The amount an insurer pays to beneficiaries when the insured dies, based on policy terms.

Learn about the Discounted Value Table in general insurance, a vital tool that provides the present and discounted value of dollars payable at specific times in the future, for different interest rates.

Dram shop liability insurance protects alcohol-serving businesses against covered claims that their service of alcohol contributed to injury or property damage.

A transfer of real property through a will, and in insurance contexts it affects beneficiary and estate administration handling.

A diagnosis identifies a condition from clinical evidence and is the primary trigger for treatment classification and claims coding.

A temporary premium amount collected before the final annual or policy premium is confirmed.

Disability insurance pays income replacement benefits when illness or injury prevents you from working, subject to the policy's definition of disability.

An income benefit paid from a pension or retirement arrangement when a participant becomes disabled before normal retirement.

A shareholder-owned life insurer that writes both participating and nonparticipating policies.

Situation in which the insurer creates and signs the policy document.

A source of additional exposure to an insured risk, often linked to but not always physically attached to the main insured property.

A divisible contract clause treats certain property insurance coverages as separately applied so a breach affecting one location or item does not automatically void all coverage.

In insurance, disability means a physical or mental condition that satisfies the policy's definition of impaired ability to work or perform specified activities.

A workers' compensation experience rating measure used to reflect loss cost efficiency.

Insurance coverage for additional costs and business interruption caused by failures in critical data-processing systems.

A life insurance policy that has been issued and delivered but not yet fully funded by the first premium.

Demolition insurance covers the cost of removing structures damaged by a covered peril or required by law.

A commercial crime form designed to cover specified losses from employee dishonesty, missing property, and related crime exposures.

The policyowner's choice for how a participating life insurance dividend will be used.

The process a health plan uses to check whether prescription use is safe, appropriate, and consistent with benefit rules.

A dependent care plan defines how an insurance plan helps pay for care or support services related to dependents.

Policy coverage extended to family members who qualify as dependents, with specific eligibility and benefit limits.

An agreed future premium payment that is not yet due under the policy schedule.

Dividend additions are small paid-up pieces of life insurance purchased with participating policy dividends.

The process a health insurer or administrator uses to find out whether a person has other coverage that could affect claim payment.

An insurer's formal decision not to accept a coverage application.

Sworn testimony recorded before a claim or legal proceeding, often used as evidence in disputes involving insurance coverage or claims.

The expected decline in value of property from wear, age, or obsolescence that affects insurance valuation.

Physical damage or financial damage caused immediately by a peril, before any secondary business effects occur.

Coverage structured to respond to losses discovered during the policy or treaty period, even if the underlying wrongful act occurred earlier, subject to the contract's terms.

An additional period after policy or bond termination during which covered losses from earlier acts may still be discovered and reported.

Damages are monetary amounts intended to compensate for injury, loss, or financial harm in a legal or insurance claim.

A debris removal clause reimburses reasonable cleanup costs after an insured property loss.

The deductible clause defines how a deductible is applied in an insurance contract.

A deferred compensation plan lets employees delay receiving salary until a future date under a documented retirement arrangement.

A group-sponsored arrangement where participants buy tax-deferred income coverage over time.

An additional actuarial reserve held when assets are insufficient versus expected policy obligations.

An eligible person tied to the insured or policyholder for coverage, enrollment, or benefit determination.

Dependent life insurance provides life protection for or through dependents, usually as part of group life coverage.

A surety bond that protects against loss of deposited funds or property in a banking context.

Depreciation insurance pays replacement value for damaged property without subtracting wear-and-tear depreciation.

A medically supervised process to treat substance withdrawal, often covered under specific health plan criteria.

A Difference in Conditions (DIC) endorsement extends coverage by adding protections not fully included in a primary property policy.

Disability benefits law refers to state statutes that require or regulate temporary disability benefits for certain non-work-related illnesses or injuries.

The process of arranging a patient's safe transition out of a hospital or facility, with important implications for health insurance authorization and claim payment.

In accident and health insurance, dismemberment means the loss of a limb, sight, hearing, or another specified body function as defined by the policy.

A participating life insurance option that leaves declared dividends with the insurer to earn interest.

A life insurance provision that pays an extra benefit, often doubling the death benefit, when death results from a covered accident.

A drive other car endorsement extends auto liability and sometimes other coverages to a named individual while using certain non-owned autos.

A health insurance regulatory concept requiring certain employers to make a qualified HMO option available alongside another health plan offering.

Duplication of benefits occurs when two or more health plans provide overlapping payment for the same expense beyond what coordination rules are meant to allow.

Dwelling forms are property insurance forms used to insure residential dwellings outside the standard homeowners package, often with different peril and valuation structures.

A short policy information update used by insurers and agents to share key policy details.

A death benefit only plan provides a lump-sum payout solely at death, without retirement or disability payments.

In insurance operations, debit refers to premiums still owed by the policyholder and tracked by the collection function.

A formal statement of key policy facts, often shown on the declarations page of a policy.

A life product whose death benefit falls over time while the policy remains in force.

Deep pockets liability describes a claim outcome where a more financially capable defendant pays more than its fair share of total damages.

A deferred annuity earns value in an accumulation phase and begins distributions in a later period.

A defined benefit pension plan promises a fixed retirement payment formula, usually based on service and salary.

A defined contribution pension plan specifies contributions and lets benefit value depend on investment performance.

A delayed payment clause postpones life insurance benefit payment when the first beneficiary dies at the same time as the insured.

A demolition clause can exclude or limit insurance liability for demolition costs required by law or safety rules.

A legal pleading asking the court to dismiss a claim as legally insufficient despite assumed facts.

An insurance or reimbursement structure that defines what dental services are covered, at what cost, and through which providers.

A dental plan organization coordinates dental-provider networks, claims processing, and benefit rules for dental coverage.

An approved provider through which a plan channels mental health care and reimbursement.

The total premium an insurer writes on its own policies before subtracting any premium ceded to reinsurers.

Learn about the term 'Directed Verdict' in legal contexts, where a verdict is awarded to the defendant due to the plaintiff's failure to substantiate their case.

A lead state insurance regulator responsible for supervising insurers, producers, and insurance-market practices under state law.

The amount payable under an insurance policy when the insured meets the contract's definition of disability.

Disability income insurance replaces part of an insured person's earnings when sickness or injury prevents them from working.

Disability insured means a person has enough covered work history or insured status to qualify for disability benefits under a social-insurance program.

A deductible structure that is reduced or eliminated when a covered loss exceeds a stated threshold or meets specified conditions.

An insurance arrangement in which two or more insurers each accept a stated share of the same risk.

In insurance, a dividend usually means a participating policy dividend returned by the insurer based on its experience and policy terms.

A life insurance design that combines permanent insurance with additional term coverage for a limited period.

The health plan's list of covered prescription drugs and the rules that control how those drugs are paid for.

The process a health insurer or plan uses to evaluate prescription pricing and set what it will reimburse under the pharmacy benefit.

Druggists' liability insurance covers pharmacy liability arising from dispensing errors, labeling mistakes, and other professional mistakes in pharmacy operations.

Learn about the concept of Discount in Pensions, a key financial term describing the difference between the future value and its present value calculated at a specific interest rate.

Learn about dismemberment benefits in health insurance, including how these benefits are paid out upon the dismemberment of the insured.

The date when care was actually provided to the patient.

The person who has died and whose death triggers certain insurance and legal processes.

A decreasing term policy has a death benefit that declines over the coverage period.

A deductible carryover credit applies certain late-year eligible claims to the next plan year’s deductible.

A false statement that harms reputation and can create defense and coverage questions under insurance policies.

The party being sued and may be protected by insurance policy defense and indemnity terms.

The formal delay of part of a person’s income to a future date or event.

Deferred vesting delays when a person or beneficiary obtains full right to a benefit until conditions are met.

Degree of risk expresses how likely an adverse insured event is, and how severe its impact could be.

A policy provision that limits or excludes coverage when claims involve delayed performance or timing-related loss events.

The formal act of giving the final policy document to the insured and marking policy effectiveness.

Dental insurance covers part of the cost of preventive, basic, and major dental care based on a defined dental benefit schedule.

In pension and annuity contexts, a deposit is a scheduled or required contribution that funds future retirement entitlements.

The process of pooling, tracking, and accounting for contributions before they become covered annuity assets.

A deposit administration group annuity accumulates contributions for participants before annuity purchase or retirement income conversion.

Depositor’s forgery insurance protects against financial loss from forged or altered negotiable instruments.

An insurance premium rate that departs from a standard reference because of specific risk or business factors.

The pricing difference between an applied policy rate and a benchmark or manual rate.