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Glossary

A
Actual cash value
The value of property at the time it was stolen or destroyed, arrived at by subtracting depreciation from the replacement cost of the item.
B
Bodily injury liability coverage
Pays for medical expenses, legal expenses, and judgments when the policyholder’s car is involved in an accident that causes property damage and/or the injury or death of another person.
C
California Earthquake Authority (CEA)
A state-sponsored partnership between private companies and the government offering earthquake insurance policies in the state.
Cancellation
When an insurer discontinues an auto policy because a driver fails to pay the premium, loses driving privileges, or has not accurately reported the facts relating to his level of risk. A cancellation may make it difficult to get insurance for a long time to come.
Claim
A request to an insurer for compensation for a loss.
Collision coverage
Covers the damage to a policyholder’s vehicle resulting from a collision, regardless of who is responsible. Collision coverage typically requires the payment of a deductible by the policyholder.
Comprehensive physical damage coverage
Pays for damage to a policyholder’s car that is not the result of an auto accident, such as theft, vandalism, fire, hail, natural disasters, hitting a deer. Comprehensive coverage requires a deductible, and will only pay as much as the car was worth before sustaining the damage.
D
Damage depreciation
Commonly used in aviation policies to describe the inherent loss of value to an aircraft that has been damaged and repaired. An identical aircraft that had never been damaged would be worth more in a sale than one that has been repaired, even if the repair work was exemplary.
Deductible
The amount of a claim that the insured must pay before the insurance company will cover the rest.
Depreciation
The loss of an asset’s value over time.
E
Earthquake insurance
A specific policy covering home repair and the replacement of personal property lost to seismic activity.
Endorsement
An agreement added to a policy to change the amount of coverage offered by that policy. Once attached, an endorsement supersedes the original terms of the policy.
F
First-party claim
Request to an insurance company by one of its policyholders for compensation for a loss.
Floater
A separate policy designed to extend the coverage of the basic insurance policy for an item or collection of items. It's called a floater because sometimes the asset may “float” from location to location with the owner’s use.
Flood insurance
A private or government-sponsored policy covering home repair and the replacement of personal property damaged by a flood. Normally not included in basic homeowner's policies.
Flood insurance rate map (FIRM)
A map developed by the National Flood Insurance Program showing base flood elevations, risk zones, and floodplain boundaries; used in determining flood insurance premiums.
Flood zone
Area in which the likelihood of a flood is much higher than average.
H
Homeowner's insurance
An insurance policy that covers a home and its contents against loss, and helps protect the insured from liability claims, up to the policy limits.
Hull insurance
Portion of an aircraft or a yacht policy that covers physical damage to the insured craft.
I
Intentional misconduct
Willful damage to property or injury to others; distinct from negligence.
L
Lienholders interest endorsement
Also called “breach of warranty”; optional coverage in an aviation policy that pays a lienholder the balance of a loan in the event the aircraft is damaged in a manner that also voids the policy; favors the lienholder, not the policyholder.
Loan/lease gap insurance
Covers the difference between a car’s actual cash value and the amount still owed on a loan or lease.
M
Medical payments coverage
Covers the medical bills incurred by policyholders and their passengers after an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault.
N
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Coverage against flooding for personal and business property under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, provided by a partnership of private insurers and the government.
Negligence
Failure to exercise care, resulting in injury to others or damage to property.
No-fault laws
Regulations in some states that require each person involved in an auto accident to pay his or her own medical expenses and lost wages. Stricter versions disallow certain pain-and-suffering lawsuits.
Non-renewal
Means only that a company does not want to offer the driver a policy any longer, possibly because of the driving or claims record over the last three to five years. More than likely, other insurers will provide insurance at a higher price.
O
Open pilot clause
Minimum competency required by an aviation policy for a pilot to be covered under the policy.
P
Peril
A specific cause of loss, such as fire or vandalism. There are 17 named perils in most homeowner's policies.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Auto insurance required in many no-fault states, which pays extensive medical expenses, lost wages, and a small death benefit for the driver and all passengers. PIP usually comes with a 20 percent deductible.
Personal liability insurance
The part of a homeowner's policy that covers the insured from legal expenses and claims for compensation should the insured accidentally injure others or damage their property.
Personal property
In regards to homeowner's insurance, the possessions of the insured.
Personal watercraft
A small but powerful motorized watercraft sold under brand names such as Jet Ski or Wave Runner. Distinct from a boat or yacht.
Policyholder
Person who buys and maintains an insurance policy; also called the "insured".
Premium
Payment required to initiate and continue an insurance policy.
Property and indemnity coverage
Common name for liability portion of a yacht insurance policy.
Property damage liability coverage
Pays for damages to the property of others caused by the policyholder in his or her vehicle.
R
Rent-loss provision
Portion of a policy that would reimburse an owner for rent that is lost while repairs are being made to rental property.
Rental reimbursement coverage
Pays a set amount per day for transportation expenses or car rental while the insured’s car is being repaired due to a covered loss.
Renter's insurance
Policies available to those who rent a dwelling; usually covers personal possessions and liability, but not the dwelling itself.
Replacement cost
The cost of replacing a lost or destroyed item; does not factor in depreciation or market value.
Rider
A provision attached to a policy that adds or changes coverage.
Risk
Potential for loss or injury.
S
Special flood hazard areas (SFHA)
A categorization of the different risk areas associated with floods, used in determining premiums for flood insurance. “V” is the most hazardous.
T
Third-party claim
Claim made to an insurance company for damage or injury caused by one of its policyholders.
Total, totaled
Classification for a vehicle in need of repairs that will cost more than the vehicle’s actual value.
Towing and labor coverage
Provides emergency road service and pays for towing charges. This coverage is not limited just to accidents, but can be used any time the insured’s car breaks down.
U
Umbrella liability policy
An extra protection against liability that covers the amount above the maximum limits of homeowner's and auto policies.
Unearned premium
Portion of a premium that may be returned to the policyholder if a claim resulting in a total loss takes place before the end of the policy term and eliminates the need for continued coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
Covers the costs associated with damage or injury caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.
Y
Yacht
Typically, a recreational watercraft that is 26 feet or more in length; distinct from a boat or a personal watercraft.