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General
IASA.
Insurance Accounting Statistical Association.
IASS.
Insurance Accounting and Statistical Society.
IBNR.
See Incurred But Not Reported.
ICA.
International Claim Association.
ICC.
Interstate Commerce Commission.
ICEDS.
Insurance Company Education Directors Society.
ICPI.
Insurance Crime Prevention Institute.
IHOU.
Institute of Home Office Underwriters.
IIA.
See Insurance Institute of America, Inc.
IIAA.
See Independent Insurance Agents of America.
IIC.
Independent Insurance Conference or Insurance Institute of Canada.
III.
See Insurance Information Institute.
IIS.
See International Insurance Seminars, Inc.
IRA.
See Individual Retirement Accounts.
IRIS.
See Insurance Regulatory Information System.
ISO.
See Insurance Services Office.
Impaired Insurer.
An insurer which is in financial difficulty to the point where its ability
to meet financial obligations or regulatory requirements is in question.
Impairment of Capital.
A condition in which the surplus account of a stock insurer has been exhausted
so that it must invade the capital account (amounts contributed by stockholders)
to meet liabilities. Some jurisdictions allow a percentage invasion of capital;
some do not.
Implied Authority.
Authority of an agent that the public may reasonably believe the agent to
have. If the authority to collect and remit premiums is not expressly granted
in the agency contract, but the agent does so on a regular basis and the
insurer accepts, the agent has implied authority to do so.
Import.
Goods or services purchased from another country and brought into one's
own country.
Incurred But Not Reported.
This refers to losses which have occurred during a stated period, usually
a calendar year, but have not yet been reported to the insurer as of the
date under consideration. For instance, insurance company statements prepared
after the end of the calendar year would have to include an estimate of
losses that occurred during that year but have not yet been reported.
Incurred Expense.
Expenses not yet paid. Can also include paid expenses in some accounting
systems.
Incurred Loss Ratio.
The percentage of losses incurred to premiums earned.
Incurred Losses.
The losses occurring within a fixed period, whether or not adjusted or paid
during the same period. As an example, in Workers Compensation claims losses
occur during a given policy period, but benefits may continue to be paid
for many years. The estimated value of the total claim would be an "incurred
loss" for the policy period during which the loss occurred.
Indemnify.
To restore the victim of a loss to the same position as before the loss
occurred.
Indemnity.
Restoration to the victim of a loss by payment, repair, or replacement.
Independent Adjuster.
An adjuster who works as an independent contractor, hiring himself out to
insurance companies or other organizations for the investigation and settlement
of claims. Independent adjusters represent the interests of insurance companies.
Contrast with Public Adjuster.
Independent Agency System.
An insurance distribution system within which independent contractors, known
as agents, sell and service Property-Liability Insurance solely on a commission
or fee basis under contract with one or more insurers that recognize the
agent's ownership, use, and control of policy records and expiration data.
Independent Agent.
An agent operating as an independent contractor under the independent agency
system.
Independent Contractor.
One who agrees to perform according to a contract and who is not an employee.
Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA).
An association of independent insurance agents historically known to represent
stock insurance companies more than mutual companies. Members are also members
of their state associations.
Index Bureau Experience.
A measure of losses relating to claims reported through a claim office during
a 12-month period.
Individual Risk Premium Modification Rating Plan.
A plan which modifies the premium on large package policies by considering
such factors as reduced expenses for handling costs (Expense Modification)
and special characteristics of the risk not contemplated by the basic rate
(Risk Modification).
Industrial Risk Insurers.
A consortium of major stock property and casualty insurers formed to write
large, highly protected risks. The organization was formed in 1975 by the
merger of the Factory Insurance Association and the Oil Insurance Association.
Inevitable Accident.
See Accident.
Initial Premium.
An amount paid at the inception of an insurance contract, usually subject
to adjustment at the end of the policy period.
In-Patient.
A patient admitted to a hospital or other similar medical facility as a
resident patient.
Insolvency Funds.
See Guarantee Funds.
Insolvent Insurer.
An insurer which is unable to meet its financial obligations.
Inspection.
Independent checking on facts about an applicant, policyholder, or claimant,
usually by a commercial inspection agency.
Inspection Report.
A summary statement of the physical, financial, and moral attributes of
an insured or an applicant for insurance on his property. Such reports are
prepared by inspection bureaus, specialized organizations, and insurers.
Insurability.
Acceptability to the insurer of an applicant for insurance.
Insurable Interest.
Any interest a person has in a possible subject of insurance, such as a
car or home, of such a nature that a certain happening might cause him financial
loss.
Insurable Risk.
A risk which meets most of the following requisites: (1) The loss insured
against must be capable of being defined. (2) It must be accidental. (3)
It must be large enough to cause a hardship to the insured. (4) It must
belong to a homogeneous group of risks large enough to make losses predictable.
(5) It must not be subject to the same loss at the same time as a large
number of other risks. (6) The insurance company must be able to determine
a reasonable cost for the insurance. (7) The insurance company must be able
to calculate the chance of loss.
Insurance.
A formal social device for reducing risk by transferring the risks of several
individual entities to an insurer. The insurer agrees, for a consideration,
to assume, to a specified extent, the losses suffered by the insured.
Insurance Carrier.
See Insurer.
Insurance Commissioner.
The head of a state's insurance regulatory agency in most jurisdictions.
In some states the title of Director or Superintendent is used.
Insurance Company.
See Insurer.
Insurance Company Education Directors Society (ICEDS).
An organization of insurance company educators whose primary purposes are
to promote insurance education and exchange information on the subject.
Insurance Department.
A governmental bureau in each state and the federal government in Canada
charged with the administration of insurance laws, including the licensing
of agents and insurers and their regulation and examination. In some jurisdictions
the department is a division of another state department or bureau.
Insurance Examiner.
The representative of a state insurance department assigned to participate
in the official audit and examination of an insurer.
Insurance Guaranty Act.
The legislation enacted in many states providing for guaranty funds for
the policyholders of insolvent insurers. See Guaranty Funds.
Insurance Hall of Fame.
An institution created to honor those who have made outstanding contributions
to insurance thought and practice. Selections are made on an international
basis.
Insurance Institute of America, Inc (IIA).
An organization which develops programs and conducts national examinations
in Insurance, Risk Management, Management, Adjusting, Underwriting, Auditing,
and Loss Control Management. Diplomas are given to recognize achievement
in these areas.
Insurance Policy.
The printed form which serves as the contract between an insurer and an
insured.
Insurance, Quota Share.
See Quota Share Insurance.
Insurance Regulatory Information System (IRIS).
Information and early-warning system used by the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to keep track of the financial soundness
of insurers.
Insurance to Value.
Insurance written in an amount approximating the value of the property insured.
Insured.
The party to an insurance arrangement whom the insurer agrees to indemnify
for losses, provide benefits for, or render services to. This term is preferred
to such terms as policyholder, policy owner, and assured. See also Named
Insured.
Insured, Named.
See Named Insured.
Insurer.
The party to an insurance arrangement who undertakes to indemnify for losses,
provide pecuniary benefits, or render services. It is desirable to use the
word "insurer" in preference to "carrier" or "company"
since it is a functional word applicable without ambiguity to all types
of individuals or organizations performing the insurance function. The word
insurer is generally used in statutory law.
Insuring Agreement (or Clause).
That portion of an insurance contract which states the perils insured against,
the persons and/or property covered, their locations, and the period of
the contract.
Interest Rate Risk.
A risk faced by investors who invest in bonds characterized by an individual
being locked into a lower interest rate when interest rates are generally
increasing in the economy.
Interinsurance Exchange.
See Reciprocal Insurance Exchange.
Interline Endorsement.
Commercial endorsements that apply, or could apply, to more than one coverage
part of a package policy.
International Insurance Seminars, Inc.
(IIS). An institution established to promote worldwide exchanges of ideas
and techniques between insurance people. The major focus of IIS is its annual
seminar which brings together academicians and insurance practitioners.
Interstate Carrier.
A transportation company which does business across state lines.
Investigative Consumer Report.
A report ordered on an insured or applicant under which information about
the person's character, reputation, or lifestyle is obtained through personal
interviews with the person's neighbors, friends, associates or acquaintances.
Contrast with Consumer Report.
Investment Company Act of 1940.
A federal law which regulates the organization and activities of investment
companies and requires the registration of investment companies with the
federal government.
Investment Income.
The return received by insurers from their investment portfolios, including
interest, dividends, and realized capital gains on stocks. Realized capital
gains means the profit realized on stocks that have actually been sold for
more than their purchase price.
Investment Reserve.
An item in the balance sheet of an insurance company which represents a
setting aside of assets to compensate for a possible reduction in the market
value of securities owned by the company.
Item.
(1) A term used to identify a statement in a policy as to what is insured.
In a Fire policy one might refer to the contents item, meaning the coverage
in the policy which applies to the contents. (2) An individual entry, such
as a piece of jewelry, listed with its description and valuation on a schedule
by a policy showing items covered.
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