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
Reckless action without regard to life, limb, and/or property; for example, driving 100 miles per hour on a road or highway. ...
Syndicate or association of insurance companies or reinsurance companies organized to underwrite a particular risk, usually with high limits of exposure. Each member shares in premiums, ...
Coverage for the owner of a business. When a proprietor dies, debts of the business become the debts of the estate since in this circumstance the law recognizes business and personal assets ...
Fee charged to a policyowner when a life insurance policy or annuity is surrendered for its cash value. This fee reflects insurance company expenses incurred by placing the policy on its ...
Individual appointed by the insurance company as an independent contractor. The agent receives various expense allowances for office-associated expenses and direct commissions on products ...
Tort of wrongful physical confinement of an individual. This is not restricted to physical confinement but includes any unjustified limitation of another's freedom of movement. If an ...
Type of flexible spending account. ...
Coverage for loss in the gross earnings of the business (minus expenses that cease while the business is inoperative) as the result of the interruption of normal business activities caused ...
Condition surrounding a work environment that increases the probability of death, disability, or illness to a worker. This class of hazard is considered when writing workers COMPENSATION ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.