Variable Dollar Annuity
Definition of "Variable dollar annuity"
Annuity in which premium payments are used to purchase accumulation units, their number depending on the value of each unit. The value of a unit is determined by the value of the portfolio of stocks in which the insurance company invests the premiums. At the time of the payment of benefits to the annuitant, the accumulation units are converted to a monthly fixed number of units. The variable element is the dollar value of each unit. For example, assume that the annuitant pays a monthly premium of $100. If the accumulation unit value during one month is $50, two units are purchased. In another month, if the value of the accumulation unit is $25, four units are purchased. In a third month, the value of the unit is $10, resulting in the purchase of 10 units. This allows the market use of the investment strategy of dollar cost averaging. Accumulation units are credited to the annuitant's account, a procedure that is similar to purchasing shares in a mutual fund.
When income benefits are scheduled to begin, total accumulation units are converted to assume 100 income benefit units per month. The value of the income unit will vary according to the company's stock investments; in one month the annuitant's income might be $1000, in another month $500, in another month $1200. Changes in the investment experience by the insurance company are passed on to the annuitant, but the company absorbs fluctuations in expenses and mortality experience.
Popular Insurance Terms
Individual in charge of an insurance company agency. The manager is an employee of the company and is usually compensated on a salary-and-bonus basis, the latter relating to premium volume ...
LIFE INSURANCE: specification by each state regarding the minimum assumptions that must be used in reserve calculations as theypertain to the maximum interest rate that can be assumed; ...
Right of one party to use land owned by another party. For example, an electric utility can obtain an easement through court action to place its power lines across someone's property, even ...
Membership organization of state insurance commissioners. One of its goals is to promote uniformity of state regulation and legislation as it concerns the insurance industry. The NAIC ...
Health insurance that provides coverage for physicians' fees for all services, with the exception of surgeons' fees. ...
Fidelity bond provided under a blanket position bond (in which each position is covered on an individual basis) or a commercial blanket bond (in which a loss is covered on a blanket basis ...
Disability in which a wage earner is forever prevented from working at full physical capability because of injury or illness. ...
Demand without foundation, such as a claim submitted to an insurance company by an insured who caused a loss, or for a loss that never occurred. ...
Prepaid group health insurance plan that entitles members to services of participating physicians, hospitals, and clinics. Emphasis is on preventive medicine. Members of the HMO pay a flat ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.