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Insurance

Insurance is a promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment. Insurance is designed to protect the financial well-being of an individual, company or other entity in the case of unexpected loss. Some forms of insurance are required by law, while others are optional. Agreeing to the terms of an insurance policy creates a contract between the insured and the insurer. In exchange for payments from the insured (called premiums), the insurer agrees to pay the policy holder a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specific event. In most cases, the policy holder pays part of the loss (called the deductible), and the insurer pays the rest. Examples include car insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and business insurance.

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Insurance > Life insurance

overall liquidity ratio

Insurance; Life insurance

Total admitted assets divided by total liabilities less conditional reserves. This ratio indicates a company's ability to cover net liabilities with total assets. This ratio ...

own occupation

Insurance; Life insurance

Insurance contract provision that allows policyholders to collect benefits if they can no longer work in their own occupation.

preferred auto

Insurance; Life insurance

Auto coverage for drivers who have never had an accident and operates vehicles according to law. Drivers are not a risk for any insurance company that writes auto insurance, and ...

return on policyholder surplus (return on equity)

Insurance; Life insurance

The sum of after-tax net income and unrealized capital gains, to the mean of prior and current year-end policyholder surplus, expressed as a percent. This ratio measures a ...

preferred provider organization

Insurance; Life insurance

Network of medical providers who charge on a fee-for-service basis, but are paid on a negotiated, discounted fee schedule.

risk class

Insurance; Life insurance

Risk class, in insurance underwriting, is a grouping of insureds with a similar level of risk. Typical underwriting classifications are preferred, standard and substandard, ...

premium

Insurance; Life insurance

The price of insurance protection for a specified risk for a specified period of time.