	1,544,252
November	558	$	38.30	1,543,694
December	4,703	$	38.61	1,538,991

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (NYSE: IHC), is a holding company principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life, Madison National Life, and Independence American Insurance Company; and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies consisting of IHCSB, IBG, My1HR and a majority interest in PetPartners (collectively the “IHC Agencies”) and its lead generation company, Torchlight. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company 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. With regard to those persons in the growing individual market, IHC’s products offer coverage for individuals and families with short-term needs, and fixed indemnity limited benefit and scheduled benefit plans through multiple distribution partners. We offer pet insurance for dogs and cats in all 50 states through select distributors. 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 specialty health, disability, DBL and PFL, 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. Management has always focused on managing the costs of its operations.

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19, a global health pandemic and the United States declared a national health emergency. COVID-19 has led to large scale disruption in the global economy, market instability and widespread unemployment in the United States.

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to be a fluid situation. The business continuity and emergency response plans we implemented in March 2020 continue to ensure we provide a high level of service to our customers and support our everyday business needs. To help protect the safety and wellbeing of our employees and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we have limited travel and directed our employees to work remotely whenever possible. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, the duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain. Regulatory mandates have affected, and we anticipate will continue to impact, the insurance industry. We currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact to our business, results of operations or financial condition in future reporting periods. For more information, see the risk factor under the heading “We face risks related to health epidemics, like the

Coronavirus (COVID-19) that could impact our sales, operating results and financial condition” in Item 1A. Risk Factors.

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

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

		2020		2019

Revenues	$	443,864	$	374,448
Expenses		414,014		349,100

Income before income taxes		29,850		25,348
Income taxes		10,732		12,659

Net income		19,118		12,689
(Income) from noncontrolling interests		(237)		(293)

Net income attributable to IHC	$	18,881	$	12,396

·Income from operations of $1.28 per share, diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $.83 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2019;

oNet income for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes the recognition of an Arbitration Award with a former TPA (as described in Note 16) amounting to $3.7 million, net of associated legal expenses and income taxes and includes $3.7 million of expenses, net of taxes, for compliance with the MCE related to our STM, limited medical and fixed indemnity limited benefit health insurance products for the period of January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017, also discussed in Note 16;

oFor the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company accrued $25.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively, of estimated amounts that the Company paid or will potentially pay into the New York State adjustment pool as a result of IHC having significantly better experience with its PFL business than that of the industry as a whole;

oSelling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 include $4.2 million of bad debt expense;

oIncome taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 include increases of $4.5 million and $7.9 million, respectively, in the valuation allowance of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AMIC Holdings, Inc. (“AMIC”), due to the reduction of estimated tax benefits from the expected utilization of AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards that either expired in 2020 or will expire in 2021. Earnings expectations decreased relative to the remaining period that AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset income and therefore necessitated an increase in the valuation allowance.

·Consolidated investment yields (on an annualized basis) of 2.3% and 3.0% in 2020 and 2019, respectively;

·Book value of $32.08 per common share at December 31, 2020 compared to $30.92 at December 31, 2019; and

·Results for 2020 in the Specialty Health segment were impacted by COVID-19 during 2020. We expected that sales of STM might have grown more if not for displaced workers taking advantage of Special Enrollment Periods for ACA coverage, and the subsidies provided through Advanced Premium Tax Credits, as well as employers continuing to offer employer sponsored coverage to

furloughed workers. Evolving regulatory mandates for testing and treatment coverage, the length and severity of the outbreak, claims activity, and impacts on payment of premiums have not had a significant impact on the 2020 results to date, however, we may incur additional expenses in 2021 relating to possible COVID-19 related claims activity and possible non-payment of premiums as the full effects of the outbreak continue to unfold. To date, we have experienced lower utilization related to the deferral of services which more than offset the extra incurred costs mentioned previously. It is still unpredictable how this level of deferred utilization will reverse or not in the future but emerging results will continue to be monitored. Results for the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment were not materially impacted by COVID-19 from an aggregate claims standpoint. Decreases in incidence rates for disability products earlier in the year returned to near historical averages later in the year. The life incidence rate was not affected by COVID-19 in aggregate. Premiums decreased in the DBL business as a result of higher unemployment and the loss of smaller groups that have gone out of business due to COVID-19.

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

·The Specialty Health segment reported $4.3 million of income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $7.8 million for the comparable period in 2019. The decrease in 2020 when compared to 2019 is primarily due to: (i) $3.7 million of expenses for compliance with the MCE; (ii) shift in product mix in 2020 to higher earned premium from somewhat higher loss ratio products than those impacting 2019; (iii) increased costs related to overall infrastructure improvements in lead generation capabilities and sales automation platforms at IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. without a meaningful increase in sales yet; partially offset by (iv) other income of $5.6 million for the recognition of an arbitration award received in 2020.

oPremiums earned increased 7.2% or $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 over the comparable period in 2019. Increases in premiums from the pet and STM lines were partially offset by decreases in premiums from fixed indemnity limited benefit, group gap, occupational accident and group health modified indemnity lines of business;

oUnderwriting experience, as indicated by its U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) Combined Ratios, for the Specialty Health segment are as follows for the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Premiums Earned	$	190,755	$	177,991
Insurance Benefits, Claims & Reserves		84,219		75,539
Expenses		94,738		82,666

Loss Ratio		44.2%		42.4%
Expense Ratio		49.7%		46.4%
Combined Ratio		93.9%		88.8%

(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.

oThe higher loss ratios in 2020 primarily reflects the broadening of the mix of business, with a higher concentration of product lines with lower profit margins. The higher

expense ratio in 2020 is primarily due to $3.7 million of expenses for compliance with the MCE as well as changes in the mix of products in the Specialty Health segment.

·Income before taxes from the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment increased $11.4 million in 2020 compared to the prior year. The increase in 2020 primarily reflects an increase in PFL profitability due to increased premium rates partially offset by benefits recorded for a potential risk adjustment payment amounting to $25.0 million in 2020, as compared to $10.7 million in the 2019, associated with the Company’s PFL product due to estimated amounts that the Company may have to pay into the New York State adjustment pool as a result of IHC’s experience with PFL being significantly better than that of the industry as a whole. In addition, DBL had favorable premium reserve adjustments offset by higher loss ratios and unfavorable loss development in the Group STD line of business and, beginning in third quarter 2020, a decrease in DBL premium volume as a result of higher unemployment due to COVID-19.

·The Individual life, annuities and other segment in run-off reported an insignificant amount of income before income taxes in 2020 compared with losses before income taxes of $1.1 million in 2019;

·The Corporate segment reported losses before tax of $9.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2019. The change is primarily due to lower annualized yields on investments in 2020 and less income from equity method investments, partially offset by lower compensation expenses in 2020;

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

Gross Direct and Assumed
Earned Premiums:		2020		2019

Specialty Health	$	`197,111`	$	`183,772`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`232,015`		`189,400`
Individual life, annuities and other		`19,315`		`21,231`

	$	`448,441`	$	`394,403`

Net Premiums Earned:		2020		2019

Specialty Health	$	`190,755`	$	`177,991`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`206,712`		`160,702`
Individual life, annuities and other		`63`		`48`

	$	`397,530`	$	`338,741`

Information pertaining to the Company's business segments is provided in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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.

Fee Income Revenue Recognition

Fee income includes fees and commissions for various sales, marketing and administrative services provided by the IHC Agencies and lead generation company. Revenue is recognized as these services are performed in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for these services.

The Company utilizes the following five-step approach to recognize revenue from contracts with customers:

(1)identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;

(2)identification of the performance obligation in the contract;

(3)determination of the transaction price;

(4)allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

(5)recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation.

Commission revenues result from the sales of certain policies by the IHC Agencies on behalf of multiple unaffiliated insurance carriers. The Company has identified the unaffiliated insurance carriers as its customers. A significant portion of our commission revenues are recorded at a point in time based on expected constrained LTV that represent expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of the policies sold. These policies primarily consist of senior products, such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement plans, as well as ACA plans and small group stop-loss. Commission rates are agreed to in advance with the relevant insurance carrier and vary by carrier and policy type. Other commission revenues are recorded over a period of time commensurate with the performance of certain policy retention and renewal services. In circumstances where the contract is terminable at any time by either party, commission revenues are recorded when consideration is received to the extent it is nonrefundable.

Constrained LTV commissions are recorded at a point in time upon the issuance of a policy by the unaffiliated insurance carrier. It is at this point the performance obligation is considered satisfied. No significant additional performance obligation occurs with renewal of the initial policy. IHC records substantially all of the anticipated revenue from these policies on this date, adjusted for certain expected constraints. Various factors are analyzed to estimate the constrained LTV commissions. These include, but are not limited to, commission rates, carrier mix, contract amendments and terminations, estimated average plan durations, cancellations and non-renewals. After our initial estimate and constraints are made, the Company reassesses its estimates and constraints at the end of each reporting period. We recognize any material impact of changes to commission revenue in the period when the changes are made to the assumptions we use to calculate constrained LTV or previously estimated constrained LTV already recognized as revenue.

Revenues for administrative services, such as premium collections, client services and claims processing, all considered to be a single performance obligation, are recognized over time as these services are performed. One of our agencies administers a block of pet business for an unaffiliated pet insurer that is in run-off and, until its sale in June 2020, another one of our agencies administered occupational accident plans including injured-on-duty accident plans and employer liability plans, and self-funded workers’ compensation plans. The Company has identified the unaffiliated insurance carriers as its customers. Some payments are received monthly or quarterly over the underlying policy period which is shorter than the life of the administrative period. A portion of these payments, in addition to any payments that are received as a lump-sum in advance, are recorded as deferred revenues and recognized in income over the life of the administrative contracts.

Revenues for marketing services, primarily STM, Fixed Indemnity Limited Benefit and other ancillary policies, are recognized over time. The Company has identified the unaffiliated insurance carriers as its customers. The Company receives fees for these marketing services each month based on a flat fee times monthly enrollment figures.

Revenues for the use of our INSX cloud-based enrollment platform are recognized over time. This platform enables brokers and agents to quote and enroll consumers in ACA plans as well as ancillary health products. In this case, the independent brokers and agents are the customers and they are charged a monthly fee for the right to use the hosted cloud software. Amounts received in advance (annually or quarterly) are recorded as deferred revenues and recognized in income over the life of the contract.

Certain IHC subsidiaries earn fees for various lead and referral services. Each service has one performance obligation which is satisfied at a point in time when a lead is transferred to the customer or a referral results in a completed application. The Company has identified the unaffiliated insurance carriers as its customer. All prices are specified in the applicable contract.

IHC Agencies also earn fees from policyholders for: (i) the convenience of paying for pet premiums

in installments or by credit card; and (ii) the submission of online application or enrollment forms for various products. These fees are earned, and simultaneously received, from the policyholder/applicant at the point in time premium payments are made or online applications/enrollments are submitted.

Insurance Liabilities

Policy Benefits and Claims

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. 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.

All of the Company’s short-duration contracts are generated from its accident, health, term life, 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, 2020, would increase reserves (in the case of a higher ratio) or decrease reserves (in the case of a lower ratio) by approximately $3.7 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 commission expense.

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

		December 31, 2020
		Policy		Policy		Policy Benefits
		Benefits		Claims		and Claims

Specialty Health	$	`39,220`	$	`4,235`	$	`43,455`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`97,881`		`26,521`		`124,402`
Individual life, annuities and other		`7,968`		`3,407`		`11,375`
	$	`145,069`	$	`34,163`	$	`179,232`

		December 31, 2019
		Policy		Policy		Policy Benefits
		Benefits		Claims		and Claims

Specialty Health	$	`42,173`	$	`55`	$	`42,228`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`87,654`		`24,969`		`112,623`
Individual life, annuities and other		`7,640`		`2,311`		`9,951`
	$	`137,467`	$	`27,335`	$	`164,802`

Specialty Health

For the Specialty Health business, incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims liabilities plus expected development on reported claims are calculated using standard actuarial methods and practices. The “primary” assumption in the determination of Specialty Health reserves is that historical Claim Development Patterns are representative of future Claim Development Patterns. Factors that may affect this assumption include changes in claim payment processing times and procedures, changes in time delay in submission of claims, and the incidence of unusually large claims. Liabilities for policy benefits and claims for specialty health medical and disability coverage are computed using completion factors and expected Net Loss Ratios derived from actual historical premium and claim data. 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 not material. The Company has business that is serviced by third-party administrators. From time to time, there are changes in the timing of claims processing due to any number of factors including, but not limited to, system conversions and staffing changes during the year. These changes are monitored by the Company and the effects of these changes are taken into consideration during the claim reserving process. Other than these considerations, there have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year.

While these calculations are based on standard methodologies, they are estimates based on historical patterns. To the extent that actual claim payment patterns differ from historical patterns, such estimated reserves may be redundant or inadequate. The effects of such deviations are evaluated by considering claim backlog statistics and reviewing the reasonableness of projected claim ratios. Other factors which may affect the accuracy of policy benefits and claim estimates include the proportion of large claims which may take longer to adjudicate, changes in billing patterns by providers and changes in claim management practices such as hospital bill audits.

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.

Disability

The Company’s disability business is comprised of group disability and DBL. The two “primary” assumptions on which 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.

historical payment patterns for DBL. The NYSDFS can order the Company to refund a portion of the premium, to each policyholder, to meet the mandated minimum loss ratio requirements. The Company adjusts this premium refund reserve each year based on its loss ratio in relation to the mandated minimum loss ratio requirements. With respect to PFL, policy benefits and claims associated with the premiums earned are established using a completion factor methodology. As this is the third year of this product, the completion factors used were based on the PFL payment patterns developed during 2018, 2019 and 2020. Since the NYSDFS established a risk adjustment program, the Company is required to record in its financial statements an accrual for a potential payment to, or recovery from, the risk adjustment program depending on how its loss ratio compares to the industry wide loss ratio. To determine the amount of this risk adjustment, knowledge of industry wide performance is necessary. The NYSDFS does not share the industry loss ratio data for the current reporting year until the following year. However, the Company uses available unaudited industry information to make its best estimate of its potential payment or refund under the risk adjustment program until actual information is available.

With respect to group disability, 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, 2020. 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 related to insured events for 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, 2020 and 2019. 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 primarily comprised 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. These amounts are reported in insurance benefits, claims and reserves on the Consolidated Statements of Income. 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.

Investments

The Company classified all of its fixed maturities as available-for-sale. These investments are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported through other comprehensive income (loss). Fixed maturities available-for-sale totaled $406.6 million and $385.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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. Equity securities are carried at fair value. Realized gains and losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale and equity securities 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 fixed maturities 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. For the purpose of other-than-temporary impairment evaluations, redeemable preferred stocks are evaluated in a manner similar to debt securities.

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 or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. Goodwill associated with the Specialty Health operating segment and the Group component of the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL operating segment were tested for impairment at December 31, 2020. 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 2020 or 2019.

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 2020 or 2019.

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 in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. 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.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2019

Information by business segment for the periods indicated is as follows (in thousands):

Insurance

Benefits,

Selling,

Net

Fee and

Claims

General

December 31, 2020

Premiums

Investment

Other

and

Earned

Income

Reserves

Administrative

Total

Specialty Health

190,755

2,617

30,729

84,219

135,560

4,322

Group disability,

life, DBL and PFL

206,712

7,111

946

123,263

58,350

33,156

Individual life,

annuities and other

63

898

1,450

735

1,602

74

Corporate

-

1,151

86

-

10,285

(9,048)

Sub total

397,530

11,777

33,211

208,217

205,797

28,504

Net investment gains

1,346

Income before income taxes

29,850

Income taxes

10,732

Net income

19,118

Insurance

Benefits,

Selling,

Net

Fee and

Claims

General

December 31, 2019

Premiums

Investment

Other

and

Earned

Income

Reserves

Administrative

Total

Specialty Health

177,991

4,330

11,502

75,539

110,527

7,757

Group disability,

life, DBL and PFL

160,702

7,774

562

97,335

49,894

21,809

Individual life,

annuities and other

48

1,300

327

1,247

1,557

(1,129)

Corporate

-

2,239

3,614

-

13,001

(7,148)

Sub total

338,741

15,643

16,005

174,121

174,979

21,289

Net investment gains

4,705

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings

(646)

Income before income taxes

25,348

Income taxes

12,659

Net income

12,689

Premiums Earned

In 2020, premiums earned increased $58.8 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is primarily due to: (i) a $46.0 million increase in earned premiums from the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily as a result of a $36.0 million increase in PFL premiums due to an increase in rates, a $4.3 million increase in group term life business due to increased retention, a $5.1 million increase in the group STD/LTD lines due to new STD business and increased LTD premium volume, and $2.4 million increase in premiums from other group life business due to a relatively new product (term to 120), partially offset by a $1.8 million decrease in DBL premiums as a result of higher unemployment due to COVID-19; as well as (ii) an increase of $12.8 million in the Specialty Health segment primarily due to increases in earned premiums from the pet and STM lines of $35.8 million and $3.9 million, respectively; partially offset by decreases of $22.3 million in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line, $2.9 million in group gap, $.9 million in occupational accident business and $1.0 million in the group health modified indemnity line.

Net Investment Income

Total net investment income decreased $3.8 million primarily due to the continued decline in interest rates. The overall annualized investment yields were 2.3% and 3.0% in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Net Investment Gains (Losses) and Net Impairment Losses Recognized in Earnings

The Company had net investment gains of $1.3 million in 2020 compared to $4.7 million in 2019. These amounts include gains and losses from sales of fixed maturities available-for-sale, equity securities 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.

In 2020, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale. In 2019, the Company recognized $.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale as the Company determined that it was more likely than not that we would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.

Fee Income and Other Income

Fee income increased $10.1 million in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to an increase in the sales of insurance products (primarily senior products, ACA plans and small group stop-loss) by the IHC

Agencies for multiple unaffiliated insurance carriers. The increase in sales of these particular products began in 2020 as a result of new contracts with the unaffiliated carriers and increased distribution channels.

Other income increased $7.1 million in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. In 2020, other income includes the recognition of a $5.6 million arbitration award received. In 2019, other income included a $3.6 million pretax gain on the sale of an equity investment and $1.3 million of income from partnership investments offset by a $3.7 million impairment loss on an equity investment in Ebix Health Administration Exchange from its carried value to its estimated fair value.

Insurance Benefits, Claims and Reserves

In 2020, insurance benefits, claims and reserves increased $34.1 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is principally attributable to: (i) an increase of $26.0 million in benefits, claims and reserves in the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily as a result of a $20.0 million increase in PFL benefits to policyholders due to an increase in PFL premiums as well as a $14.3 million increase in the accrual for a potential risk adjustment payment associated with the NYSDFS risk adjustment program ($25.0 million in 2020 vs. $10.7 million in 2019), a $5.4 million increase in benefits and claims as a result of new STD cases, an increase of $3.3 million in group life business due to increased retentions and $1.0 million in the LTD line, and $3.7 million in reductions on DBL reserves primarily due to lower premium volume and premium refund reserve adjustments; and (ii) an increase of $8.7 million in the Specialty Health segment primarily due to an increase of $18.4 million in pet claims on higher premium volume; partially offset by decreases of $3.9 million in group gap on lower loss ratios and favorable prior year loss development, $3.4 million in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line due to lower premium volume partially offset by higher loss ratios and a $1.4 million unfavorable change in prior year loss development, $.9 million decrease in dental claims assumed as a result of COVID-19 and $1.0 million in the group health modified indemnity business which is in runoff.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Total selling, general and administrative expenses increased $30.8 million over the comparable period in 2019. The increase is principally due to: (i) an increase of $25.1 million in the Specialty Health line of business primarily due to increases in commissions, administrative fees and other general expenses in the STM and pet lines of business from increased premium volume, in addition to increased lead generation expenses for our senior call center, compensation and system development related expenses in our marketing and administrative companies, including the $3.7 million of expenses paid for compliance with the MCE related to our STM, limited benefit and fixed indemnity limited benefit products, partially offset by decreases in commission and administrative expenses related to decreased volume in the fixed indemnity limited benefit line; and (ii) an increase of $8.5 million in the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment primarily due to increased commission expenses and other general expenses on PFL, group term life and STD/LTD lines of business on increased premium volume; partially offset by (iii) a decrease of $2.7 million in the Corporate segment primarily due to compensation related expenses.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 36.0% in 2020 compared to 49.9% in 2019. Differences between the Federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate for 2020 is primarily a result of: (i) the reduction of estimated tax benefits of $4.5 million from the expected utilization of AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards that either expired in 2020 or are expiring in 2021; (ii) certain non-deductible expenses recorded in connection with the RSA on the MCE discussed in Note 16; reduced by (iii) state and local income tax benefits associated with non-insurance operations; and (iv) the benefit of capital losses attributable to the sale of a subsidiary in 2020. The difference between the Federal statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate in 2019 is primarily a result of the reduction of estimated tax benefits of approximately $7.9 million from the reduction in expected utilization of AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards that were expiring in 2020 and 2021.

In both years, the reduction in estimated tax benefits from the expected utilization of AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards is largely due to the reorganization of the Specialty Health segment into specialty health and pet divisions, and the expansion of our D2C and tech-enabled operations, which reduced income for each of the current years and has caused us to reduce our income expectations over the remaining period that AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset income. Accordingly, this necessitated an increase in our valuation allowance in both 2020 and 2019 to reflect our new expectations of reduced tax benefits from AMIC’s net operating loss carryforward.

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 paid cash dividends of $23.5 million and $30.0 million to Corporate in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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

Cash Flows

The Company had $74.8 million and $24.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In 2020, operating activities provided $51.4 million of cash, investment activities provided $13.1 million of cash, primarily for net sales of investment securities net of $13.7 million utilized for business acquisitions. Financing activities utilized $14.4 million of cash, of which $7.5 million was utilized for treasury stock purchases and $6.2 million for dividend payments.

On April 24, 2020, IHC commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 1 million shares of its common stock at a price per share of $27.00, net, to the seller in cash. On May 21, 2020, at the close of business, the offer expired and the Company accepted for purchase 36,377 shares of its common stock at $27.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million. The tender offer was fully funded through corporate liquidity.

The Company had $377.3 million of liabilities for future policy benefits and policy benefits and claims as of December 31, 2020 that it expects to ultimately pay out of current assets and cash flows from future business. 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. In 2020, cash received from the maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities was $133.7 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.

There were no material negative impacts on the Company’s cash flows or liquidity with regards to COVID-19 during 2020. Depending on the length and severity of the outbreak, it is possible that cash flows may be negatively impacted due to increased claim activity as a result of mandated testing and treatment coverage, as well as delayed policy payments or an increase in cancelled policies due to non- payment in the future.

BALANCE SHEET

The Company had receivables from reinsurers of $357.2 million at December 31, 2020 compared to $363.0 million at December 31, 2019. All of such reinsurance receivables are from highly rated companies or are adequately secured. No allowance for doubtful accounts was necessary at December 31, 2020.

The $10.1 million increase in IHC’s stockholders' equity in 2020 is primarily due to $18.9 million of net income attributable to IHC and $3.0 million of other comprehensive income attributable to IHC reduced by $6.5 million of common stock dividends declared and $7.5 million for treasury stock purchases.

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. The Company has gross unrealized gains of $8.3 million and gross unrealized losses of $3.0 million on its fixed maturities available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2020. All of the Company’s fixed maturities were investment grade and continue to be rated on average AA. The Company marks all of its fixed maturities available-for-sale 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. The Company did not have any non-performing fixed maturities at December 31, 2020.

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, 2020:


Bond Ratings	As Rated

AAA	16.5%
AA	59.1%
A	20.5%
BBB	3.4%

Total Investment Grade	99.5%

BB	0.5%

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) (v) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report. The Company did not record any other-than-temporary impairment losses in 2020. In 2019, the Company recognized $.6 million of other-than-temporary impairment losses on certain fixed maturities available for sale, as the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the company would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.

The following table summarizes the carrying value of securities with fair values less than 80% of their amortized cost at December 31, 2020 by the length of time the fair values of those securities were below 80% of their amortized cost (in thousands):

				Greater than		Greater than
				3 months,		6 months,
		Less than		less than		less than		Greater than
		3 months		6 months		12 months		12 months		Total

Fixed maturities	$	-	$	-	$	1,237	$	-	$	1,237

The unrealized losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale were evaluated in accordance with the Company's impairment policy and were determined to be temporary in nature at December 31, 2020. 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, imbalances in liquidity that exist in the marketplace, a worsening of the current economic recession, or 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 which may cause the Company to 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 or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. Goodwill was allocated to each reporting unit at the time of acquisition. At December 31, 2020, total goodwill was $74.9 million, of which $70.7 million was attributable to the Specialty Health segment and $4.2 million was attributable to the Group component of the Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment.

Based upon the goodwill impairment testing performed at December 31, 2020, the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and no impairment charge was required. The Specialty Health operating segment exceeded fair value by approximately 5%. The Group Component exceeded fair value by at least 10%.

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.

At December 31, 2020, our market capitalization was above the sum of our reporting units’ fair values. However, if in the future we were to experience a sustained decline in our results of operations and cash flows, or other indicators of impairment become known, 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 2020 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, 2020		Incurred in 2020

2019	$	`80,803`	$	`(13,894)`
2018		`12,539`		`(571)`
2017		`4,601`		`(116)`
2016 and Prior		`29,866`		`1,849`

Total	$	`127,809`	$	`(12,732)`

The following sections describe, for each segment, the unfavorable (favorable) development in the liability for policy benefits and claims experienced in 2020, together with the key assumptions and changes therein affecting the reserve estimates.

Specialty Health

The Specialty Health segment had a net favorable development of $4.3 million related to prior years primarily from: (i) $1.4 million of favorable development in STM business due to paid claim activity below anticipated levels as medical investigations were completed and as the reliability of claim payment patterns at a newer claim administrator emerged; (ii) $1.5 million of favorable development in occupational accident with $.7 million due from the occupational accident line in run-off and $.8 million due to the favorable development within the active block of business; and (iii) favorable development in other lines of Specialty Health business; partially offset by (iv) $1.3 million of unfavorable development in the Fixed Indemnity Limited Benefit line due to higher than expected claim severity on a small number of older policies.

DBL and PFL

DBL and PFL business has net favorable development of $3.7 million is primarily due to $2.4 million of favorable adjustments to prior year DBL premium refund reserves, in addition to better than expected DBL claims experience.

Group Disability

The Group Disability segment had a net favorable development of $1.7 million Favorable development is primarily due to a reduction in the number of open claims and a reduction in the severity of new claims, specifically, new claims in the LTD line, partially offset by an increase in the overall frequency and severity of claims in the STD line.

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.

Life, Annuities and Other

All other lines, primarily life and other individual health products and including our medical stop-loss business in run-off, experienced favorable development of $3.3 million. The favorable development is primarily related to the group term life business due to continued improvements in experience.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

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. The Company has no long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2020 or 2019.

OUTLOOK

For 2021, the Company anticipates that it will:

·Continue to invest in the growth of our pet division, which will have underwritten $112 million of premium (approximately 200,000 dogs and cats) as of December 31, 2020, which is a compound annual growth rate of 48% from 2018 to 2020. We expect to continue significant growth in 2021, in particular from our PetPartners distribution channels. The following are highlights of our pet initiatives:

·PetPartners (through its domain www.akcpetinsurance.com) has expanded its relationship with the AKC through extension of their multi-year exclusive license and a multi-year marketing agreement with respect to media outlets owned by the AKC. This relationship provides PetPartners with unique access to AKC breeders, registrants and consumers of various AKC media channels, with a particular focus on educating new pet registrants as

to the need for pet insurance.

·Pet insurance has now become a highly requested employee benefit, which has led us to make it available through worksite marketing. Independence American Insurance Company has begun filing the first group pet insurance policy designed for the worksite and employer markets. United Healthcare and MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”) (both of which currently access Independence American Insurance Company as their underwriter), and Aflac, have all announced that they will be marketing pet insurance in the worksite market. We currently have agreements in place, or are negotiating, with several insurers interested in co-branding the new Independence American Insurance Company pet product for sales to existing groups and through proven affinity distribution relationships. In order to prepare for this potentially material growth, we are making significant investments in our pet operations, technology and infrastructure to handle the expected volume, including enhancing automation of claims and customer services.

·Independence American Insurance Company will continue to act as underwriter for three well-known companies: MetLife, FIGO and Pets Best.

·We will also accelerate the generation of non-risk revenue through the pet division’s newest brand asset, TailTrax, an all-inclusive subscription-based app with Tele-Vet and other high-touch engagement features. This app will be available without charge to insureds of PetPartners. In addition, we will begin in 2021 to generate advertising and lead revenues from Petplace.com, which is one of the leading sites for veterinarian-curated pet information with one million visitors per month.

·Invest both our capital and efforts in continuing to develop a fully integrated D2C division, which will generate leads, fully service consumers on-line via automated sales platforms, service consumers both by phone and in-person with licensed agents providing products underwritten by IHC’s carriers as well as other nationally recognized insurers, and manage the consumer relationship and journey via retention and customer service teams and technology.

·Expand in-house capabilities through the “MarTech” acquisition we made in April, which will accelerate proprietary lead generation and direct to consumer growth. We have rapidly expanded our portfolio of consumer touchpoints across all of our distribution channels, including web domains (www.healthinsurance.org, www.medicareresources.org, www.healthedeals.com, www.marigoldmedicare.com, www.petplace.com, www.petpartners.com, www.akcpetinsurance.com, and www.mypetinsurance.com), call centers, field agents, and social media. This should improve our cost of sale by: (i) harnessing an in-house marketing team to drive media efficiency and effectiveness, (ii) deploying data science and artificial intelligence to improve lead quality and intent; and (iii) leveraging a proprietary lead marketplace to salvage unused leads and recoup costs.

·Continue to build on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained in the very large market for senior products by selling Medicare products underwritten by leading national insurance companies. These companies include United Healthcare, Aetna, Humana, Anthem and others. We have invested a considerable amount of capital entering this market, and with an estimated 10,000 people aging into Medicare every day, there is a significant opportunity to build a formidable footprint in this space. We have enhanced our SalesForce customer relations management platform, as well as our producer licensing, and consumer and web-based enrollment systems. We continue to build our MarTech infrastructure by developing new brands, acquiring and developing vast data assets, via automated remarketing efforts, and with advanced data analytics, all intended to allow us to generate a significant volume of high-intent consumer leads. In conjunction with continuously increasing our proficiency in efficiently generating leads, we will continue to train additional senior-focused customer care center agents for future enrollment periods. We currently have 38 licensed agents focused exclusively in the Medicare related product space, and expect this number to see a meaningful increase during enrollment

periods. As a result of COVID-19, our agents are currently deployed in a work-from-home model, and although we do expect a majority of our agents to return to our physical call centers when possible, we believe that the work-from-home model has proven to be both safe and reliable, and we expect to be able to hire experienced agents that will work within that model moving forward. This allowed us to recruit talent outside of the geographic confines of our three physical call center locations (Tampa, FL; Milwaukee, WI; St Louis Park, MN), and will help to further accelerate what we believe will be meaningful growth in this line of business. In addition, Independence American Insurance Company has launched its Medicare Supplement product in twenty-nine states, although we do not anticipate substantial sales in the next Annual Enrollment Period (“AEP”) as agents are primarily focused on selling Medicare Advantage at this time.

·Increasingly emphasize sales by IHC Agencies of policies underwritten by non-affiliated carriers, including small group stop-loss, ACA plans and Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans; for which, they will receive commissions and fees for selling these products and will not bear any of the insurance risk. When they sell products for these other carriers, the IHC Agencies will record revenue based on estimated constrained LTV representing the expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of the policies sold. As these products generally renew for multiple years, and the IHC Agencies do not have any future performance obligations with regards to the renewal process, they will record revenue at the time of sale based on our expected policy duration. Therefore, due to the change in focus to sales of unaffiliated carrier products in 2020, particularly during AEP, we experienced an increase in commission revenues in the fourth quarter of 2020 and we expect to continue to focus on sales from unaffiliated carriers in the coming year. When we do sell our products instead of ACA, we are focusing on our “cover me to open enrollment” Short-Term Medical product, which provides coverage from the day of sale to January 1st of the following year. This allows insureds the option of moving to an ACA plan during an open enrollment period without having to pay for days of coverage they don’t need.

·Grow the number of agents using our wholly owned Web Broker, INSX Cloud, to do individual ACA enrollments. When agents utilize the INSX Cloud for enrollments we earn fee income and commission. Additionally, we have specialty health plans on the site that can be enrolled at the same time as the ACA plans which earn underwriting profit for IHC carriers and in certain instances a commission override for the agency.

·Continue to increase our DBL/PFL premiums. Effective January 1, 2018, Standard Security Life began selling a new PFL rider as part of our New York DBL policies. This is a result of New York State requiring employers to provide PFL, which would cover job-protected paid leave to care for a new child or sick family member or to assist when someone is called to active military service. The NYSDFS increased the PFL premium rate by 76% for 2020, and further increased the rate by 89% for 2021.

·Achieve increases in both long-term and short-term disability premiums generated from new distribution relationships.

·Accomplish increases in life and disability premium by developing additional strategic functional and distribution partnerships, broaden worksite portfolio, and enhance Business to Business and Business to Consumer website functionality.

·Continue to evaluate strategic transactions. We plan to deploy some of our cash to make additional investments and acquisitions that will bolster existing or new lines of business.

·Continue to focus on administrative efficiencies.

·Continue to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak as it evolves. The duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain, we currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact

to our business, results of operations or financial condition in 2021. During these unprecedented times of uncertainty and high unemployment surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have fully transitioned our existing sales teams to work from home. Our customer facing agents have transitioned to a full-time work at home model, and although we have implemented enhanced technology solutions, sales may be impacted as COVID-19 continues to develop.

We are well positioned for changes to the healthcare market brought by the Biden Administration. It is expected that the administration will work to expand the ACA by increasing the availability of Advance Premium Tax Credits (a.k.a. subsidies) to more Americans and by lowering the cost paid by many consumers by increasing subsidy amounts. The expectation that the Biden Administration will be more favorable to the individual ACA market is expected to encourage more issuers to enter the market.

Our agencies, including My1HR, will be able to take advantage of the expected growth in this market. The agencies are contracted with many ACA carriers and can quickly scale to add additional issuers. My1HR should see increased revenue as more agents engage in the ACA market. We also are investing in a platform designed to administer Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (“ICHRAs”), a funding mechanism that allows employers to pay for their employee’s individual ACA plans with pre-tax dollars.

Subject to making additional repurchases, acquisitions and investments, the Company will remain highly liquid as a result of the continuing shorter duration of the investment portfolio. The short 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 increased rate review scrutiny to effect timely rate changes and will need to stay focused on the management of medical cost drivers in the event medical trend levels cause margin pressures. 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

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 58.

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.

With the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.

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 CEO and the 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, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as amended) were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management identified no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting other than the remediation of the material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting for income taxes as noted above.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE

GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement relating to IHC’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which definitive proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Our written Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Code of Conduct may be found on our website, www.ihcgroup.com, under the Corporate Information / Corporate Governance tabs. Both Codes apply to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and our senior

financial officers. Any amendment to or waiver from either of the Codes will be posted to the same location on our website, to the extent such disclosure is legally required.

ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND

MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV

ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) (1) and (2)

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 58.

(a) (3) EXHIBITS

See Exhibit Index on page 120.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on March 16, 2021.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

REGISTRANT

By:/s/ Roy T. K. Thung

Roy T.K. Thung

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

By:/s/ Teresa A. Herbert

Teresa A. Herbert

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated as of the 16th day of March, 2021.

/s/ Larry R. Graber	/s/ Steven B. Lapin
Larry R. Graber	Steven B. Lapin
Director and Senior Vice President	Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

/s/ Allan C. Kirkman	/s/ Ronald I. Simon
Allan C. Kirkman	Ronald I. Simon
Director	Director

/s/ John L. Lahey	/s/ James G. Tatum
John L. Lahey	James G. Tatum
Director	Director

/s/ Roy T.K. Thung	/s/ David T. Kettig
Roy T.K. Thung	David T. Kettig
Chairman of the Board of Directors and	Director, President and Chief Operating Officer
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Teresa A. Herbert
Teresa A. Herbert
Director, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

				PAGE

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm				59

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Consolidated Balance Sheets				64

Consolidated Statements of Income				65

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)				66

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity				67

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows				68

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements				69

SCHEDULES:*

Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties (Schedule I)				114

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company (Schedule II)				115

Supplementary Insurance Information (Schedule III)				118

Supplemental Schedule of Reinsurance (Schedule IV)				119

*All other schedules have been omitted as they are not applicable or not required, or the information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Independence Holding Company

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Independence Holding Company and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and schedules (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013, and our report dated March 16, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Policy benefits and claims and Future policy benefits

As described in Notes 1 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company maintains loss reserves to cover its estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for reported and unreported claims and liabilities related to insured events for the Company’s insurance contracts, which totaled $377 million as of December 31, 2020. These loss reserves are based on actuarial assumptions and

take into account many factors, including the 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, changes in doctrines of legal liability and damage awards in litigation. 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. 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.

We identified estimation of the reserve for policy benefits and claims and future policy benefits as a critical audit matter because auditing the matter required a high degree of auditor judgment and increased audit effort to evaluate management’s conclusions regarding the reasonableness of the assumptions and factors used in the calculation and presentation of insurance loss reserves.

Our audit procedures related to the estimation and reasonableness of the recorded insurance reserves included the following, among others:

·We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls over the Company’s claims process and the Company’s process for setting reserves for policy benefits and claims and future policy benefits on known reported and unreported claims of insured losses, including the completeness and accuracy of data used in the process, and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness.

·With the assistance of an actuarial specialist, we evaluated the reasonableness of the methodology, assumptions and data used in the Company’s estimate by:

oComparing reserving techniques and processes used to recognized actuarial practices for the industry;

oEvaluating historical data, including changes and trends in the data and development of prior reserve estimates; and

oTesting on a sample basis, the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data to supporting documentation and testing the mathematical accuracy of the calculations.

Goodwill

As described in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has goodwill recorded on the balance sheet totaling $75 million as of December 31, 2020, of which $71 million is allocated to the Company’s Specialty Health segment and $4 million is allocated to the Company’s Group disability, life, DBL and PFL segment. Goodwill carrying amounts are evaluated for impairment, at least annually on December 31 each year, at the reporting unit level that is equivalent to an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. 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. Management’s process for determining the fair value of each reporting unit is based on an income approach, applying a discounted cash flow method that includes a residual value. Based on historical experience, management makes assumptions as to: (i) expected future performance 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 incorporates an appropriate risk level for the reporting unit.

We identified the goodwill impairment assessment of the Company as a critical audit matter because auditing the matter required a high degree of auditor judgment and increased audit effort to evaluate management’s conclusions regarding the reasonableness of the assumptions and factors used in the determination of the fair value of the reporting units.

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of goodwill impairment included the following, among others:

·We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls over the Company’s determination of reporting units and goodwill impairment evaluation process, and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness.

·We obtained an understanding of the Company’s process for determining the fair value of the reporting units, including the completeness and accuracy of data used in the process,

·We evaluated the Company’s inputs and assumptions for accuracy and reasonableness, including the expected future performance, projected operating earnings, and projected new business and related profit margins, including consideration of sales and retention rates of policies sold.

·We utilized valuation specialists to evaluate the appropriateness of valuation methodologies and inputs, including the discount rate utilized, and the overall reasonableness of the fair value of the reporting units.

/s/ RSM US LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.

Jacksonville, Florida

March 16, 2021

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Independence Holding Company

Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Independence Holding Company's (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and our report dated March 16, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion..

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. 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.

/s/ RSM US LLP

Jacksonville, FL

March 16, 2021

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share data)
DECEMBER 31,

		2020		2019

ASSETS:
Investments:
Short-term investments	$	`2,634`	$	`50`
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		`49,990`		`107,157`
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		`406,649`		`384,974`
Equity securities		`6,119`		`3,747`
Other investments		`8,238`		`15,208`
Total investments		`473,630`		`511,136`

Cash and cash equivalents		`72,089`		`21,094`
Due and unpaid premiums		`29,182`		`26,244`
Due from reinsurers		`357,205`		`362,969`
Goodwill		`74,900`		`60,165`
Other assets		`76,150`		`72,695`

TOTAL ASSETS	$	`1,083,156`	$	`1,054,303`

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
LIABILITIES:
Policy benefits and claims	$	`179,232`	$	`164,802`
Future policy benefits		`198,086`		`201,205`
Funds on deposit		`141,376`		`140,951`
Unearned premiums		`12,789`		`7,282`
Other policyholders' funds		`12,001`		`12,049`
Due to reinsurers		`3,872`		`5,016`
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities		`63,682`		`61,049`

TOTAL LIABILITIES		`611,038`		`592,354`

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		`2,312`		`2,237`

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 100,000 shares authorized;
none issued or outstanding		`-`		`-`
Common stock $1.00 par value, 23,000,000 shares authorized;
18,625,458 shares issued; and 14,643,047 and
14,864,941 shares outstanding		`18,625`		`18,625`
Paid-in capital		`124,757`		`122,717`
Accumulated other comprehensive income		`4,197`		`1,212`
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,982,411 and 3,760,517 shares		`(77,088)`		`(69,724)`
Retained earnings		`399,273`		`386,864`

TOTAL IHC STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		`469,764`		`459,694`
NONREDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS		`42`		`18`

TOTAL EQUITY		`469,806`		`459,712`

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	`1,083,156`	$	`1,054,303`

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share data)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
		2020		2019
REVENUES:
Premiums earned	$	`397,530`	$	`338,741`
Net investment income		`11,777`		`15,643`
Fee income		`24,137`		`14,003`
Other income		`9,074`		`2,002`
Net investment gains		`1,346`		`4,705`
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, available-for-sale securities:
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses		`-`		`(646)`
Portion of losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)		`-`		`-`
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		`-`		`(646)`

		`443,864`		`374,448`

EXPENSES:
Insurance benefits, claims and reserves		`208,217`		`174,121`
Selling, general and administrative expenses		`205,797`		`174,979`

		`414,014`		`349,100`

Income before income taxes		`29,850`		`25,348`
Income taxes		`10,732`		`12,659`

Net income		`19,118`		`12,689`
(Income) from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests		`(28)`		`(119)`
(Income) from redeemable noncontrolling interests		`(209)`		`(174)`

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC	$	`18,881`	$	`12,396`

Basic income per common share	$	`1.28`	$	`0.83`

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING		`14,733`		`14,903`

Diluted income per common share	$	`1.28`	$	`0.83`

WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING		`14,791`		`14,976`

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
		2020		2019

Net income	$	`19,118`	$	`12,689`
Other comprehensive income:
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, pre-tax		`3,793`		`12,070`
Tax expense on unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities		`808`		`2,548`
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes		`2,985`		`9,522`

Other comprehensive income, net of tax		`2,985`		`9,522`

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX		`22,103`		`22,211`

Comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests
(Income) from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		`(237)`		`(293)`
Other comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests		`-`		`-`

COMPREHENSIVE (INCOME), NET OF TAX,
ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS		`(237)`		`(293)`

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX,
ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC	$	`21,866`	$	`21,918`

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (In thousands, except share data)

ACCUMULATED

NONREDEEMABLE

OTHER

TOTAL IHC

NONCONTROLLING

COMMON STOCK

PAID-IN

COMPREHENSIVE

TREASURY STOCK, AT COST

RETAINED

STOCKHOLDERS'

INTERESTS IN

TOTAL

SHARES

AMOUNT

CAPITAL

INCOME (LOSS)

SHARES

AMOUNT

EARNINGS

EQUITY

SUBSIDIARIES

EQUITY

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2018

18,625,458

18,625

124,395

(8,310)

(3,747,210)

(66,392)

380,431

448,749

2,682

451,431

Net income

12,396

119

12,515

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

9,522

-

9,522

Repurchases of common stock

(108,646)

(4,051)

-

(4,051)

Purchase noncontrolling interests

(1,033)

(2,380)

(3,413)

Common stock dividends ($0.40 per share)

(5,963)

-

(5,963)

Share-based compensation

(614)

95,339

719

105

-

105

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

-

(403)

Other

(31)

-

(31)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2019

18,625,458

18,625

122,717

1,212

(3,760,517)

(69,724)

386,864

459,694

18

459,712

Net income

18,881

28

18,909

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

2,985

-

2,985

Repurchases of common stock

(244,487)

(7,534)

-

(7,534)

Common stock dividends ($0.44 per share)

(6,472)

-

(6,472)

Share-based compensation

2,040

22,593

170

2,210

-

2,210

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

-

(4)

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2020

18,625,458

18,625

124,757

4,197

(3,982,411)

(77,088)

399,273

469,764

42

469,806

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
		2020		2019
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	`19,118`	$	`12,689`
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net change in cash from
operating activities:
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		`1,160`		`1,036`
Net amortization of purchased premium and discount in net investment income		`4,840`		`3,631`
Net investment (gains) losses		`(1,346)`		`(4,705)`
Gain on sale of investment		`-`		`(3,589)`
Other than-temporary-impairment losses, debt securities available-for-sale		`-`		`646`
Impairment losses on equity method and other investments		`-`		`3,562`
Provision for losses on notes receivable		`-`		`4,185`
Depreciation and amortization		`4,621`		`3,198`
Deferred tax expense		`3,938`		`7,432`
Other		`4,468`		`3,326`
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Change in insurance liabilities		`16,631`		`2,111`
Change in amounts due from reinsurers		`5,764`		`5,762`
Change in claim fund balances		`1,085`		`1,393`
Change in current income tax liability		`4,092`		`2,285`
Change in due and unpaid premiums		`(2,938)`		`(1,832)`
Change in contract assets		`(7,847)`		`-`
Other operating activities		`(2,164)`		`(1,956)`

Net change in cash from operating activities		`51,422`		`39,174`

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Net (purchases) sales and maturities of short-term investments		`(2,570)`		`1,000`
Net (purchases) sales of securities under resale agreements		`57,167`		`(95,094)`
Sales of equity securities		`-`		`2,018`
Purchases of equity securities		`(1,786)`		`-`
Sales of fixed maturities		`39,388`		`161,239`
Maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities		`133,721`		`86,460`
Purchases of fixed maturities		`(194,314)`		`(168,540)`
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired		`(13,707)`		`(7,952)`
Proceeds from sales, distributions and returns of capital from investments		`87`		`5,223`
Payments to acquire other investments		`(1,250)`		`(8,000)`
Other investing activities		`(3,620)`		`(3,491)`

Net change in cash from investing activities		`13,116`		`(27,137)`

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchases of common stock		`(7,534)`		`(4,057)`
Withdrawals of investment-type insurance contracts		`(580)`		`(1,575)`
Dividends paid		`(6,222)`		`(5,231)`
Purchase of noncontrolling interest		`-`		`(4,700)`
Proceeds from stock options exercised		`179`		`269`
Payments related to tax withholdings for share-based compensation		`(81)`		`(2,397)`
Other financing activities		`(138)`		`(522)`

Net change in cash from financing activities		`(14,376)`		`(18,213)`

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		`50,162`		`(6,176)`
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year		`24,631`		`30,807`

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	`74,793`	$	`24,631`

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

(A)Business and Organization

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“IHC”), is a holding company principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life, Madison National Life, and Independence American Insurance Company; and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, consisting of IHCSB, IBG, My1HR, and a majority interest in PetPartners (collectively, the “IHC Agencies”) and its lead generation company, Torchlight. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company 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”.

Geneve Corporation, a financial holding company, and its affiliated entities, held approximately 62% of IHC's outstanding common stock at December 31, 2020.

(B) Consolidation

In June 2020, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $158,000 on the sale of a wholly owned subsidiary, Cook & Company Insurance Services, Inc., that is included in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

In May 2019, IHC purchased the remaining issued and outstanding units of HIO from noncontrolling interests for total consideration valued at $4,700,000, making HIO a wholly owned subsidiary. The carrying value of the noncontrolling interest on the transaction date was $2,380,000. As a result of the equity transaction, $1,033,000 was charged to paid-in capital representing the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the carrying amount of noncontrolling interest on the transaction date, net of a deferred tax benefit.

(C)Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP and include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global health pandemic and the United States declared a national health emergency. COVID-19 has led to large scale disruption in the global economy, market instability and widespread unemployment in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak is a fluid situation and as it evolves, the duration of COVID-19 and its potential effects on our business cannot be certain. Regulatory mandates have affected, and we anticipate will continue to impact, the insurance industry. We currently cannot predict if there will be a material impact to our business, results of operations or financial condition in future reporting periods. Consequently, future changes in market conditions may impact estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements associated with evaluations of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, estimates associated with the determination of valuation allowances related to net operating loss carryforwards, and estimates

of certain losses under insurance contracts. These estimates may all be subject to substantial adjustments in future periods. In addition, volatile market conditions may result in further declines in the fair value of our investment portfolio and possible impairments of certain securities.

(D)Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the 2020 presentation.

(E)Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value, and include principally interest-bearing deposits at brokers, money market instruments and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities of less than 91 days. Investments with original maturities of 91 days to one year are considered short-term investments and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

(F)Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell ("resale agreements") are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold as specified in the agreements. Resale agreements are utilized to invest excess funds on a short-term basis. At December 31, 2020, the Company had $49,990,000 invested in resale agreements, all of which settled on January 4, 2020 and were subsequently reinvested. The Company maintains control of securities that are purchased under resale agreements in a triparty account. The third-party agent, acting on behalf of the Company, values the collateral on a daily basis (102% is required) and obtains additional collateral, if necessary, to protect the Company in the event of default by the counterparties.

(G)Investment Securities

(i) Investments in fixed maturities, redeemable preferred securities and equity securities are accounted for as follows:

(a) Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are carried at estimated fair value ("fair value"). Changes in fair value are credited or charged, as appropriate, to net investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(b) Fixed maturities, including redeemable preferred securities, that are not held for trading purposes and may or may not be held to maturity ("available-for-sale securities") are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses deemed temporary, net of deferred income taxes, are credited or charged, as appropriate, to other comprehensive income or loss. 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.

(ii) Dividend income from investments in equity securities are included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(iii) Gains or losses on sales of securities are determined on the basis of specific identification and are recorded in net investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Income on the trade date.

(iv) 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.

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.

(v) 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.

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. For the purpose of other-than-temporary impairment evaluations, redeemable preferred stocks are evaluated in a manner similar to debt securities.

Subsequent increases and decreases, if not an other-than-temporary impairment, in the fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale that were previously impaired, are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

In certain circumstances, due to cash flow requirements, market conditions or changes in the condition of a specific security, the Company may deem it prudent to sell a security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis.

(H)Other Investments

Other investments primarily include equity investments without readily determinable fair values which are carried at their cost minus impairment, if any. Impairment indicators the Company may consider in its evaluation of whether an impairment exists include, but are not limited to: (i) significant deterioration in earnings or performance of the investee; (ii) significant adverse changes in market, regulatory or economic conditions; (iii) a bona fide offer to purchase, or an offer by the investee to sell, for an amount less than the carrying amount of the investment; and (iv) factors that raise concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern. Dividends received from equity investments carried at cost are recognized in earnings.

Other investments also consist of limited partnership interests carried on the equity method, which approximates the Company's equity in the underlying net assets of the partnership. Equity income or loss on partnership interests is credited or charged, as appropriate, to the Consolidated Statements of Income. Decreases in investment values are evaluated to determine if factors indicate the decrease is other than temporary. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but is not limited to, the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. Impairment losses on equity method investments are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period when evidence indicates a decrease in the value of the investment has occurred that is other than temporary.

(I)Property and Equipment

Property and equipment of $7,640,000 and $7,582,000 are included in other assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $9,084,000 and $6,689,000, respectively.

Improvements are capitalized while repair and maintenance costs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation of property and equipment has been provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements has been provided on the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. Any impairment of long-lived assets would be charged to expense. The Company had no impairments of long-lived assets in either 2020 or 2019.

(J)Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill carrying amounts are evaluated for impairment, at least annually on December 31 each year, at the reporting unit level that is equivalent to an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. 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.

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.

(K)Insurance Liabilities

Policy Benefits and Claims

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. 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.

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.

Specialty Health

For the Specialty Health business, IBNR claims liabilities plus expected development on reported claims are calculated using standard actuarial methods and practices. The “primary” assumption in the determination of Specialty Health reserves is that historical Claim Development Patterns are representative of future Claim Development Patterns. Factors that may affect this assumption include changes in claim payment processing times and procedures, changes in time delay in submission of claims, and the incidence of unusually large claims. Liabilities for policy benefits and claims for specialty health medical and disability coverage are computed using completion factors and expected Net Loss Ratios derived from actual historical premium and claim data. 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 not material. The Company has business that is serviced by third-party administrators. From time to time, there are changes in the timing of claims processing due to any number of factors including, but not limited to, system conversions and staffing changes during the year. These changes are monitored by the Company and the effects of these changes are taken into consideration during the claim reserving process. Other than these considerations, there have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year.

claims which may take longer to adjudicate, changes in billing patterns by providers and changes in claim management practices such as hospital bill audits.

Disability and Paid Family Leave

The Company’s disability business is primarily comprised of New York short-term disability (“DBL”) and group disability.

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 pricing assumptions 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. With respect to PFL, policy benefits and claims associated with the premiums earned are established using a completion factor methodology. As this is the third year of this product, the completion factors used were based on the PFL payment patterns developed during 2018, 2019 and 2020. Since the NYSDFS established a risk adjustment program, the Company is required to record in its financial statements an accrual for a potential payment to, or recovery from, the risk adjustment program depending on how its loss ratio compares to the industry wide loss ratio. To determine the amount of this risk adjustment, knowledge of industry wide performance is necessary. The NYSDFS does not share the industry loss ratio data for the current reporting year until the following year. However, the Company uses available unaudited industry information to make its best estimate of its potential payment or refund under the risk adjustment program until actual information is available.

Policy benefits and claims for the Company’s group disability products are developed using actuarial principles and assumptions that consider, among other things, future offsets and recoveries, elimination periods, interest rates, probability of rehabilitation or mortality, incidence and termination rates based on the Company’s experience. The liability for policy benefits and claims is made up of case reserves, IBNR and reopen reserves and LAE. IBNR and reopen reserves are calculated by a hind-sight study, which takes historical experience and develops the reserve as a percentage of premiums from prior years.

The two “primary” assumptions on which group disability reserves 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.

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 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. There have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year.

Future Policy Benefits

The liability for future policy benefits consists of the liabilities related to insured events for 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 future policy benefits. 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, 2020. Changes in the Company's future policy benefits estimates are recorded through a charge or credit to its earnings.

Funds on Deposit

Funds received (net of mortality and expense charges) for certain long-duration contracts (principally deferred annuities and universal life policies) are credited directly to a policyholder liability account, funds on deposit. Withdrawals are recorded directly as a reduction of respective policyholders' funds on deposit. Amounts on deposit were credited at annual rates ranging from 3.0% to 6.0% in both 2020 and 2019.

Other Policyholders’ Funds

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

(L)Deferred Income Taxes

The Company uses a portfolio approach to release income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The portfolio approach involves a strict period-by-period cumulative incremental allocation of income taxes to the change in unrealized gains and losses reflected in other comprehensive income. Under this approach, the net cumulative tax effect is ignored. The net change in unrealized gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income under this approach would be eliminated only on the date the entire inventory of available-for-sale securities is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Interest and penalties, if any, are included in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(M)Reinsurance

Amounts paid for or recoverable under reinsurance contracts are included in total assets or total liabilities as due from reinsurers or due to reinsurers. The cost of reinsurance related to long-duration contracts is accounted for over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies.

(N)Insurance Premium Revenue Recognition and Policy Charges

Premiums from 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. Revenue from these products are recognized as premium 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 for 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.

(O)Fee Income Revenue Recognition

The Company utilizes the following five-step approach to recognize revenue from contracts with customers:

(1)identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;

(2)identification of the performance obligation in the contract;

(3)determination of the transaction price;

(4)allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

(5)recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation.

Commission revenues result from the sales of certain policies by the IHC Agencies on behalf of multiple unaffiliated insurance carriers. The Company has identified the unaffiliated insurance carriers as its customers. Increased sales of products to these unaffiliated insurance carriers began in 2020 as a result of new contracts with the carriers and increased distribution channels. A significant portion of our

commission revenues are recorded at a point in time based on expected constrained LTV that represent expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of the policies sold. These policies primarily consist of senior products, such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement plans, as well as ACA plans and small group stop-loss. Commission rates are agreed to in advance with the relevant insurance carrier and vary by carrier and policy type. Other commission revenues are recorded over a period of time commensurate with the performance of certain policy retention and renewal services.

Constrained LTV commissions are recorded at a point in time upon the issuance of a policy by the unaffiliated insurance carrier. It is at this point the performance obligation is considered satisfied. No significant additional performance obligation occurs with renewal of the initial policy. IHC records substantially all of the anticipated revenue from these policies on this date, adjusted for certain expected constraints. Various factors are analyzed to estimate the constrained LTV commissions. These include, but are not limited to, commission rates, carrier mix, contract amendments and terminations, estimated average plan durations, cancellations and non-renewals. After our initial estimates and constraints are made, the Company reassesses its estimates and constraints at the end of each reporting period. We recognize any material impact of changes to commission revenue in the period when the changes are made to the assumptions we use to calculate constrained LTV or previously estimated constrained LTV already recognized as revenue.

Revenues for the use of our INSX cloud-based enrollment platform are recognized over time. This platform enables brokers and agents to quote and enroll consumers in ACA plans as well as ancillary health products. In this case, the independent brokers and agents are the customers and they are charged a monthly fee for the right to use the hosted cloud software. Amounts received in advance (annual or quarterly) are recorded as deferred revenues and recognized in income over the life of the contract.

IHC Agencies also earn fees from policyholders for: (i) the convenience of paying for pet premiums in installments or by credit card; and (ii) the submission of online application or enrollment forms for various products. These fees are earned, and simultaneously received, from the policyholder/applicant at the point in time premium payments are made or online applications/enrollments are submitted.

(P)Income Per Common Share

Income per common share is computed using the treasury stock method.

(Q)Share-Based Compensation

Compensation costs for equity awards, such as stock options and non-vested restricted stock, are measured based on grant-date fair value and are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the requisite service period (which is usually the vesting period). For such awards with only service conditions, the Company recognizes the compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.

Compensation costs for liability-classified awards, such as share appreciation rights (“SARs”), are measured and accrued each reporting period in the Consolidated Statements of Income as the requisite service or performance conditions are met.

(R)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In October 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance for determining whether a decision making fee is a variable interest and requires reporting entities to consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportional basis rather than as the equivalent of a direct interest. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to financial statements regarding fair value measurements. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating Step 2 in the goodwill impairment test. Instead, under the amendments in this guidance, an entity should perform its annual or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In October 2020, the FASB issued guidance to clarify that when determining the premium amortization period on purchased callable debt securities, an entity should reevaluate callable debt securities that have multiple call dates each reporting period. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities related to changes in ownership of equity method investments and foreign subsidiaries. The guidance also simplifies aspects of accounting for franchise taxes, the requirement to allocate current and deferred tax expense to legal entities not subject to tax in its separate financial statements, enacted changes in tax laws or rates, and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The amendments in this guidance are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim

periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve existing measurements, presentation and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by insurance entities. The amendments in this guidance requires an entity to (1) review and update assumptions used to measure cash flows at least annually as well as update the discount rate assumption at each reporting date; (2) measure market risk benefits associated with deposit contracts at fair value; (3) disclose liability rollforwards and information about significant inputs, judgements assumptions, and methods used in measurement. Additionally, it simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other balances on a constant level basis over the expected term of the related contracts. In 2020, the FASB delayed the effective dates. For smaller reporting companies, the amendments in this guidance are now effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025. Upon adoption, the amendments in this guidance should be applied to contracts in-force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented with a cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected with changes in the allowance recorded in earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than the currently applied U.S. GAAP method of taking a permanent impairment of the security, which would be limited to the amount by which fair value is below the amortized cost. Certain existing requirements used to evaluate credit losses have been removed. In 2019, the FASB provided transition relief by providing entities with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option on an instrument-by-instrument basis for eligible instruments upon adoption and delayed the original effective dates. For smaller reporting companies, the amendments in this guidance are now effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this guidance should be applied through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 2.Income Per Common Share

Included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are 58,000 and 73,000 of incremental common shares, respectively, primarily from the dilutive effect of share-based payment awards.

Note 3.Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amounts shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		December 31,
		2020		2019

Cash and cash equivalents	$	`72,089`	$	`21,094`
Restricted cash included in other assets		`2,704`		`3,537`

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	`74,793`	$	`24,631`

Restricted cash includes insurance premiums collected from insureds that are pending remittance to insurance carriers and/or payment of insurance claims and commissions to third party administrators. These amounts are required to be set aside by contractual agreements with the insurance carriers and are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 4.Investment Securities

The cost (amortized cost with respect to certain fixed maturities), gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		December 31, 2020
				GROSS		GROSS
		AMORTIZED		UNREALIZED		UNREALIZED		FAIR
		COST		GAINS		LOSSES		VALUE

FIXED MATURITIES
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE:
Corporate securities	$	`175,541`	$	`3,735`	$	`(2,113)`	$	`177,163`
CMOs – residential (1)		`5,215`		`242`		`(2)`		`5,455`
U.S. Government obligations		`50,332`		`830`		`-`		`51,162`
Agency MBS – residential (2)		`39`		`-`		`(5)`		`34`
GSEs (3)		`5,852`		`-`		`(155)`		`5,697`
States and political subdivisions		`159,421`		`3,230`		`(691)`		`161,960`
Foreign government obligations		`4,907`		`271`		`-`		`5,178`

Total fixed maturities	$	`401,307`	$	`8,308`	$	`(2,966)`	$	`406,649`

		December 31, 2019
				GROSS		GROSS
		AMORTIZED		UNREALIZED		UNREALIZED		FAIR
		COST		GAINS		LOSSES		VALUE

FIXED MATURITIES
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE:
Corporate securities	$	`161,369`	$	`1,832`	$	`(1,178)`	$	`162,023`
CMOs – residential (1)		`5,328`		`54`		`-`		`5,382`
U.S. Government obligations		`50,340`		`257`		`(48)`		`50,549`
GSEs (3)		`6,230`		`-`		`(107)`		`6,123`
States and political subdivisions		`153,439`		`1,512`		`(943)`		`154,008`
Foreign government obligations		`6,719`		`172`		`(2)`		`6,889`

Total fixed maturities	$	`383,425`	$	`3,827`	$	`(2,278)`	$	`384,974`

(1)Collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

(2) Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”).

(3)Government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) are private enterprises established and chartered by the Federal Government or its various insurance and lease programs which carry the full faith and credit obligation of the U.S. Government.

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale at December 31, 2020, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

		AMORTIZED		FAIR
		COST		VALUE

Due in one year or less	$	46,640	$	47,037
Due after one year through five years		187,907		192,758
Due after five years through ten years		84,131		84,900
Due after ten years		71,532		70,768
Fixed maturities with no single maturity date		11,097		11,186

	$	401,307	$	406,649

The following tables summarize, for all fixed maturities available-for-sale in an unrealized loss position, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities that have continuously been in an unrealized loss position for the periods indicated (in thousands):

December 31, 2020

Less than 12 Months

12 Months or Longer

Total

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Value

Losses

Value

Losses

Value

Losses

Corporate securities

47,369

719

12,073

1,394

59,442

2,113

CMOs-residential

748

2

-

748

2

Agency MBS - residential

34

5

-

5

GSEs

-

5,693

155

5,693

155

States and political subdivisions

35,555

254

8,681

437

44,236

691

Fixed maturities in an

unrealized loss position

83,706

980

26,447

1,986

110,153

2,966

Number of fixed maturities in an

unrealized loss position

		December 31, 2019

		Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Longer				Total

		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
		Value		Losses		Value		Losses		Value		Losses

Corporate securities	$	18,151	$	`455`	$	32,301	$	`723`	$	50,452	$	`1,178`
U.S. Government obligations		-		`-`		7,167		`48`		7,167		`48`
GSEs		-		`-`		6,173		`107`		6,173		`107`
States and political subdivisions		29,872		`114`		29,462		`829`		59,334		`943`
Foreign government obligations		-		`-`		1,603		`2`		1,603		`2`

Fixed maturities in an
unrealized loss position	$	48,023	$	`569`	$	76,706	$	`1,709`	$	124,729	$	`2,278`

Number of fixed maturities in an
unrealized loss position		18				43				61

Substantially all of the unrealized losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale at December 31, 2020 and 2019 relate to investment grade securities. Management does not intend to sell, and it is likely that management will not be required to sell these securities prior to their anticipated recovery. The unrealized losses on the Company's fixed maturity securities are related to general market changes in interest rates, and/or the levels of credit spreads largely due to current market conditions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic rather than specific concerns with the issuer's ability to pay interest and repay principal. We have evaluated each corporate security’s credit rating as well as industry risk factors associated with the securities. The fair value of these securities is expected to recover as they approach maturity and therefore the Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2020.

The following table summarizes the Company’s net investment income for the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Fixed maturities	$	`11,106`	$	`14,128`
Equity securities		`146`		`386`
Cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments		`465`		`1,004`
Other		`154`		`239`

Investment income, gross		`11,871`		`15,757`
Investment expenses		`(94)`		`(114)`

Net investment income	$	`11,777`	$	`15,643`

Net investment gains (losses) are as follows for years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Realized gains (losses):
Fixed maturities available-for-sale	$	`742`	$	`4,105`
Equity securities		`-`		`(13)`

Total realized gains (losses) on debt and equity securities		`742`		`4,092`
Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities		`586`		`613`

Gains (losses) on debt and equity securities		`1,328`		`4,705`
Gains (losses) on other investments		`18`		`-`

Net investment gains (losses)	$	`1,346`	$	`4,705`

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company realized gross gains of $1,376,000 and $5,144,000, respectively, and gross losses of $634,000 and $1,039,000, respectively, from sales, maturities and prepayments of fixed maturities available-for-sale.

We recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale in earnings in the period that we determine: 1) we intend to sell the security; 2) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; or 3) the security has a credit loss. Any non-credit portion of the other-than-temporary impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). The Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairments on available for sale securities in 2020. In 2019, the Company recognized other-than-temporary impairment losses of $646,000 on certain fixed maturities available-for-sale as the Company determined that it was more likely than not that we would sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.

Note 5.Fair Value Disclosures

For all financial and non-financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company utilizes valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market expectations. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 - Instruments where significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following section describes the valuation methodologies we use to measure different assets and liabilities at fair value.

Fixed maturities available-for-sale:

Fixed maturities available-for-sale included in Level 2 are comprised of our portfolio of government securities, agency mortgage-backed securities, corporate fixed income securities, foreign government obligations, collateralized mortgage obligations, municipals and GSEs that were priced with observable market inputs. Level 3 debt securities consist of municipal tax credit strips. The valuation method used to determine the fair value of municipal tax credit strips is the present value of the remaining

future tax credits (at the original issue discount rate) as presented in the redemption tables in the Municipal Prospectuses. This original issue discount is accreted into income on a constant yield basis over the term of the debt instrument. Further, we retain independent pricing vendors to assist in valuing certain instruments.

Equity securities:

Equity securities included in Level 1 are equity securities with quoted market prices.

The following tables present our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		December 31, 2020
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

FINANCIAL ASSETS:
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
Corporate securities	$	`-`	$	`177,163`	$	`-`	$	`177,163`
CMOs - residential		`-`		`5,455`		`-`		`5,455`
US Government obligations		`-`		`51,162`		`-`		`51,162`
Agency MBS - residential				`34`				`34`
GSEs		`-`		`5,697`		`-`		`5,697`
States and political subdivisions		`-`		`160,625`		`1,335`		`161,960`
Foreign government obligations		`-`		`5,178`		`-`		`5,178`
Total fixed maturities		`-`		`405,314`		`1,335`		`406,649`

Equity securities:
Common stocks		`3,411`		`-`		`-`		`3,411`
Nonredeemable preferred stocks		`2,708`		`-`		`-`		`2,708`
Total equity securities		`6,119`		`-`		`-`		`6,119`

Total Financial Assets	$	`6,119`	$	`405,314`	$	`1,335`	$	`412,768`

		December 31, 2019
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

FINANCIAL ASSETS:
Fixed maturities available-for-sale:
Corporate securities	$	`-`	$	`162,023`	$	`-`	$	`162,023`
CMOs - residential		`-`		`5,382`		`-`		`5,382`
US Government obligations		`-`		`50,549`		`-`		`50,549`
GSEs		`-`		`6,123`		`-`		`6,123`
States and political subdivisions		`-`		`152,479`		`1,529`		`154,008`
Foreign government obligations		`-`		`6,889`		`-`		`6,889`
Total fixed maturities		`-`		`383,445`		`1,529`		`384,974`

Equity securities:
Common stocks		`2,864`		`-`		`-`		`2,864`
Nonredeemable preferred stocks		`883`		`-`		`-`		`883`
Total equity securities		`3,747`		`-`		`-`		`3,747`

Total Financial Assets	$	`3,747`	$	`383,445`	$	`1,529`	$	`388,721`

The following table presents the changes in fair value of our Level 3 financial assets for the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020				2019
		States and		Total		States and		Total
		Political		Level 3		Political		Level 3
		Subdivisions		Assets		Subdivisions		Assets

Beginning balance	$	`1,529`	$	`1,529`	$	`1,709`	$	`1,709`

Gains (losses) included in other
comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gains (losses)		`(23)`		`(23)`		`(26)`		`(26)`

Repayments and amortization of
fixed maturities		`(171)`		`(171)`		`(154)`		`(154)`

Balance at end of period	$	`1,335`	$	`1,335`	$	`1,529`	$	`1,529`

Included in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, pre-tax, on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2020, are unrealized gains (losses) of $(19,000) attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) related to Level 3 securities held at December 31, 2020.

The following table provides carrying values, fair values and classification in the fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments, that are not carried at fair value but are subject to fair value disclosure requirements, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Level 1

Level 2

Level 1

Level 2

Fair

Carrying

Fair

Carrying

Value

FINANCIAL ASSETS:

Short-term investments

2,634

-

2,634

50

-

50

Securities purchased under

agreements to resell

49,990

-

49,990

107,157

-

107,157

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:

Funds on deposit

-

141,409

141,376

-

141,010

140,951

Other policyholders’ funds

-

12,001

12,789

-

12,049

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements:

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold, which approximates fair value.

Short-term Investments

Investments with original maturities of 91 days to one year are considered short-term investments and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Funds on Deposit

The Company has two types of funds on deposit. The first type is credited with a current market interest rate, resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount. The second type carries fixed interest rates which are higher than current market interest rates. The fair value of these deposits was estimated by discounting the payments using current market interest rates. The Company's universal life policies are also credited with current market interest rates, resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount. Both types of funds on deposit are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Other Policyholders’ Funds

Other policyholders’ funds are primarily credited with current market interest rates resulting in a fair value which approximates the carrying amount.

Note 6.Other Investments, Including Variable Interest Entities

Other investments consist of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		December 31,
		2020		2019

Equity method investments	$	`1,958`	$	`10,171`
Equity investments carried at cost less impairments		`6,250`		`5,000`
Other investments and securities, at cost		`30`		`37`

	$	`8,238`	$	`15,208`

Equity Method Investments

Equity income (loss) from equity method investments for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $346,000 and $1,304,000, respectively.

In 2020, the Company acquired the remaining membership units it did not already own in both Abacus and in Torchlight, both of which were previously accounted for under the equity method. See Note 7 for more information about these acquisitions.

In July 2020, the Company received a cash distribution in the amount of $3,462,000 from an equity method investment representing a final return on investment.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company determined that, due to recurring losses historically and uncertainty for future profitability, there was sufficient evidence to indicate that the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Ebix Health Exchange was no longer recoverable. As a result, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $3,712,000 which is included in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the carrying value of the Company’s equity investment in Ebix Health Exchange is $0 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded equity losses of $2,713,000 from its investment. In 2020, the Company discontinued applying the equity method with regards to recording any additional equity losses.

In 2019, the Company also: (i) acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of a sales and customer service call center that was previously accounted for as an equity method investment (See Note 7 for more information); (ii) paid $3,000,000 for an equity interest in Torchlight that was accounted for as an equity method investment; and (iii) received an aggregate $1,772,000 of distributions from equity method investments.

Equity Investments Carried at Cost Less Impairments

In February 2020, the Company made an additional $1,250,000 equity investment in FIGO, a leading insuretech brand company in the pet insurance space focused on referral partners as well as direct-to-consumer and employer benefit channels. In general, companies that provide insurance through user-centric platforms, or create efficiencies in the insurance industry through technological advances, are referred to as “insuretech” companies. In 2019, the Company paid $5,000,000 for its initial equity interest in FIGO.

In March 2019, the Company’s equity investment in Pets Best, carried at a cost of $500,000, was acquired by an unaffiliated entity and the Company realized a gain of $3,589,000 on the sale, which is included in Other Income in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Variable Interest Entities

Other investments at December 31, 2020 and 2019, shown in the table above, include $1,958,000 and $5,075,000, respectively, of noncontrolling interests in certain limited partnerships that we have determined to be Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”). The aforementioned VIEs are not required to be consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as we are not the primary beneficiary since we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance.

The Company will periodically reassess whether it is the primary beneficiary in any of these investments. The reassessment process will consider whether it has acquired the power to direct the most significant activities of the VIEs through changes in governing documents or other circumstances. The Company’s maximum loss exposure is limited to the combined $1,958,000 carrying value in these equity investments and the Company has no future funding obligations to them.

Related Party Transactions

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets include $0 and $5,000, respectively, of notes and other amounts receivable from Ebix Health Exchange, and include $126,000 and $250,000, respectively, of administrative fees and other expenses payable to Ebix Health Exchange, which are included in other assets and accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities, respectively. In 2019, recurring losses reported by Ebix Health Exchange, and uncertainty regarding their future profitability, made the collectability of the outstanding notes receivable from Ebix Health Exchange doubtful and as a result, the Company recorded a provision for losses related to these notes in the amount of $1,773,000, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2019. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income include administrative fee expenses to Ebix Health Exchange, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, of $1,652,000 and $2,180,000, respectively.

The Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes premiums earned of $14,826,000 and includes selling, general and administrative expenses of $5,641,000 related to pet insurance business produced by FIGO. Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 also includes approximately $1,507,000 of expense related to the purchase of leads from an affiliated lead generation company. The affiliated lead generation company, Torchlight, was acquired in April 2020, see Note 7. Lead costs subsequent to the acquisition are eliminated in consolidation. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Consolidated Statement of Income includes approximately $6,940,000 of expenses related to the purchase of leads from Torchlight although this entity was not an affiliate of the Company until June 2019.

Note 7.Acquisitions

The Abacus Group, LLC.

On January 1, 2020 (the "Abacus Acquisition Date"), the Company acquired the remaining 56% membership units of Abacus for a purchase price of $2,599,000, Abacus is an agency group that writes worksite business for Madison National Life and other carriers and receives commissions and other fees. The Company acquired Abacus to further the Company’s position in the worksite marketplace. The Company accounted for its prior ownership interest using the equity method. Immediately preceding the transaction, the Company determined the fair value of its equity interest to be $1,838,000 using a market approach and, as a result, recorded a loss of $163,000, which is included in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Upon the acquisition, the Company consolidated the assets and liabilities of Abacus. The following table presents the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Abacus on the Abacus Acquisition Date based on their respective fair values (in thousands):

Other assets	$	`350`
Deferred tax asset		`439`

Total identifiable assets		`789`

Other liabilities		`575`

Total liabilities		`575`

Net identifiable assets acquired	$	`214`

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $4,223,000 of goodwill (see Note 8) of which $2,725,000 is deductible for income tax purposes.

Goodwill represents the synergies with our insurance carriers. Abacus has an existing distribution network and offers increased distribution sources for IHC carriers’ existing products and developing products through its enrollment platform designed specifically for producers in the worksite marketplace. Goodwill was calculated as the sum of (i) the acquisition date fair value of total cash consideration transferred of $2,599,000, (ii) the aggregate acquisition-date fair value of equity interests immediately before the acquisition of $1,838,000, over (iii) the net identifiable assets of $214,000 that were acquired. The enterprise value of Abacus was determined by a market approach net of any control premium. Acquisition-related costs, primarily legal and consulting fees, were not material and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Revenue and net income from Abacus for the period from the Abacus Acquisition Date to December 31, 2020, is not material as most of their agency fee income is derived from Madison National Life and is now eliminated in consolidation. The amount of fee income earned from other carriers in 2020 is not material and will reduce over time as the business either runs-off or is transitioned to Madison National Life.

Pro forma adjustments to present the Company’s consolidated revenues and net income as if the acquisition date was January 1, 2019 are not material and accordingly are omitted.

Torchlight Technology Group LLC.

On April 15, 2020 (the "Torchlight Acquisition Date"), the Company acquired the remaining 77% membership units of Torchlight for a purchase price of $11,443,000 in cash. In accordance with the purchase and sale agreement, the Company will also make future incentive payments to the former owners and certain employees based on the future market appreciation of IHC. These payments will be accounted for as compensation for post-combination services. The Company purchased Torchlight for its marketing technology (“MarTech”), artificial data intelligence, and consumer lead generation capabilities. In an effort to further expand our InsureTech division (comprised of Torchlight, our call centers, field and career agents, and web domains), the Company wants to be able to internally develop and deliver lead traffic opportunities in an affordable and controlled environment. The Company accounted for its prior ownership interest using the equity method. Immediately preceding the transaction, the Company determined the fair value of its equity interest to be $3,432,000 using the income approach and, as a result, recorded a gain of $519,000, which is included in other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.

Upon the acquisition, the Company consolidated the assets and liabilities of Torchlight. The following table presents the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of Torchlight on the Torchlight Acquisition Date based on their respective fair values (in thousands):

Cash	$	`333`
Intangible assets		`2,700`
Deferred tax asset		`552`
Other assets		`2,132`

Total identifiable assets		`5,717`

Other liabilities		`1,354`

Total liabilities		`1,354`

Net identifiable assets acquired	$	`4,363`

In connection with the acquisition, the Company recorded $10,512,000 of goodwill, of which $7,976,000 is deductible for income tax purposes, and $2,700,000 of intangible assets (see Note 8).

Goodwill represents the synergies with our agencies. With a significant dependence on consumer and small business opportunities, our agencies require a consistent and predictable flow of lead traffic, and as a result, have meaningful synergies with the functions and deliverables that are developed at Torchlight. Before the acquisition of Torchlight, our agency was fully dependent on market traffic, which was both unpredictable in price and availability. Such restrictions would not allow for coordinated or scheduled growth. Goodwill was calculated as the sum of (i) the acquisition date fair value of total aggregate consideration transferred of $11,443,000; and (ii) the aggregate acquisition-date fair value of equity interests immediately before the acquisition of $3,432,000; over (iii) the net identifiable assets of $4,363,000 that were acquired. The enterprise value of Torchlight was determined by an independent appraisal using a discounted cash flow model. Acquisition-related costs, primarily legal and consulting fees, were not material and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Revenue and net loss from Torchlight for the period from the Torchlight Acquisition Date to December 31, 2020 is $9,651,000 and $(2,477,000), respectively. Torchlight’s net loss for the Torchlight Acquisition Date to December 31, 2020 is primarily the result of expenses incurred by the Company to integrate Torchlight’s MarTech, artificial data intelligence and consumer lead generation capabilities with the Company’s other operations and acquisition accounting adjustments.

In 2019, and prior to its acquisition in 2020, Torchlight’s net income was not significant. It is for this reason that pro forma adjustments to present the Company’s consolidated revenues and net income as if the acquisition date was January 1, 2019 are not material and accordingly are omitted.

Other Business Acquisitions.

In 2019 the Company made several business acquisitions as follows:

In January 2019, the Company acquired all of the stock of My1HR, a web-based entity with a state-of-the-art insurance quoting and cloud-based enrollment platform, INSX Cloud. In general, companies that provide insurance through user-centric platforms, or create efficiencies in the insurance industry through technological advances, are referred to as “insuretech” companies. The Company acquired My1HR for its quoting and cloud-based enrollment platforms as part of an effort to expand our “insuretech” footprint through our agencies, which generate leads and sell our products through our owned call center and career advisors.

In April 2019, the Company purchased substantially all of the assets and liabilities of a sales and customer service call center. The Company acquired the call center in order to capitalize on technology-driven trends in the purchase of health insurance directly by consumers. Prior to the purchase, the Company owned an equity interest in the call center. Immediately preceding the transaction, the Company determined the fair value of its equity interest to be $720,000 using a market approach and, as a result, recorded a loss of $237,000 which is included in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The aggregate fair value of consideration transferred for these acquisitions was $8,534,000 cash. The following table presents the aggregate acquisition-date fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in these transactions (in thousands):

Cash	$	`582`
Intangible assets		`1,500`
Other assets		`1,341`

Total identifiable assets		`3,423`

Other liabilities		`3,637`

Total liabilities		`3,637`

Net identifiable assets (liabilities) acquired	$	`(214)`

In connection with these 2019 acquisitions, the Company recorded $9,468,000 of goodwill and $1,500,000 of intangible assets (see Note 8). The amount of goodwill and certain other intangibles entitled to an amortization deduction for income tax purposes is $10,921,000.

Goodwill reflects the synergies with our insurance carriers. My1HR has an existing distribution network and offers increased distribution sources for IHC carrier products through its quoting and cloud based enrollment platforms designed specifically for producers in the small group employer market and individual ACA and ancillary market. This new quoting and enrollment system will support group and

individual products for all IHC carriers as well as select group ACA and level funded health coverages from leading national health plans. The acquisition of the call center is expected to expand our existing call center reach and increase sales of IHC-underwritten health insurance. Goodwill was calculated as the sum of (i) the aggregate acquisition-date fair value of total cash consideration transferred of $8,534,000, (ii) the aggregate acquisition-date fair value of equity interests immediately before the acquisition of $720,000; and (iii) the net identifiable liabilities of $214,000 assumed. Enterprise values were determined either by an independent appraisal using a discounted cash flow model based upon the projected future earnings or by a market approach net of any control premiums.

Acquisition-related costs, primarily legal and consulting fees, were not material and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

For the period from the acquisition dates to December 31, 2019, the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income includes revenues and net income of $3,876,000 and $(838,000), respectively, from these acquisitions.

Pro forma adjustments to present the Company’s consolidated revenues and net income as if the acquisition dates were January 1, 2018 are not material and accordingly are omitted.

Note 8.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Changes in goodwill and goodwill balances by reportable segment are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		Specialty		Group disability
		Health		life, DBL and PFL		Total

Balance at December 31, 2018	$	`50,697`	$	`-`	$	`50,697`
Acquisitions in 2019 (see Note 7)		`9,468`		`-`		`9,468`

Balance at December 31, 2019		`60,165`		`-`		`60,165`
Acquisitions in 2020 (see Note 7)		`10,512`		`4,223`		`14,735`

Balance at December 31, 2020	$	`70,677`	$	`4,223`	$	`74,900`

Intangible Assets

The Company has net other intangible assets of $15,146,000 and $13,379,000 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These intangible assets consist of: (i) finite-lived intangible assets, principally the fair value of acquired agent and broker relationships, which are subject to amortization; and (ii) indefinite-lived intangible assets which consist of the estimated fair value of insurance licenses that are not subject to amortization.

The gross carrying amounts of these other intangible assets are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		December 31, 2020				December 31, 2019
		Gross				Gross
		Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying		Accumulated
		Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization

Finite-lived Intangible Assets:
Agent and broker relationships	$	`12,683`	$	`8,273`	$	`18,753`	$	`14,474`
Domain		`1,000`		`425`		`1,000`		`325`
Software systems		`2,930`		`746`		`780`		`332`
Total finite-lived	$	`16,613`	$	`9,444`	$	`20,533`	$	`15,131`

		December 31,
		2020		2019
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:
Insurance licenses	$	`7,977`	$	`7,977`
Total indefinite-lived	$	`7,977`	$	`7,977`

In connection with the acquisition of Torchlight in 2020, as discussed in Note 7, the Company recorded $2,700,000 of intangible assets associated with the Specialty Health segment, of which $1,200,000 represents the fair value of customer relationships being amortized over a weighted average period of 10 years, and $1,500,000 represents software technology being amortized over a weighted average period of 8 years.

In June 2020, the Company acquired TailTrax, which is an Android and IOS app that contains features valued by pet parents for $650,000 and is being amortized over a weighted average period of 3 years.

In 2019, the Company recorded $1,500,000 of intangible assets in connection with business acquisitions discussed in Note 7 that are associated with the Specialty Health segment.

Amortization expense was $1,496,000 and $1,284,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is as follows (in thousands):

		Amortization
Year		Expense

2021	$	1,556
2022		1,380
2023		1,079
2024		805
2025		676

Note 9. Leases

Certain subsidiaries of the Company are obligated under operating lease agreements for office space and office equipment.

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, right-of-use assets related to the Company’s operating leases amounted to $9,454,000 and $6,672,000, respectively, which are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Corresponding lease liabilities at December 31, 2020 and 2019, which are

included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounted to $9,992,000 and $7,243,000, respectively. Weighted average discount rates used to measure lease liabilities was 5.99% and 6.70% at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The leases have remaining lease terms of 1 to 8 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 5 years. The weighted average remaining lease term at December 31, 2020 is 5 years. Variable lease costs consist primarily of the Company’s proportionate share of real estate taxes and operating expenses related to leased premises.

The following table summarizes information pertaining to our lease obligations for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Operating lease costs	$	`2,614`	$	`2,277`
Short-term lease costs		`208`		`194`
Variable lease costs		`489`		`456`

Total lease costs	$	`3,311`	$	`2,927`

Other information:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	`(2,647)`	$	`(2,392)`
Right-of-use assets obtained for operating leases	$	`4,868`	$	`1,688`

Maturities of operating lease liabilities at December 31, 2020 were as follows:

Due in the next year	$	`2,624`
Due in two years		`2,603`
Due in three years		`1,721`
Due in four years		`1,448`
Due in five years		`1,227`
Due in remaining years		`2,002`
Total payments due		`11,625`

Present value discount		`(1,633)`
Operating lease liability	$	`9,992`

Note 10.Reinsurance

The Insurance Group reinsures portions of certain business in order to limit the assumption of disproportionate risks. Amounts not retained are ceded to other companies on an automatic or facultative basis. In addition, the Insurance Group participates in various coinsurance treaties on a quota share or excess basis. The Company is contingently liable with respect to reinsurance in the unlikely event that the assuming reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations. The ceding of reinsurance does not discharge the primary liability of the original insurer to the insured.

The effects of reinsurance on premiums earned and insurance benefits, claims and reserves are shown below for the periods indicated (in thousands).

				ASSUMED		CEDED
		GROSS		FROM OTHER		TO OTHER		NET
		AMOUNT		COMPANIES		COMPANIES		AMOUNT

Premiums Earned:

December 31, 2020
Accident and health	$	`305,032`	$	`7`	$	`23,741`	$	`281,298`
Life and annuity		`55,771`		`756`		`27,163`		`29,364`
Property and liability		`86,876`		`-`		`8`		`86,868`
	$	`447,679`	$	`763`	$	`50,912`	$	`397,530`

December 31, 2019
Accident and health	$	`287,529`	$	`5`	$	`22,538`	$	`264,996`
Life and annuity		`54,825`		`998`		`33,061`		`22,762`
Property and liability		`51,046`		`-`		`63`		`50,983`
	$	`393,400`	$	`1,003`	$	`55,662`	$	`338,741`

Insurance benefits, claims and reserves:

December 31, 2020	$	`242,399`	$	`2,307`	$	`36,489`	$	`208,217`
December 31, 2019	$	`215,477`	$	`2,681`	$	`44,037`	$	`174,121`

Note 11.Fee Income

Substantially all of the fee income recorded by the IHC Agencies and lead generation company relate to our Specialty Health segment. The following table presents fee income disaggregated by type for the years indicated (in thousands).

		2020		2019

Commissions	$	`13,432`	$	`1,964`
Administrative Fees		`2,349`		`4,805`
Marketing Fees		`1,229`		`2,699`
Enrollment Platform Fees		`2,020`		`1,890`
Lead and Referral Fees		`3,665`		`1,420`
Payment Plan, Application and Other Fees		`1,442`		`1,225`

Total Fee Income	$	`24,137`	$	`14,003`

Commission Revenues

Commission revenues result from the sales of certain policies by the IHC Agencies on behalf of multiple unaffiliated insurance carriers. Increased sales of products to these unaffiliated insurance carriers began in 2020 as a result of new contracts with the carriers and increased distribution channels. These policies primarily consist of senior products, such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement plans, as well as ACA plans and small group stop-loss. A significant portion of our commission revenues are recorded at a point in time upon the issuance of a policy by the unaffiliated insurance carrier based on expected constrained LTV. Constrained LTV represents expected commissions to be received over the lifetime of the policies sold. The Company analyzes various factors, such as commission rates, carrier mix, contract amendments and terminations, estimated average plan durations, cancellations and non-renewals, to estimate the LTV. Constraints are applied to help ensure that the total estimated lifetime commissions expected to be collected are recognized as revenue only to the

extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.

We evaluate the appropriateness of our constraints on a quarterly basis and update the LTV assumptions if we observe evidence that suggests a change in the underlying long-term expectations. In doing this, we apply significant judgement in assessing historical cash collections and changes in circumstances that would impact future cash collections such as, but not limited to, commission rates, carrier mix, plan durations, plan cancellations and non-renewals. Changes in LTV result in an increase or decrease to fee income revenue and a corresponding increase or decrease to contract assets. Any significant impact due to changes in the LTV assumptions are recognized in revenue (i) in the period of the change; and (ii) to the extent we do not believe a significant reversal is probable.

Costs to Fulfill a Contract

Costs to fulfill a contract include commissions owed to independent licensed agents or affinity partners that are contracted by the IHC Agencies. Upon the submission of a completed insurance application, the sales and marketing performance obligation is complete and the resultant estimated lifetime commission costs incurred are expensed and a corresponding commissions liability is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As policyholders continue their policy and remit monthly premium payments, the Company receives its commissions from the insurance carrier. Commissions owed to the agent or affinity partner are then paid and the corresponding liability is reduced. Judgement is required to estimate total expected lifetime commissions based on policy duration assumptions. At December 31, 2020, the aforementioned commission liability is $2,362,000 and is included in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The balance at December 31, 2019 was immaterial.

Contract Assets

Contract assets primarily relate to our commission revenues for the sales of senior products, such as Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, ACA plans and small group stop-loss, which began in 2020. When commission revenue for the sales of these products is recognized, a corresponding contract asset is recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The timing of revenue differs from the collection of commissions. As policyholders continue their policy and remit monthly premium payments, the Company receives its commissions from the insurance carrier and the contract asset is reduced.

The following table summarizes the contract asset activity for the current year (in thousands). Prior year activity was immaterial.

		2020

Beginning balance	$	`255`
Commissions recognized during the period		`13,432`
Cash receipts		`(5,840)`

Ending balance	$	`7,847`

Remaining Performance Obligations

Deferred revenues are recorded in connection with certain terminable contracts, the right to use our INSX enrollment platform and administrative contracts for a block of pet insurance that is in run-off. At December 31, 2020, deferred revenues are immaterial and expected to be fully recognized within the next 12 months.

Note 12.Policy Benefits and Claims

Policy benefits and claims is the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses. It is comprised of unpaid claims and estimated IBNR reserves related to the Company’s short-duration contracts. Summarized below are the changes in the total liability for policy benefits and claims for the years indicated (in thousands). Amounts incurred below do not include expenses for policy benefits and costs incurred for the Company’s life, annuity and other long-duration contracts. In addition, certain loss adjustment expenses related to short-duration contracts that are included in amounts incurred below are classified as selling general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

		2020
		Specialty		DBL and		Group		All Other
		Health		PFL		Disability		Lines		Total

Balance at beginning of year	$	`42,228`	$	`23,438`	$	`80,079`	$	`19,057`	$	`164,802`
Less: reinsurance recoverable		`1,717`		`664`		`23,322`		`11,290`		`36,993`
Net balance at beginning of year		`40,511`		`22,774`		`56,757`		`7,767`		`127,809`

Amount incurred, related to:
Current year		`89,379`		`78,443`		`34,109`		`18,189`		`220,120`
Prior years		`(4,283)`		`(3,478)`		`(1,689)`		`(3,284)`		`(12,734)`

Total incurred		`85,096`		`74,965`		`32,420`		`14,905`		`207,386`

Amount paid, related to:
Current year		`57,262`		`43,949`		`12,355`		`12,174`		`125,740`
Prior years		`26,666`		`18,971`		`18,318`		`2,394`		`66,349`

Total paid		`83,928`		`62,920`		`30,673`		`14,568`		`192,089`

Net balance at end of period		`41,679`		`34,819`		`58,504`		`8,104`		`143,106`
Plus: reinsurance recoverable		`1,776`		`430`		`22,472`		`11,448`		`36,126`
Balance at end of period	$	`43,455`	$	`35,249`	$	`80,976`	$	`19,552`	$	`179,232`

		2019
		Specialty		DBL and		Group		All Other
		Health		PFL		Disability		Lines		Total

Balance at beginning of year	$	`38,363`	$	`21,080`	$	`82,222`	$	`18,450`	$	`160,115`
Less: reinsurance recoverable		`1,335`		`719`		`24,712`		`11,356`		`38,122`
Net balance at beginning of year		`37,028`		`20,361`		`57,510`		`7,094`		`121,993`

Amount incurred, related to:
Current year		`82,678`		`65,452`		`31,463`		`16,531`		`196,124`
Prior years		`(5,879)`		`(6,489)`		`(5,192)`		`(2,734)`		`(20,294)`

Total incurred		`76,799`		`58,963`		`26,271`		`13,797`		`175,830`

Amount paid, related to:
Current year		`49,669`		`42,803`		`11,794`		`11,053`		`115,319`
Prior years		`23,647`		`13,747`		`15,230`		`2,071`		`54,695`

Total paid		`73,316`		`56,550`		`27,024`		`13,124`		`170,014`

Net balance at end of period		`40,511`		`22,774`		`56,757`		`7,767`		`127,809`
Plus: reinsurance recoverable		`1,717`		`664`		`23,322`		`11,290`		`36,993`
Balance at end of period	$	`42,228`	$	`23,438`	$	`80,079`	$	`19,057`	$	`164,802`

Since unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses are estimates, actual losses incurred may be more or less than the Company’s previously developed estimates and is referred to as either unfavorable or favorable development, respectively.

Net favorable (unfavorable) development in the Specialty Health segment, as depicted in the tables above, is comprised of the following lines of business for the years indicated (in thousands):

Specialty Health segment:		2020		2019
Short-term Medical	$	`1,425`	$	`1,850`
Occupational Accident		`1,460`		`2,054`
Fixed Indemnity Limited Benefit		`(1,280)`		`166`
Limited Medical		`407`		`474`
Critical Illness		`434`		`325`
Group Gap		`616`		`132`
Pet		`618`		`128`
All other specialty health lines		`603`		`750`

Total Specialty Health segment	$	`4,283`	$	`5,879`

In 2020, net favorable development in the various lines of the Specialty Health segment shown above is primarily due to better than expected claim development. Unfavorable development in the Fixed Indemnity Limited Benefit line in 2020 is primarily due to higher than expected claim severity on a small number of older policies. In 2019, favorable development in short-term medical business was due to paid claim activity that was below anticipated levels as medical investigations were completed and the reliability of claim payment patterns at a newer claim administrator emerged. Additionally, favorable development occurred in the occupational accident line, in run-off, mainly due to some claims settling for amounts less than anticipated and due to a lower level of employer liability claims than anticipated in relation to historical levels, and favorable development in other various lines of Specialty Health business is primarily due to better than expected claim development.

The net favorable development in the DBL and PFL business of $3,478,000 and $6,489,000 in 2020 and 2019, respectively, is primarily due to both favorable adjustments to prior year DBL premium refund reserves and better than expected DBL claims experience.

In 2020, favorable development of $1,689,000 in the group disability business is primarily due to a reduction in the number of open claims and a reduction in the severity of new claims, specifically, new claims in the LTD line, partially offset by an increase in the overall frequency and severity of claims in the STD line. In 2019, favorable development of $5,192,000 in the group disability business is primarily due to better than expected claim development in terms of duration and net payments in the LTD business.

All other lines, primarily life and other individual health products and including our medical stop-loss business in run-off, experienced favorable development in 2020 and 2019 that is primarily related to the group term life business due to continued improvements in experience.

Specialty Health Segment

The following tables provide undiscounted information about net incurred and paid claims development by accident year for significant short-duration contract liabilities for policy benefits and claims in our Specialty Health segment. All amounts are shown net of reinsurance. In addition, the tables present the total IBNR plus expected development on reported claims by accident year and the cumulative number of reported claims (in thousands, except number of reported claims). Refer to Note 1 for information on the methods we use to estimate IBNR plus expected development, as well as changes to those methodologies and assumptions. Five years of claims development data is presented for lines that are included in our Specialty Health segment since a majority of the claims are fully developed in that time. Certain information about incurred and paid claims is presented as supplementary information and unaudited where indicated.

Specialty Health Segment –Claims Development
									December 31, 2020
		Incurred Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance							Incurred But	Cumulative
		For the years ended December 31,							Not Reported	Number of
Accident		2016	2017	2018	2019				Plus Expected	Reported
Year		(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)		2020		Development	Claims
										(Actual)
2016	$	`85,426`	`86,466`	`86,244`	`85,399`	$	`85,759`	$	`798`	`538,115`
2017			`87,070`	`77,214`	`77,194`		`77,379`		`611`	`631,101`
2018				`74,652`	`69,206`		`71,394`		`3,105`	`673,634`
2019					`82,926`		`76,032`		`4,512`	`652,408`
2020							`89,379`		`32,117`	`602,536`
Total						$	`399,943`

Specialty Health Segment –Claims Development

	Cumulative Paid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
	For the years ended December 31,
Accident			2016	2017	2018	2019
Year			(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)		2020

2016		$	`45,454`	`78,611`	`82,983`	`84,238`	$	`84,961`
2017				`49,289`	`73,667`	`75,918`		`76,768`
2018					`46,574`	`64,947`		`68,289`
2019						`49,670`		`71,521`
2020								`57,262`

Total							$	`358,801`

Outstanding policy benefits and claims payable before 2016, net of reinsurance								`537`

Total policy benefits and claims, net of reinsurance							$	`41,679`

The claim frequency information consists of the count of claims submitted. Each claim was counted as one claim whether or not multiple claim lines were submitted with that claim, and each claim was counted whether or not it resulted in a liability. For those portions of business that did not have claim records readily available, a reasonable count assumption was made based on a comparison to the known records of a similar business type. Cumulative claim count information is not a precise tool for calculating claim severity. Factors, such as changes in provider billing practices, the mix of services, benefit designs or processing systems could impact this type of analysis. The Company does not necessarily use the cumulative number of reported claims disclosed above in its claims analysis but has provided this information to comply with accounting standards.

The following is supplementary information about the average historical policy claims duration for the Specialty Health segment as of December 31, 2020:

Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance (unaudited)

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Specialty Health Segment	62.3%	31.2%	4.2%	1.3%	0.8%

Included in the preceding rollforwards of the Company’s liability for policy benefits and claims are the policy benefits and claims activity associated with the Company’s health insurance lines. These are embedded within the Specialty Health segment. The table below summarizes the components of the change in the liability for policy benefits and claims that are specific to health insurance claims for the years indicated (in thousands).

		Specialty Health Segment
		Health Insurance Claims
		2020		2019

Balance at beginning of year	$	`31,259`	$	`26,068`
Less: reinsurance recoverable		`1,113`		`851`
Net balance at beginning of year		`30,146`		`25,217`

Amount incurred, related to:
Current year		`38,602`		`51,479`
Prior years		`(2,208)`		`(3,517)`

Total incurred		`36,394`		`47,962`

Amount paid, related to:
Current year		`20,659`		`25,738`
Prior years		`19,352`		`17,295`

Total paid		`40,011`		`43,033`

Net balance at end of period		`26,529`		`30,146`
Plus: reinsurance recoverable		`1,766`		`1,113`
Balance at end of period	$	`28,295`	$	`31,259`

The $26,529,000 net balance of the Company’s health insurance claims liability at December 31, 2020 shown in the table above is all IBNR plus expected development on reported claims.

Group Disability, Life, DBL and PFL Segment

The following tables provide undiscounted information about net incurred and paid claims development by accident year for significant short-duration contract liabilities for policy benefits and claims related to our DBL, PFL and group disability policy claims (in thousands). All amounts are shown net of reinsurance. Refer to Note 1 for information on the methods we use to estimate IBNR plus expected development, as well as changes to those methodologies.

One year of claims development data is presented below for our DBL and PFL claim liabilities as substantially all of the claims are developed in under one year. At December 31, 2020, the liability for IBNR plus expected development related to our DBL and PFL business was $34,819,000 and: (i) relates to the current accident year; and (ii) includes an accrued liability at December 31, 2020 for a potential risk adjustment payment of $24,000,000 associated with the PFL rider due to expected better than industry claims experience. Prior year favorable incurred development of $3,478,000, and amounts paid related to prior years of $18,971,000, were recognized during 2020 year on DBL and PFL business. While most of this is recognized in the first few months of the year, some of it is recognized during the remainder of the year due to the ability of claimants to take intermittent leave under the PFL benefits.

100

The cumulative number of reported claims was approximately 18,000 at December 31, 2020 and consists of the number of claims either paid or accrued.

Group disability, life, DBL and PFL Segment – DBL/PFL Claims Development
Incurred Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the year ended December 31,

Accident
Year			2020

2020	Total	$	`78,443`

Group disability, life, DBL and PFL Segment – DBL/PFL Claims Development
Cumulative Paid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance
For the year ended December 31,

Accident
Year			2020

2020	Total	$	`43,949`

	Outstanding policy benefits and claims payable before 2020		`325`

	Total policy benefits and claims, net of reinsurance	$	`34,819`

Ten years of undiscounted claims development data is presented for our group disability contract liabilities (in thousands). In addition, total IBNR plus expected development on reported claims by accident year is presented with the cumulative number of reported claims (in thousands, except number of reported claims). Certain information about incurred and paid claims is presented as supplementary information and unaudited where indicated.

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Group disability. Life, DBL and PFL Segment – Group Disability Claims Development

December 31, 2020

Incurred Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance

Incurred But

Cumulative

For the years ended December 31,

Not Reported

Number of

Accident

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Plus Expected

Reported

Year

(unaudited)

2020

Development

Claims

(Actual)

2011

18,558

16,948

16,166

15,271

15,730

16,672

16,712

16,516

16,546

16,538

-

2,338

2012

15,356

13,708

12,187

12,177

12,585

12,472

12,161

11,883

12,083

-

2,263

2013

32,952

30,832

29,893

32,070

31,664

31,378

31,545

31,058

-

2,629

2014

16,314

13,322

14,792

14,414

14,311

14,488

14,670

456

2,783

2015

25,335

19,247

16,630

14,705

14,552

15,175

172

3,254

2016

28,450

28,568

27,359

25,988

26,336

244

3,500

2017

29,897

26,021

22,851

22,358

481

3,783

2018

29,766

26,610

23,219

432

4,022

2019

34,518

33,535

1,786

4,303

2020

36,723

13,120

2,991

Total

231,695

Group disability, life, DBL and PFL Segment – Group Disability Claims Development

Cumulative Paid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance

For the years ended December 31,

Accident

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Year

(unaudited)

2020

2011

3,252

8,191

9,622

10,186

10,737

11,363

11,993

12,522

12,979

13,388

2012

3,069

7,003

8,003

8,591

8,997

9,509

9,924

10,177

10,421

2013

5,454

12,541

16,424

19,428

21,536

23,460

25,029

26,245

2014

3,663

8,466

9,919

10,623

11,142

11,661

12,089

2015

6,825

14,034

16,634

17,203

17,623

18,117

2016

8,333

16,379

19,269

20,261

21,080

2017

8,459

16,139

17,901

18,339

2018

8,417

16,109

18,034

2019

11,794

22,755

2020

12,355

Total

172,823

Outstanding policy benefits and claims payable before 2011, net of reinsurance

9,412

Total policy benefits and claims, net of reinsurance

68,284

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The incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses, net, for the 2013 accident year include the acquisition of $15,384,000 of disability policy benefits and claims liabilities from a Receivership.

Claim frequency information consists of the count of unique claims where a benefit has been paid, whether that benefit was paid for one month or multiple months. Any claims where a benefit has not been paid are not in the count. Cumulative claim count information is not a precise tool for calculating claim severity. Changes in reinsurance and other factors, such as those described in Note 1, could impact this type of analysis with regards to our group disability business. The Company does not necessarily use the cumulative number of reported claims disclosed above in its claims analysis but has provided this information to comply with accounting standards.

Unpaid claim liabilities related to our group disability policies is presented at present value. The following is additional information on unpaid claims liabilities presented at present value (in thousands):

		Carrying Value of				Aggregate Amount
		Unpaid Claim Liabilities				of Discount
		December 31,				December 31
		2020		2019		2020		2019

Group disability	$	`58,504`	$	`56,756`	$	`9,780`	$	`10,382`

Discount rates for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 ranged from 2.5% to 6.0%. Insurance benefits, claims and reserves on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 include the accretion of interest amounting to $1,448,000 and $1,524,000, respectively.

The following is supplementary information about the average historical claims duration for our group disability business as of December 31, 2020:

Group Disability
Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance (unaudited)

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10
16.7%	18.1%	5.8%	2.7%	2.0%	1.8%	1.4%	0.9%	0.6%	0.4%

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The following table reconciles the above disclosures of undiscounted net incurred and paid claims development for significant short-duration contract liabilities to the liability for policy benefits and claims on the consolidated balance sheet (in thousands).

		December 31, 2020

Net outstanding balances:
Specialty Health Segment	$	`41,679`
DBL/PFL		`34,819`
Group disability		`68,284`
Other short-duration insurance lines		`7,827`

Policy benefits and claims, net of reinsurance		`152,609`

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims:
Specialty Health Segment		`1,776`
DBL/PFL		`430`
Group disability		`22,472`
Other short-duration insurance lines		`11,448`

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims		`36,126`

Insurance lines other than short-duration		`277`
Aggregate discount		`(9,780)`

Total policy benefit and claims	$	`179,232`

Note 13.Income Taxes

IHC and its subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income tax return on a June 30 fiscal year.

The provision for income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income from continuing operations, as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income, is as follows for the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

CURRENT:
U.S. Federal	$	6,544	$	4,498
State and Local		250		729
		6,794		5,227

DEFERRED:
U.S. Federal		5,052		8,334
State and Local		(1,114)		(902)
		3,938		7,432

	$	10,732	$	12,659

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Taxes computed at the Federal statutory rate of 21% attributable to pretax income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are reconciled to the Company's actual income tax expense (benefit) as follows for the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Tax computed at the statutory rate	$	`6,269`	$	`5,323`
Dividends received deduction and tax exempt interest		`(132)`		`(128)`
State and local income taxes, net of Federal effect		`(683)`		`(132)`
Executive compensation limit		`456`		`583`
Multistate RSAs		`776`		`-`
AMIC valuation allowance adjustment		`4,492`		`7,900`
Share-based compensation		`(75)`		`(993)`
Other, net		`(371)`		`106`

Income tax expense (benefit)	$	`10,732`	$	`12,659`

In 2020 and 2019, the Company increased AMIC’s valuation allowance by $4,492,000 and $7,900,000, respectively, to reflect decreases in projected income and associated utilization of Federal net operating losses. This is largely due to the reorganization of the Specialty Health segment into specialty health and pet divisions, and the expansion of our D2C and tech-enabled operations, which reduced expected income over the remaining period that AMIC’s net operating loss carryforwards are available to offset income.

Temporary differences between the Consolidated Financial Statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities that give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are summarized below (in thousands). The net deferred tax asset or liability is included in Other Assets or Other Liabilities, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

		2020		2019
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
Investment write-downs	$	`48`	$	`48`
Loss carryforwards		`9,361`		`23,612`
Capital loss carryforward		`677`		`-`
Other		`5,984`		`3,323`
Total gross deferred tax assets		`16,070`		`26,983`
Less AMIC valuation allowance		`(8,281)`		`(17,212)`

Net deferred tax assets		`7,789`		`9,771`

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
Insurance reserves		`(2,309)`		`(2,459)`
Goodwill and intangible assets		`(2,324)`		`(2,341)`
Unrealized gains on investment securities		`(1,145)`		`(338)`
Other		`(2,015)`		`(688)`

Total gross deferred tax liabilities		`(7,793)`		`(5,826)`

Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	`(4)`	$	`3,945`

At December 31, 2020, AMIC and its subsidiaries have available Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $46,669,000 that primarily expire in 2021 and are limited in their utilization to future taxable income earned on a separate company basis. At December 31, 2019, AMIC and its

105

subsidiaries had Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $114,531,000, a significant portion of which expired in 2020, and were limited in their utilization to future taxable income earned on a separate company basis.

AMIC’s valuation allowance at December 31, 2020 and 2019 is related to net operating loss carryforwards that, in the judgment of management, were not considered realizable. IHC and its subsidiaries, excluding AMIC and its subsidiaries, considered the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in determining that a valuation allowance was not necessary on their deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 or 2019.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Management believes that it is more likely than not that IHC and its subsidiaries, including AMIC and its subsidiaries, will realize the benefits of these net deferred tax assets recorded at December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, IHC and its subsidiaries, and AMIC and its subsidiaries, believe there were no material uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under U.S. GAAP.

Interest expense and penalties for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are insignificant. Tax years ending June 30, 2017 and forward are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company’s 2015 and 2016 income tax returns are currently under audit by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Net cash payments for income taxes were $505,000 and $966,000 in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

On March 27, 2020, as part of the business stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act. The CARES Act established new tax provisions including, but not limited to: (1) five-year carryback of net operating losses generated in 2018, 2019 and 2020; (2) accelerated refund of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards; and (3) retroactive changes to allow accelerated depreciation for certain depreciable property. At this time, the legislation does not have a material impact on the Company due to the lack of taxable losses in the stated carryback eligible tax years and the fact that the Company was already expecting to receive a cash benefit for the remaining AMT credits in the fiscal 2018 tax year return.

Note 14.Stockholders’ Equity

Treasury Stock

IHC maintains a program of repurchasing shares of its common stock when the Company deems feasible. In August 2016, the Board of Directors increased the number of shares that can be repurchased to 3,000,000 shares of IHC common stock. At December 31, 2020, there were 1,538,991 shares still authorized to be repurchased under the plan authorized by the Board of Directors.

In 2020, the Company repurchased 244,487 shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $7,534,000 and of that amount, 36,377 shares were repurchased pursuant to the terms of a tender offer for an aggregate cost of $982,000. In 2019, the Company repurchased 108,646 shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $4,051,000.

The Company issued 22,593 and 95,339 shares from treasury stock in 2020 and 2019, respectively, as a result of option exercises and the vesting of restricted stock units during the period.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) includes the after-tax net unrealized gains and losses on fixed maturities available-for-sale, including the subsequent increases and decreases in fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale securities previously impaired and the non-credit related component of other-than-temporary impairments of fixed maturities.

Changes in the balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), shown net of taxes, for the years indicated were as follows (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Beginning balance	$	1,212	$	`(8,310)`

Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		3,572		`12,246`
Less amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI		(587)		`(2,724)`
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		2,985		`9,522`

Ending balance	$	4,197	$	`1,212`

Presented below are the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in earnings for each of the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
reclassified during the period to the following income
statement line items:
Net investment gains (losses)	$	`742`	$	`4,105`
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		`-`		`(646)`

Income (loss) before income tax		`742`		`3,459`
Tax effect		`155`		`735`

Net income (loss)	$	`587`	$	`2,724`

Note 15.Share-Based Compensation

In November 2016, the stockholders approved the Independence Holding Company 2016 Stock Incentive Plan and in November 2020 approved amendments to that plan (the”2016 Plan, as amended”). The 2016 Plan, as amended, permits grants of options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, unrestricted shares, deferred share units and performance awards. Under the terms of the 2016 Plan, as amended: (i) the exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair market value of an IHC share on the grant date and the terms of an option may not exceed 10 years from the grant date; and (ii) the exercise price of a SAR may not be less than the fair market value of an IHC share on the grant date and SAR terms may not exceed 10 years from the date of grant.

The fair value of an option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. In general, the vesting period for an option grant is 3 years. Restricted share units are valued at the quoted market price of the shares at the date of grant and generally vest over 3 years. Compensation costs for options and restricted share units are recognized over the stated vesting periods on a straight-line basis. The fair value of a SAR is calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model at the grant date and each subsequent reporting period until settlement. Compensation cost is based on the proportionate amount of the requisite service that has been rendered to date. Once fully vested, changes in

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the fair value of a SAR continue to be recognized as compensation expense in the period of the change until settlement. The Company accounts for forfeitures of share-based compensation awards in the period that they occur.

At December 31, 2020, there were 368,599 shares available for future stock-based compensation grants under the 2016 Plan, as amended. The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income, applicable to the IHC plans (by award type) for each of the years indicated (in thousands):

		2020		2019
IHC’s Share-based Compensation Plan:
Stock options	$	`1,754`	$	`1,940`
Restricted stock units		`358`		`292`
SARs		`262`		`442`

Share-based compensation expense, pre-tax		`2,374`		`2,674`
Tax benefits		`639`		`720`

Share-based compensation expense, net	$	`1,735`	$	`1,954`

Stock Options

The Company’s stock option activity during 2020 was as follows:

	Shares	Weighted- Average
	Under Option	Exercise Price

December 31, 2019	`785,047`	$	`31.54`
Granted	`25,000`		`40.20`
Exercised	`(23,667)`		`20.20`

December 31, 2020	`786,380`	$	`32.16`

The weighted average grant-date fair-values of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $9.31 and $8.31, respectively. The assumptions set forth in the table below were used to value the stock options granted during the periods indicated:

	2020	2019

Weighted-average risk-free interest rate	`0.24%`	`2.32%`
Expected annual dividend rate per share	`1.32%`	`1.22%`
Expected volatility factor of the Company's common stock	`34.17%`	`28.97%`
Weighted-average expected term of options	3.5 years	3.5 years

In 2020, IHC received $179,000 in cash from the exercise of stock options with an aggregate intrinsic value of $374,000 and recognized $63,000 of tax benefits. Cash outflows in 2020 to satisfy employees’ income tax withholding obligations amounted to $81,000 for option exercises that were net settled in IHC shares. In 2019, IHC received $269,000 in cash from the exercise of stock options with an aggregate intrinsic value of $5,207,000 and recognized $970,000 of tax benefits. Cash outflows in 2019 to satisfy employees’ income tax withholding obligations amounted to $2,397,000 for option exercises that were net settled in IHC shares.

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The following table summarizes information regarding options outstanding and exercisable:

		December 31, 2020
		Outstanding		Exercisable

Number of options		786,380		469,130
Weighted average exercise price per share	$	32.16	$	28.55
Aggregate intrinsic value for all options (in thousands)	$	6,952	$	5,839
Weighted average contractual term remaining		1.6 years		1.5 years

At December 31, 2020, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to IHC’s non-vested stock options was $1,441,000 and it is expected to be recognized as compensation expense over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

Restricted Stock

The Company’s restricted stock activity during 2020 was as follows:

	No. of	Weighted-Average
	Non-vested	Grant-Date
	Shares	Fair Value

December 31, 2019	`19,800`	$	37.54
Granted	`9,900`		42.62
Vested	`(9,900)`		35.57

December 31, 2020	`19,800`	$	41.06

IHC granted 9,900 restricted stock units during each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 with weighted-average grant-date fair values of $42.62 and $40.01 per share, respectively. The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested in 2020 and 2019 was $352,000 and $389,000, respectively.

At December 31, 2020, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock unit awards was $763,000 which is expected to be recognized as compensation expense over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.

SARs and Share-Based Performance Awards

IHC had 64,900 SAR awards outstanding at both December 31, 2020 and 2019. No SAR awards were granted or exercised in either 2020 or 2019. Included in Other Liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are liabilities of $979,000 and $717,000, respectively, pertaining to SARs.

Note 16.Contingencies

Third Party Administrator

A third party administrator with whom we formerly did business (“Plaintiff” or “TPA”) commenced an action on May 17, 2017 in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas,

109

Dallas Division (the “Texas Action”), naming IHC, Madison National Life, Standard Security Life, and Independence Brokerage Group, Inc. (formerly IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc.) as defendants (“Defendants”). In the action, which is currently stayed, the Plaintiff seeks contractual payments allegedly owed by Standard Security Life and Madison National Life totaling at least $3,082,000 through 2014, plus additional amounts for 2015 and 2016, and exemplary and punitive damages as allowed by law and fees and costs. During the stay, two arbitrations involving the same parties proceeded. The first arbitration resulted in a judicially-confirmed award in favor of Standard Security Life and Madison National Life in the amount of $5,641,000, which the Plaintiff has satisfied. The Company received payment on September 9, 2020 and recorded it in other income on the Consolidated Statement of Income in the third quarter. The second arbitration resulted in no monetary obligations owed by any of the parties. The Defendants have not had to file an answer in the Texas Action. At the point they do have to file an answer to the Complaint, they will assert a variety of defenses, set-offs and counterclaims.

Multistate Market Conduct Examination (MCE)

In an effort to avoid long‐term litigation and/or administrative proceedings that would be required to resolve disputes between Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company and the states involved in the MCE, the Lead States and Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American Insurance Company entered into separate RSAs on July 14, 2020. The RSAs require the implementation of a compliance plan, impose certain requirements related to specified business practices and monetary payments. The thirty-seven participating states adopted the RSAs. The Company accrued $3,660,000 in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the second quarter and processed payment in October 2020. As set forth in the RSAs, the Company denies any wrongdoing or violation of any applicable laws or regulations, and the entry into the RSAs is not an admission or acknowledgment by the Company of any wrongdoing or liability.

Note 17.Concentration of Credit Risk

At December 31, 2020, the Company had no investment securities of any one issuer or in any one industry which exceeded 10% of stockholders' equity, except for investments in obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies and mortgage-backed securities issued by GSEs, as summarized in Note 4.

Fixed maturities with carrying values of $13,763,000 and $13,359,000 were on deposit with various state insurance departments at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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At December 31, 2020, the Company had reinsurance recoverable from the following reinsurers that individually exceed 10% of stockholders’ equity (in thousands):

	AM Best		Due from
Reinsurer	Rating		Reinsurer

National Guardian Life Insurance Company	A-	$	214,687
Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company	B++		91,819

The Company believes that these receivables are fully collectible.

Note 18.Dividend Payment Restrictions and Statutory Information

Our insurance subsidiaries are restricted by state laws and regulations as to the amount of dividends they may pay to their parent without regulatory approval in any year. Any dividends in excess of limits are deemed “extraordinary” and require approval. Based on statutory results as of December 31, 2020, in accordance with applicable dividend restrictions, our insurance subsidiaries could pay dividends of approximately $27,872,000 in 2021 without obtaining regulatory approval. There are no regulatory restrictions on the ability of our holding company, IHC, to pay dividends. Under Delaware law, IHC is permitted to pay dividends from surplus or net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Dividends to shareholders are paid from funds available at the corporate holding company level.

Non-“extraordinary” dividend payments were as follows: (i) Madison National Life declared and paid cash dividends of $8,300,000 and $0 to its parent in 2020 and 2019, respectively; (ii) Standard Security Life declared and paid dividends of $5,200,000 and $0 to its parent in 2020 and 2019, respectively; and (iii) Independence American Insurance Company declared and paid dividends of $10,000,000 and $18,000,000 to its parent in 2020 and 2019, respectively. IHC declared cash dividends of $0.44 per share or $6,472,000 in 2020 and $0.40 per share or $5,963,000 in 2019.

In 2019, upon receiving regulatory approvals, our insurance subsidiaries declared and paid extraordinary statutory dividends aggregating $165,472,000 to their parent company. The extraordinary dividends consisted of cash and the common and preferred shares issued by their affiliate, Madison Investors Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. There were no such extraordinary statutory dividends declared or paid by our insurance subsidiaries in 2020

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of their state of domicile. Statutory accounting practices differ from U.S. GAAP in several respects causing differences in reported net income and stockholder’s equity. The Company’s insurance subsidiaries have no permitted accounting practices, which encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed that have been specifically allowed by the state insurance authorities.

The statutory net income and statutory capital and surplus for each of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries are as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		Years Ended December 31,
		2020		2019

Statutory net income:
Madison National Life	$	`14,360`	$	`16,460`
Standard Security Life		`12,902`		`5,246`
Independence American Insurance Company		`13,354`		`19,030`

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		December 31,
		2020		2019

Statutory capital and surplus:
Madison National Life	$	`86,105`	$	`83,256`
Standard Security Life		`64,604`		`57,069`
Independence American Insurance Company		`88,204`		`84,533`

The insurance subsidiaries are also required to maintain certain minimum amounts of statutory surplus to satisfy their various state insurance departments of domicile. Risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements are designed to assess capital adequacy and to raise the level of protection that statutory surplus provides for policyholders. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the statutory capital of our insurance subsidiaries is significantly in excess of their regulatory RBC requirements.

Note 19.Segment Reporting

The Insurance Group principally engages in the health, pet and life insurance business. Interest expense, taxes, and general expenses associated with parent company activities are included in Corporate. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets that are utilized in each segment and are allocated based upon the mean reserves and liabilities of each such segment. Corporate assets are composed principally of cash equivalents, resale agreements, fixed maturities, equity securities, partnership interests and certain other investments.

Information by business segment is presented below for the years indicated (in thousands).

		2020		2019
Revenues:
Specialty Health (A)	$	`224,101`	$	`193,823`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`214,769`		`169,038`
Individual life, annuities and other (B)		`2,411`		`1,675`
Corporate		`1,237`		`5,853`
		`442,518`		`370,389`
Net investment gains (losses)		`1,346`		`4,705`
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		`-`		`(646)`

Total revenues	$	`443,864`	$	`374,448`

Income before income taxes
Specialty Health (A) (C) (D)	$	`4,322`	$	`7,757`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`33,156`		`21,809`
Individual life, annuities and other (B) (E)		`74`		`(1,129)`
Corporate		`(9,048)`		`(7,148)`
		`28,504`		`21,289`
Net investment gains (losses)		`1,346`		`4,705`
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings		`-`		`(646)`

Income before income taxes	$	`29,850`	$	`25,348`

(A)For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Specialty Health segment includes $5,641,000 of pretax income recognized upon the receipt of an arbitration award with a former TPA discussed in Note 16.

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(B)Substantially all of the business in the segment is coinsured. Activity in this segment primarily reflects income or expenses related to the coinsurance and the run-off of any remaining blocks that were not coinsured.

(C)In 2020, the Specialty Health segment includes a charge of $3,660,000 related to the MCE described in Note 16.

(D)In 2019, the Specialty Health segment includes: (i) an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $3,712,000, a provision for losses on a note receivable of $1,773,000, and equity losses of $2,713,000, all in connection with the Company’s equity investment in Ebix Health Exchange (see Note 6 for more information); (ii) a provision for losses of $2,412,000 on other notes and receivables (primarily a note receivable from an unaffiliated lead generation company); and (iii) in both 2020 and 2019, significant costs associated with hiring, training and licensing a significant number of new agents, as well as costs for system development in our marketing and administrative companies.

(E)The Individual life, annuities and other segment includes amortization of deferred charges in connection with the assumptions of certain ceded life and annuity policies amounting to $720,000 and $788,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

		December 31,
		2020		2019
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS AT YEAR END
Specialty Health	$	`235,925`	$	`223,679`
Group disability, life, DBL and PFL		`349,263`		`324,139`
Individual life, annuities and other		`340,494`		`361,466`
Corporate		`157,474`		`145,019`

	$	`1,083,156`	$	`1,054,303`

113

SCHEDULE I

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS – OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
DECEMBER 31, 2020
(In thousands)
						AMOUNT
						SHOWN IN
						BALANCE
TYPE OF INVESTMENT		COST		VALUE		SHEET

FIXED MATURITIES - AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE:
Bonds:
United States Government and Government
agencies and authorities	$	56,223	$	56,893	$	56,893
States, municipalities and political subdivisions		159,421		161,960		161,960
Foreign governments		4,907		5,178		5,178
Public utilities		28,008		28,967		28,967
All other corporate bonds		152,748		153,651		153,651

TOTAL FIXED MATURITIES		401,307		406,649		406,649

EQUITY SECURITIES:
Common stocks:
Industrial, miscellaneous and all other		2,612		3,411		3,411
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		2,637		2,708		2,708

TOTAL EQUITY SECURITIES		5,249		6,119		6,119

Short-term investments and resale agreements		52,624		52,624		52,624
Other long-term investments		10,707		8,238		8,238

TOTAL INVESTMENTS	$	469,887	$	473,630	$	473,630

114

SCHEDULE II

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share data)
(PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

		DECEMBER 31,
		2020		2019

ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	`10,852`	$	`895`
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		`14,780`		`39,438`
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale		`20,324`		`3,260`
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries		`435,376`		`428,014`
Income tax receivable		`11,389`		`9,307`
Deferred tax asset, net		`1,157`		`1,517`
Other assets		`821`		`461`

TOTAL ASSETS	$	`494,699`	$	`482,892`

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and other liabilities	$	`12,684`	$	`11,491`
Amounts due to consolidated subsidiaries, net		`6,596`		`6,449`
Dividends payable		`3,301`		`3,003`

TOTAL LIABILITIES		`22,581`		`20,943`

Redeemable noncontrolling interest		`2,312`		`2,237`

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock (none issued)(A)		`-`		`-`
Common stock (B)		`18,625`		`18,625`
Paid-in capital		`124,757`		`122,717`
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		`4,197`		`1,212`
Treasury stock, at cost (C)		`(77,088)`		`(69,724)`
Retained earnings		`399,273`		`386,864`

TOTAL IHC’S STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		`469,764`		`459,694`
NONREDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS		`42`		`18`

TOTAL EQUITY		`469,806`		`459,712`

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	`494,699`	$	`482,892`

(A)Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding.

(B)Common stock $1.00 par value, 23,000,000 shares authorized; 18,625,458 shares issued 14,643,047 and 14,864,941 shares outstanding, respectively.

(C)Treasury stock, at cost; 3,982,411 and 3,760,517 shares, respectively, outstanding.

The financial information of Independence Holding Company (Parent Company Only) should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

115

SCHEDULE II
(Continued)

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands)
(PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

		2020		2019
REVENUES:
Net investment income	$	`459`	$	`738`
Net investment gains (losses)		`(19)`		`130`
Other income (loss)		`(150)`		`1,461`

		`290`		`2,329`
EXPENSES:
General and administrative expenses		`8,694`		`9,352`

		`8,694`		`9,352`

Loss before income tax benefits and equity in net income of subsidiaries		`(8,404)`		`(7,023)`

Equity in net income of subsidiaries		`26,138`		`19,061`

Income before income tax benefits		`17,734`		`12,038`

Income tax (benefits)		`(1,384)`		`(651)`

Net income		`19,118`		`12,689`

Less income from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		`(237)`		`(293)`

Net income attributable to IHC	$	`18,881`	$	`12,396`

Comprehensive Income:
Net income	$	`19,118`	$	`12,689`
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		`(80)`		`164`
Equity in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities of subsidiaries		`3,065`		`9,358`
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		`2,985`		`9,522`

Comprehensive income, net of tax		`22,103`		`22,211`
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		`(237)`		`(293)`

Comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to IHC	$	`21,866`	$	`21,918`

The financial information of Independence Holding Company (Parent Company Only) should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

116

SCHEDULE II
(Continued)

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)
(PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

		2020		2019

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	`19,118`	$	`12,689`
Adjustments to net income:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries		`(26,138)`		`(19,061)`
Other		`4,105`		`3,247`
Change in current income tax liability(A)		`(2,082)`		`(17,793)`
Changes in other assets and liabilities		`(503)`		`(48)`

Net change in cash from operating activities		`(5,500)`		`(20,966)`

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Change in investments in and advances to subsidiaries (B)		`21,848`		`34,544`
Net purchases of securities under agreements to resell		`24,658`		`(39,438)`
Purchases of fixed maturities		`(28,693)`		`(1,154)`
Sales of fixed maturities		`-`		`8,432`
Maturities and other repayments of fixed maturities		`11,284`		`28,193`
Other		`18`		`-`

Net change in cash from investing activities		`29,115`		`30,577`

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED BY)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchases of common stock		`(7,534)`		`(4,057)`
Dividends paid		`(6,222)`		`(5,231)`
Proceeds from stock options exercised		`179`		`269`
Payments related to tax withholdings for share-based compensation		`(81)`		`(2,397)`

Net change in cash from financing activities		`(13,658)`		`(11,416)`

Net change in cash and cash equivalents		`9,957`		`(1,805)`
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year(C)		`895`		`2,700`

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year(C)	$	`10,852`	$	`895`

(A)Includes net (payments) receipts for income taxes of $0 and $(17,086,000) to and from consolidated subsidiaries in accordance with tax sharing agreements during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(B)Includes $21,702,000 and $53,129,000 of cash dividends paid to parent company by consolidated subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(C)The parent company has no restricted cash at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

The financial information of Independence Holding Company (Parent Company Only) should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

117

	SCHEDULE III
	INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
	SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
	(in thousands)

			FUTURE
			POLICY				INSURANCE	AMORTIZATION	SELLING
		DEFERRED	BENEFITS,		NET	NET	BENEFITS,	OF DEFERRED	GENERAL &		NET
		ACQUISITION	LOSSES &	UNEARNED	PREMIUMS	INVESTMENT	CLAIMS &	ACQUISTION	ADMINISTRATIVE		PREMIUMS
		COSTS (1)	CLAIMS	PREMIUMS	EARNED	INCOME (2)	RESERVES	COSTS (1)	EXPENSES (3)		WRITTEN
December 31, 2020
Specialty Health	$	`-`	`43,632`	`6,063`	`190,755`	`2,617`	`84,219`	`-`	`135,560`	$	`193,710`
Group disability, life,
DBL and PFL		`-`	`160,245`	`6,553`	`206,712`	`7,111`	`123,263`	`-`	`58,350`		`209,246`
Individual life, annuities
and other		`-`	`314,817`	`173`	`63`	`898`	`735`	`-`	`1,602`		`63`
Corporate		`-`	`-`	`-`	`-`	`1,151`	`-`	`-`	`10,285`		`-`
	$	`-`	`518,694`	`12,789`	`397,530`	`11,777`	`208,217`	`-`	`205,797`	$	`403,019`

December 31, 2019
Specialty Health	$	`-`	`42,495`	`3,110`	`177,991`	`4,330`	`75,539`	`-`	`110,527`	$	`177,438`
Group disability, life,
DBL and PFL		`-`	`146,080`	`4,000`	`160,702`	`7,774`	`97,335`	`-`	`49,894`		`162,972`
Individual life, annuities
and other		`-`	`318,383`	`172`	`48`	`1,300`	`1,247`	`-`	`1,557`		`48`
Corporate		`-`	`-`	`-`	`-`	`2,239`	`-`	`-`	`13,001`		`-`
	$	`-`	`506,958`	`7,282`	`338,741`	`15,643`	`174,121`	`-`	`174,979`	$	`340,458`

(1)In 2015, the Company ceded substantially all of its individual life and annuity policy blocks in run-off and as a result, the remaining balance of deferred acquisition costs is not material at December 31, 2020 and 2019 and is included in other assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs was $1,160,000 and $1,036,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income for those periods.

(2)Net investment income is allocated between product lines based on the mean reserve method.

(3)Where possible, direct operating expenses are specifically identified and charged to product lines. Indirect expenses are allocated based on time studies; however, other acceptable methods of allocation might produce different results.

118

SCHEDULE IV
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
REINSURANCE
(In thousands)

									PERCENTAGE
				ASSUMED		CEDED			OF AMOUNT
		GROSS		FROM OTHER		TO OTHER		NET	ASSUMED
		AMOUNT		COMPANIES		COMPANIES		AMOUNT	TO NET

Life Insurance In-Force:

December 31, 2020	$	15,534,807	$	6,003	$	4,842,171	$	10,698,639	0.1%
December 31, 2019	$	14,935,361	$	6,298	$	6,553,251	$	8,388,408	0.1%

Premiums Earned:

December 31, 2020
Accident and health	$	305,032	$	7	$	23,741	$	281,298	0.0%
Life and annuity		55,771		756		27,163		29,364	2.6%
Property and liability (1)		86,876		-		8		86,868	0.0%
	$	447,679	$	763	$	50,912	$	397,530	0.2%

December 31, 2019
Accident and health	$	287,529	$	5	$	22,538	$	264,996	0.0%
Life and annuity		54,825		998		33,061		22,762	4.4%
Property and liability (1)		51,046		-		63		50,983	0.0%
	$	393,400	$	1,003	$	55,662	$	338,741	0.3%

(1)Property and liability products consist primarily of our pet and liability portion of our occupational accident insurance lines.

119

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number

3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3(i) to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.3 By-Laws of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference), as amended by Amendment to By-Laws of Independence Holding Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1 Description of the registrant’s securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. *

10.1 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York and Mr. David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.2 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Mr. Larry R. Graber (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.3 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of April 18, 2011, by and between Independence Holding Company and Ms. Teresa A. Herbert (Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 22, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.4 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of May 11, 2011, by and between Independence Holding Company and Mr. Roy T.K. Thung (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2011 filed with the SEC on May 12, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.5 Retirement Benefit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1991, between Independence Holding Company and Mr. Roy T.K. Thung, as amended. (Filed as an Exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 1 filed as Exhibit 10(iii)(A)(4a) to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 2 filed as Exhibit 10(iii)(4)(b) to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference; Amendment No. 3 filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.)

10.6 Purchase Agreement, made and entered into on June 15, 2015, by and among Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc., Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York and National Guardian Life Insurance Company (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 16, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference).

120

10.7 Sale Bonus Agreement, dated November 7, 2016, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.8 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.8 Officer Employment Agreement, made as of May 25, 2011, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life and Mr. Gary J. Balzofiore (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.9Officer Employment Agreement, made as of June 22, 2015, by and among Independence Holding Company, Standard Security Life and Mr. Vincent Furfaro, as amended by the Assignment and Assumption with Novation and Amendment of Officer Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017 by and among Standard Security Life, AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Mr. Vincent Furfaro (Filed as Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.10Amended and Restated Officer Employment Agreement, dated as of March 24, 2020, by and between AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Vincent Furfaro (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on April 9, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.11Sale Bonus Agreement, dated July 25, 2018, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and Vincent Furfaro (Filed as Exhibit 10.10 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.12Assignment and Assumption with Novation and Amendment of Officer Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017 by and among Standard Security Life, AMIC Holdings, Inc. and Mr. David T. Kettig (Filed as Exhibit 10.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.13Sale Bonus Agreement, dated October 15, 2019, by and between Independence American Holdings Corp. and Gary J. Balzofiore (Filed as Exhibit 10.12 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).

21Subsidiaries of Independence Holding Company, as of December 31, 2019. *

23Consent of RSM US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. *

31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

32.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

32.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

101.INS XBRL Instance Document. The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. *

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. *

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. *

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. *

121

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. *

104Cover page formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

* Filed herewith.

122