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| Insurance Glossary The Cornerstone Agency | Snellville GA |
Abandonment: As used in property insurance, prohibits the insured from abandoning damaged property to the
insurance company for repair or disposal
Accelerated Benefits Rider: An adjustment (rider) to a life insurance policy that allows for the early payment of
some portion of the policy's face amount should the insured suffer from a terminal illness or injury.
Accidental Death Benefit Rider: An adjustment (rider) to a life insurance policy that provides for payment of an
additional cash benefit when death occurs by accidental means. This amount depends on the value of the policy.
Accidental Death Insurance: An Insurance poicy that provides payment if the insured's death occurs as a results
from an accident.
Accounts Receivable Coverage: Covers loss of sums owed to the insured by its customers that are uncollectible
due to damage by an insured peril to accounts receivable records
Actual Cash Value (ACV): Cost to repair or replace damaged property with materials of like kind and quality, less
depreciation
Additional Insured: A person or organization for whom insured status is arranged by endorsement
Advertising Injury: General liability coverage that insures against libel, slander, invasion of privacy, copyright
infringement and misappropriation of advertising in connection with the insured's advertising of its goods or
services
Agent: An authorized representative of an insurance company.
Aggregate: The maximum amount an insurance company will pay during the policy
All Risk Coverage: Property insurance covering loss arising from all causes of loss except those that are
specifically excluded
Annually Renewable Term: Term insurance that provides coverage for one year and allows the policy owner to
renew his or her coverage each year.
Application: A form with the information needed for an insurance company to underwrite and rate a specific
policy
Assignment Assignment: The transfer of ownership of a Life Insurance policy from one person to another.
Attained Age: Your current age. Your attained age is a factors life insurance companies use to determine
premiums.
Audit: A verification of the financial records, usually payroll or receipts, of an organization to determine exposures
and premiums
Automobile: A land motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer designed for travel on public roads, not including 'mobile
equipment'
Backdating: Making the effective date of a policy earlier than the date of application. Backdating is often used to
make the age of the applicant lower than it actually was at the time of application so that he/she can get a lower
premium. State laws often set limits to this.
Bailee Coverage: Coverage on property left in the care of the insured for storage, repair or servicing
Basic Cause of Loss Form: Property coverage for named perils: Fire, Lightening, Explosion, Smoke, Windstorm,
Hail, Riot, Civil Commotion, Aircraft, Vehicles, Vandalism, Sprinkler Leakage, Sinkhold Collapse and Volcanic
Action
Basic Limits: The minimum limits of liability that can be carried by an insured
Beneficiary: The designated person set to receive the death benefit if the insured should die.
Best's Rating: A rating system by A.M. Best Company giving the financial condition of insurance companies
Binder: A temporary insurance policy that expires at the end of a specific time period or when a permanent policy
is written. A binder is given to an applicant for insurance during the time it takes the an insurance company to
complete the policy paperwork.
Bodily Injury by Accident Limit: The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers' Compensation Policy
for claims arising out of any one accident, regardless of how many employee claims arise out of the accident
Bodily Injury by Disease, Each Employee : The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers'
Compensation Policy for damages due to bodily injury by disease to any one employee
Bodily Injury by Disease-Policy Limit : The most an insurer will pay under Part Two of a Workers' Compensation
Policy employee bodily injury by disease claims during the policy period regardless of the number of employees
who make such claims
Bodily Injury Liability Limit: The insured is legally liable for damages due to bodily injury, sickness, or disease,
including resulting death
Boiler & Machinery Insurance: Coverage for loss caused by mechanical or electrical equipment breakdown,
including damage to the equipment
Bond: A written agreement in which one party, the surety, guarantees the performance or honesty of a second
party, the principal (obligor), to the third party (obligee) to whom the performance or debt is owed
Brands and Labels Endorsement: Property insurance coverage that allows the insured to remove labels from
damaged goods or mark the items as 'salvage,' provided the goods are not damaged in the process
Broad Causes of Loss Form: Property coverage for the named perils: Fire, Lightening, Explosion, Smoke,
Windstorm, Hail, Riot, Civil Commotion, Aircraft, Vehicles, Vandalism, Sprinkler Leakage, Sinkhole Collapse,
Volcanic Action, Breakage of Building Glass, Falling Objects, Weight of Snow, Ice or Sleet, Water Damage (in the
form of leakage from appliances) and Collapse from Specified Causes
Building Ordinance Coverage: Covers against loss caused by enforcement or ordinances or laws regulating
construction and repair of damaged buildings
Burglary: Theft of property by forcible entry, which is evidenced by visible signs, in a premises, by a person
Business Auto Policy: Auto Policy for businesses that includes auto liability and auto physical damage coverages
Business Income Coverage: Insurance covering loss of income by a business when operations are interrupted
due to property loss that is a covered cause of loss
Business Interruption Coverage: See Business Income Coverage
Business Owners Policy (BOP): A policy that combines property and liability coverages for special types of small
businesses
Cancellation: The termination of an insurance policy usually before its expiration
Care, Custody or Control: An exclusion of liability insurance which eliminates coverage for damage to property in
the insured's care, custody or control
Carrier: The insurance company which provides coverage
Cash Benefits: The Money that is paid to the policy holder upon settlement of a covered claim.
Cash Value: The equity amount or "savings" accumulation in a whole life insurance policy.
Casualty Insurance: Insurance that covers loss caused by injuries to persons and the legal liability imposed on
the insured for injury or for damage to property of others
Catastrophe: A severe loss causing sizable financial loss
Causes of Loss Forms: The commercial property forms that define the covered causes of loss for which
coverage is provided. Commonly, there are 3 Cause of Loss Forms: Basic, Broad and Special
Certificate of Insurance: A document providing evidence that insurance has been purchased
Claim: A request by a policyholder or a claimant for payment under a policy of insurance
Claim Expense: Expenses of settling or investigating a claim
Claimant: The person presenting a claim
Claims Reserve: An amount of money set aside to meet claims reported but not paid
Class: A group of businesses who have common or similar exposures and are grouped together for rating
purposes
Classification: The arranging or establishing of business groups or categories for rating purposes
Coinsurance Provision: An insurance provision for property coverages in which the policyholder must carry an
amount of insurance that is at least equal to a set percentage of the value of the property in order to receive full
payment of a loss
Collapse: Collapse of a building and collapse of personal property within a building due to specified causes
(such as weight of snow, ice or rain). Does not include collapse due to design error or due to faulty
workmanship or materials if the collapse occurs after construction is complete
Collision Insurance: Provides for payment to a covered automobile resulting from the striking of another object
by a moving vehicle
Commercial General Liability Policy (CGL): A coverage which protects business organizations against liability
claims for bodily injury and property damage. Those claims may be the result of events at your place of
business, from your business operations, the products or services you make or do, communications or
advertisements your business broadcasts
Competitive State Funds: State-owned and operated facilities that write Workers' Compensation Insurance
solely for that state
Completed Operations: A General Liability coverage for the work of the insured that has been completed away
from the business premises
Comprehensive Auto Coverage: Covers an automobile for loss or damage for all causes except for those
specifically excluded
Compulsory Insurance: Insurance that is required by law
Concealment: Failure to disclose facts which may void an insurance policy
Conditional Receipt: Given to policy owners when they pay a premium at the time of the application. These
receipts bind the insurance company, provided your policy is approved, but are subject to any other conditions
stated on the receipt.
Conditions: Things agreed upon in an insurance policy that state the rights and the requirements of the insured
and the insurer
Consequential Loss: An indirect loss such as the reduction in value of property that is the result of a direct
damage loss
Constructive Total Loss: Term used when damage to property is more than the value of the property
*Contestable Clause: A provision in an insurance policy setting forth the conditions or time period under which
the insurance company may contest or void the policy. After this time has lapsed, typically two years, the policy
cannot be contested. Example: Suicide.
Contingent Beneficiary: Person or persons designated to receive the value of an insurance policy in case the
original beneficiary is not alive.
Contract: An agreement between two or more parties with characteristics of mutual assent, competent parties, a
valid consideration and legal subject
*Coverage: Coverage is just another term for Insurance. It can be used to mean either the dollar amounts of
insurance purchased ($500,000 of liability coverage), or the type of loss covered (coverage for theft).
Convertible Term: A policy that may be changed to another form by contractual provision and without evidence of
insurability. Most term policies are convertible into permanent insurance.
Countersignature: The signature of a licensed agent or representative on a policy that is required to validate the
policy
Cross-Purchase Plan: An agreement that provides that upon a business owner's death, surviving owners will
purchase the deceased's interest, often with funds from life insurance.
Cumulative Injury: A type of injury which occurs from the repetition of tasks over an extended length of time
Data Processing or EDP Coverage: All risk property insurance for electronic data processing equipment
(computers), computer programs and data including mechanical breakdown, electrical injury and changes in
temperature and humidity
Death Benefit: The amount of money paid to the beneficiary when the insured person dies.
Decreasing Term Insurance: Term life insurance on which the face value slowly decreases in scheduled steps
from the date the policy comes into force to the date the policy expires, while the premium remains level. The
intervals between decreases are usually monthly or annually.
Debris Removal: The cost of removal of debris from covered property damaged by an insured peril
Deductible: The amount of loss which is paid or absorbed by the insured prior to determining the insurance
company's liability
Deposit Premium: The amount of premium required at the beginning of a policy prior to the actual premium
being determined
Depreciation: The reduction in value of property over a period of time. Usually as a result of age, wear and tear,
or economic obsolescence
Direct Damage: Causes of loss that produce direct and straightforward property damage (without interruption in
time or deviation in space) from the cause of the event to the damaged property
Double Indemnity: Payment of twice the basic benefit in the event of loss resulting from specified causes or
under specified circumstances.
Driver Other Car Endorsement: An endorsement that can be added to an automobile policy that gives protection
while the insured designated in the endorsement is driving a car other than the one named in the policy
Drop Down Provision: A clause used in Umbrella policies providing that the Umbrella will 'drop-down' over
underlying policy aggregate limits when they have been reduced or exhausted
Earned Premium: The amount of premium that has been used for certain periods of time
Earth Movement or Earthquake Exclusion: An exclusion found in most property insurance policies eliminating
coverage for earth movement or earthquake, except ensuing fire
Effective Date: The date on which an insurance binder or policy goes into effect
Electrical Damage or Injury Exclusion: An exclusion usually contained in property insurance policies eliminating
coverage for damage to electrical appliances caused by artificially generated currents, except for ensuing fire or
explosion
Employee Dishonesty Coverage: Coverage for theft of money, securities or property by an employee
Employee Leasing: A staffing method which an employee leasing company provides all or most of its client's
employees
Employers Excess Indemnity Insurance: Insurance coverage purchased by employers that do not subscribe to
the Texas Workers' Compensation law
Employers Liability Coverage: Part 2 of the Workers' Compensation policy which pays on behalf of the employer
all sums that the employer becomes legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury by accident or disease
sustained by any employee of the insured arising out of and in the course of his employment by the insured
Employment Practices Liability Insurance: A form of liability insurance covering wrongful acts arising from
employment practices such as wrongful termination, discrimination and sexual harassment
Endorsement: A document attached to an insurance policy that changes the original policy provisions
Equipment Floater: A property insurance coverage for equipment that is often moved from place to place
Estimated Premium: A preliminary premium amount that could be adjusted based on a variance in exposures
Evidence of Insurability: Any statement or proof of a person's physical condition, occupation, etc., affecting
acceptance of the applicant for insurance.
Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance: Coverage that is provided by insurers not licensed in the states where the
risk is located
Excess Liability Policy: A policy that provides additional limits in excess of an underlying liability policy
Exclusions: Specified hazards listed in a policy for which benefits will not be paid.
Expected or Intended: An exclusion for injury or damage that is expected or intended
Expediting Expense Coverage: Coverage providing reimbursement of expenses for temporary repairs and costs
incurred to speed up the permanent repair or replacement of covered property or equipment
Expense Constant: A small flat expense charged to Workers' Compensation policies
Experience Modifier: A debit or credit factor developed by measuring the difference between the insured's actual
past experience and the expected or actual experience of the class of business
Expiration: The ending date of an insurance policy
Exposure Base: The basis of rates that are applied to determine premium. Some exposures may be measured
by payroll, receipts, sales, square footage, area, man-hours or per unit
Extra Expense Coverage: Coverage for reimbursement of expenses in excess of normal operating expenses
that are incurred to continue operations after a direct damage loss
Extraterritorial Coverage: The coverage for extending workers' compensation law to provide benefits for workers
hired in one state but injured while working in another state
Face Amount: The amount covered by the terms of an insurance contract, usually found on the first page of the
policy.
Fiduciary Liability: The liability placed on trustees, employers, fiduciaries and professional administrators with
respect to errors and omissions in the administration of employee benefit programs
Final Expenses: Expenses incurred at the time of a person's death. These include but are not limited to:funeral
costs, court expenses, current bills or debt, mortgages, loans and taxes.
Fine Arts Coverage: Property insurance for works of art
Fire Department Service Charge Coverage: Coverage in a property insurance policy for charges incurred by the
insured from a fire department for their services in fighting a fire
Fire Legal Liability Coverage: Liability coverage for the insured's legal liability for fire damage to premises rented
by the insured
Fire Wall: A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire from one part of a building to another
Firewall: A computer that protects a company's private network from outside internet users
Fixed Benefit: A death benefit, the dollar amount of which does not vary.
Flat Cancellation: The full cancellation of a policy as of the effective date of coverage which requires the return of
paid premium in full
Flood Coverage: Coverage for damage to property caused by flood
Flood Exclusion: A provision in most all property insurance policies eliminating coverage for damage by flood
and possibly other types of water damage, such as seepage and sewer backup
Follow Form: An umbrella policy provision that follows the underlying policy for coverages and policy provisions
Forgery or Alteration Coverage: Covers loss due to the dishonesty of writing, signing or altering of checks and
bank drafts
Fortuitous Event: An event that is subject to chance without the implication of suddenness
Free Look: Trial period required in most states where policy owners have up to 20 days to examine their new
policies with no obligation.
Frequency: The number of times that a loss will occur within any given period of time
Full Coverage: Any form of insurance that provides payment in full of all losses caused by the perils insured
against without applying a deductible or depreciation
Funeral Expenses: Expenses including casket, vault, grave plot, headstone and funeral director.
Garage Liability Insurance: Insurance coverage for the legal liability of automobile dealers, garages, repair
shops and service stations for bodily injury and property damage arising out of their business operations
Garagekeepers Coverage: Provides coverage to owners of storage garages, parking lots and body and repair
shops for their liability of damage to automobiles left in their custody for safekeeping or repair
General Aggregate Limit: The maximum amount of insurance payable during the policy period for losses (other
than those arising from the products - completed operations hazards as covered under the standard
commercial general liability policy)
General Liability Insurance: Insurance protecting businesses from most liability exposures other than
automobile and professional liability
Glass Insurance: A property insurance policy covering breakage of building glass regardless of cause
Governing Classification: In Workers' Compensation Insurance, the classification that best describes the
workers' compensation exposure of an employer's business
Grace Period: Period of time after the due date of a premium during which the policy remains in force without
penalty.
Graded Premium Policy: A type of whole life policy designed for people who want more life coverage than they
can currently afford. They pay a lower premium rate that increases gradually over the first three to five years and
then remains constant over the life of the policy.
Gross Negligence: Willful and wanton misconduct
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): The weight specified by a manufacturer for the maximum total loaded weight of a
single vehicle
Guaranteed Term: A form of renewable term insurance that remains in force as long as the premiums are paid
on time. With guaranteed term insurance, the insurance company cannot terminate the policy during the term.
Hired Automobile: An automobile whose exclusive use has been temporarily given to another for a monetary
sum or other consideration. The business auto definition of 'hired autos,' however, includes autos borrowed
except those borrowed from employees or partners
Hold Harmless Agreement: A contractual agreement that requires one contracting party to assume certain legal
liabilities of the other party
Host Liquor Liability: Liability coverage for hosts of business or social functions arising out of the serving or
distribution of alcoholic beverages by a party not engaged in this activity as a business enterprise
Improvements and Betterments: Additions or changes made by a lessee at his own expense to property that
may not legally be removed. Usually covered under the tenants property coverage
Incontestable Clause: A clause in a policy providing that a policy has been in effect for a given length of time (two
or three years), the insurer shall not be able to contest the statements contained in the application. In life
policies, if an insured lied as to the condition of his health at the time the policy was taken out, that lie could not
be used to contest payment under the policy if death occurred after the time limit stated in the incontestable
clause.
Incurred Losses: The amount of paid claims and loss reserves within a particular period of time, usually a policy
year. Customarily computed as losses incurred during the period, plus outstanding losses at the end of the
period, less outstanding losses at the beginning of the period
Independent Adjuster: A claims adjuster who provides adjustment services to insurance companies but is not
employed by them
Independent Contractor: An individual or company who has agreed, in writing, with another party to perform a job
or function on behalf of that party
Inflation Guard Provision: A provision that increases the limit of insurance by a specified percentage over a
specified period of time to offset inflation costs
Insurability: The condition of the individual wishing to be insured, including their health, susceptibility to injury
and life expectancy.
Insurance: A formal social device for reducing risk by transferring the risks of several
individual entities to an insurer. The insurer agrees, for a consideration, to pay for the loss in the amount
specified in the contract.
Insurance Policy: The printed form which serves as the contract between an insurer and an insured.
Insurance to Value: Insurance written in an amount equal to the value of the property or which meets
coinsurance requirements
Insured: The party who is being insured. In life insurance, it is the person because of his or her death the
insurance company would pay out a death benefit to a designated beneficiary.
Insurer: The insurance company; Party that provides insurance coverage, typically through a contract of
insurance.
Irrevocable Beneficiary: A beneficiary that cannot be changed without that beneficiary's consent.
Increasing Term Insurance: Term life insurance in which the death benefit increases periodically over the
policy's term. Usually purchased as a cost of living rider to a whole life policy.
Joint Venture: A business relationship when two or more persons join their labor or property for a business
undertaking and share profits
Lapse: Termination of a policy due to the policy owner's failure to pay the premium within the grace period.
Leasehold Interest: Property insurance covering the loss suffered by a tenant due to termination of a lease
because of damage to the leased premises by a covered loss
Lessee: The person to whom a lease is granted
Lessor: The person granting the lease
Liability: The legal obligation to pay a monetary award for injury or damage caused by one's negligent or
statutorily prohibited action
Liberalization Clause: A provision within an insurance policy that broadens the coverage if the insurance
company offers a broader coverage form within the first 45 days of coverage
Lien: An obligation that can be held by an individual who has an interest in a particular matter or property
Life Expectancy: The average number of years a person is expected to live based on a national average per age
group, and other factors.
Life Insurance: Insurance coverage that pays out a set amount of money to specified beneficiaries upon the
death of the individual who is insured.
Limit of Liability: The most an insurance company agrees to pay in the case of loss
Limited Pay Policy: A type of whole life insurance designed to let the policyholder pay higher premiums over a
specific time period such as 10 or 20 years so that they won't have to pay any premiums for the rest of his or her
life.
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act: A federal law that provides workers' compensation benefits
to employees of a vessel injured in maritime employment - usually in loading, unloading, repairing or building a
vessel - but not applicable to crew members
Loss: The amount an insurance company pays for damages under the terms of a policy
Loss Adjustment Expense: The cost assessed to a particular claim for investigating and adjusting that claim
Loss Constant: A flat charge added to the premium of small workers' compensation policies to offset higher
loss ratios
Loss Control: A technique that is put in place to reduce the possibility that a loss will occur or reduce the severity
of those that do occur
Loss Payable Clause: An insurance clause that authorizes loss payments to a person or entity having an
insurable interest in the covered property
Loss Ratio: Percentage of losses incurred against earned premiums
Loss Report: A form showing reported claims which provides information such as the date of occurrence, type of
claim, amount paid and amount reserved for each loss
Loss Reserve: An estimated amount set aside for a particular claim that has not yet been paid
Lost Policy Release: A signed statement by the named when the insured wishes to cancel the policy, but has
lost or mislaid the policy, which releases the insurance company from all liability or losses
Medical: A document completed by a physician or another approved examiner and submitted to an insurer
(insurance company) in order to provide medical information. This is usually done to determine insurability (or
lack of insurability) or is sometimes done in relation to a claim.
Medical Expenses: Reasonable charges for medical, surgical, x-ray, dental, ambulance, hospital, professional
nursing, prosthetic devices, and funeral expenses. What is considered reasonable is outlined in a policy.
Medical Payments, Auto: Coverage, which is optional, under an auto policy to pay for medical expenses for bodily
injury caused by an auto accident, regardless of fault. Coverage for persons other than the named insured and
his or her family members is typically restricted to circumstances when they are occupants of the insured auto
Medical Payments, General Liability: A general liability coverage that reimburses others, regardless of fault, for
medical or funeral expenses incurred as a result of bodily injury or death sustained by an accident
Mexico Coverage: Coverage which is sometimes provided under automobile policies for the operation of an
insured motor vehicle within Mexico, usually limited to a stated number of miles from the U.S. border
Minimum Premium: The lowest amount of premium to be charged for providing a particular insurance coverage
Misrepresentation: The act of knowingly presenting false information.
Mobile Equipment: Equipment such as earthmovers, tractors, diggers, farm machinery, forklifts, etc., that even
when self-propelled, are not considered as automobiles for insurance purposes
Monopolistic State Funds: States or Jurisdictions where an employer must obtain workers' compensation
insurance from a state fund or qualify as a self-insurer, as is allowed in five of the states: North Dakota, Ohio,
Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Mortality Rate: The number of deaths in a group of people, usually expressed as deaths per thousand.
Mortality Table: A table showing the incidence of death at specified age groups.
Mortgage Clause: Property insurance provisions granting protection for the mortgagee named in the policy. It
establishes that loss to mortgaged property is payable to the insured and to the mortgagee named in the policy
Named Perils Coverage: A property insurance term referring to exact causes of loss specifically listed as covered
National Flood Insurance Program: A federally funded program established to make flood insurance available to
properties located in participating communities National Flood Insurance Program: A federally funded program
established to make flood insurance available to properties located in participating communities
Nonadmitted Insurer: An insurance company that is not licensed to do business in a specific state. The insurers
may write coverage through an excess and surplus lines broker that is licensed in these jurisdictions
Nonowned Automobile: In commercial auto policies, coverage for autos that are used in connection with the
named insured's business but are neither owned, leased, hired, rented or borrowed by the named insured. The
term specifically applies to vehicles owned by employees and used for company business
Nonsubscription: A Workers' Compensation term used in Texas that refers to employers who choose to be out
of the workers' compensation system. Firms that are proven negligent in causing a worker's injury, can be held
liable in tort, since nonsubscribing employers waive the traditional common law defenses available to
employers subject to workers' compensation laws
Original Age: The age you were when you bought an insurance policy.
Other Insured Rider: The temporary addition to an insurance policy, usually a member of the direct family.
Ownership: All rights, benefits and privileges under life insurance policies are controlled by their owners. Policy
owners may or may not be the insured. Ownership may be assigned or transferred by written request of current
owner.
Occupational Hazard: A condition in the workkplace that increases the chances of the an accident, sickness, or
death. It usually will mean higher premiums.
Occurrence: A continual, gradual or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions.
General liability policies insure liability for bodily injury or property damage that is caused by an occurrence
Package Policy: A policy providing several different coverages combined into one policy. Refers to a policy
providing both general liability insurance and property insurance
Payroll Limitation: A limit on the amount of payroll for certain classifications used for the development of premium
Peril: Cause of loss such as fire, windstorm, collision, etc.
Personal Auto Policy (PAP): A policy insuring private-passenger autos owned by individuals
Personal Injury: A General Liability coverage for insurable offenses that cause harm, other than bodily injury,
such as false arrest, detention or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction, slander, libel and
invasion of privacy
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): An automobile insurance coverage mandated by law in some states. The
statutes typically require insurers to provide or offer to provide first-party benefits for medical expenses, loss of
income, funeral expenses and similar expenses without regard to fault
Personal Property: All tangible property not classified as real property such as contents
Policy: The printed document given to the insured, outlining the terms and conditions of the Insurance coverage.
Policy Fee: A one-time charge per policy that does not change with the size of the premium
Policy Holder: The person who owns a life insurance policy. This is usually the insured person, but it may also
be a relative of the insured, a partnership or a corporation.
Policy Period: The term or duration of a policy including the effective and expiration dates
Pollutant: An irritant or contaminant, whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous form, including smoke, vapor, soot,
fumes, acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste
Preferred Risk: A positive characterisic of someone seeking to be insured. Usually means a better likely hood
for long life, and usually means a lower premium.
Premises: The location where coverage applies
Premises-Operations: A category of hazard ordinarily insured by a general liability policy which is composed of
those exposures to loss that fall outside the defined 'products-completed operations hazard,' including liability
for injury or damage arising out of the insured's premises or out of the insured's business operations while
such operations are in progress
Premium: The agreed upon, payment made to keep an insurance policy in force, usually a monthly payment.
Premium Flexibility: The policy holder's right to vary the amount of premium paid each month.
Primary Beneficiary: In life insurance, the beneficiary designated by the insured as the first to receive policy
benefits.
Primary Policy: The insurance policy that pays first when you have a loss that's covered by more than one policy.
Pro Rata Cancellation: The cancellation of an insurance policy with the return premium being the full proportion
of premium for the unexpired term of the policy, without penalty for early cancellation
Product: Items manufactured, sold, handled, distributed or disposed of by the named insured or others involved
with the named insured in the course of their business. Includes containers, parts and equipment, product
warranties and provision of or failure to provide instructions and warnings
Product Liability: The liability for bodily injury or property damage a merchant or manufacturer may incur as a
consequence of some defect in the product sold or manufactured
Products-Completed Operations: General Liability coverage for liability arising out of the insured's products or
business operations conducted away from the insured's premises once those operations have been completed
Professional Liability: Coverage designed to protect professionals such as physicians and real estate brokers,
against liability incurred as a result of errors and omissions in performing professional services
Property Damage: In the general liability policy, a physical injury to property, resulting in the loss of use
Property Insurance: First-party insurance for real and personal property against physical loss or damage
Provisions: Details of an insurance policy which explain the benefits, conditions and other features of the
insurance contract.
Real Property: Real estate including buildings and vegetation
Re-entry Option: An option in a renewable term life policy under which the policy owner is guaranteed, at the end
of the term, to be able to renew his or her coverage without evidence of insurability, at a premium rate specified
in the policy.
Reinstatement: Putting a lapsed policy back in force by producing satisfactory evidence of insurability and paying
any past-due premiums required.
Renewal Policy: A policy issued to replace an expiring policy
Rents or Rental Value Insurance: Insurance that reimburses a building owner for loss of rental income due to
damage by an insured peril
Replacement: A new policy written to take the place of one currently in force.
Representation: Statements made by applicants on their applications for insurance that they represent as being
substantially true to the best of their knowledge and belief but that are not warranted as exact in every detail.
Return Premium: The amount of premium due the insured should the actual cost of a policy be less than the
insured previously paid
Rider: An attachment to a policy that modifies its conditions by expanding or restricting benefits or excluding
certain conditions from coverage.
Risk: The chance of injury, damage, or loss.
Robbery: Theft of property while force is used or threatened
Secondary Beneficiary: An alternate beneficiary designated to receive payment, usually in the event the original
beneficiary predeceases the insured.
Short-Term Cancellation: Cancellation of an insurance policy prior to the expiration date in which a penalty in the
form of a less than full pro-rata premium refund is allowed
Single Premium Policy: A whole life policy for people who want to buy a policy for a one-time lump sum, and then
be covered for the rest of their lives without paying any additional premiums.
Special Causes of Loss Form: A cause of loss form providing coverage from all causes of loss unless
specifically excluded or limited
Specified Causes of Loss Coverage: Auto physical damage coverage only for losses caused by the perils listed
in the policy
Sprinkler Leakage Coverage: Coverage for property damage caused by the accidental discharge or leakage of
water from automatic sprinkler systems or other fire prevention devices
Surplus Lines Insurance: Insurance written by insurers not licensed in the states where the risks are located
and placed with such insurers under the surplus line laws of the various states. Before such placements can be
made through specially licensed surplus line agents and brokers, state laws generally require evidence
reported before some predetermined future date ('sunset')
Time Element Insurance: A term referring to property coverage for loss of earnings or income resulting from the
inability to put damaged property to its normal use
Term Insurance: Protection during limited number of years; expiring without value if the
insured survives the stated period, which may be one or more years but usually is five to twenty years, because
such periods usually cover the needs for temporary protection.
Term: Period for which the policy runs. In life insurance, this is to the end of the term period for term insurance.
Third-Party Owner: A policy owner who is not the prospective insured. The policy owner and the insured may be,
and often are the same person. If for example, you apply for and are issued an insurance policy on your life, then
you are both the policy owner and the insured and may be known as the policy owner-insured. If, however, your
mother applies for and is issued a policy on your life, then she is the policy owner and you are the insured.
Transit Coverage: Coverage on the insured's property while in transit from one location to another, over land
Umbrella Liability Policy: A policy designed to provide additional protection against catastrophic losses covered
under liability policies, such as the business auto policy, commercial general liability policy, watercraft and
aircraft liability policies and employers liability coverage. It provides excess limits when the limits of the
underlying liability policies are used up by the payment of claims and it drops down and picks up where the
underlying policy leaves off when the aggregate limit of the underlying policy in question is exhausted by the
payment of claims. It also provides protection against some claims not covered by the underlying policies,
subject to a self-insured retention
Underinsured Motorists Coverage: Provides coverage for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, for
losses incurred by an insured when an accident is caused by a motorist who does not have sufficient insurance
limits
Underlying Coverage: The insurance or coverage in place on the same risk that will respond to loss before the
excess policy is called on to pay any portion of the claim
Underwriter: Company receiving premiums and accepting responsibility for fulfilling the policy contract. Also,
company employee who decides whether the company should assume a particular risk; or the agent who sells
the policy
Uninsurable Risk: A person who is not acceptable for insurance due to excessive risk.
Universal Life: An interest-sensitive life insurance policy that builds cash values. The premium payer has control
over how the policy is structured. He has the flexibility to eliminate the premiums (essentially pay up the policy
and pay no more premiums) or have the premiums continue for life. It is a matter of juggling three variables: the
assumed interest rate, the cash value and the premium payment plan. The policy is interest-sensitive, and if
interest rates change from the assumed interest, it will affect the other two variables. In the past, many Universal
Life Policies were structured assuming a higher interest rate then was actually received, therefore, most of them
have under performed. If you have a Universal Life Policy, you should have it evaluated to see if it needs
to have the premiums adjusted to get it back on track. A fourth variable that has not been a factor but could be in
the future, and the owner should be aware of, is the Mortality variable. Universal Life policies are usually
structured assuming current mortality rates. The insurance companies reserve the right to change those rates.
Unearned Premium: That portion of the policy premium that represents the unexpired policy term
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Provides coverage for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, for
losses incurred by an insured when an accident is caused by a motorist who is not insured
Utility Service Interruption Coverage: Coverage for the loss to an insured due to lack of incoming electricity which
was caused by damage from a covered cause of loss, such as a fire or windstorm, to property away from the
insured's premises - usually the utility generating station. Also referred to as 'off-premises power coverage'
Vacancy Provision: Property insurance provision found in commercial property policies that restrict coverage in
connection with buildings that have been vacant for a specified number of days, usually 60 days
Valuable Papers and Records Coverage : Coverage that pays the cost to reconstruct damaged or destroyed
valuable papers and records and usually includes almost all forms of printed documents or records except
money or securities; data processing programs, data and media are usually excluded
Waiver of Premium: Rider or provision included in most life insurance policies exempting the insured from
paying premiums after he or she has been disabled for a specified period of time, usually six months.
Waiver of Subrogation: Also known as 'transfer of rights of recovery,' the relinquishment by an insurer of the right
to collect from another party for damages paid on behalf of the insured
Whole Life Insurance: Life insurance that is kept in force for a person's whole life as long as the scheduled
premiums are maintained. All Whole Life policies build up cash values. Most Whole Life policies are guaranteed
as long as the scheduled premiums are maintained. The variable in a Whole life Policy is the dividend which
could vary depending on how well the insurance is doing. If the company is doing well and the policies are not
experiencing a higher mortality than projected, premiums are paid back to the policy holder in the form of
dividends. Policyholders can use the cash from dividends in many ways. The three main uses are: it can be
used to lower or vanish premiums, it can be used to purchase more insurance or it can be used to pay for term
insurance.
Workers' Compensation: Protection which provides benefits to employees for injury or contracted disease
arising out of and in the course of employment. Most states have laws which require such protection for workers
and prescribe the length and amount of such benefits provided
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