The Underwriting Process– Who, How, and Why?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| SECTION 1: THE UNDERWRITER | 4 | 
| WHAT IS AN UNDERWRITER? | 7 | 
| WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF UNDERWRITING? | 12 | 
| PHYSICAL HAZARD | 13 | 
| MORAL HAZARD | 14 | 
| WHAT TYPES OF DECISIONS DOES AN UNDERWRITER MAKE? | 16 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY WITH HIGHER PREMIUMS | 17 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY WITH LIMITED POLICY BENEFITS | 17 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY WITH CERTAIN EXCLUSIONS | 17 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY THAT IS EQUITABLE | 18 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY THAT IS DELIVERABLE | 18 | 
| ISSUING A POLICY THAT IS PROFITABLE | 19 | 
| WHAT KIND OF UNDERWRITING BEHAVIORS ARE VITAL FOR UNDERWRITERS? | 20 | 
| SECTION REVIEW | 24 | 
| SECTION 2: THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS– WHAT IS INVOLVED? | 25 | 
| THE INSURANCE APPLICATION: GATHERING PERTINENT INFORMATION | 25 | 
| THE RATING SYSTEM: DETERMINING RISK CLASSIFICATION | 34 | 
| THE UNDERWRITING MANUAL: EVALUATING AND RATING RISKS | 35 | 
| THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS: PRELIMINARY PROCESSING | 41 | 
| INSURABLE INTEREST | 42 | 
| VALID CONTRACT | 43 | 
| INSURABLE RISK | 44 | 
| THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS: EVALUATING THE INFORMATION AND MAKING A DECISION | 46 | 
| EVALUATING LOSS EXPOSURES | 46 | 
| DETERMINING UNDERWRITING DECISION | 47 | 
| SELECTING AN UNDERWRITING DECISION | 47 | 
| IDENTIFYING THE APPROPRIATE PREMIUM | 48 | 
| IMPLEMENTING THE UNDERWRITING DECISION | 48 | 
| MONITORING THE INSURED | 48 | 
| ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND: WHEN REVIEWING THE APPLICATION | 49 | 
| ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND: CASE APPROVAL AUTHORITY | 51 | 
| ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND: UTILIZING UNDERWRITING SOFTWARE | 53 | 
| SECTION REVIEW | 57 | 
| SECTION 3: MAINTAINING PROFITABILITY AND SOLVING PROBLEMS | 58 | 
| UNDERWRITING AND THE UNDERWRITING CYCLE | 59 | 
| PROBABILITY AND INSURANCE | 61 | 
| EVENTS | 61 | 
| PROBABILITY SCALE | 61 | 
| COMPOUND EVENTS | 62 | 
| COMPOUND PROBABILITY | 62 | 
| RATEMAKING AND UNDERWRITERS | 64 | 
| REINSURANCE AND PROFITABILITY | 68 | 
| LARGE-LINE CAPACITY | 70 | 
| CATASTROPHE PROTECTION | 70 | 
| STABILIZATION | 71 | 
| WITHDRAWAL | 71 | 
| UNDERWRITING ADVICE AND GUIDANCE | 72 | 
| SECTION REVIEW | 73 | 
| SECTION 4: HOW LEGISLATION AFFECTS UNDERWRITING | 75 | 
| ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES | 76 | 
| DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX | 77 | 
| DISCRIMINATION BASED ON PHYSICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS | 77 | 
| DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS AND INFORMATION | 80 | 
| DISCRIMINATION BASED ON MARITAL STATUS | 86 | 
| DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL PREFERENCE | 86 | 
| PERSONAL INFORMATION AND PRIVACY LAWS | 87 | 
| THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (1971) | 88 | 
| THE PRIVACY ACT (1974) | 90 | 
| THE GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT (1999) | 98 | 
| SECTION REVIEW | 102 | 
| COURSE REVIEW | 104 | 
| SECTION 1: THE UNDERWRITER | 104 | 
| SECTION 2: THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS– WHAT IS INVOLVED? | 107 | 
| SECTION 3: MAINTAINING PROFITABILITY AND SOLVING PROBLEMS | 109 | 
| SECTION 4: HOW LEGISLATION AFFECTS UNDERWRITING | 111 | 
| REFERENCES | 113 | 
United Insurance Educators, Inc.