Catastrophic Insurance Futures And Options

Definition of "Catastrophic insurance futures and options"

Nelson Montanez  real estate agent

Written by

Nelson Montanez elite badge icon

Brass Moon Realty

First exchange-traded risk management tool specifically developed for the insurance industry by the Chicago Board of Trade as a way for the primary insurance company to offset its underwriting exposures. See also futures tied to reinsurance. These contracts are designed to provide the insurance company with a hedge against underwriting losses resulting from catastrophic occurrences. The futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a commodity or financial instrument at a set price on a given date. The option permits the owner to decide whether or not to exercise the option to buy or sell the commodity or financial instrument by the stipulated exercise date. The insurance option trading is based on the loss ratio concept (losses incurred over a stipulated time period divided by premiums earned over the same time period). For example, assume an insurance company buys an option on the loss ratio that will fall within the range of 50% to 70%. Should losses fall within that range, the insurance company would then exercise the option and sell the contract, thereby enabling the company to make a profit on the option. This profit could then be used by the company to offset losses. Should the loss portion not fall within the 50% to 70% range, the option would expire at zero value.

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

Trade association of insurance companies that writes transportation, aviation, and marine insurance. The association began operation in the 1880s and it suggests standard clauses to be ...

Same as term Coinsurance: in property insurance, when the insurance policy contains this clause, coinsurance defines the amount of each loss that the company pays according to the following ...

Limited special purposes policy that provides liability and physical damage insurance for owners and operators of trucks while engaged in business. This insurance is often purchased by a ...

Unexpected, unforeseen event not under the control of the insured that results in bodily injury. ...

Endorsement to many commercial property insurance policies that covers office equipment. Coverage includes all equipment, whether or not owned by an insured, improvements an insured has ...

Act in which a life insurance company is permitted to transfer the death benefit from the policy to the custodian of a minor beneficiary provided the beneficiary designation has ...

Injury covered under workers compensation insurance. For every part of the body that may be injured, there is a listed financial sum that will be paid. For example, a right severed index ...

Section of some inland marine insurance {transportation insurance) and many other property insurance policies excluding coverage for damage to shipped goods by vermin such as rats. ...

Factors on the application that must be evaluated in order to complete the underwriting process: age; sex; physical condition; personal health history; family health history; financial ...

Popular Insurance Questions