Catastrophic Insurance Futures And Options
Definition of "Catastrophic insurance futures and options"
First exchange-traded risk management tool specifically developed for the insurance industry by the Chicago Board of Trade as a way for the primary insurance company to offset its underwriting exposures. See also futures tied to reinsurance. These contracts are designed to provide the insurance company with a hedge against underwriting losses resulting from catastrophic occurrences. The futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a commodity or financial instrument at a set price on a given date. The option permits the owner to decide whether or not to exercise the option to buy or sell the commodity or financial instrument by the stipulated exercise date. The insurance option trading is based on the loss ratio concept (losses incurred over a stipulated time period divided by premiums earned over the same time period). For example, assume an insurance company buys an option on the loss ratio that will fall within the range of 50% to 70%. Should losses fall within that range, the insurance company would then exercise the option and sell the contract, thereby enabling the company to make a profit on the option. This profit could then be used by the company to offset losses. Should the loss portion not fall within the 50% to 70% range, the option would expire at zero value.
Popular Insurance Terms
Aggregate of face amount of coverage paid up, or on which premiums are still being paid, as issued by a life insurance company. This is one measure used to rank life insurance companies by ...
Federal agency that researches injury and illness arising from workplace hazards and recommends standards for maximum exposures to hazardous substances. ...
Business owned by stockholders, as contrasted to a mutual insurance company, which is owned by its policyholders. Many major life insurers are mutual companies whereas some leading ...
Same as term Annual Statement: report that an insurance company must file annually with the State Insurance Commissioner in each state in which it does business. The statement shows the ...
Cost of the assets listed on the accounting records of the company. These assets include the following: real estate (to include any adjustments for depreciation), transportation equipment ...
Death without a will having been drawn. Under this circumstance, the court follows state law in deciding how the estate of the deceased is to be distributed. ...
Liability incurred by one insured as the result of his or her damaging another insured when both insureds are covered under the same liability insurance policy. Each insured must be treated ...
Life insurance on the life of a child. ...
Trust established under the Internal Revenue Service code that is used to provide accident and sickness benefits to member employees. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.