GLOSSARY OF TERMS

C TERMS

Cancellation: The termination of an insurance policy usually before its

expiration

Care, Custody or Control: An exclusion of liability insurance which

eliminates coverage for damage to property in the insured's care,

custody or control

Carrier: The insurance company which provides coverage

Cash Benefits: The Money that is paid to the policy holder upon

settlement of a covered claim.

Cash Value: The equity amount or "savings" accumulation in a whole life

insurance policy.

Casualty Insurance: Insurance that covers loss caused by injuries to

persons and the legal liability imposed on the insured for injury or for

damage to property of others

Catastrophe: A severe loss causing sizable financial loss

Causes of Loss Forms: The commercial property forms that define the

covered causes of loss for which coverage is provided. Commonly, there

are 3 Cause of Loss Forms: Basic, Broad and Special

Certificate of Insurance: A document providing evidence that insurance

has been purchased

Claim: A request by a policyholder or a claimant for payment under a

policy of insurance

Claim Expense: Expenses of settling or investigating a claim

Claimant: The person presenting a claim

Claims Reserve: An amount of money set aside to meet claims reported

but not paid

Class: A group of businesses who have common or similar exposures

and are grouped together for rating purposes

Classification: The arranging or establishing of business groups or

categories for rating purposes

Coinsurance Provision: An insurance provision for property coverages in

which the policyholder must carry an amount of insurance that is at

least equal to a set percentage of the value of the property in order to

receive full payment of a loss

Collapse: Collapse of a building and collapse of personal property

within a building due to specified causes (such as weight of snow, ice

or rain). Does not include collapse due to design error or due to faulty

workmanship or materials if the collapse occurs after construction is

complete

Collision Insurance: Provides for payment to a covered automobile

resulting from the striking of another object by a moving vehicle

Commercial General Liability Policy (CGL): A coverage which protects

business organizations against liability claims for bodily injury and

property damage. Those claims may be the result of events at your

place of business, from your business operations, the products or

services you make or do, communications or advertisements your

business broadcasts 

Competitive State Funds: State-owned and operated facilities that

write Workers' Compensation Insurance solely for that state

Completed Operations: A General Liability coverage for the work of the

insured that has been completed away from the business premises

Comprehensive Auto Coverage: Covers an automobile for loss or damage

for all causes except for those specifically excluded

Compulsory Insurance: Insurance that is required by law

Concealment: Failure to disclose facts which may void an insurance

policy

Conditional Receipt: Given to policy owners when they pay a premium at

the time of the application. These receipts bind the insurance company,

provided your policy is approved, but are subject to any other

conditions stated on the receipt.

Conditions: Things agreed upon in an insurance policy that state the

rights and the requirements of the insured and the insurer

Consequential Loss: An indirect loss such as the reduction in value of

property that is the result of a direct damage loss

Constructive Total Loss: Term used when damage to property is more

than the value of the property

*Contestable Clause: A provision in an insurance policy setting forth

the conditions or time period under which the insurance company may

contest or void the policy. After this time has lapsed, typically two

years, the policy cannot be contested. Example: Suicide.

Contingent Beneficiary: Person or persons designated to receive the

value of an insurance policy in case the original beneficiary is not

alive.

Contract: An agreement between two or more parties with

characteristics of mutual assent, competent parties, a valid

consideration and legal subject

*Coverage: Coverage is just another term for Insurance. It can be used

to mean either the dollar amounts of insurance purchased ($500,000 of

liability coverage), or the type of loss covered (coverage for theft).

Convertible Term: A policy that may be changed to another form by

contractual provision and without evidence of insurability. Most term

policies are convertible into permanent insurance.

Countersignature: The signature of a licensed agent or representative

on a policy that is required to validate the policy

Cross-Purchase Plan: An agreement that provides that upon a business

owner's death, surviving owners will purchase the deceased's interest,

often with funds from life insurance.

Cumulative Injury: A type of injury which occurs from the repetition of

tasks over an extended length of time