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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 24 of 28 matching terms

Terms beginning with L

Landlord insurance

Home insurance
Property insurance for a rented dwelling that may cover the structure, landlord liability, and loss of rental income for covered losses.
Also called: rental property insurance

Lapse

Life insurance
A policy ending because required premium payments or other conditions were not met.

Lapse protection rider

Life insurance
A rider intended to keep a life policy in force when specified premium or funding requirements are met.

Layered insurance program

General insurance
A program dividing coverage into primary and successive excess layers, each attaching above a specified amount.

Liability coverage

Auto insurance
Coverage that may pay for injury or property damage the insured is legally responsible for causing to others.

Liberalization clause

General insurance
A provision automatically extending a broader coverage change made by the insurer without an added premium in stated circumstances.

License suspension

Auto insurance
A temporary loss of driving privileges imposed under state law, which can affect auto insurance availability and pricing.
Also called: suspended license

Life income option

Life insurance
A settlement choice that pays income for the recipient’s lifetime, with any survivor or period-certain feature governed by the option selected.

Life insurance

Life insurance
A policy that may pay a death benefit to named beneficiaries when the insured person dies while coverage is in force.

Life settlement

Life insurance
The sale of an existing life insurance policy to a third party for more than its surrender value but less than its death benefit.

Lifetime limit

Health insurance
A cap on the total benefits a plan will pay over a person’s lifetime; federal rules restrict these limits for essential health benefits in many plans.
Also called: lifetime dollar limit

Limit

General insurance
The maximum amount an insurer may pay for a covered loss or service under a policy or plan.
Also called: coverage limit

Limited-pay whole life

Life insurance
Whole life insurance structured so scheduled premiums end after a specified period while coverage may remain in force.
Also called: 10-pay life, 20-pay life

Liquidation

Claims
A legal process that winds down an insolvent insurer and distributes available assets under regulatory and court supervision.
Also called: insurer liquidation

Liquor liability insurance

Business insurance
Coverage for certain claims arising from selling, serving, or furnishing alcoholic beverages.
Also called: dram shop insurance

Living benefits rider

Life insurance
A rider that may allow early access to part of a life policy’s death benefit after a qualifying illness or condition.
Also called: accelerated death benefit rider

Loan or lease payoff coverage

Auto insurance
An auto policy option that may pay part of the difference between a totaled vehicle’s value and its remaining loan or lease balance.
Also called: loan/lease payoff

Long-term care insurance

Life insurance
Insurance that may help pay for covered long-term services and support when a person needs help with daily activities or supervision.
Also called: LTC insurance

Loss adjustment expense

Claims
Costs an insurer incurs to investigate, adjust, defend, or settle claims, separate from the claim payment itself.
Also called: LAE

Loss assessment coverage

Home insurance
Coverage that may help a condo owner or association member pay certain shared assessments after a covered loss.

Loss date

Claims
The date on which the event causing a claimed loss occurred.

Loss of use

Home insurance
Coverage that may help with certain extra costs or lost rental value when covered property cannot be used after a covered loss.

Loss payable clause

Business insurance
A policy provision directing payment for covered property loss to a named party with a financial interest.
Also called: loss payee clause