Rate Making
Process of calculating a premium so that it is adequate-sufficient to pay losses according to expected frequency and severity, thereby safeguarding against the insurance company becoming insolvent; reasonable-the insurance company should not be able to earn an excessive profit; and not unfairly discriminatory or inequitable. Theoretically, it can be said that each insurance applicant should pay a unique premium to reflect a different expectation of loss, but this would be impractical. Instead, classifications are established for applicants to be grouped according to similar expectation of loss. Statistical studies of a large number of nearly homogeneous exposures in each underwriting classification enable the projection of losses after adjustments for future inflation and statistical irregularities. The adjusted statistics are used to calculate the pure cost of protection, or pure premium, to which the insurance company adds on loads for agent commissions, premium taxes, administrative expenses, contingency reserves, other acquisition costs, and profit margin. The result is the gross premium to be charged to the insured.
Popular Insurance Terms
Provision that excludes from coverage under Form No. 3: flood damage, except if the flood causes a fire, explosion, or theft; water damage from the backup of sewers; earthquake, except if ...
Transaction in which the property owner (for example, a pension fund) agrees to pay the insurance company a rate of return tied to the fluctuations in real estate prices. In return, the ...
Disposition or transfer of property at time of death. Although the law provides that property may be transferred at death only by means of a will that meets the requirements of state ...
Legal case in which the United States Supreme Court held that pension assets are to be excluded from the bankruptcy estate of the plan participant. ...
Additional policy dividend paid to a life insurance policyholder when a policy terminates. A mutual insurance company is owned by its policyholders and writes participating policies, which ...
Vehicle that is available to anyone in the United States as a means for savings in a tax-exempt fashion for college, graduate, or professional schools or other eligible accredited business, ...
Clause in an insurance policy that describes the administration and submission of claims procedure. ...
Provision in a life insurance policy that death benefits will not be paid in the event an insured dies from war-related causes; or in lieu of a death benefit there is a return of premiums ...
Legislation that makes insurance fraud a federal crime. This act is part of the Omnibus Crime Bill. Under the act, it is a federal crime to embezzle or misappropriate funds, money, or ...
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