General Insurance Flashcards
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Protects Consumer privacy and from overly intrusive information collection practices.
Actuarial Department
Gathers and interprets statistical information used in rate making. An actuary determines the probability of loss and sets premium rates.
Mutual Insurance Company
Insurance company owned by policyholders (who may be referred to as members )
Estoppel
Judicial denial of a contractual right based on prior actions contrary to what the contract requires
Distribution Models
Exclusive or captive Agency System Direct writing System Independent agency Career agency system Personal producing General Agent Direct Mail or Direct Response Company Mass Marketing
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC)
Consists of all state and territorial insurance commissioners or regulators.
Provides resources,research,legislative and regulatory recommendations and interpretations for state insurance regulators.
Promotes uniformity among states
NAIC has no legal authority to enact or enforce insurance laws
Risk Sharing Plan
Insurers agree to apportion among themselves those risks that are unable to obtain insurance through normal channels
Law of Large Numbers
The larger the number of exposures considered , the more closely the losses reported will equal the probability of loss
McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945
Established that the federal government will not regulate the business of insurance in areas which states have historically had the authority to do so unless the states fail to cooperate
Legal Purpose
All parties to a contract must enter in for a legal purpose ;public policy cannot be violated by a legal contract.
All parties to a contract must enter it in good faith
Financial Ratings Services
Independent financial rating services that evaluate and rate the claims paying ability and financial stability of insurance companies
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
The act made it a felony for a person to engage in the business of insurance after being convicted of a state or federal felony crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust
Hazard
A specific situation that increases the probability of a loss arising from a peril or that may influence the extent of the loss
Joint Underwriting Association or Joint Reinsurance pool
Requires insurers writing specific coverage lines in a given state to assume their share of profits /losses of the total voluntary market premiums written in that state
Self-Insurer
Self-Insurer assume all of the financial risk faced without transferring that risk to an insurer
Reasonable Expectations Doctrine
What a reasonable and prudent. Policy owner would expect. The reasonable expectations of policy owners are honored by the courts although the strict terms of the policy may not support these expectations
Direct Writing System
Producer or agent is an employee of the insurer
Insurer owns the accounts
The agent may be paid a salary , salary bonus or commission
Competent Parties
All parties to a contract
Valued contract
A policy which pays a pre-determined amount when a claim is made
Independent Agency
An agent or agency that enters into selling agreements with more than one insurer
Agency retains ownership of the business written
An independent contractor that is paid a commission and covers the cost of agency operations
Loss
Reduction , decrease, or disappearance of value.
A loss is the basis of a claim under the terms of an insurance policy
Implied Authority
Authority the public assumes the producer has. Example providing quotes , completing applications , and accepting premiums on behalf of the insurer
Claims Department
Assists the policy holder insured or beneficiary in the event of a loss and processes and pays the amount of the claim
Physical Hazard
A physical condition that increases the likelihood or probability of loss.
Insurable interest
The potential for an insured or beneficiary to suffer a financial or economic hard ship in the event of a loss
Surplus Lines Insurance
Finds coverage when insurance cannot be obtained from admitted insurers
Gramm- Leach- Bliley Act
allows the merger of banks , securities companies, and insurance companies
Career Agency System
Agents are recruited , trained and supervised by either a managing employee or general agent who is contracted with the insurance company
Risk
A condition in which a chance of loss exists
Admitted insurer
An insurer that is authorized and has a certificate of Authority to do business in a state
Tort Law
Torts are civil wrongs , they are not crimes or breaches of contract
They result in injuries or harm that constitute the basis of a claim by a third party
Certificate of Authority
Authorization granted by a department of insurance to an agency or insurer to transact insurance in this state