Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Continued Changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge are reported in other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings and reported on the same income statement line item as the hedged item and in the same period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings. The gain or loss on the termination of an effective cash flow hedge is reported in other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings and reported on the same income statement line item as the hedged item and in the same period or periods during which the hedged item affects earnings. Gains or losses on the termination of ineffective fair value or cash flow hedges are reported in earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss. In the event a hedged item is disposed of or the anticipated transaction being hedged is no longer likely to occur, we will terminate the related derivative and recognize the gain or loss on termination in current earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss. In the event a hedged item is disposed of subsequent to the termination of the hedging transaction, we reclassify any remaining gain or loss on the hedge out of accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings as a component of the same income statement line item wherein we report the gain or loss on disposition of the hedged item. For a derivative not designated as a hedging instrument, changes in the fair value of the derivative, together with the payment of periodic fees, if applicable, are recognized in earnings as a component of net realized investment gain or loss during the period of change in fair value. Cash flow activity from the settlement of derivative contracts is reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows as a component of proceeds from sales and maturities of other investments. In our consolidated balance sheets, we do not offset fair value amounts recognized for derivatives executed with the same counterparty under a master netting agreement and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral arising from those master netting agreements. See Notes 2, 3, and 4. Fair Value Measurement : Certain assets and liabilities are reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets and in our notes to our consolidated financial statements. We define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Therefore, fair value represents an exit price, not an entry price. The exit price objective applies regardless of our intent and/or ability to sell the asset or transfer the liability at the measurement date. Assets or liabilities with readily available actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less judgment utilized in measuring fair value. When actively quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar but not identical assets or liabilities, or other observable inputs. If observable inputs are not available, unobservable inputs and/or adjustments to observable inputs requiring management judgment are used to determine fair value. We categorize our assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value into a three-level hierarchy, based on the significance of the inputs. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to inputs which are unadjusted and represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). See Note 2. Realized Investment Gains and Losses : Realized investment gains and losses are reported as a component of revenue in the consolidated statements of income and are based upon specific identification of the investments sold. See Note 3. Allowance for Credit Losses on Premiums Receivable : We establish an allowance for credit losses on premiums receivable, which is deducted from the gross amount of our receivable balance, to present the net amount we expect to collect on this asset. The allowance is forward-looking in nature and is calculated based on considerations regarding both historical events and future expectations. Periodic changes in the allowance are recorded through earnings. The allowance on our premiums receivable is primarily determined using an aging analysis as well as historical lapse and delinquency rates by line of business, adjusted for key factors that may impact our future expectation of premium receipts such as changes in customer demographics, business practices, economic conditions, and product offerings. We write off premiums receivable amounts when determined to be uncollectible, which is based on various factors, including the aging of premiums receivable past the due date and specific communication with customers. At January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, the allowance for expected credit losses on premium receivables was $23.8 million and $38.8 million, respectively, on gross premium receivables of $543.0 million and $525.8 million, respectively. The allowance at January 1, 2020 includes amounts 119 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued Unum Group and Subsidiaries