What is a primary effect of reinsurance on a primary insurer's claims?

• A. It shifts net exposure, affects settlement economics, and changes reserving for ceded portions; coordination with reinsurers is essential.
• B. It reduces the need for reserving.
• C. It eliminates settlement costs.
• D. It shifts net exposure across the enterprise.

Answer: (D)

Reinsurance mainly transfers part of the loss burden from the primary insurer to the reinsurer, meaning the insurer’s net exposure to claims is reduced and effectively distributed beyond its own books. When a claim is paid, the reinsurer covers the ceded portion up to the contract terms, so what remains at the primary insurer is smaller. This shifting of risk is the fundamental reason insurers purchase reinsurance: it stabilizes claim experience, protects capital, and lowers volatility in results. While reinsurance can influence how reserves are set or how settlements are coordinated, those are practical effects of the risk transfer rather than the core impact on claims.