free web page hit counter

Insurance Glossary

Today is:
 


Insurance can be tough to understand.  Without knowing what exactly those "insurance-eze" terms mean, you may not understand how exactly your coverage works.  We attempt to break down these terms here in our insurance glossary.  As always, if you still have questions, feel free to contact your account representative.


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Term

Definition

Additional Living Expense Covers normal living expenses when you need to vacate your home due to a covered loss.
Advertising Injury Coverage Provides coverage, as long as you are not in the advertising business, for lawsuits arising from alleged piracy, copyright infringement, unfair competition, etc. due to your advertising or promotional activities.
Agent of Record This is a form that is submitted to an insurance company letting them know that you will be moving your insurance policy to another insurance agency, but are staying with the same carrier.
Annuity A policy which pays an income for life or a specified period to the insured or their estate.

Index


Term

Definition

Binder Provides temporary proof that you have insurance coverage until the company issues your policy.
Blanket Contractual Coverage Provides coverage for damage to property or people after a project has been completed.
Bodily Injury Provides payment to others that are seriously injured in an accident in which you are found legally responsible.
Building Coverage Provides coverage for your buildings; completed additions; permanently installed fixtures such as machinery, equipment and floor coverings; building service equipment such as fire extinguishers, refrigeration, ventilating and cooking systems.
Business Income Coverage Provides coverage to restore your business to the position that would have existed had there been no disruption of operations covered by a loss.
Business Liability Coverage Provides defense for lawsuits and legal liability for damages you cause to others for bodily injury or property damage.
Business Personal Property Coverage Provides coverage for your business contents, including equipment, furniture and fixtures, supplies and stock stored in the buildings or within 100 feet of the insured premises.  This can be expanded to include improvements and betterments you have made as a tenant.

Index


Term

Definition

Certificate of No-Fault Insurance (aka Auto-ID Card) This is a certificate you MUST carry in your vehicle to present to a police officer.  This certificate states that you have insurance on a specific vehicle.  You may also need this Auto ID Card in order to renew your license plates.
Certificate of Insurance
(aka Cert)
This is a form that we prepare to show evidence of liability insurance and show your policy limits.  You would request this form to provide to someone you are doing a service for, so they know you have insurance.
Co-Insurance The insurance company and the policy-owner share covered expenses in agreed proportions.  80/20 is typical; The insurance company pays 80%, and you pay 20%.
Completed Operations Coverage Provides coverage for damage to property or people after a project has been completed.
Collision Coverage Covers damages to your vehicle when involved in an accident:
Broad Form:  Pays for damages to your vehicle whether or not you are at fault.  Your deductible will apply if you are at fault.
Regular:  Pays for damages to your vehicle whether or not you are at fault.  Your deductible will always apply.
Limited:  Pays for damages to your vehicle ONLY if you are NOT at fault.  Your deductible will always apply.
Comprehensive Coverage Covers damage to your vehicle by fire, theft, vandalism, glass breakage, hail and deer.  Your deductible will apply.

Index


Term

Definition

Deductible A set amount the insured must pay before the policy will begin to pay.
Disability Insurance A policy that helps to replace income when an insured is sick or injured and unable to work.
Drive Other Car Coverage Provides automobile liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for named individuals who drive a company owned vehicle and have no personal auto policy.
Dwelling A structure to live in - may be your home, or another residence you own.

Index


Term

Definition

Employers Liability Provides protection under the Workers' Compensation policy for the employer against lawsuits.
Employment Benefits Liability Provides coverage for administrative or clerical errors or omissions by an employer administrator.  Covered actions include failing to add an employee to group life insurance, group health, profit sharing plans, pension plans, employee stock subscription plans and disability benefits.
Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) Provides coverage for damages you are required to pay; including legal expenses for sexual harassment, discrimination or wrongful discharge, that result in employment law violations such as the Age Discrimination Act, American's with Disabilities Act, Whistle Blower Statues or Equal Pay Act.
Evidence of Property Insurance (aka EPI) This is a form that states your policy limits.  Usually banks will request this form to insure that there is coverage on your property.
Extra Expense Coverage Provides coverage to pay the extra expenses incurred to resume your business following a covered loss.  This could include using a temporary location.

Index


Term

Definition

Fire Legal Coverage Provides coverage if, as a tenant, you are legally responsible for fire damage in the rented building.

Index


Term

Definition

Glass & Sign Coverage Provides specific coverage for your building's glass and signs.
Guaranteed Home Replacement Cost Replaces your home, without depreciation, even if it exceeds your policy limit.

Index


Term

Definition

Hired Physical Damage Coverage Provides physical damage coverage for automobiles that you have rented or hired.
Health Insurance A policy that pays hospital and doctor expenses if sick or injured.

Index


Term

Definition

IRA Individual Retirement Account - A policy which pays income to the insured after age 59½

Index


Term

Definition

Life Insurance A policy which pays a stated amount to a beneficiary upon death of the insured.
Term Life:  A policy that does not build cash value, and is issued for a specific period of time.  If the insured dies within the specified term, the beneficiary receives a stated amount.
Whole Life:  A policy that builds cash value at a fixed interest rate, and is issued to age 100.  If insured lives to age 100, they will receive the specified amount.
Universal Life:  A policy that builds cash value at a variable interest rate.  Insured can borrow money against this policy.  If insured lives to age 95, they will receive the specified amount.
Limited Property Damage - Mini-Tort Will pay up to $500 for damages done to someone else's vehicle when you are at fault in an accident and they do not have adequate coverage on their vehicle.
Long Term Care Insurance A policy that pays a specific portion of the expenses toward home health care, assisted living facilities, or nursing home care for an insured.
Loss Policy Release (LPR) This is a form that you must sign in order to cancel your policy.

Index


Term

Definition

Medical Expense Coverage Provides coverage for people injured on your premises.
Medical Payments Pays medical costs for persons, other than household members, who are injured on your property.
Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) Pays for people who are severely injured in an auto accident.  This fund reimburses your auto insurance company for medical claims exceeding $250,000.  This is a state mandatory charge covering automobiles and motorcycles written in Michigan.

Index


Term

Definition

Non-Owned and Hired Liability Provides liability coverage for your business, for bodily injury to others or property damages caused by an accident in a non owned or hired automobile.

Index


Term

Definition

Other Structures Permanent structures NOT attached to the home; a garage, storage shed, fencing, etc.

Index


Term

Definition

Personal Catastrophe Liability Increases your liability coverage.
Personal Injury Coverage Covers damages from lawsuits arising out of false arrest, detention, libel, slander, wrongful entry or eviction.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Provides partial or full coverage of medical expenses for you and your family members when involved in an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault.  Lost wages may also be covered under PIP.
Personal Liability Protection against personal negligence lawsuits brought against you or other residents of your household.
Personal Property Items belonging to you and your family members living in your home; clothes, furniture, bicycles, etc.
Personal Property Replacement Cost Replaces an item that was damaged without depreciation.
Products Liability Coverage Provides coverage for damages caused by your products after you relinquish possession to others.
Property Damage Pays for damage to property of other resulting from an auto accident outside the state of Michigan.  You or a covered driver must be found legally responsible in order for payment to be made.
Property Protection Insurance
(PPI)
Pays for damages done by your auto to legally parked vehicles or stationary objects (fences, buildings, lamp posts) in the state of Michigan.

Index


Term

Definition

Recreational Liability Bodily Injury:  Pays for serious injuries to others sustained in an accident in which you are found legally responsible.
Property Damage:  Pays for damage to property of others resulting from an accident in which you are found legally responsible.
Rental Reimbursement Pays for costs of renting a vehicle while yours is being repaired as a result of an accident, subject to your policy limit.
Replacement Cost Replaces your home, without depreciation, up to your policy limit.
Road Service/Towing Pays for costs incurred when you need a tow truck or battery jump, subject to your policy limit.

Index


Term

Definition

Scheduled Personal Property Additional coverage for items, which have limitations under the homeowner's policy such as jewelry, computers, guns, fine arts, etc.
Scheduled Items Business Insurance version of Scheduled Personal Property.
Stop Loss A provision found in major medical health policies which states that once the costs have exceeded a specific amount, the insurance company that pays 100% of the eligible expenses above that amount, in a calendar year.

Index


Term

Definition

Umbrella Provides additional liability protection for your Automobile, General Liability and Workers' Compensation policy.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Will pay if you or a member of your family are injured in an accident, when the other driver if found at fault, and has inadequate coverage or no insurance at all.

Index


Term

Definition

Workers' Compensation Provides benefits for you employees for job related injuries, illnesses, or death as mandated by State law.

Index