Definition of "Primacy"

Property, liability, or health coverage that takes precedence when more than one policy covers the same loss. In order to avoid OVER INSURANCE, or paying an insured more than the actual loss, the covering policies accept responsibility for insurance in an established order. For example, if a husband and wife cover each other as dependents in group medical insurance, the injured person's own policy assumes primacy. Therefore if the wife gave birth to a child, her policy would apply to obstetrical and hospital fees up to its limits. Only then would the husband's policy apply, covering the amount that had not been paid by his wife's policy up to the limits of his plan.

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

Situation involving a chance of a loss or no loss, but no chance of gain. For example, either one's home burns or it does not; this risk is insurable. ...

Applications for insurance coverage that have been forwarded to an insurer but not yet processed. ...

Ratio commonly used by the property and casualty insurance industry as a measure of financial strength or to indicate to what degree a particular insurance company is leveraged. A low ratio ...

Coverage of the hull of a ship and its tackle, passenger fittings, equipment, stores, boats, and ordnance. Coverage is provided under the following types of policies: builders risk hull ...

Irrevocable living trust (rights to make any changes are forfeited by the grantor permanently) in which the grantor forfeits control of all assets placed in the trust. However, the grantor ...

Liability insurance coverage for claims arising from acts that occurred before the beginning of the policy period. Policies written on a claims made basis, such as malpractice liability ...

Individual who has a contractual agreement with a policyowner. The agent of record has a legal right to commissions from the insurance policy. ...

Payments made on a monthly basis by users of the medical services of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). After this payment is calculated for a future period of time, usually one year, ...

Expenses and damages incurred as the result of damage to a ship and its cargo and/or of taking direct action to prevent initial or further damage to the ship and its cargo. These expenses ...

Popular Insurance Questions