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

Found under the "Exceptions and Exclusions Section for All Medical Benefits" in many health insurance policies that exclude: complications arising from elective, nontherapeutic voluntary ...

Agreement by the insurance company to keep the universal life insurance policy in force, even if the cash value becomes zero or less than zero, provided that a specified minimum ...

Amount of uncertainty in a given situation. Probability that actual experience will be different from what is expected. ...

Employee of a state insurance department who audits statements of insurance companies to determine their continued solvency. ...

Compensation in which an insurance agent's fee for the sale of a policy is the same year after year. Most life insurance companies pay a high first year commission and lower commissions in ...

Coverage in which the face amount of a policy remains uniform, neither increasing nor decreasing for as long as the policy is in force. ...

Annual premium expressed on a proportionate basis such as monthly, quarterly, or semiannually. ...

Chart showing rate of death at each age in terms of number of deaths per thousand. ...

Index that reflects changes in industrial output by manufacturers, mines, electric utilities, and natural gas utilities. This is a monthly index published by the Federal Reserve. ...

Popular Insurance Questions