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A mathematical concept which postulates that the more times an event is repeated (in insurance, the larger the number of homogeneous exposure units), the more predictable the outcome becomes. In a classic example, the more times one flips a coin, the more likely that the results will be 50% heads, 50% tails.
The total amount of excess of loss reinsurance protection which a company needs to protect a given set of exposures is usually not written in one contract. Instead, the total amount is split into pieces or layers and separate contracts are written which fit on top of each other and have similar or identical terms but separate limits which sum to the total amount required. Each of the separate contracts in the series is called a layer or level in the total program.
The prediction of loss frequency within a given layer (or band) of insurance.
The individual (or organization) with a major role in negotiating the terms and conditions of a reinsurance cover and whose reputation and standing are such that other underwriters respect his or her ability, skills, and judgment and will often follow the terms and conditions set by the lead without further negotiation.
The disproportionate result produced by inflation on a reinsurer's liability in- excess of loss reinsurance compared with the reinsured's liability. In other words, inflationary increases in average claim costs of a reinsured usually produce greater increases for the excess of loss reinsurer, since an increase affecting all losses (those within the retention limit and those above it) multiplies itself when affecting the excess of loss portion above that retention limit. The effect is leveraged in that such increases fall more on the reinsurer, proportionately at least, than the reinsured.
A list of the maximum amounts of insurance which a company is prepared to write on various classes of risks. Within the primary company, a line guide will usually include a suggested net retention of liability for each class of risk and is used to instruct its agents and underwriters. Also known as Line Sheet.
The general classification of insurance written by insurers, i.e., fire, allied lines, and homeowners, among others.
Another name for Line Guide.
A kind of organization for underwriting insurance or reinsurance in which a collection of individuals assume policy liabilities as the individual obligations of each. When spelled with an apostrophe, the term refers to Lloyd's of London, the formal name of which is Underwriters at Lloyd's, London.
A term used to describe certain types of third-party liability exposures (e.g., malpractice, products, errors and omissions) where the incidence of loss and the determination of damages are frequently subject to delays which extend beyond the term the insurance or reinsurance was in force. An example would be contamination of a food product which occurs when the material is packed but which is not discovered until the product is consumed months or years later.
In crop-hail insurance, the ratio of incurred loss to liability, or the dollars of loss per $100 of insurance in force. In reinsurance, the total value of all losses divided by an exposure base. Also referred to as Pure Premium. See also Burning Cost.
The process of changing the amount of estimated loss reserves as a policy or accident year matures, as measured by the difference between the paid losses and estimated outstanding losses at one point in time and the paid losses and estimated outstanding losses at some previous point in time. In common usage it might refer to development on reported cases only, whereas a broader definition would also take into account the IBNR claims.
A loss sustained by a reinsured company when required by a court to pay an amount of loss in excess of the policy's limit (which loss would have been included in the policy's coverage if the policy limit were higher) and resulting from an error or omission by the reinsured company in defending its policyholder, thereby exposing the policyholder to a loss in excess of the policy limit.
A factor used to convert losses to premium and provide for the reinsurer's loss adjustment expense, overhead risk, and profit margin. Also known as Loss Conversion Factor.
Losses (reported or not reported) which have occurred but have not been paid.
The amounts paid to claimants as insurance claim settlement.
Losses incurred expressed as a percentage of earned premiums.
For an individual loss, an estimate of the amount the insurer expects to pay for the reported claim. For total losses, estimates of expected payments for reported and unreported claims. May include amounts for loss adjustment expenses. See Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR), Incurred Losses, and Loss Development.