Definition of "Validation period"

Length of time required to amortize the excess expenses of acquiring a given group of life insurance policies. In acquiring a policy, a life insurance company may incur expenses (such as the costs of sales commissions, paperwork, and medical examinations) that are greater than the amount allocated for loading in the first year's premium. In effect, this means new policies are acquired at a loss, forcing insurers to dip into surplus to add the new business. After the first year, because expenses are lower, premiums and their invested earnings begin to generate a contribution to surplus, gradually making up for the excess expense of the first year. The length of the validation period depends on many factors, including the levels of GROSS premiums and expenses, but in some companies validation periods can extend for 10 years or more.

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

Number of times losses occur, and their severity. These statistics measure expectation of loss, and are critical in establishing a basic premium or the pure cost of protection that is based ...

Organization that is part of a preferred provider organization (PPO) in which enrollees select an EPO provider to act as their primary care physician and serve as the gatekeeper. This ...

Same as term Contribution: principle of equity in property, casualty, and health insurance. When two or more policies apply to the loss, each policy pays its part of the loss, unless its ...

Group coverage for members of a fraternal association, usually on a nonprofit basis. ...

System of charges to an insured that fluctuates according to the loss experience of that insured. This is a form of experience rating. ...

Correction of a contract containing a mistake in order to prevent a party to that contract from gaining from that mistake. For example, if $1,000,000, instead of the correct amount of ...

Statute that makes it illegal in most states for an agent to rebate (return) any portion of his commission as an inducement for an applicant to purchase insurance from him. ...

Total amount of commissions and expense allowances paid by the reinsurer to its ceding company minus the total amount of reinsurance commissions and expense allowances that, in turn, its ...

Commission that is paid based on how profitable a particular type of business proves to be that is written by an agent. ...

Popular Insurance Questions