General Insurance Flashcards
Agent/producer
A legal representative of an insurance company. The classification of producer usually includes agents and brokers. Agents are the agents of the insurer
Applicant or proposed insured
A person applying for insurance
Beneficiary
A person who receives the benefits of an insurance policy
Broker
An insurance producer not appointed by an insurer and is deemed to represent the client
Indemnity
The main principle of insurance-meaning that the insured cannot recover more than their loss the purpose of insurance is to restore the insured to the same position as before the loss
Insurance policy
A contract between a policy owner and/or insured and an insurance company which agrees to pay the insured or the beneficiary for loss caused by specific events
Insured
The person covered by the insurance policy. This person may or may not be the policy owner
Insurer (principal)
The company who issues an insurance policy
Law of large numbers
The larger the number of people with a similar exposure to loss the more predictable actual losses will be
Policy owner
The person entitled to exercise the rights and privileges in the policy
Premium
The money paid to the insurance company for the insurance policy
Reciprocity/reciprocal
A mutual interchange of Rights and privileges
Insurance is the _______________of loss. The cost of an insured’s loss is transferred over to the insurer and spread among other insureds
Transfer of risk
2 types of risks
- Pure risk- refers to situations that can only result in a loss or no change. There is no opportunity for financial gain. Pure risk is the only type of risk that insurance companies are willing to accept.
- Speculative risk - involves the opportunity for either loss or gain. An example of speculative risk is gambling. These types of risks are NOT insurable.
Exposure
A unit of measurement used to determine rates charged for insurance coverage.
A large number of units having the same or similar exposure to loss are referred to as homogeneous. The basis of insurance is sharing risk between a large homogeneous group with similar exposure to loss.
Physical hazards
Individual characteristics that increase the chances of the cause of loss. Physical hazards exist because of a physical condition, past medical history, or a condition at birth, such as blindness.
Moral hazards
Tendencies towards increased risk. Moral hazards involve evaluating the character and reputation of the proposed insured. Moral hazards refer to those applicants who may lie on an application for insurance, or in the past have submitted fraudulent claims against an insurer
Morale hazards
Similar to moral hazards except that they arise from a
STATE OF MIND THAT CAUSES INDIFFERENCE TO LOSS, SUCH As CARELESSNESS.
Actions taken without a forethought may cause physical injuries
Perils
The causes of loss insured against in an insurance policy
A risk is a _________ that a loss will occur
Chance
A hazard increases the _________ of loss
Probability
Apparel is the _________ of loss
Cause
Risk retention
The planned assumption of risk by an insured through the use of deductibles, copayments, or self-insurance. It is also known as self Insurance when the insured accepts the responsibility for the loss before the insurance company pays.
The purpose of retention is…..(3 parts)
- To reduce expenses and improve cash flow
- To increase control of claim reserving and claims settlements
- To fund for losses that cannot be insured