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Incontestable Clause

A clause in a policy providing that a policy has been in effect for a given length of time (two or three years), the insurer shall not be able to contest the statements contained in the application. In life policies, if an insured lied as to the condition of his health at the time the policy was taken out, that lie could not be used to contest payment under the policy if death occurred after the time limit stated in the incontestable clause.

In Force

Insurance on which the premiums are being paid or have been fully paid.

Insurability

All conditions pertaining to individuals that affect their health, susceptibility to injury and life expectancy; an individual's risk profile.

Insurable Interest

Requirement of insurance contracts that loss must be sustained by the applicant upon the death of another and it must be sufficient to warrant compensation.

Insurance

A formal social device for reducing risk by transferring the risks of several
individual entities to an insurer. The insurer agrees, for a consideration, to pay for the loss in the amount specified in the contract.

Insurance Policy

The printed form which serves as the contract between an insurer and an
insured.

Insured

The party who is being insured. In life insurance, it is the person because of his or her death the insurance company would pay out a death benefit to a designated beneficiary.

Insurer

Party that provides insurance coverage, typically through a contract of insurance.

Irrevocable Beneficiary

A beneficiary that cannot be changed without that beneficiary's consent.

Increasing Term Insurance

Term life insurance in which the death benefit increases periodically over the policy's term. Usually purchased as a cost of living rider to a whole life policy.

Indemnification

When insurance policies are written on an "indemnification" basis, the insurance company will reimburse the insured for claim costs already paid. Technically, the insured must not only suffer a loss, but must also pay the loss before being reimbursed (indemnified) by the company.

Inflation Guard Coverage

This coverage extension automatically increases the building amounts of insurance by 2% per quarter. This is done at no additional cost and is an attempt to keep pace with inflation.

Inland Marine Coverage

Inland marine insurance indemnifies loss to moving or moveable property and is an outgrowth of ocean marine insurance. Historically, ocean marine insurance held the transporter responsible for property loss before, during, and after the completion of the voyage. In the 1800's, the non-ocean portion of the journey grew as cargoes were transferred to barge, etc., and the term "inland marine" was coined. Inland marine policies became known as "floaters" since the property to which coverage was originally extended was essentially "floating."

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