Definition of "Benchmark surplus"

Additional amount of surplus from an additional amount of capital necessary to act as a supplement to the cash flow in the event unforeseen contingencies occur that disrupt or impair the cash flow necessary for the insurance company to make future benefit payments for which it has received the premiums. BENEFICIARY designation by the owner of a life insurance policy indicating to whom the proceeds are to be paid upon the insured's death or when an endowment matures. Anyone can be named a beneficiary (relative, non-relative, pet, charity, corporation, trustee, partnership). A primary beneficiary is the first-named beneficiary, who must survive the death of the insured in order to collect the proceeds. A contingent or secondary beneficiary will receive the proceeds if the primary beneficiary does not survive the insured. A revocable beneficiary (primary or secondary) can be changed by the policy owner at any time. An irrevocable beneficiary (primary or secondary) can be changed by the policy owner only with the written permission of that beneficiary. Naming an irrevocable beneficiary removes the policy from the estate of the insured, who thereby gives up incidences of ownership for estate tax purposes. If a beneficiary is convicted of murdering the insured, the beneficiary cannot collect the death benefit. The insured's estate would receive the benefit.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Amount of the insurance company's liabilities for claims that have not been settled. If this reserve increases significantly in relation to the company's surplus, the risk is greater for ...

Independent, nonprofit, membership hospital plan. Benefits provided include coverage for hospitalization expenses subject to certain restrictions: for example, semiprivate room only. A ...

Recipient of an indemnity. Indemnitor provider of an indemnity payment. ...

Compensation payable to the owner of a ship detained for reasons beyond his or her control who incurs a loss of earnings because of the delay. Detainment can be caused by a delay in the ...

Circumstance under which the insured maintains that, if an insurance policy covers at least two scheduled items of real or personal property, in the event of a loss applicable coverage ...

Plan to which contributions are not being made, but which has not been formally terminated. The freezing of a keogh plan (hr-10) may occur in the following circumstances: self-employed ...

Coverage primarily for the liability of an individual or organization that results from negligent acts and omissions, thereby causing bodily injury and/or property damage to a third party. ...

Coverage in which the face amount of a life insurance policy declines by a stipulated amount over a period of time. For example, the initial face amount of a $100,000 decreasing term policy ...

Time period in health insurance that must elapse between a previous illness and a current one, if the current one is to be considered a separate illness eligible for a new set of benefits. ...

Popular Insurance Questions