Basics and State Regulations Flashcards
Risk
The uncertainty or possibility of financial loss.
- Speculative: financial loss - possibility of gain - NOT INSURABLE
- Pure Risk: financial loss - NO possibility of gain - only potential outcome is loss.
Loss
UNINTENDED unforeseen damage or injury measurable in financial terms.
NO INTENDED ACTS!
Peril
The actual CAUSE of a loss. The reason the loss occurred.
Hazard - Definition and Name the Three
Anything that increases the likelihood (frequency) of a loss occurring or the severity of a loss.
- Physical: material or structural features (icy roads, frayed wires)
- Moral: morality or ethics of insured (arson, fraud).
- Morale: human carelessness or irresponsibility (cellphones, garage doors left open).
Physical Hazard
material or structural features - icy roads, frayed wires
Moral Hazard
morality or ethics of insured - arson, fraud
Morale Hazard
human carelessness or irresponsibility - cell phones, garage doors left open
Hazard vs Peril
Hazard: increases likelihood (frequency) of a loss
Peril: the actual CAUSE of the loss
RRAT
Reduce: lower the hazard - loss control (alarm system, guard dog)
Retain: assume the risk - self-ensure or agree to pay deductible
Avoid: eliminate the risk - do not engage in the activity
Transfer: transfer the risk through purchase of INSURANCE
First Dollar Coverage
Self-Insure - provides for the payment of all losses up to the specified limit without any use of deductibles.
Risk Management
process of:
- identifying exposure to risk
- deciding how to handle the financial risk
Reduce, Retain, Avoid, Transfer
Not Predictable
Not Insurable
Insurance
social device for the transfer of an individuals financial risk to a large number of people - POOLING THE RISK - TRANSFER OF FINANCIAL RISK
Transfer of Risk
Insurance
Law of Large Numbers
The larger the number of similar exposure units, the more predictable the future TOTAL losses become.
DOES NOT CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL LOSS.
Insurance Policy - Definition, Parties
A legally binding contract between the insurance company and the insured.
ENFORCEABLE BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Insurer: The insurance Company
Insured: The person(s) or business covered by the policy
TWO PARTY CONTRACT
Insurance is a ________ party contract
TWO PARTY
Binder
Temporary insurance contract
Temporary protection for a MAXIMUM period of 90 days
A binder can be VERBAL
DOES NOT HAVE TO BE: WRITTEN, DELIVERED OR SIGNED.
Binder does NOT have to be:
Written, Delivered or Signed
Elements of an Insurable Risk
Not all Pure Risks are insurable
- unforseen (accidental), unintended (from the insured’s perspective)
- financial loss
- ascertainable in cause, time, and amount AND occur during the policy period
- insurer must be able to predict the chance of loss - “Law of Large Numbers.”
- economically feasible premium (Flood Insurance)
- excludes catastrophic loss (war or nuclear)
Insurable Interest
is the financial loss a person suffers when property is destroyed
It is created by:
- Ownership
- holding a mortgage
- having responsibility for property in your care (Bailee - auto shop, laundry)
*more than one person can share insurable interest (you and lienholder)
Health & Life: insurable interest must exist only at the time of application.
Personal/Commercial Property & Casualty: insurable interest must exist ONLY at the time of the loss.
READ EVERY QUESTION THREE TIMES
READ EVERY ANSWER
Essential Elements of a Legally Binding Contract
Four -
- Legal Purpose: Must not be against the public interest (chop shop, meth, illegal)
- Agreement: Requires both an OFFER and an ACCEPTANCE
- Offer - made when the applicant signs the application: making a request to the insurance company for coverage
- Acceptance - made when insurance policy is issued
- Competent Parties: at the time of agreement, must be considered legally competent (minors [girl scout], legally insane or intoxicated are NOT competent)
Competent: Elderly, Prisoners, Hospitalized
4 Consideration: Something of value which BOTH parties must give (aka TRADE VALUE)
- Act, Promise or Money
Insurer’s consideration is PROMISE
Insured’s consideration is PREMIUM
Legal Purpose
Must not be against the public interest (chop shop, meth, illegal)