AmericaDirect terms

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Insurance Terms
You'll find everything you need to know about life insurance here. Our Research Center is different because we only offer material which is explained in "Plain English".

To get started, let's take a look at common Insurance terms, and make it easy to understand what they mean:

These definitions are courtesy of the American Council of Life Insurers

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Self-insured plan A retirement plan funded through a fiduciary—generally a bank but sometimes a group of individuals—which directly invests the accumulated funds. Retirement payments are made from these funds as they fall due. Also known as trusteed plan or directly invested plan.

Separate account An asset account maintained independently from the insurer's general investment account and used primarily for retirement plans and variable life products. This arrangement permits wider latitude in the choice of investments, particularly in equities.

Settlement options The several ways, other than immediate payment in cash, that a policyholder or beneficiary may choose to have policy benefits paid. See supplementary contract.

Standard risk A person possessing an average likelihood of loss.

Stock life insurance company A life insurance company owned by stockholders who elect a board to direct the company's management. Stock companies generally issue nonparticipating insurance.

Straight life annuity An annuity whose periodic payouts stop when the annuitant dies.

Straight life insurance Whole life insurance on which premiums are payable for life.

Structured settlement An agreement allowing a person who is responsible for making payments to a claimant to assign to a third party the obligation of making those payments. An annuity contract is often used to make structural settlement payments.

Substandard risk A person who cannot meet the normal health requirements of a standard insurance policy. Protection is provided under a waiver, special policy form, or higher premium charge. Also known as impaired risk.

Supplementary contract An agreement between a life insurance company and a policyholder or beneficiary in which the company retains the cash sum payable under an insurance policy and makes payments according to the settlement option chosen.

Surrender charge The cost to a contract owner for early redemption of a contract. This charge usually is not applied after the contract is 5 to 7 years old.