Sunday, 19 May 2013

Insurance - Meaning & Definitions


insurance
  
Definition
Risk-transfer mechanism that ensures full or partial financial compensation for the loss or damage caused by event(s) beyond the control of the insured party. Under an insurance contract, a party (the insurerindemnifies the other party (the insured) against a specified amount of loss, occurring from specified eventualities within a specified period, provided a fee called premium is paid. In general insurance, compensation is normally proportionate to the loss incurred, whereas in life insurance usually a fixed sum is paid. Some types of insurance (such as product liability insurance) are an essential component of risk management, and are mandatory in several countries. Insurance, however, provides protection only against tangible losses. It cannot ensure continuity of businessmarket share, or customer confidence, and cannot provide knowledgeskills, or resources to resume the operations after a disaster.


insurance company
Definition
business that provides coverage, in the form of compensation resulting from lossdamagesinjury, treatment or hardship in exchange for premium payments. The company calculates the risk of occurrence then determines the cost to replace (pay for) the loss to determine the premium amount.

insurance company rating
  
Definition
System developed by the US firm A. M. Best & Company to rate life, general (non-life), and reinsurance companies on the basis of their strength and weaknesses. These are: A++ or A+ (Superior), A or A- (Excellent), B++ or B (Very good), B or B- (Fair), C++ or C (Marginal), C or C- (Weak), D (Poor), E (Under regulatory supervision), D (In liquidation), S (Rating suspended). An insurance company must have the rating of B+ or better to indicate that it is secure in four critical areas: (1) underwriting, (2) expense control, (3) reserve adequacy, and (4) investments. Also called Best's rating

insurance cover note
  
Definition
Document evidencing issuance of an insurance policy and gives a summary of the information given in a certificate of insurance.

insurance adjuster
Definition
person charged with investigating a claim to establish whether the company is liable and to what extent. The investigation can include interviews of the parties involved, property inspections, and reviewing hospital records or police reports.

insurance carrier
Definition
company that offers and/or underwriteinsurance policies.

insurance commissioner
Definition
The individual who heads the state's agency for insurance regulation. This person may also be referred to as the Director or Superintendent, depending on the state.

insurance department
Definition
department charged administrating the laws that govern the insurance business. This also includes licensing, examining, and regulating insurance professionals. In the United States, this is a government bureau, or a division of another government bureau. In Canada, this is done by the federal government. In India this is done by IRDA India (Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India).


insurance expense
Definition
The amount that is recorded as payment of insurance, during an accounting period. This expense can also be accounted for in future years if the payment remains the same.


 


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