Basic Concepts - Section 1 Flashcards
Definition of Insurance
Contract to indemnify from a contingent o unknown event. Transfer of risk.
What is risk?
the uncertainty that a loss will happen
What are the two types of risk?
Pure and Speculative risk
What is pure risk?
No possible gain or profit is involved. Only type of risk insurance companies are willing to accept.
What is speculative risk?
The possible opportunity for loss or gain. Speculative risk is NOT insurable.
*Insuring speculative risks would allow the public to use insurance to make a profit. NOT ENFORCEABLE.
What is STARR?
5 methods of handling risks
What are the 5 methods of handling risks (STARR)
- Sharing: When risk is too large, they may be more than one primary insurer
- Transfer: When risk shifted to another
- Avoid/Avoidance: Person may avoid participating in certain activities. Ex- removing a trampoline.
- Reduce/Reduction: When the insured takes steps to prevent the chances of a loss (fire sprinklers, smoke alarms)
- Retain/Retention: Occurs when a person has the money to cover a loss and doesn’t buy insurance. Self insuring is a form of risk retention.
What does the word peril mean?
the actual “cause of loss”
What are the 4 types of hazards?
- Moral Hazard
- Morale Hazard
- Physical Hazard
- Legal Hazard
What is a Moral Hazard?
Dishonesty, liar, fraud (lying on application, exaggerating a loss to receive more money, fraudulent claims.)
What is a Morale Hazard?
Irresponsibility, carelessness (reckless driving)
What is a Physical Hazard?
Anything that poses a risk & can be seen, heard, touches, tasted or smelled.
(weak limbs, worn-out branches)
What is a Legal Hazard?
Chance of a certain risk ending up in court creates a legal hazard
(Gym: if people are injured due to faulty gym equipment)
Risk EQUALS
Chance
Peril EQUALS
Cause
Hazard Equals
Increases chance
What is the law of large numbers?
The greater the number of exposure units (cars, homes). The more predictable the loss. Used to establish appropriate rates, benefits the insured.
What is Exposure Unit?
Measure used to establish rate
Loss
Any reduction in quantity, quality, or value of something
Loss exposure
Possibility of loss
Property loss exposure
damage to insured’s property
Liability Loss exposure
Harm caused to others
Personal loss exposure
Individuals/families
Personnel loss exposure
Key employee
Financial Loss
is NOT a loss exposure - it is a consequence of all of them
Ideally insurable risks
must be unintentional; creates for the insured an economic hardship; requires large grouping of like/similar/homogeneous units; measurable in money and definable in time, place, cause; must EXCLUDE catastrophic losses.