Insurance is a contract whereby an insurer or underwriter agrees to compensate the insure in the event of his suffering a loss, in return for the payment of a premium by the insured.
The basic principle of insurance is the pooling of risks – A number of people who wish to cover themselves against a certain risk contribute to a pool or a common fund out of which compensation are made to those who actually suffer losses arising from that particular risk. The amount of premium depends on the probability of the risk. The greater the risk, the higher the premium and vice versa. Compensation for victims will depend on the premium paid and the extent of losses suffered.
INSURANCE AND ASSURANCE
Insurance refers to events which are uncertain and which may or may not happen e.g. fire, burglary etc. It is based on probabilities. Assurance refers to events which are certain and which are sure to happen e.g. death must happen. Example is life assurance. Assurance is based on possibilities.
EVALUATION
- What is insurance?
- Distinguish between the terms insurance and assurance.
INSURABLE RISKS AND NON-INSURABLE RISKS
Risks which are calculable (i.e. the likelihood of their occurrence is possible to be estimated) and for which premiums may therefore be assessed are called INSURABLE RISKS e.g. Motor Accident, Life, Marine, Theft, etc.
In other words, insurable risks are those risks whose likelihood of occurrence can be forecast, from past experience and for which a rate of premium can be calculated to enable the insurance company to collect enough premium to pay those who will unfortunate enough to suffer loss from such risks. Insurable risks hold out the prospects of loss but not again.
NON-INSURABLE RISKS
Also called un-insurable risks are risks that cannot be insured because their likelihood of
occurrence cannot be calculated due to insufficient information being available to insurer to enable him estimate the premium. It holds the prospects of gain as well as loss.
EXAMPLES OF NON-INSURABLE RISKS ARE:
- Loss of profit through competition.
- Loss due to gambling.
- Loss due to changes in taste and fashion.
- Loss due to mal administration (i.e. loss incurred as a result of bad management).
- Risk due to war.
- Loss of profits through fall in demand.
INDEMNITY INSURANCE AND NON-INDEMNITY INSURANCE
Indemnity insurance is the type of insurance in which the insured can be restored to his former position before the incident occurred by receiving compensation. Examples are insurance against fire, marine, burglary etc.
In non-indemnity insurance, the insured cannot be restored to his former position before the incident occurred. This insurance is not purposely for equating the loss with the compensation. Examples are life assurance and personal accident insurance.
EVALUATION
- What is meant by the term insurable risk
- Distinguished between indemnity and non-indemnity insurance.
GENERAL EVALUATION QUESTIONS
- Explain five circumstances when an insured may not be indemnified
- Explain the following terms (a) insurable risks (b) non insurable risks
- Give five main differences between a retail co – operative society and a public limited company
- Explain five functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria
- Explain five reasons why many small businesses turn into private limited companies
READING ASSIGNMENT
Essential Commerce for SSS by O.A. Longe Page 185 – 201
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
- Which of the following risk would an insurance company not be prepared to cover
(a) death resulting from HIV (b) change in fashion (c) theft of property (d) loss of cash in transit
- The aid to trade responsible for compensating traders on loss suffered in the day-to-day business operation is (a) warehousing (b) insurance (c) transportation (d) advertising
- Which of the following is a non-insurable risk (a) cash-in-transit (b) fire
(c) consequential loss (d) speculative venture
- The sum which the insured pay periodically to his insurance company is called
(a) brokerage (b) commission (c) indemnity (d) premium
- The incidence of loss that would have paralysed commercial activities are heaped on
(a) banking (b) communication (c) advertising (d) insurance
THEORY
- List four examples of non-insurable risks
- Distinguish between insurance and assurance
See also
INDUSTRIAL COMBINATIONS/INTEGRATION
TRADE ASSOCIATION/CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Related Words
- insurance
- insurance quotes
- insurance companies
- insurance companies texas
- insurance companies california
- insurance near me
- insurance agents
- insurance companies near me
- insurance adjuster
- insurance in spanish