A policy which may be canceled by the company at any time by giving advance notice to the insured and refunding any unearned premium.

The discontinuance of an insurance policy before its normal expiration date.

A term in accident insurance to describe the amount payable for death or for loss of hands, feet or sight. Also called principal sum.

The insurance company or the one who agrees to pay the losses. The carrier may be organized as a company, either stock, mutual, or reciprocal, or as an association of underwriters such as Lloyds.

The amount available in cash upon surrender of a life insurance policy before it matures as a death claim or otherwise.

A general class of insurance covering liability resulting from accidents and some types of property insurance. It includes among other coverages: automobile, workers compensation, employers liability, general liability, plate glass, theft and personal liability. It excludes life, fire and marine insurance, but, as ordinarily used, includes health insurance and fidelity and surety bonds.

This is a form of insurance written on an excess of loss basis in order to improve the spread of risk against unknown concentrations of liability subject to one occurrence. A deductible is chosen at the amount necessary to reduce the probable frequency of loss to an acceptable level to the reinsurer, and severity of loss to a level acceptable to the reinsured company.

A designation conferred in recognition of the attainment of certain standards of education and proficiency in the art and science of life insurance underwriting.

A designation conferred in recognition of the attainment of certain standards of education and proficiency in the art and science of fire and casualty insurance underwriting.

A request for payment of a loss which may come under the terms of an insurance contract. There are two types of claims. First party claim is one made by the policyholder in which the policyholder reports the claim directly to his company. A third party claim is one in which a person makes a claim against a policyholder of another company and payment, if any, is made by that company.

The average cost per claim considering all claims under a certain coverage for a specified period.

One who makes a claim.

Claims-made insurance is a type of liability protection that covers current legal obligations result for acts of the insured. It provides coverage to the insured for claims reported during the term of the policy.

An insurance provision for property coverage in which the policy holder must carry an amount of insurance that is at least equal to a set percentage of the value of the property in order to receive full payment of a loss.

Covers loss to the insured person’s auto caused by its collision with another vehicle or object.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage coverage expressed as one single amount of coverage.

This coverage insures all property not occupied as a residence, excluding farming and manufacturing, against loss by fire.

In life insurance, this clause is designed to alleviate the hardship that can result if the insured and primary beneficiary die at the same time or within a short period of time of each other. Usually the clause provides that if the primary beneficiary dies either before proof of the insured’s death is submitted to the company, or within a stated period (usually 14 or 30 days after the insured’s death), the proceeds will be paid to the contingent beneficiary.

Pays for damage to or loss of your automobile from causes other than accidents. These include hail, vandalism, flood, fire, and theft.

The purpose of compulsory insurance laws is to require all residents to buy liability insurance before auto license plates are issued. The law requires proof of financial responsibility (insurance) when license plates are issued.

The withholding of material facts from an insurer, either in applying for a policy or making a claim.

A term used to refer to the personal property contained in a building. It maybe household furniture, personal effects, or other types of personal property, movable in nature and not firmly affixed to the real property.

A beneficiary whose right to receive depends upon the occurrence of a certain contingency – for example, the right to receive certain benefits only in the event that another named beneficiary dies prior to the time of payment.

In most cases, an insurance policy. A policy is considered to be a contract between the insurance company and the policyholder.

Carelessness of the injured person that helped to cause the accident in which he was injured.

Another term for insurance. Can be used to mean either the dollar amounts of insurance purchased (ex: $500,000 of liability coverage), or the type of loss covered(coverage for theft).