Insurance Terms Glossary

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Source: © Insurance Information Institute, Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -

NOTE: This glossary of terminology is general in nature and your specific policy may have definitions              and/or provisions that differ from those listed here.

ACTUAL CASH VALUE	A form of insurance that pays damages equal to the replacement value of damaged property minus depreciation. (See Replacement cost )
ADDITIONAL LIVING EXPENSES	Extra charges covered by homeowners policies over and above the policyholder's customary living expenses. They kick in when the insured requires temporary shelter due to damage by a covered peril that makes the home temporarily uninhabitable.
ADJUSTER	An individual employed by a property/casualty insurer to evaluate losses and settle policyholder claims. These adjusters differ from public adjusters, who negotiate with insurers on behalf of policyholders, and receive a portion of a claims settlement. Independent adjusters are independent contractors who adjust claims for different insurance companies.
AFTERMARKET PARTS	See Crash parts; Generic auto parts
AGENT	Insurance is sold by two types of agents: independent agents, who are self-employed, represent several insurance companies and are paid on commission, and exclusive or captive agents, who represent only one insurance company and are either salaried or work on commission. Insurance companies that use exclusive or captive agents are called direct writers.
ANNUAL STATEMENT	Summary of an insurer’s or reinsurer’s financial operations for a particular year, including a balance sheet. It is filed with the state insurance department of each jurisdiction in which the company is licensed to conduct business.
ANNUITANT	The person(s) who receives the income from an annuity contract. Usually the owner of the contract or his or her spouse.
ANNUITY	A life insurance product that pays periodic income benefits for a specific period of time or over the course of the annuitant's lifetime. There are two basic types of annuities: deferred and immediate: Deferred annuities allow assets to grow tax deferred over time before being converted to payments to the annuitant. Immediate annuities allow payments to begin within about a year of purchase.
APPRAISAL	A survey to determine a property's insurable value, or the amount of a loss.
ARBITRATION	Procedure in which an insurance company and the insured or a vendor agree to settle a claim dispute by accepting a decision made by a third party.
AUTO INSURANCE POLICY	There are basically six different types of coverages. Some may be required by law. Others are optional. They are: 1. Bodily injury liability, for injuries the policyholder causes to someone else. 2. Medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car. 3. Property damage liability, for damage the policyholder causes to someone else's property. 4. Collision, for damage to the policyholder's car from a collision. 5. Comprehensive, for damage to the policyholder's car not involving a collision with another car (including damage from fire, explosions, earthquakes, floods, and riots), and theft. 6. Uninsured motorists coverage, for costs resulting from an accident involving a hit-and-run driver or a driver who does not have insurance.
AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUM	The price an insurance company charges for coverage, based on the frequency and cost of potential accidents, theft and other losses. Prices vary from company to company, as with any product or service. Premiums also vary depending on the amount and type of coverage purchased; the make and model of the car; and the insured's driving record, years of driving and the number of miles the car is driven per year. Other factors taken into account include the driver's age and gender, where the car is most likely to be driven and the times of day - rush hour in an urban neighborhood or leisure-time driving in rural areas, for example. Some insurance companies may also use credit history-related information.
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BINDER	Temporary authorization of coverage issued prior to the actual insurance policy.
BODILY INJURY LIABILITY COVERAGE	Portion of an auto insurance policy that covers injuries the policyholder causes to someone else.
BURGLARY AND THEFT INSURANCE	Insurance for the loss of property due to burglary, robbery or larceny. It is provided in a standard homeowners policy and in a business multiple peril policy.
BUSINESS INCOME INSURANCE (also known as BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE)	Commercial coverage that reimburses a business owner for lost profits and continuing fixed expenses during the time that a business must stay closed while the premises are being restored because of physical damage from a covered peril, such as a fire. Business interruption insurance also may cover financial losses that may occur if civil authorities limit access to an area after a disaster and their actions prevent customers from reaching the business premises. Depending on the policy, civil authorities coverage may start after a waiting period and last for two or more weeks.
BUSINESSOWNERS POLICY / BOP	A policy that combines property, liability and business interruption coverages for small- to medium-sized businesses. Coverage is generally cheaper than if purchased through separate insurance policies.
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CATASTROPHE	Term used for statistical recording purposes to refer to a single incident or a series of closely related incidents causing severe insured property losses totaling more than a given amount, currently $25 million.
CHARTERED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT / ChFC	A professional designation given by The American College to financial services professionals who complete courses in financial planning.
CHARTERED LIFE UNDERWRITER / CLU	A professional designation by The American College for those who pass business examinations on insurance, investments, and taxation, and have life insurance planning experience.
CHARTERED PROPERTY/CASUALTY UNDERWRITER / CPCU	A professional designation given by the American Institute for Property and Liability Underwriters. National examinations and three years of work experience are required.
COINSURANCE	In property insurance, requires the policyholder to carry insurance equal to a specified percentage of the value of property to receive full payment on a loss. For health insurance, it is a percentage of each claim above the deductible paid by the policyholder. For a 20 percent health insurance coinsurance clause, the policyholder pays for the deductible plus 20 percent of his covered losses. After paying 80 percent of losses up to a specified ceiling, the insurer starts paying 100 percent of losses.
COLLATERAL	Property that is offered to secure a loan or other credit and that becomes subject to seizure on default. (Also called security.)
COLLISION COVERAGE	Portion of an auto insurance policy that covers the damage to the policyholder's car from a collision.
COMMERCIAL LINES	Products designed for and bought by businesses. Among the major coverages are boiler and machinery, business interruption, commercial auto, comprehensive general liability, directors and officers liability, fire and allied lines, inland marine, medical malpractice liability, product liability, professional liability, surety and fidelity, and workers compensation. Most of these commercial coverages can be purchased separately except business interruption which must be added to a fire insurance (property) policy. (See Commercial multiple peril policy )
COMMERCIAL MULTIPLE PERIL POLICY	Package policy that includes property, boiler and machinery, crime, and general liability coverages.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE	Portion of an auto insurance policy that covers damage to the policyholder's car not involving a collision with another car (including damage from fire, explosions, earthquakes, floods, and riots), and theft.
COVERAGE	Synonym for insurance.
CRASH PARTS	Sheet metal parts that are most often damaged in a car crash. (See Generic auto parts )
CRIME INSURANCE	Term referring to property coverages for the perils of burglary, theft and robbery.
CROP-HAIL INSURANCE	Protection against damage to growing crops from hail, fire, or lightning provided by the private market. By contrast, multiple peril crop insurance covers a wider range of yield-reducing conditions, such as drought and insect infestation, and is subsidized by the federal government.
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DECLARATION	Part of a property or liability insurance policy that states the name and address of policyholder, property insured, its location and description, the policy period, premiums, and supplemental information. Referred to as the "dec page."
DEDUCTIBLE	The amount of loss paid by the policyholder. Either a specified dollar amount, a percentage of the claim amount, or a specified amount of time that must elapse before benefits are paid. The bigger the deductible, the lower the premium charged for the same coverage.
DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANY	Term used by a state to refer to any company incorporated there.
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EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE	Covers a building and its contents, but includes a large percentage deductible on each. A special policy or endorsement exists because earthquakes are not covered by standard homeowners or most business policies.
ENDORSEMENT	A written form attached to an insurance policy that alters the policy’s coverage, terms, or conditions. Sometimes called a rider.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS COVERAGE / E&O	A professional liability policy covering the policyholder for negligent acts and omissions that may harm his or her clients.
ESCROW ACCOUNT	Funds that a lender collects to pay monthly premiums in mortgage and homeowners insurance, and sometimes to pay property taxes.
EXCLUSION	A provision in an insurance policy that eliminates coverage for certain risks, people, property classes, or locations.
EXPERIENCE	Record of losses.
EXPOSURE	Possibility of loss.
EXTENDED COVERAGE	An endorsement added to an insurance policy, or clause within a policy, that provides additional coverage for risks other than those in a basic policy.
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FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW	A state law requiring that all automobile drivers show proof that they can pay damages up to a minimum amount if involved in an auto accident. Varies from state to state but can be met by carrying a minimum amount of auto liability insurance.
FIRE INSURANCE	Coverage protecting property against losses caused by a fire or lightning that is usually included in homeowners or commercial multiple peril policies.
FIXED ANNUITY	An annuity that guarantees a specific rate of return. In the case of a deferred annuity, a minimum rate of interest is guaranteed during the savings phase. During the payment phase, a fixed amount of income, paid on a regular schedule, is guaranteed.
FLOOD INSURANCE	Coverage for flood damage is available from the federal government under the National Flood Insurance Program but is sold by licensed insurance agents. Flood coverage is excluded under homeowners policies and many commercial property policies. However, flood damage is covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.
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GENERIC AUTO PARTS	Auto crash parts produced by firms that are not associated with car manufacturers. Insurers consider these parts, when certified, at least as good as those that come from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). They are often cheaper than the identical part produced by the OEM. (See Crash parts, Aftermarket parts, Original equipment manufacturer parts / OEM )
GLASS INSURANCE	Coverage for glass breakage caused by all risks; fire and war are sometimes excluded. Insurance can be bought for windows, structural glass, leaded glass, and mirrors. Available with or without a deductible.
GUARANTEE PERIOD	Period during which the level of interest specified under a fixed annuity is guaranteed.
GUARANTEED DEATH BENEFIT	Basic death benefits guaranteed under variable annuity contracts.
GUARANTEED REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE	Homeowners policy that pays the full cost of replacing or repairing a damaged or destroyed home, even if it is above the policy limit.
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HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICY	The typical homeowners insurance policy covers the house, the garage and other structures on the property, as well as personal possessions inside the house such as furniture, appliances and clothing, against a wide variety of perils including windstorms, fire and theft. The extent of the perils covered depends on the type of policy. An all-risk policy offers the broadest coverage. This covers all perils except those specifically excluded in the policy. Homeowners insurance also covers additional living expenses. Known as Loss of Use, this provision in the policy reimburses the policyholder for the extra cost of living elsewhere while the house is being restored after a disaster. The liability portion of the policy covers the homeowner for accidental injuries caused to third parties and/or their property, such as a guest slipping and falling down improperly maintained stairs. Coverage for flood and earthquake damage is excluded and must be purchased separately. (See Flood insurance, Earthquake insurance)
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INDEMNIFY	Provide financial compensation for losses.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT/IRA	A tax-deductible savings plan for those who are self-employed, or those whose earnings are below a certain level or whose employers do not offer retirement plans. Others may make limited contributions on a tax-deferred basis. The Roth IRA, a special kind of retirement account created in 1997, may offer greater tax benefits to certain individuals.
INFLATION GUARD CLAUSE	A provision added to a homeowners insurance policy that automatically adjusts the coverage limit on the dwelling each time the policy is renewed to reflect current construction costs.
INLAND MARINE INSURANCE	This broad type of coverage was developed for shipments that do not involve ocean transport. Covers articles in transit by all forms of land and air transportation as well as bridges, tunnels and other means of transportation and communication. Floaters that cover expensive personal items such as fine art and jewelry are included in this category.
INSURANCE	A system to make large financial losses more affordable by pooling the risks of many individuals and business entities and transferring them to an insurance company or other large group in return for a premium.
INSURANCE-TO-VALUE	Insurance written in an amount approximating the value of the insured property.
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JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY	An annuity with two annuitants, usually spouses. Payments continue until the death of the longest living of the two.
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KEY PERSON INSURANCE	Insurance on the life or health of a key individual whose services are essential to the continuing success of a business and whose death or disability could cause the firm a substantial financial loss.
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LIABILITY INSURANCE	Insurance for what the policyholder is legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury or property damage caused to another person.
LIFE INSURANCE	See Ordinary life insurance; Term insurance; Variable life insurance; Whole life insurance.
LIMITS	Maximum amount of insurance that can be paid for a covered loss.
LINE	Type or kind of insurance, such as personal lines.
LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE	Coverage that, under specified conditions, provides skilled nursing, intermediate care, or custodial care for a patient (generally over age 65) in a nursing facility or his or her residence following an injury.
LOSS	A reduction in the quality or value of a property, or a legal liability.
LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES	The sum insurers pay for investigating and settling insurance claims, including the cost of defending a lawsuit in court.
LOSS OF USE	A provision in homeowners and renters insurance policies that reimburses policyholders for any extra living expenses due to having to live elsewhere while their home is being restored following a disaster.
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MEDIATION	Nonbinding procedure in which a third party attempts to resolve a conflict between two other parties.
MEDICAL PAYMENTS INSURANCE	A coverage in which the insurer agrees to reimburse the insured and others up to a certain limit for medical or funeral expenses as a result of bodily injury or death by accident. Payments are without regard to fault.
MINE SUBSIDENCE COVERAGE	An endorsement to a homeowners insurance policy, available in some states, for losses to a home caused by the land under a house sinking into a mine shaft. Excluded from standard homeowners policies, as are other forms of earth movement.
MORTGAGE INSURANCE	A form of decreasing term insurance that covers the life of a person taking out a mortgage. Death benefits provide for payment of the outstanding balance of the loan. Coverage is in decreasing term insurance, so the amount of coverage decreases as the debt decreases. A variant, mortgage unemployment insurance pays the mortgage of a policyholder who becomes involuntarily unemployed. (See Term insurance )
MULTIPLE PERIL POLICY	A package policy, such as a homeowners or business insurance policy, that provides coverage against several different perils. It also refers to the combination of property and liability coverage in one policy. In the early days of insurance, coverages for property damage and liability were purchased separately.
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY	A company owned by its policyholders that returns part of its profits to the policyholders as dividends. The insurer uses the rest as a surplus cushion in case of large and unexpected losses.
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NAMED PERIL	Peril specifically mentioned as covered in an insurance policy.
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM	Federal government-sponsored program under which flood insurance is sold to homeowners and businesses. (See Flood insurance )
NOTICE OF LOSS	A written notice required by insurance companies immediately after an accident or other loss. Part of the standard provisions defining a policyholder's responsibilities after a loss.
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ORDINARY LIFE INSURANCE	A life insurance policy that remains in force for the policyholder’s lifetime. It contrasts with term insurance, which only lasts for a specified number of years but is renewable. (See Term insurance )
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER PARTS / OEM	Sheet metal auto parts made by the manufacturer of the vehicle. (See Generic auto parts )
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PACKAGE POLICY	A single insurance policy that combines several coverages previously sold separately. Examples include homeowners insurance and commercial multiple peril insurance.
PERIL	A specific risk or cause of loss covered by an insurance policy, such as a fire, windstorm, flood, or theft. A named-peril policy covers the policyholder only for the risks named in the policy in contrast to an all-risk policy, which covers all causes of loss except those specifically excluded.
PERSONAL ARTICLES FLOATER	A policy or an addition to a policy used to cover personal valuables, like jewelry or furs.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE / PIP	Portion of an auto insurance policy that covers the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder’s car.
PERSONAL LINES	Property/casualty insurance products that are designed for and bought by individuals, including homeowners and automobile policies. (See Commercial lines )
POLICY	A written contract for insurance between an insurance company and policyholder stating details of coverage.
PREMISES	The particular location of the property or a portion of it as designated in an insurance policy.
PREMIUM	The price of an insurance policy, typically charged annually or semiannually.
PROOF OF LOSS	Documents showing the insurance company that a loss occurred.
PROPERTY/CASUALTY INSURANCE	Covers damage to or loss of policyholders’ property and legal liability for damages caused to other people or their property. Property/casualty insurance, which includes auto, homeowners and commercial insurance, is one segment of the insurance industry. The other sector is life/health. Outside the United States, property/casualty insurance is referred to as nonlife or general insurance.
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RATE	The cost of a unit of insurance, usually per $1,000. Rates are based on historical loss experience for similar risks and may be regulated by state insurance offices.
REPLACEMENT COST	Insurance that pays the dollar amount needed to replace damaged personal property or dwelling property without deducting for depreciation but limited by the maximum dollar amount shown on the declarations page of the policy.
RIDER	An attachment to an insurance policy that alters the policy’s coverage or terms.
RISK	The chance of loss or the person or entity that is insured.
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SALVAGE	Damaged property an insurer takes over to reduce its loss after paying a claim. Insurers receive salvage rights over property on which they have paid claims, such as badly-damaged cars. Insurers that paid claims on cargoes lost at sea now have the right to recover sunken treasures. Salvage charges are the costs associated with recovering that property.
SEVERITY	Size of a loss. One of the criteria used in calculating premiums rates.
SEWER BACK-UP COVERAGE	An optional part of homeowners insurance that covers sewers.
STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT	Legal agreement to pay a designated person, usually someone who has been injured, a specified sum of money in periodic payments, usually for his or her lifetime, instead of in a single lump sum payment. (See Annuity )
SUBROGATION	The legal process by which an insurance company, after paying a loss, seeks to recover the amount of the loss from another party who is legally liable for it.
SURETY BOND	A contract guaranteeing the performance of a specific obligation. Simply put, it is a three-party agreement under which one party, the surety company, answers to a second party, the owner, creditor or “obligee,” for a third party’s debts, default or nonperformance. Contractors are often required to purchase surety bonds if they are working on public projects. The surety company becomes responsible for carrying out the work or paying for the loss up to the bond “penalty” if the contractor fails to perform.
SURRENDER CHARGE	A charge for withdrawals from an annuity contract before a designated surrender charge period, usually from five to seven years.
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TERM INSURANCE	A form of life insurance that covers the insured person for a certain period of time, the “term” that is specified in the policy. It pays a benefit to a designated beneficiary only when the insured dies within that specified period which can be one, five, 10 or even 20 years. Term life policies are renewable but premiums increase with age.
TITLE INSURANCE	Insurance that indemnifies the owner of real estate in the event that his or her clear ownership of property is challenged by the discovery of faults in the title.
TOTAL LOSS	The condition of an automobile or other property when damage is so extensive that repair costs would exceed the value of the vehicle or property.
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UMBRELLA POLICY	Coverage for losses above the limit of an underlying policy or policies such as homeowners and auto insurance. While it applies to losses over the dollar amount in the underlying policies, terms of coverage are sometimes broader than those of underlying policies.
UNDERINSURANCE	The result of the policyholder’s failure to buy sufficient insurance. An underinsured policyholder may only receive part of the cost of replacing or repairing damaged items covered in the policy.
UNDERWRITING	Examining, accepting, or rejecting insurance risks and classifying the ones that are accepted, in order to charge appropriate premiums for them.
UNINSURED MOTORISTS COVERAGE	Portion of an auto insurance policy that protects a policyholder from uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE	A flexible premium policy that combines protection against premature death with a type of savings vehicle, known as a cash value account, that typically earns a money market rate of interest. Death benefits can be changed during the life of the policy within limits, generally subject to a medical examination. Once funds accumulate in the cash value account, the premium can be paid at any time but the policy will lapse if there isn’t enough money to cover annual mortality charges and administrative costs.
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VARIABLE ANNUITY	An annuity whose contract value or income payments vary according to the performance of the stocks, bonds and other investments selected by the contract owner.
VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE	A policy that combines protection against premature death with a savings account that can be invested in stocks, bonds, and money market mutual funds at the policyholder’s discretion.
VOID	A policy contract that for some reason specified in the policy becomes free of all legal effect. One example under which a policy could be voided is when information a policyholder provided is proven untrue.
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WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE	The oldest kind of cash value life insurance that combines protection against premature death with a savings account. Premiums are fixed and guaranteed and remain level throughout the policy’s lifetime.
WORKERS COMPENSATION	Insurance that pays for medical care and physical rehabilitation of injured workers and helps to replace lost wages while they are unable to work. State laws, which vary significantly, govern the amount of benefits paid and other compensation provisions.
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