Statutory Discounts

This page is a rough draft and will need more work before it's finalized.

Statutory discounts are legislated incentives within the NFIP designed to encourage participation and ensure affordability for policyholders while they transition to full risk rating. Statutory discounts are slowly phased out over number of policy terms.

Glide Path

The glide path is a phased approach used to gradually eliminate subsidies provided through NFIP statutory discounts. Under this method, policyholders see annual premium increases capped at 18–25%, ensuring a manageable transition from lower premiums to actuarial-based pricing while maintaining affordability over time.

• Annual increase caps prevent steep rate hikes.
• Capped rate increases balance affordability with transitioning to actuarial rates.
• Lapses in coverage or other scenarios will result in losing statutory discounts.

Types

Pre-FIRM Discount

The Pre-FIRM discount applies to buildings constructed before the community's FIRM Date, marking its participation in the NFIP's regular program. Buildings are designated as "Pre-FIRM" if constructed prior to this date and "Post-FIRM" if built after the FIRM Date.

• Applies to buildings constructed before a community joined the NFIP.
• Compares the building's date of construction to the community's FIRM Date.
• Phased out via the glide path" methodology.

Newly Mapped Discount

The Newly Mapped discount applies to buildings reclassified from low-risk areas (non-Special Flood Hazard Areas) to high-risk areas (Special Flood Hazard Areas) due to updated flood mapping. This discount allows affected property owners to phase into higher premiums gradually using the glide path, making the transition to mandatory flood insurance requirements more affordable.

• Applies to properties reclassified from low-risk to high-risk areas.
• Allows gradual premium increases using the glide path.
• Ensures affordability as homeowners transition to mandatory flood insurance requirements.

Annual Increase Cap Discount

From the transcript, here is what is noted about the Annual Increase Cap discount within the NFIP:

1. Purpose: It serves as a mechanism to phase in premium increases gradually. This prevents a sudden, significant cost hike for policyholders transitioning from legacy rating methodologies or other subsidized rates.
2. Mechanism:
   • The cap limits how much a policy's cost can increase annually, typically following a "glide path."
   • This phased approach ensures a gradual adjustment to actuarial rates for existing coverage holders.
3. Discount Characteristics:
   • The Annual Increase Cap is categorized as its own type of discount in NFIP calculations.
   • It ensures policyholders don’t experience abrupt shifts from heavily subsidized rates to full actuarial costs.
4. Conditions That Can Remove the Discount:
   • A lapse in coverage is the most common reason for losing the Annual Increase Cap.
   • Transitioning from buildings under construction to fully completed structures can also remove this cap.
5. Relation to New Policies:
   • In cases of real estate transactions, this cap can potentially transfer to new policyholders if the building had prior NFIP coverage and meets specific conditions.

The Annual Increase Cap is integral to balancing affordability and actuarial soundness, ensuring a smooth rate transition for policyholders without immediate full-cost burdens.

Real Estate Transaction Discount

The Real Estate Transaction discount allows statutory discounts to transfer to a new NFIP policy when a property changes ownership, provided the sale occurred within the last year. Instead of requiring prior declarations pages, eligibility is established using settlement documents or deeds, ensuring continuity of coverage benefits for the new owner.

• Transferable discounts for properties insured under an NFIP policy and sold within the last year.
• Replaces legacy grandfathering systems.
• No prior declarations page required; proof is shown via settlement documents or deeds.

This page contains information about the NFIP. Find more NFIP Resources.