Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas, Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner , 115 T.C. No. 12 ( 2000 )


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    115 T.C. No. 12
    UNITED STATES TAX COURT
    BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES,
    Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
    Docket No. 361-98.                 Filed August 18, 2000.
    Held: “Savings” relating to “coordination of
    benefits” between health insurance companies do not
    qualify under the transition rule of the Omnibus
    Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-508,
    sec. 11305(c)(3), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -452. Claimed
    “special” deductions relating thereto are not allowed.
    Held, further, the claimed “special” deductions
    also are not allowed under the safe harbor rule of
    sec. 1.832-4(f)(2), Income Tax Regs.
    Richard Bromley, Glen H. Kanwit, R. Lee Christie, and
    Tracy D. Williams, for petitioner.
    John S. Repsis, Charles W. Maurer, Jr., Stephanie R. Jensen,
    and Michael C. Prindible, for respondent.
    - 2 -
    OPINION
    SWIFT, Judge:    For 1992 and 1993, respectively, respondent
    determined deficiencies of $3,094,736 and $2,184,916 in
    petitioner's Federal income taxes.
    Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to
    the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and
    all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and
    Procedure.
    After settlement of some issues, the issue for decision is
    whether “savings” relating to “coordination of benefits” between
    petitioner and other health insurance companies qualify under the
    transition rule of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990
    (OBRA 1990), Pub. L. 101-508, section 11305(c)(3), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -452.    If not, we must decide whether the claimed “special”
    deductions relating thereto are allowable under the safe harbor
    rule of section 1.832-4(f)(2), Income Tax Regs.
    We combine our findings of fact and opinion.    Some of the
    facts have been stipulated and are so found.
    During the years in issue, petitioner constituted an
    affiliated group of companies engaged in the business of
    providing medical health insurance to individuals and businesses.
    At the time the petition was filed, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of
    - 3 -
    Texas, Inc., the common parent of petitioner’s affiliated group,
    maintained its principal place of business in Richardson, Texas.
    Hereinafter, petitioner will be referred to simply as Blue Cross.
    Coordination of Benefits Provisions
    Since the 1970's, medical health insurance plans written by
    Blue Cross and by other health insurance companies typically
    contain nearly identical “coordination of benefits” (COB)
    provisions that are based on COB guidelines published by the
    National Association of Insurance Commissioners and that are
    required by most State insurance laws.   The COB provisions
    establish payment responsibility, as between two or more health
    insurance companies, where insurance claims are filed that are
    covered by more than one health insurance company.   The COB
    provisions are intended to prevent duplicate recovery on claims
    with respect to the same medical expenses.
    COB provisions are applicable where medical expenses are
    incurred by individuals who are covered under two or more health
    insurance plans.   A common COB situation arises in a family
    context where both parents are employed, with one parent covered
    by one group health plan and the other parent covered by another
    group health plan, with the spouse of each parent and each child
    also covered by both of the parents’ group health plans.    In such
    - 4 -
    a situation, each member of the family has duplicate and
    overlapping health insurance coverage –- coverage under the
    father’s plan and coverage under the mother’s plan.
    Under COB provisions, in such situations of duplicate and
    overlapping health insurance coverage, the various health
    insurance companies providing the overlapping insurance coverage
    are treated as either primarily or secondarily responsible for
    specific expenses and claims based on various and often arbitrary
    factors.   For example, under COB provisions, medical expenses
    incurred by a husband would be treated as the primary
    responsibility of the medical insurance plan covering the husband
    directly as an employee.   The insurance plan of the wife that
    covers the injured husband only as the spouse of the wife would
    be treated as secondarily responsible for the husband’s expenses.
    As a further example, if the two health insurance plans of
    the parents cover medical expenses of an injured child only
    because the child is a dependent of the parents, under typical
    COB provisions, the plan that covers the parent who has the
    earlier birthday in the calendar year is treated as having
    primary responsibility for the child’s expenses.
    Under COB provisions, health insurance companies that are
    treated as primarily responsible for medical expenses and claims
    (hereinafter referred to as primary insurers) are obligated to
    - 5 -
    pay claims submitted to them as they would in the absence of any
    secondary responsibility by another insurance company.
    Health insurance companies that are treated as secondarily
    responsible for medical expenses and claims (hereinafter referred
    to as secondary insurers) generally are obligated to pay only
    that portion of claims representing the difference between the
    amount the primary insurers pay and the total amount of the
    claims.   For example, if a child is injured and claims are filed
    under health insurance plans maintained by both parents, the
    primary insurer (i.e., the insurer issuing the plan of the parent
    with the earlier birthday during the calendar year) would be
    responsible for the total portion of the claim covered under its
    plan (e.g., 80 percent of the amount of the claim) and the
    secondary insurer would be responsible for the remaining
    20 percent of the claim.
    COB Savings
    Each year, the difference between what health insurance
    companies would pay if they were the primary insurer on all
    claims covered by their medical insurance plans and what they
    under COB provisions, as secondary insurers, actually pay on
    claims are referred to in the health insurance industry as COB
    “savings”.    In the last illustration above, because the secondary
    insurer pays only 20 percent of the amount of the claim,
    60 percent of the amount of the claim represents, to the
    - 6 -
    secondary insurer, COB savings (i.e., the additional amount the
    secondary insurer would have had to pay if it had been primarily
    responsible for the claim).   Under the COB provisions, secondary
    insurers hypothetically “save” such amounts because they do not
    pay the additional portion of the claims that they would have
    paid if they had been the primary insurer.
    Under COB provisions, once claims that have overlapping
    coverage have been filed and once primary and secondary
    responsibility as between two insurance companies for the claims
    has been identified, secondary insurers may wait for the primary
    insurers to calculate and to make their payments on pending
    claims before making the secondary payments (hereinafter referred
    to as the “wait-and-pay” approach).    Alternatively, under COB
    provisions, secondary insurers may pay up front the full amount
    of the pending claims (up to the maximum coverage thereof) and
    then seek reimbursement from the primary insurers for amounts for
    which the primary insurers are responsible (hereinafter referred
    to as the “pay-and-pursue” approach).
    Prior to and throughout the years in issue and unless paid
    in error, Blue Cross routinely used the wait-and-pay approach.
    Blue Cross only utilized the pay-and-pursue approach in the event
    a claimant did not disclose (or in the event Blue Cross’s COB
    investigation department did not identify) duplicate health
    insurance coverage that would trigger coordination of benefits.
    - 7 -
    Medicare-Related COB Savings
    Another common situation that produces amounts included by
    insurance companies in COB savings involves retired employees and
    their spouses who are over 65 years of age and who are covered
    under insurance plans issued by health insurance companies and
    who also are covered under Medicare.   Prior to and throughout the
    years in issue, language was included in Blue Cross’ health
    insurance plans that excluded from coverage (and from liability)
    those medical expenses and claims that were covered “under the
    Workers' Compensation law, or any other present or future laws
    enacted by the Legislature of any state, or by the Congress of
    the United States [such as Medicare].”
    Under typical COB provisions, the difference between what
    health insurance companies would be liable to pay for medical
    expenses in the event there was no Medicare coverage and the
    lesser amount the companies actually are liable for and pay after
    taking into account payments to be made by Medicare are referred
    to and represent “Medicare-related COB savings”.
    For 1989, Blue Cross calculated a total of $243,646,504 in
    total COB savings.   Approximately 85 percent of the $243,646,504
    reflects Medicare-related COB savings, which, as indicated, were
    excluded from coverage under Blue Cross’ health insurance plans.
    - 8 -
    Financial Reserves and Financial Statements
    To assure eventual payment of expenses relating to injuries
    incurred during a year but with respect to which the related
    claims are not paid by yearend, health insurance companies are
    required by insurance regulators to maintain financial reserves
    relating to such estimated unpaid expenses (referred to as
    “losses”) and to report such estimated unpaid losses on their
    financial statements.   Reserves for unpaid losses, then, reflect
    actuarially estimated amounts health insurance companies set
    aside for losses incurred during the year but with respect to
    which claims are not paid by yearend.
    As of December 31 of each year, Blue Cross and other health
    insurance companies are required by insurance regulators and by
    generally accepted accounting practices, as applicable to
    insurance companies, to report the paid losses and the estimated
    unpaid losses incurred during the year on specialized annual
    financial statement forms (Annual Statements).
    Paid losses reported on the Annual Statements reflect
    amounts of medical expenses that are incurred during the year
    that health insurance companies actually pay on claims.
    Unpaid losses reported on the Annual Statements generally
    reflect actuarially estimated amounts of medical expenses that
    are incurred during the year but that by yearend are not yet paid
    by the health insurance companies.
    - 9 -
    With regard to the calculation each year of the estimated
    unpaid losses for which financial reserves are maintained, health
    insurance companies that use the pay-and-pursue approach for COB
    savings calculate their reserves for unpaid losses based on the
    full, total amount of coverage on their health insurance plans –-
    including amounts which, under the COB provisions, the reporting
    insurance companies will pay and thereafter be reimbursed by
    other insurance companies which are the primary insurers with
    regard to the claims.
    Health insurance companies, however, such as Blue Cross,
    that use the wait-and-pay approach for COB savings, need only
    estimate their financial reserves for unpaid losses after taking
    into account and subtracting amounts which, under COB provisions,
    the reporting insurance companies will not have to pay because of
    the responsibility of other insurance companies as the primary
    insurers to pay such amounts.
    Because actual funds must be maintained by health insurance
    companies in their financial reserves for amounts they calculate
    as incurred but unpaid losses, significant financial and economic
    differences exist for health insurance companies between
    insurance company calculations of loss reserves that do not
    subtract estimated COB savings and insurance company calculations
    of loss reserves that do subtract estimated COB savings.
    - 10 -
    Prior to and throughout the years in issue, for financial
    statement and Annual Statement reporting purposes, and in
    calculations of its financial loss reserves, Blue Cross
    subtracted COB savings in its calculations of its unpaid losses.
    Blue Cross therefore maintained financial reserves relating to
    unpaid losses only for its estimated primary and secondary
    payment responsibilities due on claims after primary insurers had
    made their primary payments.   In other words, Blue Cross did not
    maintain financial reserves with respect to its COB savings
    amounts.
    Prior to and throughout the years in issue, Blue Cross also
    included language in its health insurance plans that entitled
    Blue Cross to recovery or subrogation of amounts Blue Cross had
    paid on claims (1) where the injury was caused by third-party
    tortfeasers or (2) where, under the COB provisions, the amounts
    should have been paid by other health insurance companies.    Such
    amounts received from tortfeasers and from other health insurance
    companies are treated and referred to by insurance companies as
    “subrogation recoverable”.
    The COB guidelines promulgated by the National Association
    of Insurance Commissioners treat COB savings differently from
    subrogation recoverable.   Blue Cross also treats COB savings
    differently from subrogation recoverable, and Blue Cross
    maintains separate departments for each.
    - 11 -
    1990 Change in the Tax Code
    Generally, section 832(c)(4) allows health insurance
    companies a deduction from taxable income for losses incurred.
    For years prior to 1990, losses incurred were to be calculated by
    health insurance companies based on losses paid during the year,
    less “salvage” actually recovered during the year (i.e., less
    amounts recovered from third-party tortfeasors or others relating
    to claims they had paid), plus an adjustment for any increase or
    decrease in estimated incurred but unpaid losses.   See sec.
    832(b)(5)(A), I.R.C. (1986).
    For years prior to 1990, in their calculations of incurred
    but unpaid losses, health insurance companies had the option of
    taking into account estimated recoveries from third-party
    tortfeasors and other health insurance companies.   If health
    insurance companies elected to not reduce the calculations of
    their estimated incurred but unpaid losses by estimated
    recoveries, the health insurance company calculations were
    referred to as calculations of “unpaid losses gross of estimated
    recoveries”.   If health insurance companies elected to reduce the
    calculations of their estimated incurred but unpaid losses by
    estimated recoveries, the health insurance company calculations
    were referred to as “unpaid losses net of estimated recoveries”.
    In 1990, however, Congress amended section 832(b)(5)(A) for
    years beginning January 1, 1990, to require all health insurance
    companies, in calculating estimated incurred but unpaid losses
    - 12 -
    and the deductions relating thereto, to take into account
    estimates of salvage that might be recovered with respect to
    estimated incurred but unpaid losses (i.e., to make their
    calculations of unpaid losses net of estimated recoveries).    See
    OBRA 1990, sec. 11305(c), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -451.
    For health insurance companies that for years prior to 1990
    had reported unpaid losses gross of estimated recoveries, the
    above change in section 832(b)(5)(A) would constitute a change in
    method of accounting and for 1990 would give rise to section 481
    adjustments to income.   Congress, however, granted transitional
    relief and a one-time deduction to such companies by permanently
    forgiving 87 percent of the amount that under section 481
    otherwise would have been includable in gross income for 1990,
    thereby reducing the section 481 adjustments that otherwise would
    have been required to just 13 percent thereof, to be taken into
    income ratably over 4 years beginning with 1990.   See OBRA 1990,
    sec. 11305(c)(2), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -451.
    To provide similar or parallel tax treatment for health
    insurance companies, such as Blue Cross, that prior to 1990 had
    reported unpaid losses net of estimated recoveries, Congress
    granted similar transitional or “special” deductions equaling
    87 percent of the amount of “estimated salvage recoverable” that
    the companies had taken into account during 1989, to be deducted
    ratably over 4 years beginning with 1990.   The special deduction
    - 13 -
    rule of OBRA 1990, section 11305(c)(3), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -452 (the
    special deduction rule), provided as follows:
    Treatment of companies which took into account
    salvage recoverable.–-In the case of any insurance
    company which took into account salvage recoverable in
    determining losses incurred for its last taxable year
    beginning before January 1, 1990, 87 percent of the
    discounted amount of estimated salvage recoverable as of
    the close of such last taxable year shall be allowed as
    a deduction ratably over its 1st 4 taxable years
    beginning after December 31, 1989.
    For 1990 through 1993, Blue Cross timely filed consolidated
    U.S. Corporation income tax returns.   Blue Cross calculated that
    under the special deduction rule a total of $70,950,582 reflected
    Blue Cross' estimated salvage recoverable relating to incurred
    but unpaid losses for its last taxable year beginning before
    January 1, 1990.   Accordingly, Blue Cross multiplied the total
    $70,950,582 by 87 percent and by a discount factor of
    approximately 4 percent, to produce a figure of $59,352,862, and
    Blue Cross deducted one fourth of the $59,352,862, or
    $14,838,215, for each of the years 1990 through 1993 as its
    special deduction.
    On audit for years 1992 and 1993, respondent disallowed each
    of Blue Cross' claimed $14,838,215 special deductions.1
    1
    The evidence does not indicate respondent's treatment of the
    special deductions claimed by Blue Cross on its 1990 and 1991
    Federal corporation income tax returns.
    - 14 -
    Approximately 94 percent of the total $70,950,582 claimed by
    Blue Cross as estimated salvage recoverable reflected COB
    savings.   Further, as previously indicated, approximately
    85 percent of the COB savings amount reflected Medicare-related
    COB savings.
    Only approximately 3 percent of the $70,950,582 claimed by
    Blue Cross as estimated salvage recoverable reflected amounts
    that Blue Cross actually paid and then recovered from tortfeasors
    and from other insurance companies.2
    The relevant statutory provisions do not define what is
    meant by “estimated salvage recoverable”.    E.g., OBRA 1990,
    sec. 11305(c), 
    104 Stat. 1388
    -451.     It is therefore necessary to
    look beyond the statutory language to the limited regulatory and
    case authority on point.
    Section 1.832-4(c), Income Tax Regs., provides that
    estimated salvage recoverable includes --
    2
    Approximately 1 percent of the $70,950,582 Blue Cross
    calculated as total estimated salvage recoverable reflected
    amounts for which it was both primary and secondary insurer, or
    “blue on blue”. The parties recognize that with respect to blue-
    on-blue duplicate coverage, Blue Cross could not recover salvage
    from itself. Another approximate 2 percent reflected amounts for
    which Blue Cross did not assume the health insurance risks of
    employees and dependents, but provided employers with
    administrative services only. Blue Cross concedes that this
    2 percent clearly does not represent genuine salvage recoverable.
    - 15 -
    all anticipated recoveries on account of salvage, whether or
    not the salvage is treated, or may be treated, as an asset
    for state statutory accounting purposes. * * * [And]
    includes anticipated recoveries on account of subrogation
    claims arising with respect to paid or unpaid losses.
    Case law relevant to the meaning of estimated salvage
    recoverable is limited.   The Supreme Court in a century-old case
    explained salvage rights as follows:   “[T]he insurer, when he has
    paid * * * the assured * * * is entitled, by way of salvage, to
    the benefit of anything that may be received”.   Phoenix Ins. Co.
    v. Erie & W. Transp. Co., 
    117 U.S. 312
    , 321 (1886), cited in
    Continental Ins. Co. v. United States, 
    200 Ct. Cl. 552
    , 
    474 F.2d 661
     (1973).   (Emphasis added.)
    Black's Law Dictionary 1280, 1340 (7th ed. 1999) defines
    “recovery” as “the regaining or restoration of something lost or
    taken away”, and it defines “salvage” (utilized largely in the
    property and casualty insurance industry) as “property saved or
    remaining after a fire or other loss, sometimes retained by an
    insurance company that has compensated the owner for the loss.”
    (Emphasis added.)
    In essence, Blue Cross contends that, because under its
    health insurance plans it is contractually liable for the full
    potential amount of all claims covered by its insurance plans, it
    should be regarded as having a contractual right of recovery or
    salvage for all portions of claims with respect to which other
    insurance companies and Medicare also have a liability to pay the
    - 16 -
    claims or portions thereof.    Blue Cross argues that, as injuries
    occur and as medical expenses relating thereto are incurred by
    insured individuals, Blue Cross accrues the right to recover from
    other insurance companies and Medicare that also have insured the
    same individuals.   In sum, Blue Cross argues that the insured
    individuals’ right to recover from other insurance companies and
    Medicare is subrogated to Blue Cross where Blue Cross also has
    issued insurance plans covering the same individuals.
    Blue Cross argues that there is no significant economic
    difference between “taking immediate possession” from the insured
    individuals of the intangible rights of recovery and salvage with
    respect to COB savings (as it does under a pay-and-pursue
    approach) and “leaving” with the insured individuals the rights
    of recovery and salvage with respect to COB savings (as it does
    under a wait-and-pay approach).   Blue Cross argues that under
    either approach, for Federal income tax purposes, it should be
    treated as economically realizing the recovery and salvage rights
    with respect to COB savings.   Accordingly, Blue Cross contends
    that its COB savings relating to incurred but unpaid losses
    before January 1, 1990, reflect salvage recoverable and should be
    included in the calculations of estimated salvage recoverable
    under the special deduction rule.
    - 17 -
    Medicare-Related COB Savings
    Respondent contends that because Medicare-related benefits
    are excluded from coverage under Blue Cross’ health insurance
    plans, Blue Cross’ Medicare-related COB savings give rise to no
    liability on the part of Blue Cross.    Respondent therefore
    concludes that the portion of claims covered by Medicare gives
    rise to no right of recovery or salvage in favor of Blue Cross
    and that the portion of Blue Cross’ claimed salvage recoverable
    that is based on and that relates to Medicare-related COB savings
    should not, under the special deduction rule, be treated as
    salvage recoverable and the claimed loss deductions relating
    thereto should not be allowable.   We agree with respondent.
    The language contained in Blue Cross' medical insurance
    plans clearly indicates that Blue Cross is not liable to pay
    amounts covered by Medicare.   Without contractual liability and
    without payment of Medicare-covered benefits, Blue Cross’
    Medicare-related COB savings do not constitute estimated salvage
    recoverable.
    Non-Medicare-Related COB Savings
    Because Blue Cross utilized the wait-and-pay approach with
    respect to its non-Medicare-related COB savings, respondent
    contends that such non-Medicare-related COB savings likewise do
    not constitute estimated salvage recoverable under the special
    deduction rule.   Respondent argues that Blue Cross never expected
    - 18 -
    to pay COB savings amounts (i.e., amounts that primary insurers
    were responsible for and pay) and that Blue Cross never acquired
    fixed and genuine rights of recovery and salvage with regard
    thereto.   We again agree with respondent.
    The applicable regulation under section 832 requires that
    unpaid losses, to be taken into account in computing losses
    incurred, are to represent a fair and reasonable estimate of the
    amount health insurance companies actually will be required to
    pay, not of what they theoretically might have to pay.   Section
    1.832-4(b), Income Tax Regs., in relevant part provides:
    Every insurance company to which this section applies
    must be prepared to establish to the satisfaction of the
    district director that the part of the deduction for “losses
    incurred” which represents unpaid losses at the close of the
    taxable year comprises only actual unpaid losses. * * *
    These losses must be stated in amounts which, based upon the
    facts in each case and the company's experience with similar
    cases, represent a fair and reasonable estimate of the
    amount the company will be required to pay. * * *
    The evidence shows that in the years before 1990, Blue Cross
    consistently used the wait-and-pay approach and did not pay
    (unless in error), reserve for, or expect to make payments with
    respect to its COB savings.
    Blue Cross argues that because it could, after 1989, elect
    to use the pay-and-pursue approach or that primary insurers could
    fail to make their payments (e.g., in the event a primary insurer
    becomes insolvent), Blue Cross’ COB savings, without the benefit
    - 19 -
    of hindsight, theoretically could reflect salvage recoverable
    taken into account as of December 31, 1989.
    As previously indicated, for the years in issue and in
    subsequent years, Blue Cross generally did not make payments for
    which other companies under the COB provisions were primarily
    responsible.   We conclude that (because Blue Cross used the wait-
    and-pay approach before making secondary payments) Blue Cross’
    COB savings do not qualify as estimated salvage recoverable and
    are not allowable as a deduction under the special deduction
    rule.
    To qualify as estimated salvage recoverable for purposes of
    the special deduction rule there must exist an expectation of
    actual payment.   The mere fact that a loss has been incurred on
    the date of an injury does not mean that health insurance
    companies expect to be responsible for and expect to pay the full
    amount of claims relating to the injury.
    With respect, however, to the 3 percent of the $70,950,582
    that Blue Cross calculated as its total estimated salvage
    recoverable reflecting amounts Blue Cross actually paid and then
    recovered from third-party tortfeasors and other health insurance
    companies, such amounts do represent genuine subrogation
    recoverable and do qualify as estimated salvage recoverable under
    the special deduction rule.
    Safe Harbor Relief
    - 20 -
    Blue Cross also contends that its estimate of salvage
    recoverable and related deductions under the special deduction
    rule qualify for safe harbor relief.     Under section 1.832-
    4(f)(2), Income Tax Regs., it is provided that, if the
    requirements for safe harbor are satisfied, respondent may be
    precluded from making an adjustment to the amounts of “bona fide”
    estimated salvage recoverable reported and claimed by health
    insurance companies.
    Health insurance companies seeking to qualify under the safe
    harbor provision, among other things, were required to file with
    State insurance regulators by September 16, 1991, a statement
    that identifies the extent to which the companies' incurred
    losses for each line of business, as reported on their 1989
    Annual Statements, were reduced by bona fide estimated salvage
    recoverable.   The pertinent language of section 1.832-4(f)(2)(i),
    Income Tax Regs., provides as follows:
    (2) Safe Harbor. The requirements of paragraph
    (f)(1) of this section are deemed satisfied and the amount
    that the company reports as bona fide estimated salvage
    recoverable is not subject to adjustment by the district
    director, if–-
    (i) The company files with the insurance
    regulatory authority of the company's state of
    domicile, on or before September 16, 1991, a
    statement disclosing the extent to which losses
    incurred for each line of business reported on its
    1989 annual statement were reduced by estimated
    salvage recoverable.
    - 21 -
    On or before September 16, 1991, Blue Cross filed a letter
    with the Texas Department of Insurance, the entire contents of
    which are set forth below:
    As you are aware, in reporting to your department
    [BLUE CROSS] has always followed actuarially accepted
    and certified practices for determining and reporting
    its losses incurred and its incurred unpaid claim
    reserves. In OBRA 1990, Congress granted a special one
    time deduction to insurance carriers who report losses
    incurred as we do. IRS regulations provide that a
    notification filed with your office will establish the
    amount of this allowable tax deduction.
    The sole purpose of this letter is to notify you
    that we have determined our special tax deduction to be
    87% of $74,780,518 discounted at 96.1538% for
    recoveries related to our losses incurred deduction
    prior to 1990 and reported in the 1989 Annual
    Statement.
    OUR REPORTING TO YOU HAS NOT CHANGED AND WILL NOT
    CHANGE IN ANY RESPECT FROM THE ACCEPTED METHODS AND
    APPROACHES WE HAVE ALWAYS USED. Our incurred unpaid
    claim reserves will continue to be determined using the
    same methods, include the same actuarial certifications
    as always and continue to be in full compliance with
    established methods and practices approved and
    routinely examined by your department. [Emphasis in
    original.]
    As respondent notes, the language of the above letter does
    not begin to disclose to Texas insurance regulators the extent to
    which Blue Cross' losses that were incurred for each line of
    business, as reported on its 1989 Annual Statement, were reduced
    by estimated salvage recoverable.   No separate lines of business
    are disclosed, and the words “estimated salvage recoverable” are
    - 22 -
    not even used in the letter.     We conclude that Blue Cross did not
    satisfy the disclosure requirement for safe harbor relief under
    section 1.832-4(f)(2), Income Tax Regs.
    Further, as previously held, Blue Cross’ calculation of its
    estimated salvage recoverable (consisting predominantly of COB
    savings) does not reflect “bona fide” or genuine salvage
    recoverable, and therefore Blue Cross’ disclosure of that
    calculation would not satisfy the disclosure required for safe
    harbor relief under section 1.832-4(f)(2), Income Tax Regs.
    To reflect the foregoing,
    Decision will be entered
    under Rule 155.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 361-98

Citation Numbers: 115 T.C. No. 12

Filed Date: 8/18/2000

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 11/14/2018