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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.

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Showing 12 of 36 matching terms

Terms beginning with D

Directors and officers insurance

Business insurance
Liability coverage that may protect an organization and its leaders from covered claims about management decisions.
Also called: D&O insurance

Direct writer

General insurance
An insurer that sells insurance directly to customers through its own employees or representatives rather than independent agents.

Disability income insurance

Life insurance
Insurance that may replace part of income when a covered illness or injury prevents someone from working.
Also called: disability insurance

Domestic insurer

General insurance
An insurer incorporated and domiciled in the state whose insurance department regulates it as its home-state regulator.

Drive-other-car provision

Auto insurance
Policy wording that may extend liability coverage while an insured operates an eligible vehicle not owned by them.

Drug formulary tier

Health insurance
A category in a health plan’s drug list that determines the member cost-sharing level for a medication.

Drug tier

Health insurance
A level in a health plan formulary that helps determine the member cost for a prescription drug.
Also called: formulary tier

Dual eligible beneficiary

Health insurance
A person eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Durable medical equipment

Health insurance
Reusable medical equipment prescribed for home use, such as a wheelchair or hospital bed, when covered by a plan.
Also called: DME

Duty to defend

Business insurance
An insurer’s obligation, when triggered by the policy, to provide a legal defense for a covered claim or suit.

Dwelling coverage

Home insurance
The part of a homeowners policy that may pay to repair or rebuild the home’s structure after a covered loss.
Also called: Coverage A

Dwelling fire policy

Home insurance
A property policy designed for a dwelling that may be rented, vacant, seasonal, or otherwise not covered by a standard homeowners policy.
Also called: DP policy