Pre-Contract Training Course (PCTC) : Glossary
Pre-Contract Training Course (PCTC) : Glossary
Pre-Contract Training Course (PCTC) : Glossary
GLOSSARY
Accidental Dismemberment and Loss of Use Benefit
Provides a cash amount, based on a schedule of benefits, should an accident result in dismemberment or
loss of use of specific parts of the body.
Assignment
The transfer of the ownership rights of a life insurance policy from one person to another.
Aviation Hazard
The increased risk of death or injury resulting from participation in aviation, usually as a pilot. The presence
of aviation hazard will often result in extra premium or the exclusion of certain benefits.
Antiselection
The tendency of individuals who believe they have a greater than average likelihood of loss to seek
insurance protection to a greater extent than do those who believe they have an average or a less than
average likelihood of loss.
Agent
An authorized and licensed representative of an insurance company who sells and services insurance
policies. Agents represent the insurance company and typically only sell policies from that company.
Applicant
The person applying for the insurance policy. The applicant may be different from the proposed insured or
the policy owner.
Actuary
An individual employed by an insurance company to calculate premium rates, reserves, dividends and other
important figures using risk factors obtained from experience tables.
Application
Forms required by the insurance company which the proposed insured completes when requesting
coverage from an insurer.
Attained Age
The age of an individual on a given date. Some insurance companies use attained age as a method of
calculating insurance premiums.
Avocation
This refers to either an occupation or an activity the insured participates in.
Backdating
A procedure used to make the effective date of a policy earlier than the application date. Backdating is
commonly used to make the insurance age of the insured at policy issue lower than it actually is in an effort
to receive a lower premium. Most policies can be backdated up to six months. Backdating is also commonly
referred to as Saving Age.
Beneficiary
A person(s) designated by the policy owner to receive the proceeds of an insurance policy upon the death
of the insured.
Benefit
For life insurance, it is the amount of money specified in a life insurance contract to be paid to the beneficiary
upon the death of the insured. It is commonly referred to as the Death Benefit. For health insurance, it is
the amount of money payable by a health plan for the cost of covered services, as defined in the insurance
policy.
Cash Value
The savings element in some types or life insurance policies, which represents the policy owner’s interest
in the policy. The cash value typically grows over time and often earns a rate of interest, depending on the
type of policy. It can be borrowed by the insured or withdrawn when the policy is surrendered.
Covered Expenses
All medical services that are covered by an insurance policy. Some health insurance plans will have a list
of medical services they do not cover. It would be wise to make sure you are not in need of any service
excluded by any given health insurance plan.
Contingent Beneficiary
A person(s) designated by the policy owner to receive policy proceeds if the Primary Beneficiary is
deceased at the time benefits become payable. This is often referred to as a secondary beneficiary.
Claim
Notification to an insurance company that payment of the benefit is due under the terms of the policy.
Coinsurance
A provision of a program by which the insured shares in the cost of covered services on a percentage basis.
The health plan assumes only a certain percentage of the cost while the covered person pays the
remainder. Coinsurance is usually paid after the insured meets the plan deductible. For example, a plan
with 80/20 coinsurance means, after the deductible is paid by the insured, the insurance company will pay
80% of the remaining covered expenses up to a set amount and the insured will pay 20%.
Commissions
A fee or percentage of premium allowed to a salesperson or agent for services rendered.
Contestability Period
The time period during which the insurer is can deny a claim if it finds material misrepresentations were
made in the application. This period usually covers the first two years a policy is in force. A policy becomes
"incontestable" when the contestability period is over.
Clause
An article or added provision in a life insurance contract.
Death Benefit
The amount of coverage that is paid to the designated beneficiary(s) of a life insurance policy upon the
insured's death.
Double Indemnity
The payment of twice the basic benefit in the event of loss resulting from a specific cause or under specific
circumstances. This is commonly referred to as an Accidental Death Benefit.
Dependent
An individual other than a health plan subscriber who is eligible to receive health care services under the
subscriber's contract. Generally, dependents are limited to the subscriber's spouse and minor children.
Deductible
The amount of out-of-pocket expenses that must be paid for health services by the insured person before
the health plan benefit payment begins. This is usually based on a calendar year.
Effective Date
The date an insurance policy goes into effect. This is sometimes referred to as the Policy Date.
Employer Contribution
The total amount of premium an employer is required to pay for each employee covered under the employer
offered group health insurance coverage. An employer is usually required to contribute at least 50% of each
enrolled employee's premium. Employers are usually only required to contribute to the employee cost and
not the cost for an employee's dependents.
Endorsement
Used to clarify or make revisions to particular provisions of a health or life insurance policy.
Examiner
A health care professional designated to provide medical exams on insurance applicants.
Expiration Date
The date on which an insurance policy ceases to provide coverage on the insured.
Explanation of Benefits
A statement sent by a health plan to a covered person who files a claim. The explanation of benefits (EOB)
lists the services provided, the amount billed, and the payment made. The EOB statement must also explain
why a claim was or was not paid, and provide information about the individual's rights of appeal.
Evidence of Insurability
Factual information used by insurance companies to determine an applicant'ss qualification for insurance.
Examples of information used may include paramedical exams, medical records, application statements,
and motor vehicle reports among others.
Estate Planning
The planning for the administration of an estate upon the death of an individual. Estate planning typically
involves establishing wills and/or trusts to minimize the loss of estate value due to estate taxes and is often
funded with life insurance.
Exclusions
Specific conditions or circumstances listed in an insurance policy for which the policy will not provide benefit
payments.
Employee Participation
An insurance company will usually require a certain percentage of eligible employees to participate in the
employer offered group health insurance plan. This percentage varies by company and by group size. If
this percentage is not met the insurance company may not offer coverage.
Face Amount
The amount of coverage provided by a life insurance policy. This is also referred to as Coverage Amount
or Insurance Coverage.
Final Expenses
Expenses incurred at the time of a person's death including funeral costs, probate costs, current liabilities
and taxes.
Fixed Benefit
An insurance policy benefit that remains the same and does not change.
Grace Period
The period of time between a premium's due date and the date the policy will lapse if the premium remains
unpaid. This period is usually 30 days. If the insured dies during the grace period, the unpaid premium is
deducted from the policy proceeds.
Guaranteed Insurability
An insurance policy provision that allows the insured to buy additional fixed amounts of life insurance at
fixed time intervals without evidence of insurability.
Home Office
The headquarters of an insurance company.
Hospice
A program that provides care to the terminally ill.
Hazardous Activities
These are activities that, if participated in may make you ineligible for coverage from the insurance carrier.
Examples include, but are not limited to scuba diving, jet, snow, and water skiing, snowboarding, hang
gliding, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, and amateur racing. Be sure to check
the specific insurance company details and / or brochure for exact specifics.
Incontestability Clause
A life insurance policy provision that states after the policy has been in force for a specified period of time,
the company cannot deny a claim based on a material misrepresentation made in the application. The
typical period of time for the clause is two years.
Inpatient Services
Services rendered to a person who is admitted to a hospital for medical care, is assigned a bed designated
for routine, special, psychiatric, or rehabilitation care, and occupies the bed for 24 hours or more.
Insurance Policy
The physical, written document issued by an insurance company to the policy owner. The insurance policy
represents the written contract between the insurance company and the policy owner.
Issue Date
The actual date an insurance policy is issued. This may also be the effective date of the policy.
Insurance
A system for reducing risk by transferring the risks of several individual entities to one entity, such as an
insurance company. Each individual entity contributes monetarily (premiums) to cover the risk assumed by
the insurance company.
Insurance Company
A company that provides insurance coverage through the issuance of insurance policies. This is also
referred to as the Insurer.
Irrevocable Beneficiary
A type of beneficiary designation that cannot be changed without the written consent of the beneficiary.
Insured
The individual covered by an insurance policy.
Insurability
General acceptability by an insurance company of an applicant for insurance based on underwriting review,
which may include items such as the applicant's current health status, medical history and driving record
among others.
Insurable Interest
The existence of potential financial loss on the part of the policy owner and/or beneficiary(s) in the event of
the death of the insured. The policy owner and any beneficiaries must have an insurable interest.
Lapse
The termination of an insurance policy due to non-payment of premium.
Living Benefit
A benefit that provides for the payment of a portion of the death benefit prior to an insured's death should
the insured be diagnosed as terminally ill. The specific requirements vary by company. This is commonly
called an Accelerated Death Benefit.
Lump Sum
The primary method of the settlement of a life insurance policy. The policy proceeds are paid to the
beneficiary(s) all at once rather than in installment payments.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years of life remaining for persons of a given age according to a particular mortality
table.
Lapse Notice
The notice provided in writing to the policy owner that the policy has lapsed.
Length of Coverage
The length of time you will be covered by an insurance policy. Length of coverage is typically applied to
term life insurance products.
Material Misrepresentation
A statement made by an applicant or proposed insured in the policy's application which is not factually
correct. If the truth had been disclosed, the insurance company would not have issued the policy, would
have issued it differently, or would have issued it with limited benefits or a higher premium.
Misrepresentation
The act of making, issuing, circulating, or causing to be issued or circulated any written or verbal statement
that does not accurately represent the correct policy terms.
Mortality Table
A table or chart listing the probabilities of death occurring at various ages. This is often used by insurance
companies to establish rating and underwriting guidelines.
Medical Examination
An exam completed by a physician. The exam may be required as a part of medical underwriting.
Moral Hazard
A condition of morals or habits that could affect and individual's insurability.
Mortality
The frequency of deaths in proportion to a specific population.
Mortality Rate
The number of deaths in a group of people, usually expressed as deaths per thousand.
Mode of payment
The term of premium payments for an insurance policy. Typical modes include monthly, quarterly, semi-
annual and annual.
Member
An individual or dependent who is enrolled in and covered by a managed health care plan. Also referred to
as an Enrollee, Beneficiary, Participant, Covered Person, Subscriber, and Eligible Individual.
Non-Contributory
A group benefit plan typically through an employer, in which the employer pays all of the premiums.
Non-Tobacco/Non-Smoker
A rating class assigned to an insurance policy in which the insured has been classified as a non-user of
tobacco and/or nicotine products.
Occupational Hazards
Hazards associated with an insured's occupation that increase the possibility of injury, illness or death.
Such hazards may have an impact on the insurability of an applicant.
Optional Coverage
These types of coverages are usually purchased and added to the base policy. Also known as riders or
supplementary benefits. Examples include, but are not limited to waiver of premium, critical illness benefit,
hospitalization benefit, accidental death & disability (AD&D), etc.
Outpatient Surgery
Surgery performed in a facility or center devoted primarily to the performance of one day or same day
surgery without anticipation of the overnight say of patients.
Orphan
A policy owner who is not currently being serviced by the writing agent.
Outpatient
A patient who received medical services at a health facility without being admitted to the facility for an
overnight stay.
Paid-Up Insurance
An insurance policy that does not require future premium payments to provide the death benefit of the
insured person.
Proposed Insured
The person named in a life insurance application as the person whose life is to be covered by the insurance.
Premium Mode
The frequency of premium payments elected by the policy owner. Typical premium modes include monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual and annual.
Payment Mode
Most insurance companies allow you to choose from the following payment modes:
• Annually
• Semi-annually
• Quarterly
• Monthly
Provision
A statement or clause, found in an insurance policy, to establish some term of the contract.
Pool
A method of distributing insurance risk in which the individual participants share overall risk with the other
participants.
Policyowner
The individual who owns an insurance policy and who has all contractual rights related to the insurance
policy. The policy owner may or may not be the same person as the insured, payor or beneficiary.
Premium Notice
A notice from an insurance company to a policy owner that a premium will be due on a given date.
Policy Loan
A loan from the insurance company to the policy owner secured by the policy's cash value.
Policy
The written document issued by an insurance company to a policy owner. The policy represents the
insurance contract between the insurance company and the policy owner.
Pre-Existing Condition
A physical and/or mental condition of an insured person that existed prior to the issuance of his or her
insurance policy or that existed prior to issuance and for which treatment was received.
Proceeds
The amount payable under the terms of a life insurance policy upon the insured's death or upon the maturity
of an endowment.
Policy Fee
A charge for policy administration expenses incurred by the insurance company. The policy fee is usually
included in the premium.
Prescription
A written order or refill notice issued by a licensed medical professional for drugs which are only available
through a pharmacy.
Premium Rate
The price per unit of insurance.
Premium Receipt
The receipt given a policy owner for the payment of a premium.
Premium
The amount of money to be paid by the policy owner to the insurance company for the benefits provided
under an insurance policy.
Primary Beneficiary
The person(s) designated by the policy owner to which the proceeds of a life insurance policy will be paid
upon the death of the insured.
Policy Anniversary
The anniversary of the date of issue as shown in the policy.
Policy Date
The date the insurance policy becomes effective.
Payor
The person making premium payments on a policy.
Quote
The estimated premium amount for an applicant based on several factors including type of insurance,
coverage amount, length of coverage, age, gender, health and medical history, family history, build and
approximate rating class. All quotes are preliminary estimates with final rates determined by insurance
company underwriting.
Rating Class
The appropriate price category to which an applicant qualifies according to an insurance company's
underwriting guidelines. Common rate classes are Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard and
Substandard.
Risk
The probability of injury, illness or death associated with an insured.
Rebating
The act of giving something of value to an applicant by the agent/broker in return for purchasing a life
insurance policy (e.g. sharing commissions). Rebating is illegal in most states.
Renewal Bonus
Increases the basic accident for five consecutive years upon renewal.
Rate Banding
The process of grouping term life insurance death benefit amounts. The rate per thousand typically changes
at certain death benefit levels or band breaks.
Reinstatement
A policy provision that allows a policy to be restored from a lapsed status. This is usually allowed during
the 31 days following the expiration of an insurance policy's grace period.
Reserve
The amount of money an insurance company holds which, with future premiums and an assumed rate of
interest, will pay all contractual obligations as they become due. Insurance company reserves are an
important factor used to establish a company's industry ratings.
Rated Policy
A policy issued at a substandard rating class based on underwriting guidelines.
Referral
A recommendation by a physician and/or managed care plan for a covered person to be evaluated and/or
treated by a different physician.
Risk Classification
The process by which underwriting determines the risk associated with an applicant and assigns an
appropriate rating class to the policy.
Rider
A special provision attached to a policy that either expands or restricts the benefits of the policy. Exclusion
riders typically exclude certain conditions from coverage.
Renewal
The process of continuing a policy by paying the premium due.
Revocable Beneficiary
A type of beneficiary designation that can be changed without the beneficiary's consent.
Secondary Beneficiary
A person(s) designated by the policy owner to receive policy proceeds if the Primary Beneficiary is
deceased at the time benefits become payable. This is often referred to as a contingent beneficiary.
Surrender
The cancellation of a life insurance policy.
Standard Risk
An average risk as determined by underwriting.
Stop Loss
The total dollar amount up to which you share medical costs with the insurance company. For example, if
the stop loss is $5,000 and your share is 20%, you pay $1,000 and the company pays 100% thereafter up
to the lifetime benefit.
Sub-Standard Risk
A below average risk as determined by underwriting. Insurance policies can be issued to individuals with
sub-standard risk and are referred to as table rated or modified.
Suicide Clause
A life insurance policy provision that states if the insured dies by suicide within a certain period of time from
the date of issue (usually two years) the amount payable would be limited to the total premiums paid minus
any policy loans or outstanding premiums.
Settlement
The process of receiving the proceeds from a life insurance policy.
Term Conversion
A policy provision that allows a term life insurance policy to be converted to a permanent life policy offered
by the company for a specified period of time. Usually the insured can convert to a permanent policy at the
same amount of coverage without providing evidence of insurability.
Third-Party Owner
A policy owner who is not the insured.
Tobacco
Examples include, but are not limited to cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff. Use of these
products can have an impact on the rating class you receive.
Twisting
The illegal practice of inducing a policy owner to replace a policy by providing inaccurate, incomplete or
misleading information.
Underwriter
The individual or team within a life insurance company who is trained to evaluate the insurability and
determine the classification of applicants for insurance protection.
Underwriting
The process of evaluating applications for insurance based on an established set of guidelines.
Underwriting determines the risk associated with an applicant and either assigns the appropriate rating
class for the policy or declines to offer a policy.
Uninsurable Risk
An individual who is not acceptable for insurance due to excessive risk related to current health, medical
history, occupation, avocations, etc.
War Clause
A provision in a life insurance policy excluding the liability of an insurance company if the insured's death
is the direct result of a war.