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Glossary of Insurance Terms

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Abandonment
As used in property insurance, prohibits the insured from abandoning damaged property to the insurance company for repair or disposal.
Accelerated Benefits Rider
An adjustment (rider) to a life insurance policy that allows for the early payment of some portion of the policy’s face amount should the insured suffer from a terminal illness or injury.
Accidental Death Benefit Rider
An adjustment (rider) to a life insurance policy that provides for payment of an additional cash benefit when death occurs by accidental means. This amount depends on the value of the policy.
Accidental Death Insurance
An Insurance poicy that provides payment if the insured’s death occurs as a results from an accident.
Accounts Receivable Coverage
Covers loss of sums owed to the insured by its customers that are uncollectible due to damage by an insured peril to accounts receivable records
Actual Cash Value (ACV)
Cost to repair or replace damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, less depreciation
Additional Insured
A person or organization for whom insured status is arranged by endorsement
Advertising Injury
General liability coverage that insures against libel, slander, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement and misappropriation of advertising in connection with the insured’s advertising of its goods or services
Agent
An authorized representative of an insurance company.
Aggregate
The maximum amount an insurance company will pay during the policy
All Risk Coverage
Property insurance covering loss arising from all causes of loss except those that are specifically excluded
Annually Renewable Term
Term insurance that provides coverage for one year and allows the policy owner to renew his or her coverage each year.
Application
A form with the information needed for an insurance company to underwrite and rate a specific policy
Assignment Assignment
The transfer of ownership of a Life Insurance policy from one person to another.
Attained Age
Your current age. Your attained age is a factors life insurance companies use to determine premiums.
Audit
A verification of the financial records, usually payroll or receipts, of an organization to determine exposures and premiums
Automobile
A land motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer designed for travel on public roads, not including ‘mobile equipment’

Backdating
Making the effective date of a policy earlier than the date of application. Backdating is often used to make the age of the applicant lower than it actually was at the time of application so that he/she can get a lower premium. State laws often set limits to this.
Bailee Coverage
Coverage on property left in the care of the insured for storage, repair or servicing
Basic Cause of Loss Form
Property coverage for named perils: Fire, Lightening, Explosion, Smoke, Windstorm, Hail, Riot, Civil Commotion, Aircraft, Vehicles, Vandalism, Sprinkler Leakage, Sinkhold Collapse and Volcanic Action
Basic Limits
The minimum limits of liability that can be carried by an insured
Beneficiary
The designated person set to receive the death benefit if the insured should die.
Best’s Rating
A rating system by A.M. Best Company giving the financial condition of insurance companies
Binder
A temporary insurance policy that expires at the end of a specific time period or when a permanent policy is written. A binder is given to an applicant for insurance during the time it takes the an insurance company to complete the policy paperwork.
Bodily Injury by Accident Limit
The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers’ Compensation Policy for claims arising out of any one accident, regardless of how many employee claims arise out of the accident
Bodily Injury by Disease-Policy Limit
The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers’ Compensation Policy employee bodily injury by disease claims during the policy period regardless of the number of employees who make such claims
Bodily Injury by Disease, Each Employee
The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers’ Compensation Policy for damages due to bodily injury by disease to any one employee
Bodily Injury Liability Limit
The insured is legally liable for damages due to bodily injury, sickness, or disease, including resulting death
Boiler & Machinery Insurance
Coverage for loss caused by mechanical or electrical equipment breakdown, including damage to the equipment
Bond
A written agreement in which one party, the surety, guarantees the performance or honesty of a second party, the principal (obligor), to the third party (obligee) to whom the performance or debt is owed
Brands and Labels Endorsement
Property insurance coverage that allows the insured to remove labels from damaged goods or mark the items as ‘salvage,’ provided the goods are not damaged in the process
Broad Causes of Loss Form
Property coverage for the named perils: Fire, Lightening, Explosion, Smoke, Windstorm, Hail, Riot, Civil Commotion, Aircraft, Vehicles, Vandalism, Sprinkler Leakage, Sinkhole Collapse, Volcanic Action, Breakage of Building Glass, Falling Objects, Weight of Snow, Ice or Sleet, Water Damage (in the form of leakage from appliances) and Collapse from Specified Causes
Building Ordinance Coverage
Covers against loss caused by enforcement or ordinances or laws regulating construction and repair of damaged buildings
Burglary
Theft of property by forcible entry, which is evidenced by visible signs, in a premises, by a person
Business Auto Policy
Auto Policy for businesses that includes auto liability and auto physical damage coverages
Business Income Coverage
Insurance covering loss of income by a business when operations are interrupted due to property loss that is a covered cause of loss
Business Interruption Coverage
See Business Income Coverage
Business Owners Policy (BOP)
A policy that combines property and liability coverages for special types of small businesses

Cancellation
The termination of an insurance policy usually before its expiration
Care, Custody or Control
An exclusion of liability insurance which eliminates coverage for damage to property in the insured’s care, custody or control
Carrier
The insurance company which provides coverage
Cash Benefits
The Money that is paid to the policy holder upon settlement of a covered claim.
Cash Value
The equity amount or “savings” accumulation in a whole life insurance policy.
Casualty Insurance
Insurance that covers loss caused by injuries to persons and the legal liability imposed on the insured for injury or for damage to property of others
Catastrophe
A severe loss causing sizable financial loss
Causes of Loss Forms
The commercial property forms that define the covered causes of loss for which coverage is provided. Commonly, there are 3 Cause of Loss Forms: Basic, Broad and Special
Certificate of Insurance
A document providing evidence that insurance has been purchased
Claim
A request by a policyholder or a claimant for payment under a policy of insurance
Claim Expense
Expenses of settling or investigating a claim
Claimant
The person presenting a claim
Claims Reserve
An amount of money set aside to meet claims reported but not paid
Class
A group of businesses who have common or similar exposures and are grouped together for rating purposes
Classification
The arranging or establishing of business groups or categories for rating purposes
Coinsurance Provision
An insurance provision for property coverages in which the policyholder must carry an amount of insurance that is at least equal to a set percentage of the value of the property in order to receive full payment of a loss
Collapse
Collapse of a building and collapse of personal property within a building due to specified causes (such as weight of snow, ice or rain). Does not include collapse due to design error or due to faulty workmanship or materials if the collapse occurs after construction is complete
Collision Insurance
Provides for payment to a covered automobile resulting from the striking of another object by a moving vehicle
Commercial General Liability Policy (CGL)
A coverage which protects business organizations against liability claims for bodily injury and property damage. Those claims may be the result of events at your place of business, from your business operations, the products or services you make or do, communications or advertisements your business broadcasts
Competitive State Funds
State-owned and operated facilities that write Workers’ Compensation Insurance solely for that state
Completed Operations
A General Liability coverage for the work of the insured that has been completed away from the business premises
Comprehensive Auto Coverage
Covers an automobile for loss or damage for all causes except for those specifically excluded
Compulsory Insurance
Insurance that is required by law
Concealment
Failure to disclose facts which may void an insurance policy
Conditional Receipt
Given to policy owners when they pay a premium at the time of the application. These receipts bind the insurance company, provided your policy is approved, but are subject to any other conditions stated on the receipt.
Conditions
Things agreed upon in an insurance policy that state the rights and the requirements of the insured and the insurer
Consequential Loss
An indirect loss such as the reduction in value of property that is the result of a direct damage loss
Constructive Total Loss:
Term used when damage to property is more than the value of the property
Contestable Clause
A provision in an insurance policy setting forth the conditions or time period under which the insurance company may contest or void the policy. After this time has lapsed, typically two years, the policy cannot be contested. Example: Suicide.
Contingent Beneficiary
Person or persons designated to receive the value of an insurance policy in case the original beneficiary is not alive.
Contract
An agreement between two or more parties with characteristics of mutual assent, competent parties, a valid consideration and legal subject
Convertible Term
A policy that may be changed to another form by contractual provision and without evidence of insurability. Most term policies are convertible into permanent insurance.
Countersignature
The signature of a licensed agent or representative on a policy that is required to validate the policy
Coverage*
Coverage is just another term for Insurance. It can be used to mean either the dollar amounts of insurance purchased ($500,000 of liability coverage), or the type of loss covered (coverage for theft).
Cross-Purchase Plan
An agreement that provides that upon a business owner’s death, surviving owners will purchase the deceased’s interest, often with funds from life insurance.
Cumulative Injury
A type of injury which occurs from the repetition of tasks over an extended length of time

Data Processing or EDP Coverage
All risk property insurance for electronic data processing equipment (computers), computer programs and data including mechanical breakdown, electrical injury and changes in temperature and humidity
Death Benefit
The amount of money paid to the beneficiary when the insured person dies.
Debris Removal
The cost of removal of debris from covered property damaged by an insured peril
Decreasing Term Insurance
Term life insurance on which the face value slowly decreases in scheduled steps from the date the policy comes into force to the date the policy expires, while the premium remains level. The intervals between decreases are usually monthly or annually.
Deductible
The amount of loss which is paid or absorbed by the insured prior to determining the insurance company’s liability
Deposit Premium
The amount of premium required at the beginning of a policy prior to the actual premium being determined
Depreciation
The reduction in value of property over a period of time. Usually as a result of age, wear and tear, or economic obsolescence
Direct Damage
Causes of loss that produce direct and straightforward property damage (without interruption in time or deviation in space) from the cause of the event to the damaged property
Double Indemnity
Payment of twice the basic benefit in the event of loss resulting from specified causes or under specified circumstances.
Driver Other Car Endorsement
An endorsement that can be added to an automobile policy that gives protection while the insured designated in the endorsement is driving a car other than the one named in the policy
Drop Down Provision
A clause used in Umbrella policies providing that the Umbrella will ‘drop-down’ over underlying policy aggregate limits when they have been reduced or exhausted

Earned Premium
The amount of premium that has been used for certain periods of time
Earth Movement or Earthquake Exclusion
An exclusion found in most property insurance policies eliminating coverage for earth movement or earthquake, except ensuing fire
Effective Date
The date on which an insurance binder or policy goes into effect
Electrical Damage or Injury Exclusion
An exclusion usually contained in property insurance policies eliminating coverage for damage to electrical appliances caused by artificially generated currents, except for ensuing fire or explosion
Employee Dishonesty Coverage
Coverage for theft of money, securities or property by an employee
Employee Leasing
A staffing method which an employee leasing company provides all or most of its client’s employees
Employers Excess Indemnity Insurance
Insurance coverage purchased by employers that do not subscribe to the Texas Workers’ Compensation law
Employers Liability Coverage
Part 2 of the Workers’ Compensation policy which pays on behalf of the employer all sums that the employer becomes legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury by accident or disease sustained by any employee of the insured arising out of and in the course of his employment by the insured
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
A form of liability insurance covering wrongful acts arising from employment practices such as wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment
Endorsement
A document attached to an insurance policy that changes the original policy provisions
Equipment Floater
A property insurance coverage for equipment that is often moved from place to place
Estimated Premium
A preliminary premium amount that could be adjusted based on a variance in exposures
Evidence of Insurability
Any statement or proof of a person’s physical condition, occupation, etc., affecting acceptance of the applicant for insurance.
Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance
Coverage that is provided by insurers not licensed in the states where the risk is located
Excess Liability Policy
A policy that provides additional limits in excess of an underlying liability policy
Exclusions
Specified hazards listed in a policy for which benefits will not be paid.
Expected or Intended
An exclusion for injury or damage that is expected or intended
Expediting Expense Coverage
Coverage providing reimbursement of expenses for temporary repairs and costs incurred to speed up the permanent repair or replacement of covered property or equipment
Expense Constant
A small flat expense charged to Workers’ Compensation policies
Experience Modifier
A debit or credit factor developed by measuring the difference between the insured’s actual past experience and the expected or actual experience of the class of business
Expiration
The ending date of an insurance policy
Exposure Base
The basis of rates that are applied to determine premium. Some exposures may be measured by payroll, receipts, sales, square footage, area, man-hours or per unit
Extra Expense Coverage
Coverage for reimbursement of expenses in excess of normal operating expenses that are incurred to continue operations after a direct damage loss
Extraterritorial Coverage
The coverage for extending workers’ compensation law to provide benefits for workers hired in one state but injured while working in another state

Face Amount
The amount covered by the terms of an insurance contract, usually found on the first page of the policy.
Fiduciary Liability
The liability placed on trustees, employers, fiduciaries and professional administrators with respect to errors and omissions in the administration of employee benefit programs
Final Expenses
Expenses incurred at the time of a person’s death. These include but are not limited to:funeral costs, court expenses, current bills or debt, mortgages, loans and taxes.
Fine Arts Coverage
Property insurance for works of art
Fire Department Service Charge Coverage
Coverage in a property insurance policy for charges incurred by the insured from a fire department for their services in fighting a fire
Fire Legal Liability Coverage
Liability coverage for the insured’s legal liability for fire damage to premises rented by the insured
Fire Wall
A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire from one part of a building to another
Firewall
A computer that protects a company’s private network from outside internet users
Fixed Benefit
A death benefit, the dollar amount of which does not vary.
Flat Cancellation
The full cancellation of a policy as of the effective date of coverage which requires the return of paid premium in full
Flood Coverage
Coverage for damage to property caused by flood
Flood Exclusion
A provision in most all property insurance policies eliminating coverage for damage by flood and possibly other types of water damage, such as seepage and sewer backup
Follow Form
An umbrella policy provision that follows the underlying policy for coverages and policy provisions
Forgery or Alteration Coverage
Covers loss due to the dishonesty of writing, signing or altering of checks and bank drafts
Fortuitous Event
An event that is subject to chance without the implication of suddenness
Free Look
Trial period required in most states where policy owners have up to 20 days to examine their new policies with no obligation.
Frequency
The number of times that a loss will occur within any given period of time
Full Coverage
Any form of insurance that provides payment in full of all losses caused by the perils insured against without applying a deductible or depreciation
Funeral Expenses
Expenses including casket, vault, grave plot, headstone and funeral director.

Garage Liability Insurance
Insurance coverage for the legal liability of automobile dealers, garages, repair shops and service stations for bodily injury and property damage arising out of their business operations
Garagekeepers Coverage
Provides coverage to owners of storage garages, parking lots and body and repair shops for their liability of damage to automobiles left in their custody for safekeeping or repair
General Aggregate Limit
The maximum amount of insurance payable during the policy period for losses (other than those arising from the products – completed operations hazards as covered under the standard commercial general liability policy)
General Liability Insurance
Insurance protecting businesses from most liability exposures other than automobile and professional liability
Glass Insurance
A property insurance policy covering breakage of building glass regardless of cause
Governing Classification
In Workers’ Compensation Insurance, the classification that best describes the workers’ compensation exposure of an employer’s business
Grace Period
Period of time after the due date of a premium during which the policy remains in force without penalty.
Graded Premium Policy
A type of whole life policy designed for people who want more life coverage than they can currently afford. They pay a lower premium rate that increases gradually over the first three to five years and then remains constant over the life of the policy.
Gross Negligence
Willful and wanton misconduct
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
The weight specified by a manufacturer for the maximum total loaded weight of a single vehicle
Guaranteed Term
A form of renewable term insurance that remains in force as long as the premiums are paid on time. With guaranteed term insurance, the insurance company cannot terminate the policy during the term.

Hired Automobile
An automobile whose exclusive use has been temporarily given to another for a monetary sum or other consideration. The business auto definition of ‘hired autos,’ however, includes autos borrowed except those borrowed from employees or partners
Hold Harmless Agreement
A contractual agreement that requires one contracting party to assume certain legal liabilities of the other party
Host Liquor Liability
Liability coverage for hosts of business or social functions arising out of the serving or distribution of alcoholic beverages by a party not engaged in this activity as a business enterprise

Improvements and Betterments
Additions or changes made by a lessee at his own expense to property that may not legally be removed. Usually covered under the tenants property coverage
Incontestable Clause
A clause in a policy providing that a policy has been in effect for a given length of time (two or three years), the insurer shall not be able to contest the statements contained in the application. In life policies, if an insured lied as to the condition of his health at the time the policy was taken out, that lie could not be used to contest payment under the policy if death occurred after the time limit stated in the incontestable clause.
Increasing Term Insurance
Term life insurance in which the death benefit increases periodically over the policy’s term. Usually purchased as a cost of living rider to a whole life policy.
Incurred Losses
The amount of paid claims and loss reserves within a particular period of time, usually a policy year. Customarily computed as losses incurred during the period, plus outstanding losses at the end of the period, less outstanding losses at the beginning of the period
Independent Adjuster
A claims adjuster who provides adjustment services to insurance companies but is not employed by them
Independent Contractor
An individual or company who has agreed, in writing, with another party to perform a job or function on behalf of that party
Inflation Guard Provision
A provision that increases the limit of insurance by a specified percentage over a specified period of time to offset inflation costs
Insurability
The condition of the individual wishing to be insured, including their health, susceptibility to injury and life expectancy.
Insurance
A formal social device for reducing risk by transferring the risks of several
individual entities to an insurer. The insurer agrees, for a consideration, to pay for the loss in the amount specified in the contract.
Insurance Policy
The printed form which serves as the contract between an insurer and an insured.
Insurance to Value
Insurance written in an amount equal to the value of the property or which meets coinsurance requirements
Insured
The party who is being insured. In life insurance, it is the person because of his or her death the insurance company would pay out a death benefit to a designated beneficiary.
Insurer
The insurance company; Party that provides insurance coverage, typically through a contract of insurance.
Irrevocable Beneficiary
A beneficiary that cannot be changed without that beneficiary’s consent.

Joint Venture
A business relationship when two or more persons join their labor or property for a business undertaking and share profits

Lapse
Termination of a policy due to the policy owner’s failure to pay the premium within the grace period.
Leasehold Interest
Property insurance covering the loss suffered by a tenant due to termination of a lease because of damage to the leased premises by a covered loss
Lessee
The person to whom a lease is granted
Lessor
The person granting the lease
Liability
The legal obligation to pay a monetary award for injury or damage caused by one’s negligent or statutorily prohibited action
Liberalization Clause
A provision within an insurance policy that broadens the coverage if the insurance company offers a broader coverage form within the first 45 days of coverage
Lien
An obligation that can be held by an individual who has an interest in a particular matter or property
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live based on a national average per age group, and other factors.
Life Insurance
Insurance coverage that pays out a set amount of money to specified beneficiaries upon the death of the individual who is insured.
Limit of Liability
The most an insurance company agrees to pay in the case of loss
Limited Pay Policy
A type of whole life insurance designed to let the policyholder pay higher premiums over a specific time period such as 10 or 20 years so that they won’t have to pay any premiums for the rest of his or her life.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
A federal law that provides workers’ compensation benefits to employees of a vessel injured in maritime employment – usually in loading, unloading, repairing or building a vessel – but not applicable to crew members
Loss
The amount an insurance company pays for damages under the terms of a policy
Loss Adjustment Expense
The cost assessed to a particular claim for investigating and adjusting that claim
Loss Constant
A flat charge added to the premium of small workers’ compensation policies to offset higher loss ratios
Loss Control
A technique that is put in place to reduce the possibility that a loss will occur or reduce the severity of those that do occur
Loss Payable Clause
An insurance clause that authorizes loss payments to a person or entity having an insurable interest in the covered property
Loss Ratio
Percentage of losses incurred against earned premiums
Loss Report
A form showing reported claims which provides information such as the date of occurrence, type of claim, amount paid and amount reserved for each loss
Loss Reserve
An estimated amount set aside for a particular claim that has not yet been paid
Lost Policy Release
A signed statement by the named when the insured wishes to cancel the policy, but has lost or mislaid the policy, which releases the insurance company from all liability or losses

Medical Expenses
Reasonable charges for medical, surgical, x-ray, dental, ambulance, hospital, professional nursing, prosthetic devices, and funeral expenses. What is considered reasonable is outlined in a policy.
Medical Payments, Auto
Coverage, which is optional, under an auto policy to pay for medical expenses for bodily injury caused by an auto accident, regardless of fault. Coverage for persons other than the named insured and his or her family members is typically restricted to circumstances when they are occupants of the insured auto
Medical Payments, General Liability
A general liability coverage that reimburses others, regardless of fault, for medical or funeral expenses incurred as a result of bodily injury or death sustained by an accident
Mexico Coverage
Coverage which is sometimes provided under automobile policies for the operation of an insured motor vehicle within Mexico, usually limited to a stated number of miles from the U.S. border
Minimum Premium
The lowest amount of premium to be charged for providing a particular insurance coverage
Misrepresentation
The act of knowingly presenting false information.
Mobile Equipment
Equipment such as earthmovers, tractors, diggers, farm machinery, forklifts, etc., that even when self-propelled, are not considered as automobiles for insurance purposes
Monopolistic State Funds
States or Jurisdictions where an employer must obtain workers’ compensation insurance from a state fund or qualify as a self-insurer, as is allowed in five of the states: North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Mortality Rate
The number of deaths in a group of people, usually expressed as deaths per thousand.
Mortality Table
A table showing the incidence of death at specified age groups.
Mortgage Clause
Property insurance provisions granting protection for the mortgagee named in the policy. It establishes that loss to mortgaged property is payable to the insured and to the mortgagee named in the policy

Named Perils Coverage
A property insurance term referring to exact causes of loss specifically listed as covered
National Flood Insurance Program
A federally funded program established to make flood insurance available to properties located in participating communities National Flood Insurance Program: A federally funded program established to make flood insurance available to properties located in participating communities
Nonadmitted Insurer
An insurance company that is not licensed to do business in a specific state. The insurers may write coverage through an excess and surplus lines broker that is licensed in these jurisdictions
Nonowned Automobile
In commercial auto policies, coverage for autos that are used in connection with the named insured’s business but are neither owned, leased, hired, rented or borrowed by the named insured. The term specifically applies to vehicles owned by employees and used for company business
Nonsubscription
A Workers’ Compensation term used in Texas that refers to employers who choose to be out of the workers’ compensation system. Firms that are proven negligent in causing a worker’s injury, can be held liable in tort, since nonsubscribing employers waive the traditional common law defenses available to employers subject to workers’ compensation laws

Occupational Hazard
A condition in the workplace that increases the chances of the an accident, sickness, or death. It usually will mean higher premiums.
Occurrence
A continual, gradual or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions. General liability policies insure liability for bodily injury or property damage that is caused by an occurrence
Original Age
The age you were when you bought an insurance policy.
Other Insured Rider
The temporary addition to an insurance policy, usually a member of the direct family.
Ownership
All rights, benefits and privileges under life insurance policies are controlled by their owners. Policy owners may or may not be the insured. Ownership may be assigned or transferred by written request of current owner.

Package Policy
A policy providing several different coverages combined into one policy. Refers to a policy providing both general liability insurance and property insurance
Payroll Limitation
A limit on the amount of payroll for certain classifications used for the development of premium
Peril
Cause of loss such as fire, windstorm, collision, etc.
Personal Auto Policy (PAP)
A policy insuring private-passenger autos owned by individuals
Personal Injury
A General Liability coverage for insurable offenses that cause harm, other than bodily injury, such as false arrest, detention or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction, slander, libel and invasion of privacy
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
An automobile insurance coverage mandated by law in some states. The statutes typically require insurers to provide or offer to provide first-party benefits for medical expenses, loss of income, funeral expenses and similar expenses without regard to fault
Personal Property
All tangible property not classified as real property such as contents
Policy
The printed document given to the insured, outlining the terms and conditions of the Insurance coverage.
Policy Fee
A one-time charge per policy that does not change with the size of the premium
Policy Holder
The person who owns a life insurance policy. This is usually the insured person, but it may also be a relative of the insured, a partnership or a corporation.
Policy Period
The term or duration of a policy including the effective and expiration dates
Pollutant
An irritant or contaminant, whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous form, including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste
Preferred Risk
A positive characteristic of someone seeking to be insured. Usually means a better likely hood for long life, and usually means a lower premium.
Premises
The location where coverage applies
Premises-Operations
A category of hazard ordinarily insured by a general liability policy which is composed of those exposures to loss that fall outside the defined ‘products-completed operations hazard,’ including liability for injury or damage arising out of the insured’s premises or out of the insured’s business operations while such operations are in progress
Premium
The agreed upon, payment made to keep an insurance policy in force, usually a monthly payment.
Premium Flexibility
The policy holder’s right to vary the amount of premium paid each month.
Primary Beneficiary
In life insurance, the beneficiary designated by the insured as the first to receive policy benefits.
Primary Policy
The insurance policy that pays first when you have a loss that’s covered by more than one policy.
Pro Rata Cancellation
The cancellation of an insurance policy with the return premium being the full proportion of premium for the unexpired term of the policy, without penalty for early cancellation
Product
Items manufactured, sold, handled, distributed or disposed of by the named insured or others involved with the named insured in the course of their business. Includes containers, parts and equipment, product warranties and provision of or failure to provide instructions and warnings
Product Liability
The liability for bodily injury or property damage a merchant or manufacturer may incur as a consequence of some defect in the product sold or manufactured
Products-Completed Operations
General Liability coverage for liability arising out of the insured’s products or business operations conducted away from the insured’s premises once those operations have been completed
Professional Liability
Coverage designed to protect professionals such as physicians and real estate brokers, against liability incurred as a result of errors and omissions in performing professional services
Property Damage
In the general liability policy, a physical injury to property, resulting in the loss of use
Property Insurance
First-party insurance for real and personal property against physical loss or damage
Provisions
Details of an insurance policy which explain the benefits, conditions and other features of the insurance contract.

Re-entry Option
An option in a renewable term life policy under which the policy owner is guaranteed, at the end of the term, to be able to renew his or her coverage without evidence of insurability, at a premium rate specified in the policy.
Real Property
Real estate including buildings and vegetation
Reinstatement
Putting a lapsed policy back in force by producing satisfactory evidence of insurability and paying any past-due premiums required.
Renewal Policy
A policy issued to replace an expiring policy
Rents or Rental Value Insurance
Insurance that reimburses a building owner for loss of rental income due to damage by an insured peril
Replacement
A new policy written to take the place of one currently in force.
Representation
Statements made by applicants on their applications for insurance that they represent as being substantially true to the best of their knowledge and belief but that are not warranted as exact in every detail.
Return Premium
The amount of premium due the insured should the actual cost of a policy be less than the insured previously paid
Rider
An attachment to a policy that modifies its conditions by expanding or restricting benefits or excluding certain conditions from coverage.
Risk
The chance of injury, damage, or loss.
Robbery
Theft of property while force is used or threatened

Secondary Beneficiary
An alternate beneficiary designated to receive payment, usually in the event the original beneficiary predeceases the insured.
Short-Term Cancellation
Cancellation of an insurance policy prior to the expiration date in which a penalty in the form of a less than full pro-rata premium refund is allowed
Single Premium Policy
A whole life policy for people who want to buy a policy for a one-time lump sum, and then be covered for the rest of their lives without paying any additional premiums.
Special Causes of Loss Form
A cause of loss form providing coverage from all causes of loss unless specifically excluded or limited
Specified Causes of Loss Coverage
Auto physical damage coverage only for losses caused by the perils listed in the policy
Sprinkler Leakage Coverage
Coverage for property damage caused by the accidental discharge or leakage of water from automatic sprinkler systems or other fire prevention devices
Surplus Lines Insurance
Insurance written by insurers not licensed in the states where the risks are located and placed with such insurers under the surplus line laws of the various states. Before such placements can be made through specially licensed surplus line agents and brokers, state laws generally require evidence reported before some predetermined future date (‘sunset’)

Term
Period for which the policy runs. In life insurance, this is to the end of the term period for term insurance.
Term Insurance
Protection during limited number of years; expiring without value if the insured survives the stated period, which may be one or more years but usually is five to twenty years, because such periods usually cover the needs for temporary protection.
Third-Party Owner
A policy owner who is not the prospective insured. The policy owner and the insured may be, and often are the same person. If for example, you apply for and are issued an insurance policy on your life, then you are both the policy owner and the insured and may be known as the policy owner-insured. If, however, your mother applies for and is issued a policy on your life, then she is the policy owner and you are the insured.
Time Element Insurance
A term referring to property coverage for loss of earnings or income resulting from the inability to put damaged property to its normal use
Transit Coverage
Coverage on the insured’s property while in transit from one location to another, over land

Umbrella Liability Policy
A policy designed to provide additional protection against catastrophic losses covered under liability policies, such as the business auto policy, commercial general liability policy, watercraft and aircraft liability policies and employers liability coverage. It provides excess limits when the limits of the underlying liability policies are used up by the payment of claims and it drops down and picks up where the underlying policy leaves off when the aggregate limit of the underlying policy in question is exhausted by the payment of claims. It also provides protection against some claims not covered by the underlying policies, subject to a self-insured retention
Underinsured Motorists Coverage
Provides coverage for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, for losses incurred by an insured when an accident is caused by a motorist who does not have sufficient insurance limits
Underlying Coverage
The insurance or coverage in place on the same risk that will respond to loss before the excess policy is called on to pay any portion of the claim
Underwriter
Company receiving premiums and accepting responsibility for fulfilling the policy contract. Also, company employee who decides whether the company should assume a particular risk; or the agent who sells the policy
Unearned Premium
That portion of the policy premium that represents the unexpired policy term
Uninsurable Risk
A person who is not acceptable for insurance due to excessive risk.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Provides coverage for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, for losses incurred by an insured when an accident is caused by a motorist who is not insured
Universal Life
An interest-sensitive life insurance policy that builds cash values. The premium payer has control over how the policy is structured. He has the flexibility to eliminate the premiums (essentially pay up the policy and pay no more premiums) or have the premiums continue for life. It is a matter of juggling three variables: the assumed interest rate, the cash value and the premium payment plan. The policy is interest-sensitive, and if interest rates change from the assumed interest, it will affect the other two variables. In the past, many Universal Life Policies were structured assuming a higher interest rate then was actually received, therefore, most of them have under performed. If you have a Universal Life Policy, you should have it evaluated to see if it needs to have the premiums adjusted to get it back on track. A fourth variable that has not been a factor but could be in the future, and the owner should be aware of, is the Mortality variable. Universal Life policies are usually structured assuming current mortality rates. The insurance companies reserve the right to change those rates.
Utility Service Interruption Coverage
Coverage for the loss to an insured due to lack of incoming electricity which was caused by damage from a covered cause of loss, such as a fire or windstorm, to property away from the insured’s premises – usually the utility generating station. Also referred to as ‘off-premises power coverage’

Vacancy Provision
Property insurance provision found in commercial property policies that restrict coverage in connection with buildings that have been vacant for a specified number of days, usually 60 days
Valuable Papers and Records Coverage
Coverage that pays the cost to reconstruct damaged or destroyed valuable papers and records and usually includes almost all forms of printed documents or records except money or securities; data processing programs, data and media are usually excluded.

Waiver of Premium
Rider or provision included in most life insurance policies exempting the insured from paying premiums after he or she has been disabled for a specified period of time, usually six months.
Waiver of Subrogation
Also known as ‘transfer of rights of recovery,’ the relinquishment by an insurer of the right to collect from another party for damages paid on behalf of the insured.
Whole Life Insurance
Life insurance that is kept in force for a person’s whole life as long as the scheduled premiums are maintained. All Whole Life policies build up cash values. Most Whole Life policies are guaranteed as long as the scheduled premiums are maintained. The variable in a Whole life Policy is the dividend which could vary depending on how well the insurance is doing. If the company is doing well and the policies are not experiencing a higher mortality than projected, premiums are paid back to the policy holder in the form of dividends. Policyholders can use the cash from dividends in many ways. The three main uses are: it can be used to lower or vanish premiums, it can be used to purchase more insurance or it can be used to pay for term insurance.
Workers’ Compensation
Protection which provides benefits to employees for injury or contracted disease arising out of and in the course of employment. Most states have laws which require such protection for workers and prescribe the length and amount of such benefits provided.

Insurance Videos

LIFE Foundation – Learn more about preparing for the future.

Insurance Information Institute – The mission of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is to improve public understanding of insurance—what it does and how it works.