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 E
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Earned exposure
General insurance - The portion of an insured exposure that has elapsed during the policy period for rating or reporting purposes.
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Earthquake insurance
Home insurance - Separate coverage or an endorsement for earthquake damage that standard homeowners policies commonly exclude.
- Also called: earthquake coverage
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Effective date
General insurance - The date coverage is scheduled to begin under a policy or plan.
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Effective date of cancellation
General insurance - The date and time at which a cancellation takes effect under the notice and policy terms.
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Eligibility
Health insurance - The requirements a person must meet to enroll in a health plan or use a particular benefit.
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Elimination period
Life insurance - A waiting period before disability insurance benefits may begin after a qualifying condition.
- Also called: waiting period
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Emergency medical condition
Health insurance - A condition with acute symptoms serious enough that a prudent person could reasonably expect immediate medical attention is needed.
- Also called: medical emergency
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Emergency mitigation
Claims - Reasonable immediate steps to protect property from further damage after a covered loss.
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Emergency services
Health insurance - Evaluation and treatment for an emergency medical condition, including related services needed to stabilize the person.
- Also called: emergency care
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Employee benefits liability
Business insurance - Coverage for certain claims arising from mistakes in administering employee benefit programs.
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Employer liability coverage
Business insurance - Coverage that may apply to certain employee injury claims outside workers compensation benefits.
- Also called: Part Two coverage
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Employment practices liability insurance
Business insurance - Coverage for certain employee claims such as alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination.
- Also called: EPLI
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Endorsement
General insurance - A written change that adds, removes, or modifies coverage in an insurance policy.
- Also called: policy endorsement
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Endowment policy
Life insurance - A life insurance contract that pays its stated amount at death or when the insured reaches a specified maturity date.
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Equity-indexed annuity
Life insurance - A fixed annuity whose credited interest is linked in part to an external market index under the contract’s formula and limits.
- Also called: indexed annuity
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Errors and omissions insurance
Business insurance - Professional liability insurance that may cover certain claims alleging mistakes or missed professional services.
- Also called: E&O insurance, professional liability insurance
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Essential health benefits
Health insurance - Categories of services that qualifying Affordable Care Act individual and small-group plans must cover under federal rules.
- Also called: EHB
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Examination report
Claims - A regulator’s report of findings from an examination of an insurer’s financial condition, market conduct, or compliance.
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Examination under oath
Claims - A formal, sworn interview an insurer may request during a claim investigation when allowed by the policy and law.
- Also called: EUO
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Excess and surplus lines broker
General insurance - A licensed intermediary authorized to place eligible risks with nonadmitted insurers under surplus-lines rules.
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Excess liability policy
Business insurance - A policy that provides additional limits above underlying insurance, generally following the underlying policy’s coverage terms.
- Also called: excess policy
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Excess of loss reinsurance
General insurance - Reinsurance that pays losses above the ceding insurer’s specified retention, up to the treaty limit.
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Excluded driver
Auto insurance - A person specifically listed as not covered when driving an insured vehicle, subject to state law and policy terms.
- Also called: named driver exclusion
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Exclusion
General insurance - A loss, person, property, or circumstance a policy says it does not cover.