Underwriting Cycle
Tendency of property and liability insurance premiums, insurers' profits, and availability of coverage to rise and fall with some regularity over time. A cycle can be said to begin when insurers tighten their underwriting standards and sharply raise premiums after a period of severe underwriting losses. Stricter standards and higher premium rates often bring dramatic increases in profits, attracting more capital to the insurance industry and raising underwriting capacity. On the other hand, as insurers strive to write more premiums at higher levels of profitability, premium rates may be driven down and underwriting standards relaxed in the competition for new business. Profits may erode and then turn into losses if more tax underwriting standards generate mounting claims. The stage would then be set for the cycle to begin again.
Popular Insurance Terms
Those claims that arise when two or more property and casualty insurance companies have coverage on a loss. Which company then owes which portion of the claim must be determined. ...
Negligent acts and/or omissions, other than breach of contract, normally independent of moral obligations for which a remedy can be provided in a court of law. For example, a person injured ...
Bonds that are less than investment grade plus the bonds that are in or approaching default, which comprise part of the insurance company's investment bond portfolio. ...
For a variable annuity, the period of time from the close of business on the first business day to the close of business on the second business day. ...
Exposures where action has been taken to reduce the frequency and severity of loss, such as adding sprinkler systems in public buildings. These actions may result in a significant reduction ...
An amount usually expressed as 50% of the monthly indemnity for the total disability benefit provided by a disability income insurance policy. This amount becomes payable when the insured ...
Coverage against all liability exposures of a business unless specifically excluded. Coverage includes products, completed operations, premises and operations, elevators, and independent ...
Coverage of a common carrier for liability on trucks that have delivered their cargo and are on the way back to the terminal. The company that hires the truck assumes liability while the ...
State plans that provide health insurance coverage for those who are unable to purchase medical insurance. Coverage is provided by a specially formed nonprofit-making pool comprised of all ...
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