Examinations and Analysis Program
General Information
Arizona Revised Statutes ("ARS") § 20-156 provides the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions with the authority to perform examinations of insurance companies. ARS § 20-148 authorizes the Department to utilize independent contractor examiners to perform actuarial, technical, and other professional services.
The Department's Examinations Program consists of
- "Analysis" or "desk audit" work, which includes, but is not limited to, review of annual and quarterly statements, audited financial reports, reinsurance agreements, Form A, B and D filings, extraordinary dividends, biographical affidavits, actuarial reports, risk-based capital, workers' compensation deposits, certificate of authority applications, redomestication applications, requests for name changes, merger requests and withdrawal requests;
- "On-site examination" work , and
- "Post-examination" work, which may include report preparation, follow-up with examinees, and other activities).
When we conduct an on-site examination, we will assign one or more examiners to perform the work. An examination team may include some or all of the following: Examination Supervisor, Examiner-in-Charge, Assisting Examiners, or Specialist Examiners. We will provide the Examinee a letter identifying the examiners authorized to conduct the examination and describing other information relative to the cost of the examination.
What Can Examination Charges Include?
Examiner Fees
For contractor examiners, we will charge you for services at the examiner's hourly rate awarded in his/her contract with the State of Arizona. For employee examiners, we will charge you for services at a rate that corresponds to what a typical contractor would charge for the same category of service. The examiner's hourly rate may change during the examination period. The examiner contract renews annually and some examiners' hourly rates will change as a result of contract renewal terms. In addition, we may elect to use a contractor in a different examiner classification, which could change the examiner's hourly rate.
In accordance with ARS § 20-159 , the Examinee will be charged for examiner services for time spent working or traveling, and the related examination expenses. Charges may include pre-examination selection and preparation, examination, and post-examination costs, as well as other costs of evaluating compliance with Arizona law.
Contractor examiners are competitively procured by the Arizona State Procurement Office. To be able to be assigned to examination jobs, a vendor must have been awarded a contract in response to a Request For Proposals ("RFP"), which includes the qualifications, terms, and conditions for examination contractors as well as a description of the items for which examiners can be remunerated. We can utilize contractors from any state contract (accessible from the "Arizona Procurement Portal" website at https://app.az.gov).
Examiner Expenses
Examination expenses include but are not limited to, lodging, meals, airfare, ground transportation, and car rental. The lodging and meal expenses are based upon the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Domestic Per Diem Rates, accessible from the GSA web page.
Examination Invoices
Your invoice will detail the fees and expenses related to your examination. When reviewing your invoice, please note that a singular invoice may contain fees and expenses relating to more than one type of work performed (i.e. market conduct examination, financial examination, financial surveillance, et al). Weekly invoices include a charge to cover the cost of unallocated administrative costs arising from examinations. This charge, usually 50% of examiner fees, is subject to change based on prevailing administrative costs.
You must pay the invoiced amount within 14 calendar days from the invoice date. Please make your check or money order payable to INSURANCE EXAMINERS' REVOLVING FUND, and send your payment, with your invoice, to
Insurance Examiners' Revolving Fund
100 N 15th Ave Ste 102
Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2624
If you have any questions about an invoice, feel free to e-mail Mary Jordan at [email protected] or call her at (602) 364-2459.
How May an Examinee Inquire About Examination Charges?
You must pay invoices within 14 calendar days of the invoice date. If you contact us with an inquiry concerning an invoice prior to the payment date, we will defer the payment date until we respond to your inquiry.
You may choose whether to make an informal inquiry or a formal inquiry.
| FORMAL INQUIRY: Financial Examinations |
David Lee |
|
FORMAL INQUIRY: |
Maria Ailor |
| INFORMAL INQUIRY | Mary Jordan [email protected] Business Services Section Arizona Dept. of Insurance and Financial Institutions 100 N 15th Ave # 102 Phoenix, AZ 85007-2624 |
Submit formal inquiries in writing. Include a full description of the basis of the inquiry, supporting documents and the specific relief sought.
Upon receiving a formal inquiry, the examination coordinator will review and investigate the inquiry, and will provide a written resolution and explanation within seven calendar days. Amounts determined to be payable under the invoice shall be due the later of the original payment date or seven calendar days after the date of the decision.
We are committed toward resolving inquiries concerning your invoices as promptly as possible.