Act of God

A natural disaster or force of nature, such as earthquakes, hurricane, and floods.

Actual Cash Value

This is the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed property with comparable new property, less depreciation and obsolescence. For example, a 5-year-old carpet would not be replaced at the current full value because of depreciation.

Additional Insured

An insured specifically named in an insurance policy.

Adjuster

A claims adjuster evaluates reported losses that may be covered by an insurance policy to determine how much should be paid by the insurance company for specific claims. Company adjusters are employed by insurance companies and represent their interests. Independent adjusters are hired by insurance companies on an as-needed basis and represent their interests. Public adjusters are hired by insureds to protect their interests.

Admitted Company

An insurance company licensed in the state in which the policy is purchased. Admitted carriers in the state of California must follow guidelines established by the California Department of Insurance. Admitted carriers are part of the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) which provides up to $500,000 in protection for policy holders should an admitted insurance company fail.

Agent

A person who sells and services insurance policies. There are two types of Insurance Agents:

1. An Independent Insurance Agent offers the insurance products of many insurance companies and services clients by searching the market for the best price for the most coverage. The agent’s commission is a percentage of the premium paid and includes a fee for servicing the insured's policy.
2. A direct or career agent represents only one company and sells only its policies. These agents are paid on a commission basis in much the same way as independent agents. These agents are often referred to as "captive agents" because they are unable to sell policies for any other company other than the one they represent. Examples are State Farm Insurance, Farmers Insurance and Allstate Insurance.

All-Risks Coverage

Insurance that covers all losses except for those specifically excluded in the policy.

Bare Walls Coverage

Property damage insurance that does not cover improvements to the unit such as fixtures, appliances, interior partitions, wall coverings, floor coverings, and cabinets. This type of insurance policy is the least expensive because it is limited to restoring the bare walls, floors, and ceilings of individual units.

Blanket Deductible

A deductible that applies to all buildings or locations covered by a policy.

Boiler and Machinery Coverage

Covers losses resulting from the malfunction of boilers and certain equipment and machinery. This type of coverage is generally excluded from property insurance creating the need for this separate insurance product. It will often cover the breakdown of elevators and HVAC systems.

Broker

An insurance agent that researches the marketplace for the benefit of insureds, not insurance companies.

Broker of Record Letter

A written statement signed by an insured advising an insurance company that a specific broker or agent is acting as the insured’s exclusive representative.

Building Code and Ordinance Coverage

An additional line of protection that pays for items that must be added as part of the rebuilding process to bring the property up to the current building codes.

Captive Agent

An agent of a single insurer who is required to submit business only to that company.

Carrier

An insurance company.

Catastrophe

An event that causes major losses to numerous insureds simultaneously. Examples of these losses are hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires.

CC&Rs

Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions or CC&Rs determine whether the unit owners or association are responsible for repairs, maintenance and reconstruction of various building components.

Certificate of Insurance

Written evidence that an insurance policy has been issued, indicating both the amounts and the types of insurance included.

CIGA – California Insurance Guarantee Association

This is the state reinsurance program that protects insured’s from insolvent admitted carriers for up to $500,000.

Claims-Made Policy

A liability policy that provides coverage for an injury or loss if the claim is first reported or made during the policy period. This is in contrast to the broader occurrence policy forms, which cover injuries or losses that occur during the policy period, regardless of when the claim was first made.

Coinsurance Requirements

A policy provision that requires the policyholder to carry insurance equal to a specified percentage of the value of property to receive full payment on a loss.

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL)

This broad coverage provides protection for all liability exposures not specifically excluded.

Coverage Amount

The amount of protection in dollars provided by an insurance company towards the replacement of the insured’s property.

Deductible

The amount that an insured agrees to pay toward the total amount of an insured loss.

Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)

Insures directors and officers for negligent acts or omissions, misleading statements which result in lawsuits, including allegations of mismanagement.

DOI – Department of Insurance

The department of California’s government that regulates insurance companies that do business in California.

Earthquake Zone

An area that is designated as the zone most likely to be affected if an earthquake occurs along a fault located within the zone. There are many earthquake zones in California.

Employment Practices Liability

Insurance coverage that provides an employer a legal defense against lawsuits filed by employees alleging wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, and similar claims.

Endorsement

A written change to the policy that modifies the coverage.

Exclusions

Items or conditions that are not covered by the general insurance contract.

Extended Replacement Cost

This option includes inflation protection coverage.

Fixtures

Items that are permanently attached to floors, ceilings, and walls, such as cabinets and lighting fixtures.

Gross Negligence

The failure to perform a duty with reckless disregard for the consequences affecting the health, life or property of another person.

Hazard

A factor that increases the likelihood or probable severity of a loss. For example, storing gasoline in a garage is a hazard that increases the probability and probable severity of a loss.

Hold Harmless Clause

A provision in a contract by which one party agrees to assume the liabilities of the other party.

Indemnification

The agreement by one party to protect another party against a loss, or compensation given to other party after a loss is sustained.

Insurable Interest

An interest in property such that a loss or destruction of the property would cause a financial loss.

Insurance Clause – CC&Rs

This section of the CC&Rs sets forth any requirements the association must follow in purchasing insurance coverage.

Insurance Disclosure Form

This is the form that must be provided to all unit owners on an annual basis in accordance with California law.

Insured

A person or entity covered by an insurance policy, including the "named insured" and any other parties for whom protection is provided under the policy.

Interior Betterments

These are the property components located within a condominium unit. Examples of interior betterments include wall and floor coverings, kitchen cabinets, and fixtures. Interior betterments are sometimes not covered by HOA master policies.

Joint and Several Liability

A legal obligation under which a party may be liable for the payment of a total court judgment and related costs, even if that party is only partially responsible for the loss.

Liability Insurance

Insurance that pays on behalf of an insured for defined losses such as injuries arising out of certain acts, or a failure to act.

Liability Limits

The maximum amount of money a policy will pay in the event of a claim. Depending on the type of policy, defense costs may or may not be included in the limit of liability.

Limits

The maximum amount of coverage that can be paid for a covered loss.

Liquor Liability Coverage

Liability coverage that protects an association from lawsuits that might arise from the serving of alcohol in the common areas of the association.

Loss Assessment Coverage

This is coverage intended to protect condominium unit owners against special assessments caused by a loss as a result of perils covered by the association’s master policy.

Loss Run

This is a written statement provided by an insurance company that sets forth exactly when, how much and what type of losses were incurred by the insured.

Master Policy

This is a policy that protects an association from most types of property losses and from general liability lawsuits. The precise scope of the coverage will vary from company to company.

Mitigation

Limiting the amount of total loss that occurs once an initial loss has occurred. For example, once a plumbing leak is detected, shutting off the water.

Multi-Peril Policy

A package policy that provides coverage against several different perils.

Occurrence

An accident or other event that results in an insured loss.

Original Building Standard

The state of the interior at the time a building was constructed or converted to condominiums.

Peril

Something that can be the cause of a claim. In property insurance, perils are events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires.

Policy

The actual document that sets forth the contractual agreement between an insured and the insurance company.

Policyholder

The person or persons whose name is stated within the policy document as being the named insured.

Premium

The amount of money paid to the insurance company for the insurance coverage.

Replacement Cost

The cost of replacing insured property such as a building without taking into account depreciation.

Short-Rate Cancellation

When a policy is terminated prior to the expiration date at the policyholder’s request, the earned premium charged will be more than the pro-rata earned premium. Generally, the returned premium is approximately ninety percent of the pro-rata return premium. However, an insurance company may establish its own short-rate schedule.

Sublimit

An amount less than the full building value that is applied to specified areas of coverage. An example would be when a building is insured for $10,000,000 and there is a $25,000 limit for mold damage. The limitation for mold damage would be a sublimit.

Rider

An attachment or endorsement to an insurance policy that modifies clauses and/or provisions of the policy. Riders may include or exclude coverage.

TRIA

Federal terrorism insurance coverage that was created after 9/11, to cover federally certified acts of terrorism.

Unit Interior Coverage

The insurance coverage that protects the improvements of a condominium from the drywall in.

Unit Owner Policy

The policy that a condominium unit owner purchases to provide coverage for those items that are not covered by the master policy. This is also referred to as an HO-6 policy.