The Fundamentals Of Insurance

Insurance is perhaps the most effective device for managing ‘risk,’ which is a pervasive phenomenon in our lives. We can sometimes avoid or reduce it but never entirely eliminate it. Whether you are a Graduate student who is studying insurance as a part of your curriculum, or an Executive managing your Organization’s Insurance and Risk Management Program this book will provide you with a strong conceptual foundation, comprehensive knowledge of non-life and life insurance products, and perspectives on how insurance functions as a part of the economy. Essentially, you will understand ‘why’ it is needed, ‘what’ solutions it provides, and ‘how’ different business processes and professionals work together to deliver the vital compensation to victims of disasters. Organized in 18 chapters that are comprehensive yet brief, it continuously relates facts to theories, concepts to processes, events to their context, and the rule-of-thumb to underlying basic principles. Thus, insurance will be demystified, and you will be empowered to decode ‘insurance speak.’

FUNDAMENTALS OF INSURANCE, 2E, International Edition combines hands-on activities, examples from news-making companies, creative special features, and solid content to give your students a full understanding of insurance. Extensive use of activities help students better understand the importance of insurance and how it affects them today—and through to their retirement days.Insurance careers are integrated throughout the text, as well as being provided as a focus in their own chapter. Research questions require students to make contact with the insurance world where they will get additional career information and bring interest and realism into the classroom. Students learn the importance of risk management, property and auto insurance, health coverage, insurance rates, claims procedures, careers in insurance, annuities and planning for retirement.

This classic, comprehensive book is divided into three sections. The first section examines the concept of risk, the nature of the insurance device, and the principles of risk management. This section also provides an overview of the insurance industry. The second section examines the traditional fields of life and health insurance as solutions to the risks connected with the loss of income. The Social Security system, workers compensation, and other social insurance coverages are discussed. The final section deals with the risks associated with the ownership of property and legal liability. Updated to reflect the changes in the field of insurance since 1996, and a listing of Web sites of interest.

Accompanying CD-ROM contains sample policy forms, in an Acrobat format. cf. p. vii.

Human life, in all its manifestations, has immeasurable social and economic value. Since ancient times, human beings have tried to put in place systems to sustain and flourish in the face of adversity. In modern times, life insurance is one such financial arrangement that provides social and economic security to individuals and to the communities. Awareness of the basic features and categories of insurance is important in today’s life insurance market where all companies are offering a number of innovative products with multiple features. Divided into three parts, this book incorporates the basics of life insurance, risk management, and health and micro-insurance, in detail. Part I (Concepts, Principles and Processes) systematically defines life insurance, its legal contract and characteristics, marketing and distribution processes involved, and the future trends. Part II (Risk Management, Underwriting, Reinsurance and Claims) explicates the importance of risk management, the process of underwriting, and the types and concepts of reinsurance and claims. Part III (Employee Benefits, Pensions, Annuities, Micro-insurance and Health Insurance) covers allied topics, such as pension products, micro-insurance and health insurance which are increasingly becoming important for the industry for both the social and commercial perspectives.

This text introduces the commonly used, basic approaches for reserving and ratemaking in General Insurance. The methods are described through detailed examples that are linked from one chapter to another to illustrate their practical application. Also, professionalism requirements and standards of practice are presented to set the context for the methods and examples.