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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 14 of 38 matching terms

Terms beginning with M

Medicare Supplement Insurance

Health insurance
Private insurance designed to help pay certain out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare.
Also called: Medigap

Mid-term cancellation

Auto insurance
Cancellation of a policy before its scheduled expiration date, subject to notice requirements and permitted reasons.
Also called: midterm cancellation

Mine subsidence insurance

Home insurance
Coverage for qualifying structural damage caused by the collapse or movement of underground mines in covered areas.
Also called: mine subsidence coverage

Minimum earned premium

General insurance
The smallest premium retained by an insurer when a policy is cancelled, regardless of the short time coverage was in force.

Minimum essential coverage

Health insurance
Coverage that meets the Affordable Care Act definition for minimum essential coverage, such as many employer, Marketplace, Medicare, or Medicaid plans.
Also called: MEC

Mitigation expense

Claims
A reasonable cost incurred to prevent or reduce additional damage following a covered event.

Modified endowment contract

Life insurance
A life policy funded above federal tax limits, causing distributions to receive less favorable tax treatment than ordinary life insurance.
Also called: MEC

Modified replacement cost policy

Auto insurance
A homeowners policy for older homes that may pay for repairs with modern materials rather than exact historical replication.

Morale hazard

General insurance
An increase in loss potential caused by carelessness or indifference rather than deliberate misconduct.

Moral hazard

General insurance
An increase in loss potential caused by intentional dishonesty or disregard for loss prevention.

Mortgage clause

Home insurance
A property policy provision protecting a named mortgage lender’s financial interest in covered property.
Also called: standard mortgage clause

Mortgagee

Home insurance
The lender named on a property insurance policy because it has a financial interest in the insured home.
Also called: mortgage lender

Motor vehicle glass repair shop

Auto insurance
A business that repairs or replaces vehicle glass, including windshields, windows, or other glass components.

Motor vehicle record

Auto insurance
A state record of a driver’s license status, violations, and other driving history that insurers may use in underwriting where permitted.
Also called: MVR