GLOSSARY OF REINSURANCE TERMINOLOGY

GLOSSARY OF REINSURANCE TERMINOLOGY

Term

Definition

Accident Year

Experience

Reinsurance experience calculated by matching the total value of all losses

occurring during a 12-month period with premiums earned for the same

period.

All expenses directly related to acquiring insurance or reinsurance

accounts; normally the commission paid to the reinsurance company as an

offset against its agent¡¯s commission, premium taxes and other costs of

doing business; includes reinsurance brokers commission where applicable.

Reinsurance for which credit is given for the unearned premiums and

unpaid claims in a ceding company¡¯s Annual Statement because the

reinsurance is placed in an admitted reinsurance company and is licensed

to transact business in the jurisdiction in question.

Assets recognized and accepted by state departments of insurance when

determining the solvency of insurers or reinsurers.

The conscious and deliberate cession of those risks, segments of risk, or

coverages that appear less attractive for retention by the ceding company;

the practice of ceding poorer business to the reinsurer while retaining the

better business.

The dollar amount of reinsurance coverage during one specified period,

usually 12 months, for all reinsurance losses sustained under a treaty

during such period.

A form of reinsurance where the reinsurer indemnifies the ceding company

for the amount by which the ceding company¡¯s aggregate losses of a

specified class of business exceed a specified loss ratio or a specified dollar

amount; used primarily in classes of insurance with wide fluctuation in

losses from year to year, such as hail insurance.

Acquisition Costs

Admitted Reinsurance

(Authorized

Reinsurance)

Admitted Assets

Adverse Selection

(Anti-Selection,

Selection of Risk)

Aggregate

Aggregate Excess

Reinsurance Treaty

(Stop Loss Treaty,

Aggregate Excess of

Loss Reinsurance or

Excess of Loss Ratio

Reinsurance)

Aggregate Extension

Clause

Aggregate Working

Excess

(Aggregate Annual

Deductible)

Alien Company

Alternative Risk

Mechanism

Annual Aggregate

Deductible

Annual Statement

(Statutory Annual

Statement, Convention

Blank)

Stipulates that all aggregate original policies will attach on a ¡°risk incepting

during the period¡± basis, and describes a manner in which attachment date

of a policy or policies is determined; determines how the aggregate is

calculated in the event that one loss affects more than one policy or more

than one insured; applies to casualty excess of loss business only.

A form of per risk excess reinsurance under which the primary company

retains its normal retention on each risk and additionally retains an

aggregate amount of the losses which exceeds normal retention.

An insurer or reinsurer domiciled outside the U.S. but who is conducting

insurance or reinsurance business in the U.S.

A method of financing primary property and/or casualty losses without

using traditional insurers to assume risk in the primary layer; two principal

types of alternative risk mechanisms are self-insurance and captive

insurance companies.

A provision in excess of loss reinsurance contracts stipulating that the

ceding company will retain, in addition to its retention per risk or per

occurrence, an annual aggregate amount of loss that would otherwise be

recoverable from the reinsurer; expressed as a dollar amount or a

percentage of the ceding company¡¯s subject premium for the annual

period; caps the amount of loss the insured may be required to pay before

the insurance responds.

The annual report format prescribed by the NAIC and the state

departments of insurance; provides a summary of the company¡¯s financial

operations for a calendar year, including a balance sheet supported by

detailed exhibits and schedules; is filed with the state insurance

department of each jurisdiction in which the company is licensed to conduct

business.

Page 1 of 18

Term

Definition

Arbitration Clause

Language providing an alternative dispute resolution forum to resolve

differences between the reinsurer and the ceding company without

litigation.

A term used to describe the recalculation of prior years of loss experience

to demonstrate what the underwriting results of a particular program would

have been as if the proposed program had been inforce during that period.

The transfer of in-force insurance liability by an insurer to a reinsurer by

the payment of the unearned premiums reserve on those policies alone, or

by the concurrent transfer of liability for outstanding losses under those

policies by the payment of the outstanding loss reserve by the insurer to

the reinsurer; the former is a premium portfolio, the latter a loss portfolio.

Type of insolvency clause providing that in the event of insolvency of a

ceding company, reinsurer will be liable for his share of the loss, but loss

will be payable to the direct insured rather than liquidator.

The loss level specified in the terms of the reinsurance contract between

the primary insurer and reinsurer; the amount at which excess reinsurance

protection comes into effect; the retention under an excess reinsurance

contract.

A quotation made by a reinsurer that is valid for a specified period of time;

the insurer may bind coverage to be effective at any date within that

period, provided the reinsurer is notified during that period.

Reinsurance of individual risks where the reinsurer assumes liability based

entirely on the acceptance of the ceding company; a reinsurance contract

that is a combination of treaty and individual facultative reinsurance;

reinsures a group of policies and often applies per policy, rather than per

occurrence.

Makes acceptable a reinsurer that would otherwise not meet the security

criteria of the primary insurer.

The relationship of the written premium of the treaty to the maximum limit

of liability to which the reinsurer is exposed; when the ratio desired is

achieved, the treaty is considered ¡°balanced.¡±

An agreement in which the ceding company pays the reinsurer a premium

over a specified number of years which is intended to fully fund a specific

limit of liability; if the premium is not fully expended by payment of losses

within the contract period, the unused portion is returnable, less a

reinsurance expense.

The ceding company¡¯s premium (written or earned) to which the

reinsurance premium rate is applied to produce the reinsurance premium.

As If

Assumed Portfolio

(Return Portfolio)

Assumption Certification

(Cut Through Clause,

Strike-Through Clause)

Attachment Point

Authorization

Automatic Reinsurance

Backup Security

(Collateral)

Balance

Banking Plan

(Advance Deposit

Premium Plan)

Base Premium

(Subject Premium,

Premium Base,

Underlying Premium)

Basic Limits

Best¡¯s Capital Adequacy

Relativity

(BCAR)

Best¡¯s Rating

Binding Agreement

Blended Covers

Bordereau

The minimum amounts of insurance for which it is the practice to quote

premiums in liability insurance; additional amounts are charged for by the

addition of certain percentages of the premium for the minimum (basic)

limits.

Measures a company¡¯s relative capital strength compared to its industry

peer composite.

A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company¡¯s financial condition

and operating performance performed by the rating agency of A.M. Best¡¯s

Company.

A reinsurance contract under which the reinsurer allows itself to be bound,

within a specified grace period, on any risk that meets the criteria outlined

in the contract.

Prospective reinsurance that combines elements of both traditional and

financial reinsurance to limit risk transfer, while allowing reinsurance

accounting treatment under both GAAP and Statutory bases.

A report or list, furnished to the reinsurer by the ceding company, detailing

Page 2 of 18

Term

Definition

(Bordereaux)

the reinsurance premiums and/or reinsurance losses with respect to specific

risks ceded in agreement.

Used primarily in facultative reinsurance to describe a reinsured layer of

coverage between the maximum retention within the primary policy limit

that the ceding company issues and the minimum limit(s) or deductible

over which the excess or umbrella insurer will provided coverage.

A term most frequently used in spread loss property reinsurance to express

pure loss cost or the ratio of incurred losses within a specified amount in

excess of the ceding company¡¯s retention to its gross premiums over a

stipulated number of years.

Reinsurance experience calculated by matching total value of all losses

incurred during a given 12 month period with the premiums earned for

same period.

Run-off Cancellation means that the liability of the reinsurer under policies,

which became effective under the treaty prior to the cancellation date of

such treaty, shall continue until the expiration date of each policy; Cut-off

Cancellation means that the liability of the reinsurer under policies, which

became effective under the treaty prior to the cancellation date of such

treaty, shall cease with respect to losses resulting from accidents taking

place on and after said cancellation date.

The largest amount of insurance or reinsurance available from a company

on a given risk; the maximum volume of business a company is prepared

to accept; a measure of an insurer¡¯s or reinsurer¡¯s financial strength to

issue contracts of insurance or reinsurance; may be imposed by law or

regulatory authority.

A reinsurance company, often located offshore, which is owned by a

corporation or association and provides reinsurance of direct insurance

written to insure the corporation or the association¡¯s members; a stock

insurance company that insures the risk of its owners; often involves the

use of a domestic Fronting Company.

A type of reinsurance that reinsures a cedent¡¯s exposure for a discrete

exposure that is normally part of a broader coverage or line of business

reinsurance contract; normally written facultatively; may be related to a

line of business, e.g. cancer or transplants with respect to medical benefits.

The amount of potential loss an insurance or reinsurance company may be

exposed to in a single catastrophic loss event, such as an earthquake or a

hurricane.

Whenever a catastrophe occurs which produces losses within a prescribed

period of time in excess of a certain amount, the amount of such losses is

recorded separately from non-catastrophe losses, is numbered, and may be

treated differently in the statistical experience records of the state used in

setting rate levels.

A form of excess of loss reinsurance, subject to a specific limit, which

indemnifies the ceding company in excess of a specified retention for

accumulation of losses from catastrophic occurrence.

To transfer to a reinsurer all or part of the insurance risk written by a

ceding company; the laying off of all or part of the risk relating to a policy,

or group of policies to a reinsurer.

An amount allowed by reinsurer for part or all of ceding company¡¯s

acquisition costs, overhead costs and taxes; usually a percentage of the

reinsurance premium; ceding commission may also include a profit factor

for the reinsured.

The insurer which cedes all or part of insurance risk written to another.

Buffer Layer

Burning Cost

Calendar Year

Experience

Cancellation

Capacity

(Underwriting Capacity)

Captive Insurance

Company

Carveout

Catastrophe

Accumulation

Catastrophe Number

Catastrophe

Reinsurance

Cede

Ceding Commission

Ceding Company

(Cedent, Reinsured,

Reassured)

Certificate

A short form documentation of a reinsurance transaction usually

incorporating complete terms and conditions by reference.

Page 3 of 18

Term

Definition

Cession

The amount of insurance risk transferred to a reinsurer by a ceding

company; may be the whole or a portion of a single risk, defined policy or

defined division of a policy as agreed.

The capped amount of catastrophe-exposed business ceded to the

reinsurance contract.

A clause found in many reinsurance contracts that stipulates that the

ceding company agrees to consult and cooperate with the reinsurer on

claims handling and settlement.

The provision in a contract of insurance or reinsurance that coverage

applies only to losses which occur and claims that are made during the

term of the contract; once the policy period is over, the approximate extent

of the underwriter¡¯s liability is known; with claims-made covers which are

renewed, losses which occurred during any period when the policy was

inforce are covered if reported during the renewal term.

A type of reinsurance contract covering claims that are first made to the

reinsurer during the term of contract, regardless of when they were

sustained; a blend of retroactive and prospective reinsurance.

A form of per-occurrence casualty excess of loss reinsurance in which the

ceding company¡¯s retention is higher than the limits on any one reinsured

policy; the agreement is only exposed to loss when two or more casualty

policies are involved in a common occurrence in an amount greater than

the clash cover retention.

A form of life reinsurance where the amount in excess of the ceding

company¡¯s retention is reinsured on the same plan as that of the original

policy the reinsurer receives the gross premium charged the policyholder

on the reinsured part of the policy less expense allowances granted the

ceding company by the reinsurer; the reinsurer must maintain regular

policy reserves and is liable not only for its share of death claims, but also

for cash surrender values and other nonforfeiture benefits and loan

privileges.

A form of combined reinsurance which provides that in consideration of a

premium at a fixed percent of the ceding company¡¯s subject premium on

the business covered, the reinsurer will indemnify the ceding company

against the amount of loss on each risk in excess of a specified retention

subject to a specified limit; after deducting the excess recoveries on each

risk, the reinsurer will indemnify the ceding company against a fixed quota

share percent of all remaining losses.

The total of the Incurred Loss Ratio and the Expense Ratio.

Cessions Limit

Claims Cooperation

Clause

Claims-Made Basis

Claims-Made

Reinsurance

(Loss Sustained Cover)

Clash Cover

(Casualty Catastrophe

Cover, Contingency

Cover, Conflagration

Cover, Excess Cover)

Coinsurance

Combination Plan

Reinsurance

Combined Ratio

(Operating Ratio, Trade

Ratio)

Commutation

Agreement

(Commutation Clause)

Concurrent Policies

Conflagration

Conflagration Area

Contingent Commission

(Profit Commission)

Continuous Contract

An agreement between the ceding company and the reinsurer providing for

the valuation, payment and complete discharge of all future obligation

between parties under reinsurance contract regardless of the continuing

nature of certain losses; the process of settling current outstanding and

expected future obligations under a reinsurance contract.

Where a ceding company buys more than one policy covering the same

interest and the total amount insured is not in excess of the insurance

value of the risk; the policies may be placed with the same or different

companies; losses are pro-rated among the policies.

A massive fire which destroys many contiguous properties.

A geographic territory in which many properties are subject to damage by a

sweeping fire.

A commission payable to the ceding company in addition to the normal

ceding commission allowance; predetermined percentage of the reinsurer¡¯s

net profits, less overhead.

A reinsurance contract that remains in effect until both parties mutually

agree to terminate it or one of the parties sends the other a notice of

Page 4 of 18

Term

Contributing Excess

Co-Reinsurance

Corridor Deductible

Cover Note

(Binder)

Credit Carry-Forward

Credit For Reinsurance

Cumulative Collusive

Excess Cover

Cumulative Exposure

(Multi-Year Stacking of

Coverage)

Cumulative Liability

Cut-Off

Cut-Through

Endorsement

(Assumption

Endorsement,

Assumption Certificate,

Strike-Through Clause)

Declaratory Judgment

Expense

Deductible Buyback

(Difference In

Deductible Cover, DID)

Deficit

Deficit Carry-Forward or

Carry Back

Deposit Premium

(Provisional Premium,

Advance Premium,

Premium Advance)

Definition

cancellation.

Where there is more than one reinsurer sharing a line of insurance on a

risk in excess of a specified retention, each such reinsurer shall contribute

towards any excess loss in proportion to his original participation in such

risk.

Where the ceding company has a participation in the reinsurance cover or

where there are several reinsurers on the same reinsurance program.

An arrangement where the reinsurer pays a portion of the loss, up to a

certain amount, then the ceding company pays the losses in excess

thereof, up to a certain amount, and the reinsurer pays in excess of that.

A document issued by an intermediary, temporarily recording the

provisions of a reinsurance agreement pending execution of the formal

reinsurance contract; outlines terms and conditions and indicates that

coverage has been effected.

The transfer of credit or profit from one accounting period under a spread

loss or other form of long-term reinsurance treaty to the succeeding

accounting period.

A statutory accounting procedure permitting ceding company to treat

amounts due from reinsurers as assets or reductions from liability based on

status of reinsurer.

A form of reinsurance contract by the terms of which a ceding company

may further reduce its net exposure on multiple recovery bonds which have

been share reinsured.

The liability potential for multiple policies issued over multiple years by a

single insurance company to a single insured being held to apply to

continuing injury or damage.

The risk of a reinsurer accumulating liability when many reinsurance

policies issued to different reinsureds covering different lines of insurance

are involved in a common event or disaster.

The termination provision of a reinsurance contract that stipulates that the

reinsurer shall not be liable of losses resulting from occurrences that take

place after the date of termination or after an agreed-upon date following

termination; normally involves the return of unearned premium for policies

inforce at the cut-off date.

A statement of coverage by the reinsurer (typically attached to the

insurance policy) under which a direct payment obligation is created to a

party not in privity with the reinsurer; the coverage is triggered by a

specific event, such as the insurer¡¯s insolvency; the claim payment ¡°cuts

through¡± the usual route of payment to the ceding company; effect is to

revise the route of the claim payment with no intent to increase the risk to

the reinsurer.

Expenses incurred by an insurer in a declaratory judgment action brought

to determine whether there is coverage under a policy.

Reinsurance purchased by a ceding company within the deductible it

requires the insured to hold.

Amounts by which losses, expenses and profit margin exceed premiums at

the end of any accounting period which become a charge in the

computation for the succeeding accounting period; a term used in formulas

for calculating adjustable features, such as retrospective rating plans and

contingent commission.

The transfer of deficit or loss from one accounting period to the subsequent

period.

A tentative premium payable either at the beginning of an annual term of a

reinsurance contract or in quarterly or semi-annual payments during the

annual term; actual premium is balanced against the deposit premium, and

the difference due either the ceding company or the reinsurer is remitted

Page 5 of 18

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download