Personal Insurance Terms
Personal insurance is a type of coverage designed to protect individuals and their families from financial loss due to unforeseen events such as accidents, illness, property damage, or death. This category includes various insurance products like health insurance, which covers medical expenses; life insurance, which provides a death benefit to beneficiaries; auto insurance, which covers vehicle-related damages and liabilities; and homeowners or renters insurance, which protects against damage to property and possessions. Personal insurance ensures that in the face of unexpected events, individuals and their families can maintain financial stability and peace of mind.
Policyholder:
The individual who owns the insurance policy and is responsible for premium payments.
Premium:
The amount of money paid regularly (monthly, quarterly, annually) to keep the insurance policy active.
Deductible:
The amount the policyholder must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company starts covering expenses.
Claim:
A request made by the policyholder to the insurance company for payment of benefits under the policy.
Coverage:
The amount and extent of protection provided under an insurance policy.
Beneficiary:
The person or entity designated to receive the benefits from a life insurance policy.
Exclusion:
Specific conditions or circumstances that are not covered by the insurance policy.
Limit:
The maximum amount the insurance company will pay for a covered loss.
Endorsement/Rider:
An add-on to an insurance policy that modifies or enhances coverage.
Underwriting:
The process by which the insurance company assesses the risk of insuring a person and determines the premium
Peril:
A specific risk or cause of loss covered by the insurance policy, such as fire, theft, or windstorm.
Loss:
The amount of money an insurance company must pay out for a claim.
Liability:
Legal responsibility for causing injury or damage to another person or property.
Policy Term:
The period during which the insurance policy is in effect.
Grace Period:
A set amount of time after the premium due date during which the policyholder can make a payment without the policy lapsing.
Renewal:
The process of extending the coverage of an insurance policy for another term.
Actual Cash Value (ACV):
The value of insured property minus depreciation.
Replacement Cost:
The cost to replace damaged or destroyed property without deducting for depreciation.
Umbrella Policy:
Additional liability insurance that provides coverage beyond the limits of the underlying policies.
COBRA:
A federal law that allows individuals to continue their health insurance coverage after leaving employment, typically at their own expense.
Copayment (Copay):
A fixed amount the insured pays for a covered healthcare service, usually at the time of service.
Coinsurance:
The percentage of costs the insured must pay after the deductible is met.
Network:
The group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that an insurance plan has contracted with to provide services at negotiated rates.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum
The most a policyholder will have to pay for covered services in a policy period, after which the insurance company pays 100% of the costs.
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