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Quizzes > Business & Finance

Insurance Fundamentals Quiz: Test Your Basics

Quick, free insurance basics assessment. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Gautam KhuranaUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Insurance Fundamentals Assessment Quiz

Use this quiz to check your understanding of insurance fundamentals, from policy types to risk and underwriting. Answer 15 multiple-choice questions and get instant feedback. For a wider review, try our insurance knowledge test, build on policies with the commercial policy knowledge test, or explore benefits in the employee benefits quiz.

What term describes the amount an insured pays periodically to maintain insurance coverage?
Claim
Deductible
Premium
Benefit
The premium is the monetary payment made by the insured to the insurer in exchange for coverage. It is paid regularly, such as monthly or annually, to keep the policy active.
What is a deductible in an insurance policy?
The maximum limit the insurer will pay
The amount the insured must pay before the insurer covers the loss
A form that modifies policy coverage
The total premium paid over the policy term
A deductible is the portion of a loss that the insured agrees to pay out of pocket before the insurer's payment obligation begins. Deductibles help control small claims and share risk between the insured and insurer.
In an insurance contract, who is the party providing coverage?
Beneficiary
Insured
Insurer
Underwriter
The insurer is the insurance company that assumes the financial risk of covered events in exchange for premiums. The insured is the party purchasing coverage, while the underwriter assesses risk and the beneficiary may receive benefits.
Which term refers to the individual or entity purchasing an insurance policy?
Broker
Actuary
Adjuster
Policyholder
The policyholder is the person or organization that enters into an insurance contract and pays premiums for coverage. Adjusters handle claim investigations, brokers place coverage, and actuaries analyze risk.
What is moral hazard?
The increased likelihood of loss due to an insured's risky behavior after obtaining coverage
The legal requirement to have insurance
A physical event like fire or flood
The formula used to calculate premiums
Moral hazard arises when having insurance leads the insured to take greater risks, knowing that losses are covered. It is a key consideration in policy design and may lead to deductible or co-payment requirements.
Which of the following is a characteristic of pure risk?
Always results in a financial gain
Can be eliminated through investments
Only the possibility of loss or no loss
Possibility of gain or loss
Pure risk involves scenarios where only a loss or no change can occur, such as property damage. Speculative risk, in contrast, includes potential gains and losses, like investing in stocks.
Which component of an insurance contract outlines the insured perils, covered property, and policy limits?
Declarations
Conditions
Exclusions
Insuring Agreement
The declarations page provides the key policy details such as who is insured, what is covered, policy limits, and perils insured against. The insuring agreement describes the insurer's promise to pay while conditions and exclusions specify obligations and limitations.
What principle states that insurance contracts require the applicant to disclose all material facts?
Insurable Interest
Indemnity
Utmost Good Faith
Subrogation
Utmost good faith (uberrima fides) requires both parties to a contract to act honestly and disclose all relevant facts. Failure to disclose material information can void the contract.
Which underwriting criterion involves evaluating the applicant's age, health, and lifestyle?
Policy Limit
Premium Loadings
Risk Classification
Policy Endorsements
Risk classification groups insureds based on factors like age, health, and lifestyle to determine the appropriate risk category and premium. Loadings and endorsements adjust coverage and cost but are not primary risk classes.
Which method calculates premiums based on the probability of loss times the financial consequences of loss?
Manual Rating
Experience Rating
Pure Premium Method
Retrospective Rating
The pure premium method multiplies the expected frequency of loss by the expected severity to derive a base premium. Other methods like experience or retrospective rating adjust premiums based on actual past loss experience.
Which policy section specifies circumstances where coverage is not provided?
Declarations
Endorsements
Exclusions
Insuring Agreement
The exclusions section outlines perils, losses, or property specifically not covered by the policy. This clarity helps insureds understand the limits of their protection.
What is an endorsement in an insurance policy?
A claim settlement technique
A summary of covered perils
A premium calculation method
A form that modifies the original policy terms
An endorsement is an amendment to the policy that adds, deletes, or changes coverage. It allows customization of standard policy forms to meet specific needs.
What principle underlies spreading losses among many insureds to reduce variability?
Proximate Cause
Subrogation
Law of Large Numbers
Salvage
The law of large numbers states that as the number of exposure units increases, the actual loss experience will approach the expected loss experience. It underpins risk pooling in insurance.
Which of the following best describes proximate cause in an insurance claim?
A deliberate act to create a claim
Any secondary event that worsens a loss
A method to reduce premium
The primary cause that sets off a chain of events leading to loss
Proximate cause refers to the dominant cause of loss when multiple events occur. Insurers use this concept to determine whether a peril is covered under the policy.
Which premium calculation method adjusts the premium retrospectively based on the insured's actual loss experience?
Retrospective Rating
Flat Rate Pricing
Pure Premium Method
Manual Rating
Retrospective rating sets an initial premium which is adjusted after the policy period to reflect the actual losses incurred. It aligns the insured's final cost more closely with their loss history.
An insurer uses a pure premium rate of 0.002 for property valued at $1,000,000 and applies a loading factor of 1.3. What is the gross premium?
$1,300
$2,600
$3,000
$2,000
The pure premium is $1,000,000 Ã- 0.002 = $2,000. Applying the loading factor yields $2,000 Ã- 1.3 = $2,600 as the gross premium.
In subrogation, what action does the insurer take?
Cancels the policy after a loss payment
Settles claims without investigating fault
Refunds the entire premium to the insured
Steps into the insured's rights to recover from a third party
Subrogation allows the insurer to pursue recovery from a responsible third party after indemnifying the insured. This prevents the insured from collecting twice and helps control loss costs.
Which type of reinsurance agreement shares a fixed percentage of losses and premiums between the insurer and reinsurer?
Facultative
Excess of Loss
Quota Share
Stop Loss
A quota share treaty cedes a set proportion of each policy's premiums and losses to the reinsurer. It differs from excess arrangements which attach only after certain thresholds.
A standard homeowner policy contains an ordinance or law exclusion. After a fire, the insured must comply with updated building codes to rebuild. Which cost is not covered by the policy?
Replacement of damaged personal property
Repair of structural damage
Additional cost to meet current building codes
Debris removal
Ordinance or law exclusions remove coverage for increased costs due to building code upgrades after a loss. Standard coverage pays to repair or replace damaged property and remove debris.
Which ratio measures the percentage of premiums returned as losses?
Retention Ratio
Loss Ratio
Combined Ratio
Expense Ratio
The loss ratio is calculated by dividing incurred losses by earned premiums, expressing the proportion of premium used to pay claims. It is a key underwriting performance indicator.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse risk types and their implications in policy design.
  2. Identify key components of insurance contracts and agreements.
  3. Evaluate premium calculation methods and underwriting criteria.
  4. Apply fundamental principles to real-world insurance scenarios.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of policy exclusions and endorsements.
  6. Master basic terminology used in insurance operations.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the different types of risks in insurance - From pure risks like natural disasters to speculative risks like stock investments, each category shapes how policies are designed. Spotting these distinctions gives you the superpower to craft coverage that truly shields against surprises.
  2. Identify key components of an insurance contract - Peeking under the hood of an insurance contract is like unlocking hidden treasure: declarations, definitions, insuring agreements, exclusions, and conditions all hold vital clues. Once you know what each part does, you'll read policies like a pro detective solving the case!
  3. Grasp the fundamentals of premium calculation - Crunching premium numbers might sound like math homework on steroids, but it's really about balancing coverage levels, deductibles, and risk profiles. Master this, and you'll be the ultimate insurance matchmaker, pairing clients with the perfect plan!
  4. Explore underwriting criteria and processes - Underwriting is where you play risk referee - evaluating health status, occupation, and lifestyle habits to set fair game rules. It's your chance to decide who gets insured and under what terms, all while keeping the risk game balanced!
  5. Apply insurance principles to real-world scenarios - Case studies are your insurance playground: see theoretical rules come alive in actual situations. The more you practice, the sharper your skills at turning abstract concepts into everyday solutions!
  6. Understand policy exclusions and their implications - Think of exclusions as the policy's "off-limits" zones - they spell out what disasters won't trigger a payout. Spotting these gaps ensures you're never caught off-guard when the unexpected knocks!
  7. Learn about endorsements and riders - Endorsements (or riders) are like adding hot sauce to your policy buffet: they spice up or tweak coverage to fit unique tastes. Mastering them means every policy you touch can become a custom-fit masterpiece!
  8. Master essential insurance terminology - Once "premium," "deductible," and "co-insurance" feel like second nature, you'll speak the language of insurance fluently. This vocab boost makes navigating contracts and client chats a breeze!
  9. Understand the principle of indemnity - Indemnity is the golden rule of insurance - restore the insured to their pre-loss financial status without letting them strike gold. This principle keeps things fair and prevents overcompensation.
  10. Recognize the importance of the declarations page - Think of the declarations page as your policy's North Star, guiding you with all the key details: who's covered, when, and for how much. A quick glance here keeps you anchored and informed!
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