A term used in a retrospective rating plan. It is a factor applied to the losses in the formula to give the insurer the funds needed to handle the investigation of claims.
Insurance Encyclopedia
Loss Conversion Factor (also known as Loss Loading or Multiplier)
A factor applied to the anticipated projected losses (or loss cost) for an excess of loss reinsurance agreement in order to develop the reinsurance premium (or rate). This factor provides for the reinsurer’s loss adjustment expense, overhead expense, and profit margin as well as the perceived “riskiness” of the loss projection, i.e. the degree to which the loss projection lacks confidence or credibility. See also Rating.
Loss Corridor
A mechanism contained in a proportional or an excess of loss agreement that requires the ceding insurer to be responsible for a certain amount of ultimate net loss above the company’s designated retention and below the designated reinsurance limit, and which would otherwise be reimbursed under the reinsurance agreement. A loss corridor is usually expressed as a loss ratio percentage of the reinsurer’s earned premium, or a combined ratio if the reinsurance agreement provides for a ceding commission to the company. Loss corridors are employed to mitigate the volatility or variability of reinsurance loss projections and pricing risk and to enhance the alignment of interests of the ceding insurer and the reinsurer.
Loss Cost
The portion of the premium rate represented projected losses with or without LAE or ALAE.
Loss costs
Loss data that has been modified by insurance advisory organizations by necessary loss development, trending, and credibility processes in order to arrive at the statistical cost of losses to be used in establishing a premium rate.
Loss Department
Sometimes called claims department. That part of an Insurance Company that pays and handles claims of losses.
Loss development
An actuarial method to detect and correct for consistent errors in estimating the amount of future loss payments or the procedure for adjusting incurred losses to reflect their future development and ultimate value. Loss development factors are developed actuarially and applied to current losses in order to predict what the ultimate cost of losses will be when the claims are closed.
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The difference between the amount of losses initially estimated by the insurer and the amount reported in an evaluation on a later date.
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UK: The difference between the initial estimate of a loss and the amount estimated at a later date or the amount paid on settlement at which point it is the difference between the amount reserved and the amount paid.
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US: The difference between the original loss as initially reserved by an insurer and its subsequent evaluation later or at the time of its final disposal. Loss development occurs because of (1) inflation—both “social inflation” and inflation in the consumer price index—during the period in which losses are reported and ultimately settled and (2) time lags between the occurrence of claims and the time they are actually reported to an insurer. To account for these increases, a “loss development factor” (LDF) or multiplier is usually applied to a claim or group of claims in an effort to more accurately project the ultimate amount for which they will be closed.
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REINSURANCE: The difference between the original loss as originally reported to the reinsurer and its subsequent evaluation at a later date or at the time of its final disposal. A serious problem to reinsurers who, being involved in the more serious cases, must frequently wait many years for the final disposition of a loss.
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The difference between the value of the losses estimated by the insurer and the amount reported on a later date.
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REINSURANCE: The process of change in the value of claims over time until the claims are fully settled and paid. It is measured by the difference between paid losses and estimated outstanding losses at some subsequent point in time (usually 12 month periods), and paid losses and estimated outstanding losses at some previous point in time. In common usage it might refer to development on reported cases only, whereas a broader definition also would take into account the IBNR claims.
Loss Development Factor
For liability and worker’s compensation Insurance, any mathematical factor used to estimate the future value of current known unpaid and incurred, but not reported losses.
Loss development factor (Workers Compensation)
A factor introduced to give the insurer extra money to permit development of losses and reimburse them for claims reported late.
Loss event
Any trigger for recovery under an insurance or reinsurance agreement. Examples include occurrence, claims made, death, or disability.
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Term used in relation to the total claims payable by an insurer or reinsurer resulting from a single cause as an earthquake.
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UK: the total losses to the ceding company or to the reinsurer resulting from a single cause such as a storm or flood, subject to any time limitations imposed by the reinsurer.
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REINSURANCE: The total losses to the ceding company or to the reinsurer resulting from a single cause such as a windstorm.