What is a Risk Retention Group?
A risk retention group is a liability insurance company that is owned by its policyholders. Under the LRRA, risk retention groups like Recreation Risk Retention Group, must be licensed by one state.
Recreation Risk Retention Group is licensed by and domiciled in the state of Vermont. Vermont is known as the "gold standard" for regulating risk retention groups. Vermont is known to be a fair, but extremely thorough, regulator.
After being licensed in their state of domicile, risk retention groups can insure members in all states in which it registers to do business. Risk retention groups usually retain a portion of the risk that they write, and obtain reinsurance for the rest.
What is the Liability Risk Retention Act?
The Liability Risk Retention Act (LRRA) is a US Federal law that was enacted to help US businesses, professionals, municipalities, non-profits, among others, to obtain liability insurance. At the time the law was enacted, there was a liability crisis - liability insurance had become either unaffordable or unavailable altogether for many of those the law was passed to help. Traditional insurance has become unavailable altogether for most of the members Recreation Risk Retention Group insures.
Who forms Risk Retention Groups?
Of the roughly 214 risk retention groups currently in operation*, the vast majority are in the area of health care. The rest are spread across areas of transportation, property development, government and institutions, professional services, manufacturing and commerce, environmental, financial, and leisure. In all cases, risk retention groups can only include those engaging in a similar business or activities and having similar liability risk exposure. Recreation Risk Retention Group only insures those involved in activities related to recreation, concentrating on hang gliding, paragliding and powered paragliding, and has strict underwriting guidelines for eligibility.
How many Risk Retention Groups are there?
*According to the Risk Retention Reporter, there were 214 risk retention groups operating as of October 2020.
Are Risk Retention Groups part of any state guaranty fund?
No. Because the LRRA is a US Federal law, risk retention groups are not part of any state guaranty funds. Recreation Risk Retention Group intends to maintain conservative financial ratios to demonstrate its independent financial strength.
Every policy issued by Recreation Risk Retention Group will have the following notice:
NOTICE: This policy is issued by your risk retention group. Your risk retention group may not be subject to all of the insurance laws and regulations of your State. State insurance insolvency guaranty funds are not available for your risk retention group
What are the advantages of Risk Retention Groups?
Unlike traditional insurance companies who are owned by investors on Wall street or private investors, risk retention groups are owned by the very members they insure. The members, as owners, have control which simply does not exist in traditional insurance companies. This control often results in long term lower premium rates, better coverage, and more stability. Risk retention groups have more hands on management, which often translates to more effective loss control and risk management programs for their members, leading to a favorable loss experience in total. Recreation Risk Retention Group provides its member policyholders with specialized coverages unique to the hang gliding, paragliding and powered paragliding sport, customized claims service, and loss control and risk management resources tailored to the sport. The Recreation Risk Retention Group Board of Directors is elected annually by the members insured by Recreation RRG.
What kinds of insurance coverage do Risk Retention Groups Provide?
The LRRA allows risk retention groups to write all types of third party liability insurance policies. It does not allow risk retention groups to write property insurance, workers compensation insurance, or personal lines, such as homeowners or personal auto insurance.
Who regulates Risk Retention Groups?
The LRRA is a US Federal law. But there is no US Federal insurance regulator. Instead, a risk retention group is formed as an insurance company in one state - the so called state of "domicile". The insurance department of that domicile state has the regulatory authority over the risk retention group - the LRRA relies upon the domicile state to regulate the risk retention groups that the state licenses. Vermont has earned its reputation as the "Gold Standard" for risk retention groups, due to its fair but thorough regulation of risk retention groups domiciled there. Recreation Risk Retention Group is regulated by the Department of Financial Regulation in the state of Vermont.
Are Recreation Risk Retention Group members assessable?
No. Recreation Risk Retention Group is a nonassessable entity. This means that after a member has paid its initial membership capitalization fee, the member will never be asked to pay special fees above and beyond the premium for their insurance.
Does Recreation Risk Retention Group have protection for large claims?
Yes. Just like commercial insurance companies, Recreation Risk Retention Group intends on maintaining a conservative surplus ratio and buys reinsurance to cover large claims. Recreation Risk Retention Group has purchased reinsurance for claims in excess of its retention (including defense and indemnity). Recreation Risk Retention Group is reinsured by a A.M. Best A (Excellent) Rated reinsurers.