Topic 9 - Requirements of an Insurable Risk
Why are cat losses a problem to insure?
1. Difficult to predict overall p* 2. law of large number 3. creates risk of insolvency for an insurer
what is social equity?
1. Insurers should relate the amount each person should pay for insurance to their ability to pay rather than to their loss exposure or expense factor. 2. Insurers should not increase premium because of criteria that are beyond that individual's control.
How would you control adverse selection?
1. Mandate that people have to buy insurance 2. Acquire information
Why might PI > PMAX? (2)
1. PI is "too high" 2. PMAX is "too low"
What would prevent an insurer from engaging in risk based pricing?
1. Rates may be regulated, preventing risk based pricing 2. Insurer may not give correct info to the insurer 3. Insurer cannot ask the right questions or use observable information
Some possible solutions to the moral hazard problem?
1. claims investigation 2. deductibles, copayments, coinsurance 3. policy limits 4. experience rating 5. loss settlement rules
decisions made when underwriting? (2)
1. insure or nah? 2. if yes, how much do we charge?
Specific requirements of an insurable risk (5)
1. loss should be fortuitous (random) in nature 2. loss should not be catastrophic in nature to the investor 3. Loss being insured should be significant to the insured 4. Risk pool should be large and should contain homogeneous exposure units 5. Losses should be definite and determinable
Risk-based pricing is also like what?
Actuarially fair pricing
For a cat event, a single random events does what?
Causes multiple losses to occur at the same time due to that one single random event
Losses that are easy to verify:
Death, fire, property damage
How might PMAX be too low?
Individuals may underestimate the freq/sev. of the loss
Why is it important to verify/determine the value of the loss?
It becomes difficult to estimate p* accurately, RC and PI increase, and PI > PMAX
What does it mean for a risk to be insurable?
Must be supply and demand
How might PI be too high?
P* is high, risk charge is high, and admin costs are high
what is actuarial equity?
The calculation of an insurance premium based on crucial factors such as the applicant's age, gender, health, family history and the type of insurance coverage applied for.
Why is moral hazard related to the fortuitous nature of losses a problem?
causes p* and PI to increase
What is a moral hazard created by disaster relief?
charity hazard
what is adverse selection?
death spiral; becomes a problem when you have high risk people not paying high risk prems; asymmetric info problem
Solution to cat losses?
diversify
Classic examples of cat events
earthquakes, floods, hurricanes
what does it mean if a loss is determinable?
easy to place a $ value on the loss; easy to determine the amount of the loss
The insured should have no control over what?
freq/severity of a loss
A risk is not insurable if PI is _______ than PMAX
greater than
What does it mean if a loss is definite?
if a loss occurs, it should be easy to verify that a loss has occurred
Solutions to definite problem
independent verification of losses (ex. police report), "loss settlement rules"
Demand of insurance
individuals must be willing to buy the insurance for that premium (Pmax)
Supply of insurance
insurers are willing to sell insurance at a stated premium (PI = p* + RC + admin. cost)
A risk is insurable if PI is ______ than PMAX.
less than or equal to; if a market exists
How do insurers evaluate a customer's risk?
look at risk classification variables: gender, age, location, etc.
what is underwriting?
risk classification
Contemporary examples of cat events
terrorism
What is TRIA?
terrorism risk and insurance act
Losses that are difficult to verify:
theft, certain types of injuries