Definition of "Risk selection"

Methods by which a home office underwriter chooses applicants that an insurer will accept. The underwriter's job is to spread the costs equitably among members of the group to be insured. Therefore, the underwriter must determine which are normal risks, or standard risks, to be charged the standard rate; which are substandard risks, to be charged a higher rate; and which are preferred risks, to receive a discount. This process is made more difficult by SELF-SELECTION and ADVERSE SELECTION. The underwriter must screen applicants who are looking for insurance, specifically because they have a greater-than-normal chance of loss, and set the correct PREMIUM rate for them.

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

Contribution whose purpose is to increase funding of underfunded pension plans. It is part of the calculation that is made to arrive at the plan's minimum funding requirement. Usually a ...

Organization that develops and publishes educational material and administers national examinations in supervisory management, general insurance, claims, management, risk management, ...

Trust in which rights to make any changes therein are surrendered permanently by the grantor. The grantor uses this type of trust to transfer assets and any potential depreciation out of ...

coverage issued to a creditor on the life of a debtor so that if the debtor becomes disabled, the insurance policy pays the balance of the debt to the creditor. ...

Coverage against loss as the result of a burglary. Found as part of the commercial package policy that has generally replaced the special multiperil insurance (smp) policy and the ...

1968 federal legislation that makes it mandatory for lenders to disclose to credit applicants the annual interest percentage rate (APR) and any finance charge. ...

basic feature of the social security act under which benefits paid are associated with the employee's earnings that have been taxed during the employment period. ...

Charitable planning strategy in which a donor sells an asset to the charity for an amount less than its fair market value. Internal Revenue Service regulations require that the tax basis ...

Payment by an insurance company to a damaged or destroyed business to hasten its return to normal business operations. For example, if a kitchen of a restaurant is damaged by fire, the ...

Popular Insurance Questions