Exam II Flashcards
What is the principle of indemnity?
The insured should not profit from a covered loss, but should be restored to the same financial position prior to the loss.
What are the purposes of the principle of indemnity?
- Prevent the insured from profiting from a loss
- To reduce moral hazard or the temptation to be dishonest
What are exceptions to the principle of indemnity?
- A valued policy
- Replacement cost insurance
- Life insurance
What is a valued policy?
Pays the face amount of insurance if a total loss occurs
What is replacement cost insurance?
There is no deduction for depreciation in determining the amount paid for a loss
What is the principle of insurable interest?
To be legally enforceable, all insurance contracts must be supported by an insurable interest. The insured must be in a position to lose financially if a loss occurs.
What are the purposes of the principle of insurable interest?
- To prevent gambling
- To reduce moral hazard
- To reduce the mount of the insured’s loss
What is the principle of insurable interest supported by?
- Ownership of property
- Legal liability resulting from contracts
- Secured creditors
- Contractual rights
When must insurable interest exist?
- For Property insurance: At the time of the loss
- Life Insurance: Only at inceptions of the policy
What is the Principle of Subrogation?
One who has indemnified another’s loss is entitled to recovery from reliable third parties who are responsible.
What are the purpose of the principle of subrogation?
- To prevent the insured from collecting twice for the same loss
- To hold the negligent person responsible and financially accountable for his actions
- Keeps insurance premiums below what they would otherwise be
What are exceptions to the principle of subrogation?
- Subrogation does not apply to life insurance contracts and most types of health insurance
- Subrogation does not give the insurer the right to collect against the insured, even if insured if negligent
What is the principle of Utmost Good Faith?
A higher degree of honesty is imposed on both parties to an insurance contract than is imposed on parties to other contracts.
What are the 3 legal doctrines that support that Principle of Good Faith?
- Representations
- Concealment
- Warranty
What are representations?
Statements made by the applicant for insurance. Contract is voidable if the representation is material, false and relied on by the insurer.
What does material mean in regards to representations?
Material means that if the insurer knew the true facts, the policy would not have been issued or would have been issued on different terms.
A Misrepresentation of a material fact, if relied on by the insurer makes the contract voidable.
What is concealment?
Intentional failure of the application for insurance to reveal a material fact to the insurer even if; the disclosure of the facts might result in the rejection of the application or the payment of a higher premium. Has the same legal effect as misrepresentation.
What is warranty?
A clause in an insurance contract stating that before the insurer is liable: A certain fact, condition or circumstance affecting the risk must exist. Creates a condition of the contract and any breach of warranty, even if immaterial, will void the contract. This is the central distinction between a warranty and representation.
What is an express warranty?
Warranty stated in the contract.
What is an implied warranty?
A warranty not found in the contract but is assumed by the parties to the contract.
What is a promissory warranty?
A warranty that describes a condition, fact or circumstance to which the insured agrees to be held during the life of the contract.
What is an affirmative warranty?
A warranty that must exist only at the time the contract is first put into effect.
What are the 4 requirements of an insurance contract?
- Offer and Acceptance
- Consideration
- Competent parties
- Legal purpose
What does it mean for an insurance contract to be be aleatory?
Immediate value exchanged is not equal.
What does it mean for an insurance contract to be unilateral?
Only the insurer makes a legally enforceable promise.
What does it mean for an insurance contract to be conditional?
Policyowner must comply with all policy provisions to collect for a covered loss.
What does it mean for an insurance contract to be personal?
Insurance policy cannot be validly assigned to another party without the insurer’s consent
What does it mean for a contract to be of adhesion?
The insured must accept the entire contract with all of its terms and conditions
Courts have ruled that any ambiguities or uncertainties in the contract are construed against the ____.
Insurer
The principles of reasonable expectations states what?
That an insured is entitled to coverage under a policy that he or she reasonably expects it to provide and that to be effective exclusions or qualifications must be conspicuous plain and clear.
What several laws govern the actions of agents and their relationship to insureds?
- There is no presumption of an agency relationship
- An agent must be authorized to represent the principle
- A principal is responsible for the acts of agents acting within the scope of their authority
- Limitations can be placed on the powers of agents
An agent’s authority comes from what three sources?
- Express authority
- Implied authority
- Apparent authority
What is a waiver?
Is defined as the voluntary relinquishment of a known legal right
When does estoppel occur?
Estoppel occurs when a representation of fact made by one person to another person is reasonably relied on by that person to such an extent that it would be inequitable to allow the first person to deny the truth of the representation.
What are the AM best rating categories and their classifications?
A++ Superior
A+ Superior
A Excellent
A- Excellent
B++ Good
B+ Good
B Fair
B- Fair
C++ Marginal
C+ Marginal
C Weak
Insurance companies manage ___ risk.
pure
_____ are situations or conditions that increase the chance of loss.
Hazards
Predictions in insurance are made by the ___________________.
law of large numbers.
___________ allows an insurance company to cede some or all risk to another company.
Reinsurance
_________ losses are the type of losses that cannot be statistically predicted.
Catastrophic
An insurance policy provides ________ as a form of risk management.
risk transfer
An insurance company taking on too many high risks is _________.
adverse selection.
____________ companies pay dividends to stockholders.
Mutual insurance
When a producer signs a contract with a company they are given the _________________.
power of agency.
A group of agents working under a corporate or trade name is an _______.
agency.
A company that is domiciled in another state is ______.
foreign.
_____________ is temporary until policy is issued or denied.
Binder coverage
A ________ is voluntary abandonment of legal rights.
waiver
________ is a feature of insurance that means values given by the two parties are unequal.
Aleatory
An ____________ in contract laws means an agreement has been made.
offer and acceptance