Reference guide
Insurance Glossary
Plain-language definitions of common insurance terms across policies, coverage, and claims. Check your policy or plan documents for the terms that apply to you.
Find an insurance term
Showing 24 of 36 matching terms
Terms beginning with D
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Damage estimate
Claims - A calculation of expected repair or replacement costs used in evaluating a property claim.
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Data breach response coverage
Business insurance - Coverage that may help pay qualifying costs to investigate, notify, and respond to a covered data breach.
- Also called: privacy breach response
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Date of loss
Claims - The date a covered event or damage is reported to have occurred.
- Also called: loss date
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Death benefit
Life insurance - The amount a life insurance policy may pay to beneficiaries after the insured person dies while coverage is in force.
- Also called: life insurance payout
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Death benefit option
Life insurance - The method a permanent life policy uses to determine its death benefit, such as a level amount or an amount including cash value.
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Debris removal
Home insurance - Coverage that may help pay to remove debris after a covered property loss, subject to policy limits.
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Declarations page
General insurance - A policy summary that commonly lists the insured, coverages, limits, deductibles, and policy dates.
- Also called: dec page
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Declared value
Auto insurance - A value stated for an insured vehicle or item that may be used for premium or settlement purposes under the policy terms.
- Also called: stated value
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Declared value policy
Auto insurance - A policy using a stated value for a vehicle or item, with claim payment determined under its specific valuation terms.
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Deductible
General insurance - The amount a policyholder may pay toward a covered loss before insurance pays its share, subject to the policy.
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Defense costs
Business insurance - Legal fees and related expenses incurred to defend an insured against a covered claim.
- Also called: defense expenses
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Deferred acquisition cost
Life insurance - An insurer accounting asset representing certain costs of obtaining insurance business that are recognized over time.
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Deferred annuity
Life insurance - An annuity designed to begin income payments at a future date after an accumulation period.
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Demutualization
Life insurance - The conversion of a mutual insurer owned by policyholders into a stock company owned by shareholders.
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Denial letter
Claims - Written notice explaining that all or part of a claim is not covered and identifying the relevant basis.
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Department of insurance
Claims - A state regulatory agency that licenses insurers and producers, enforces insurance rules, and handles consumer complaints.
- Also called: DOI, insurance department
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Dependent
Health insurance - A person who can be covered under another person’s health plan because of a qualifying family relationship or other plan rule.
- Also called: covered dependent
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Dependent coverage
Health insurance - Health coverage for eligible family members enrolled under a subscriber’s plan.
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Depreciation
Home insurance - A reduction in an item’s value over time because of age, wear, or obsolescence.
- Actual cash value vs. replacement cost
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Diagnostic test
Health insurance - A medical test used to help identify, confirm, or monitor a health condition.
- Also called: diagnostic service
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Diminishing deductible
Auto insurance - An auto policy feature that may reduce a deductible after qualifying claim-free periods.
- Also called: vanishing deductible
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Diminution in value
Auto insurance - A reduction in a vehicle’s market value after damage and repair, which may be covered only where policy terms or law require.
- Also called: DV claim
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Direct damage
General insurance - Physical loss or damage that results immediately from a covered cause of loss.