Accumulated Depreciation - The total decrease in an item's value over a period of
time. Formula: (Annual Depreciation x Number of years used)
Acreage Reporting Date - The deadline for providing the insurer with an acreage
report, which is used to determine the amount of coverage needed and the premium
charged for a particular crop.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) - A valuation method used by insurers to reflect an
item's current market value right before being damaged or destroyed. Formula:
(Replacement cost - Accumulated Depreciation)
Actual Production History - A history of a farmer's crop yields over a multi-year
period, which is used to determine the normal production level of a farm.
Adhesion - Characteristic of an insurance contract. Means that one party (the
insurer) sets the terms, and the other (the policyholder) can "take it or leave it."
Adjusted Gross Revenue (Crop Insurance) - Narrowest (and least expensive) form
of Crop Revenue Insurance. Insures farm revenue as a whole instead of individual
crops. Guarantees a percentage of the insured farm's average revenue.
Adjuster - An agent who, for compensation, processes insurance claims. Can
represent either the insured or the insurer.
Adjuster - Emergency - Adjusters who are temporarily licensed by the insurance
commissioner to handle claims during catastrophes or emergencies that produce an
overwhelming number of claims in a short period of time.
Adjuster - Independent - Self-employed adjusters who contract with multiple
insurers at the same time. Paid on a commission or fee-plus-expenses basis for
each claim. Also called: Fee Adjuster, Bureau Adjuster
,Adjuster - Public - An adjuster who is hired to represent the claimant and help
determine a fair indemnification. Usually specializes in appraisals and negotiation.
Paid commission, usually a percentage of final settlement.
Adjuster - Staff - Salaried employee of one insurance company who can work
locally, regionally, or nationally. Also called: Company Adjuster
Advance Payment Settlement - A settlement option that lets the insurer offer some
financial relief to the claimant before the claim has been fully settled. The insurer
makes advance payments to the claimant, which are then subtracted from the final
settlement amount. Often used when a claimant suffers bodily injury and is unable
to work.
Agency Authority - The Agent's authority to act on behalf of someone else, usually
an insurer. This authority is derived from the agent's contract with the insurer.
Agency Authority - express - Authority that is expressly given to the agent in
writing. Allows agent to act on behalf of the principal.
Agency Authority - implied - Authority that an agent possesses by implication of
her behavior, regardless of whether this authority is granted in writing.
Agency Authority - apparent - Authority that an agent possesses based on the
appearance of representing the insurer.
Agent - Someone who has received authority from an insurer to sell or service
insurance policies.
Aggregate Limit - A type of policy limit found in some health, liability, and
property damage policies. It represents the total amount the insurer will pay for all
losses (as opposed to an occurrence limit, which denotes the total amount the
insurer will pay per occurrence).
Agreement - One of the four requirements of a legally binding contract. All parties
involved must agree to the terms of the contract. Can also refer to a binder, which
is the preliminary substance of a contract.
, Agricultural Producer - A business that grows, harvests, and sells crops for profit.
Aleatory - A characteristic of an insurance contract. Means "depending on an
unknown future event." An insurance contract will only pay IF and WHEN
covered damages occur. Neither party knows how much the contract will end up
paying when they enter into the contract.
Answer - In liability cases, the defendant's response to a complaint. There are three
possible answers: 1) accept complaint and pay for damages, 2) deny the complaint,
or 3) accept the complaint with a right to insert evidence into the case.
Annual Depreciation - An item's Replacement cost divided by the number of years
in its expected lifespan.
Appraisal - A negotiation method which allows the claimant and the insurer each
to select an appraiser. The two appraisers in turn select an Umpire. The appraisers
then work together to determine a settlement amount. If they cannot agree, the
Umpire steps in. Agreement by any two of the three is binding.
Arbitration - A negotiation method in which the opposing parties each submit their
evidence to a mutually-agreed-upon and neutral third party, called an arbitrator.
The arbitrator reviews the positions of each opposing side, and makes a final and
legally binding decision.
Arbitrator - The mutually-agreed-upon and neutral third party in an arbitration who
reviews the positions of each opposing side, and makes a final and legally binding
decision.
Artificially Generated Current - Also called "artificial current." A peril covered in
some property insurance policies. It includes sudden and accidental damage from
any electrical current, except currents that are naturally generated, such as
lightning or static electricity.