Insurance services in india

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INSURANCE SERVICES
You must have seen shops in the market. In these shops many articles are
stored for sale. Some of you might have seen factories where machines are
installed to manufacture products.You may also be knowing about trains, trucks,
ships, etc. that carry goods from one place to another. All these involve lot of
money and there is always a risk of loss on their way. For example, storing
goods in the shop for sale involves lot of money spent on buying those products
and there is always a risk that the products may get damaged before they are
sold. The damage may be due to accidents like fire, natural calamities or even
because of riot or theft.Similarly in factories the machines may break down
causing heavy loss. During transportation the goods may get damaged or
destroyed due to accident. Under all these circumstances there is always a loss
incurred by the businessman. Not only the assets or properties of businessman,
he himself is also not out of danger because of the risk involved in some of the
activities unertaken by him on day-to-day basis. He may suffer any disease or
face accident which may cause a great loss to his family.
Can these risks be avoided or minimized? Is there anything to take care of
these risks? Let us learn all about it in this lesson.
After studying this lesson, you will be able to:
• explain the nature of business risks;
• define insurance;
• explain the importance of insurance;
• identify different types of insurance;
• describe the salient features of life insurance, fire insurance, marine
insurance and other types of insurance; and
• state the principles applicable to a contract of insurance.
10.1 NATURE OF BUSINESS RISKS
If you decide to engage yourself in any business activity your main objective
10
OBJECTIVES
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will naturally be to earn profit. It is the most important objective of every
business because without profit your capital will get reduced and may be totally
lost. So you will do your best to manage your business efficiently. Sometimes
you may find that sale of goods produced in your factory is declining. That is
a warning signal. You may then try to find out the reasons behind it. If you can
identify the reasons, you may find some remedies. Suppose you find that
imported goods of the same quality are being sold by competing traders at a
much lower price. You have to face the loss as a result of the change in market
conditions. There may be other reasons, that may also result in loss of income
or profit. Goods may be lost in course of transportation.There may be accidental
fire in the godown, workers of the factory may go on strike. You may not be
able to anticipate or control some of these possibilities. This is the concept of
risk. Risk is the possibility of loss or damage due to factors over which the
businessman has little or no control.
All business activities are subject to uncertain events or happenings and may
suffer loss or damage. Timely precaution can be taken to avoid some of the
losses. But certain losses and damages have either to be borne by the
businessman himself, or if possible, shared with others.
The possibility of loss or damage can be divided into two broad categories:
uncertainties and risks. Uncertainties are the events, which cannot be
foreseen. But risks can be anticipated in the light of past experience. The
chances of fire in the factory or godown depend upon precautions taken to
prevent its occurrence, or having necessary preparedness to keep the
resulting loss to a minimum level. So, is the case with loss or damage by
theft or accidents.
Now, take another type of situation. Every person has to think of his future
needs when he is not able to work or suffers from old age and illness. This is
not an uncertain occurrence. Illness is bound to be there for living beings
sometime or the other and more likely after a certain age. It is also necessary
to consider that death may strike at a time when there will be a family to be
looked after and provided with a means of living.
There are also risks, which have a significant place in business. While goods
are transported from place to place, there may be accidents causing, damage
or loss of goods. Trains may be derailed, bridges may collapse, or airplane
may crash due to engine trouble. Trucks may be looted on their way to another
city. Damage may be caused to goods sent by ship at the time of loading or
unloading at sea ports. Can such damages or losses be shared with any other
party? Let us note how these can be shared by means of insurance.
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TYPES OF RISKS
Speculative Risk : Risks relating to business judgment based on
speculation. For example change in fashion, govt. policy
etc.
Pure Risk : Risks where the chance of loss is predictable.
Property Risk : Related to Loss of property.
Personnel Risk : Related to life or health of the people.
Financial Risk : Related to financial transactions of the business.
Marketing Risk : Risk associated with marketing of goods.
10.2 MEANING OF INSURANCE
Simply speaking, insurance is the means by which risks of loss or damage can
be shifted to another party called the insurer on the payment of a charge known
as premium. The party whose risk is shifted to the insurer is known as the
insured. Obviously insurer is generally an organization (Insurance Company),
which is willing to share the loss or damage and it is also qualified to do so.
Insurance is a contract between the insurer and insured whereby the insurer
undertakes to pay the insured a fixed amount, in exchange for a fixed sum
known as premium, on the happening of a certain event (like at a certain age or
on death), or compensate the actual loss when it takes place, due to the causes
mentioned in the contract.
If you think about the basis of insurance, you will realize that it is a form of co-
operation through which all the insured, who are subject to a risk, pay premium
and only one or few among them who actually
suffer the loss or damage is/are compensated.
Actually, the number of parties exposed to a
risk is very large and only a few of them might
actually suffer loss during a certain period.The
insurer (company) acts as an agency to spread
the actual loss suffered by a few insured parties among a large number of parties.
Which of the following statements are true and which are false?
(i) The possibility of loss or damage to goods or human beings is known
as risk.
(ii) Change of fashion is a personnel risk.
(iii) Losses caused by uncertain events of insured goods have to be borne
by businessmen themselves.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.1
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(iv) Some risks can be taken care of by precautions such as risk of breakdown
of machinery.
(v) Insurance is the means of shifting risks of loss to a party willing and
qualified to share the loss.
(vi) The amount paid by the insured to the insurer is known as premium.
10.3 IMPORTANCE OF INSURANCE
To appreciate the importance of insurance we have to discuss the benefits that
we derive from it.
As explained in the previous section, insurance serves as a very useful means
of spreading the effects of personal as well as business risks by way of loss or
damage among many. Thus, the insured have a sense of security. Individuals
who pay premium periodically out of current income can look forward to an
assurance of receiving a fixed amount on retirement or his family being secured
in the event of his death. Businessmen also pay premium for insurance of risk
of loss without constant worry about the possibility of loss or damage.
Insurance plays a significant role particularly in view of the large-scale
production and distribution of goods in national and international market. It is
an aid to both trading and industrial enterprises, which involve huge investments
in properties and plants as well as inventories of raw materials, components
and finished goods.The members of business community feel secured by means
of insurance as they get assurance that by contributing a token amount they
will be compensated against a loss that may take place in future.
Fromthenationaleconomicpointofview,insuranceenablessavingsofindividuals
to accumulate with the insurance companies by way of premium received. These
fundsareinvestedinsecuritiesissuedbybigcompaniesaswellasbyGovernment.
Individualswhoinsuretheirlivestocovertherisksofoldageanddeathareinduced
to save a part of their current income, which is by itself of great importance.
Insurance is also a source of employment for the people. The people get
employed directly in its offices of the insurance company spread over the
country and it also provides opportunities to the people to earn their livelihood
by working as agent of the insurance companies.
Fill in the blanks with suitable words given in brackets.
(i) Insurance is a means of spreading the ________ of a few among many.
(loss, expense)
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Notes
(ii) The members of the business community feel ________ because of
insurance. (secured, unsecured)
(iii) Insurance companies invest their funds in corporate and Government
______ (loans, securities)
(iv) Insurance is an aid to ________ as well as commerce. (industry, trade)
10.4 TYPES OF INSURANCE
Insurance, which is based on a contract, may be broadly classified into the
following types.
(i) Life Insurance
(ii) Fire Insurance
(iii) Marine Insurance, and
(iv) Other types of insurance such as burglary insurance, motor vehicle
insurance, etc.
Until recently Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and General Insurance
Corporation with its subsidiaries happened to be the only organizations engaged
in life and general insurance business in India. Now a number of other private
companies have entered this service sector. Let us consider the salient feature
of each of these types.
(i) Life Insurance
A contract of life insurance (also known as ‘life assurance’) is a contract
whereby the insurer undertakes to pay a certain sum either on the death of the
insured or on the expiry of a certain number of years. In return, the insured
agrees to pay an amount as premium either in a lump sum or in periodical
installments, annually, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly.The risk insured against
in this case is certain to happen. Hence, life insurance is also referred to as life
assurance. The written form of contract is known as life insurance policy. It
provides for the payment of a fixed sum to the insured or his legal heirs as the
case may be either on a fixed date or on the happening of an event, which is
certain. Businessmen can provide for life insurance of all their employees by
way of group insurance. It also develops loyalty among employees and can be
used as a security for raising loans.
There are two basic types of life assurance policies (a) Whole-life policy, and
(b) Endowment Policy.Awhole life policy runs for the whole life of the insured
and premium is payable all along. The sum assured becomes due for payment
to the heirs of the insured only after his death. An endowment policy on the
other hand, runs for a limited period or upto a certain age of the insured. The
sum assured becomes due for payment at the end of the specified period or on
the death of the insured, if it occurs earlier.
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(ii) Fire Insurance
A contract of fire insurance is a contract whereby the insurer, on payment of
premium by the insured, undertakes to compensate the insured for the loss or
damage suffered by reason of certain defined subject matter being damaged or
destroyed by fire. It is a contract of indemnity, that is, the insured cannot claim
anything more than the value of property lost or damaged by fire or the amount
of policy, whichever is lower. The claim for loss by fire is payable subject to
two conditions, viz; (a) there must have been actual fire; and (b) fire must have
been accidental, not intentional; the cause of fire being immaterial. The basic
principle applied with regard to claim is the principle of indemnity. The insured
is entitled to be compensated for the amount of actual loss suffered subject to
a maximum amount for which he had taken the policy. He cannot make a
profit through insurance. For example, if a person takes a fire insurance policy
of Rs. 20,000/- on certain goods. Out of these, goods worth Rs. 15,000/- are
destroyed by fire. The insured can only claim an amount to the extent of loss
i.e., Rs. 15,000/- (and not Rs. 20, 000/-) for the damage from the insurance
company.
(iii) Marine Insurance
Marine insurance is an agreement (contract) by which the insurance company
(also known as underwriter) agrees to indemnify the owner of a ship or cargo
against risks, which are incidental to marine adventures. It also includes
insurance of the risk of loss of freight due on the cargo. Marine insurance that
covers the risk of loss of cargo by storm is known as cargo insurance. The
owner of the ship may insure it against loss on account of perils of the sea.
When the ship is the subject matter of insurance, it is known as hull insurance.
Further, where freight is payable by the owner of cargo on safe delivery at the
port of destination, the shipping company may insure the risk of loss of freight
if the cargo is damaged or lost. Such a marine insurance is known as freight
insurance. All marine insurance contracts are contracts of indemnity.
The followings are the different types of marine insurance policies
(a) Time Policy –This policy insures the subject matter for specified period
of time, usually for one year. It is generally used for hull insurance or
for cargo when small quantities are insured.
(b) Voyage Policy - This is intended for a particular voyage, without any
consideration for time. It is used mostly for cargo insurance.
(c) Mixed Policy – Under this policy the subject matter (hull, for example)
is insured on a particular voyage for a specified period of time. Thus, a
ship may be insured for a voyage between Mumbai and Colombo for a
period of 6 months under a mixed policy.
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(d) Floating Policy - Under this policy, a cargo policy may be taken for a
round sum and whenever some cargo is shipped the insurance company
declares its value and the total value of the policy is reduced by that
amount. Such shipments may continue until the total value of the policy
is exhausted.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRE, MARINE AND LIFE INSURANCE
S.No. Basis of Fire Insurance Marine Insurance Life Insurance
Difference
1. Compensation Amount insured or Purchase price of No loss is
Actual loss which goods and 10-15 compesable only
ever is less is given percent profit is specific amount
as compensation. given as compen- is paid.
sation.
2. Insurable Insurable interest Insurable interest Insurable interest
Interest must exist both at must exist at the must exist at the
the time of taking time of loss. time of taking
policy as well as policy.
the time of loss.
3. Assignment of No Assignment No Assignment No Assignment
Policy without permission without permission is done.
of Insurance of Insurance
Company. Company.
4. Nature of Risk Uncertain Uncertain Certain but the
time is uncertain.
5. Period Normally for one Normally for one It is taken for a
year. year. long term.
6. Premium Premium depends Premium depends Premiumdepends
upon the amount upon nature of upon the age of
insured.More the perils. the insured and
amount insured term of policy.
more will be the
Premium.
7. Object To cover the risk of To cover the sea Protection and
fire. perils. Investment.
8. Surrender Cannot be surren- Cannot be surren- can be surren-
dered before dered before dered before
expiry. expiry. maturity.
(iv) Other types of Insurance
Apart from life, fire and marine insurance, general insurance companies can

Notes
insure a variety of other risks through different policies. Some of these risks
and the different policies are outlined below.
(a) Motor vehicles Insurance: Insurance of all types of motor vehicles-
passenger cars, vans, commercial vehicles, motor cycles, scooters, etc.,
covers the risks of damage of the vehicle by accident or loss by theft,
as also risks of liability arising out of injury or death of third party
involved in an accident. Third party risk insurance is compulsory under
the Motor Vehicles Act.
(b) Burglary Insurance: Under this insurance the insurance company
undertakes to indemnify the insured against losses from burglary i.e.,
loss of moveable goods by robbery and theft by breaking the house.
(c) Fidelity Insurance:As a protection against the risks of loss on account
of embezzlement or defalcation of cash or misappropriation of goods
by employees, businessmen may get policies issued covering the risks
of loss on account of fraud and dishonesty on the part of employees
handling cash or in charge of stores. This is called fidelity insurance
policy. The employees may also be required to sign a fidelity guarantee
Bond.
(d) Personal accident and sickness Insurance: These are policies which
can be taken out against death or disability in special circumstances,
for example by traveling through flights, etc.
(e) Liability Insurance: This type of policy covers the risk of liability for
the injury or death of someone else. These are two main forms as (i)
Employers liability- covers the employers legal liability for the safety
of each employee.(ii) Public liability- covers the liability of individuals
and business for members of public visiting their premises.
(f) Property Insurance: Covers a wide variety of items from goods in
transit or in store to building or contents. Applies to both the business
persons and the private householders.
Which of the following statements are true and which are false?
(i) Marine insurance contracts are ordinary contracts while life insurance
is a contract of indemnity.
(ii) Fire insurance covers the risk of loss by fire where the cause of fire is
immaterial for making a claim from the insurance company
(iii) A ship may be insured against loss by perils of sea.
(iv) For an endowment policy, the insured has to continue paying premium
for the whole life.
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(v) In life insurance, premium may be paid in a lump sum or in annual
installments.
(vi) In marine insurance, time policy is often used for hull insurance.
(vii) Fidelity insurance is not compulsory for owners of business.
(viii) The principle underlying the contract of indemnity is to ensure that the
insured cannot make profit out of insurance.
10.5 PRINCIPLES OF INSURANCE
There are certain principles that may apply to the contracts of insurance between
insurer and insured. These principles are discussed below.
i. Utmost goods faith
Insurance contracts are the contracts of mutual trust and confidence. Both parties
to the contract i.e., the insurer and the insured must disclose all relevant
information to each other.
The insurer must honour all the promises made in the policy, intentional
withholding of information invalidates the contract. For example, while entering
into a contract of life insurance, the insured must declare to the insurance
company if he is suffering from any disease that may be life threatening. If he
fails to do so and afterwards it is established that the insured was suffering
from a desease which was the cause of his death, then the insurance company
shall not be liable to pay any claim.
ii. Insurable interest
It means financial or pecuniary interest in the subject matter of insurance. It means
that if there is a loss due to the damage of the insurred property or to the assured
life it will be the personal loss of the insured.Aperson has insurable interest in the
property or life insured if he stands to gain from its existence or loose financially
from its damage or destruction. In case of life insurance, a person taking the policy
must have insurable interest at the time of taking the policy. For example, a man
can take life insurance policy in the name of his wife and if later they get divorced
this will not affect the insurance contract because the man had insurable interest in
the life of his wife at the time of entering into the contract.
In case of marine insurance insurable interest must exist at the time of loss or
damage to the property. In contract of fire insurance, it must exist both at the
time of taking the policy as well as at the time of loss or damage to the property.
iii. Indemnity
The word indemnity means to restore someone to the same position that he/
she was in before the event concerned took place. This principle is applicable
to the fire and marine insurance. It is not applicable to life insurance, because
the loss of life cannot be restored.
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The purpose of this principle is that the insured is not allowed to make any
profit from the insurance contract on the happening of the event that is insured
against. Compensation is paid on the basis of amount of actual loss or the sum
insured, which ever is less.
iv. Contribution
The same subject matter may be insured with more than one insurer. In such a
case, the insurance claim to be paid to the insured must be shared or contributed
by all insurers in proportion to the ammount of insurance of individual insurers.
v. Subrogation
In the contract of insurance subrogation means that after the insurer has
compensated the insured, the insurer gets all the rights of the insured with
regard to the subject matter of the insurance. For example, suppose goods
worth Rs. 20,000/- are partially destroyed by fire and the insurance company
pays the compensation to the insured, then the insurance company can take
even these partially destroyed goods and sell them in the market.
vi. Mitigation
In case of a mishap the insured must take all possible steps to reduce or mitigate
the loss or damage to the subject matter of insurance. This principle ensures
that the insured does not become negligent about the safety of the subject
matter after taking an insurance policy.
The insured is expected to act in a manner as if the subject matter has not
been insured.
vii. Causa-proxima (nearest cause)
According to this principle the insured can claim compensation for a loss only if
it is caused by the risk insured against. The risk insured should be nearest cause
(not a remote cause) for the loss. Only then the insurance company is liable to
pay the compensation. For example a ship carrying orange was insured against
losses arising from accident. The ship reached the port safely and there was a
delay in unloading the oranges from the ship. As a result the oranges got spoilt.
The insurer did not pay any compensation for the loss because the proximate
cause of loss was delay in unloading and not any accident during voyage.
Fill in the blanks using appropriate word(s).
i. The principle of utmost good faith is based on ____________ between
insurer and insured.
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ii. In life insurance contract the insurer must have insurable interest at the
time of ___________.
iii. The purpose behind the principle of ___________ is that, the insured
is not allowed to make profit from the insurance contract.
iv. If there are two or more insurers and the insurance claim is paid by one
of them, other insurers have to contribute ________ to the insurer who
has paid the claim.
• Risk is the possibility of loss or damage due to causes over which we
have little or no control. All business activities have to face the risks of
loss or damage due to uncertain events or happenings.
• Insurance is a means by which the risks of loss or damage can be shifted
to another party (the insurer) on payment of a charge known as premium.
The party whose risk is shifted to the insurer is known as the insured.
• Insurance is based on a contract between the insurer and insured
whereby the insurer, in exchange for a fixed sum (premium), undertakes
to pay the insured a specified amount on the happening of a certain
event (like the insured reaching old age), or pay the amount of actual
loss when it takes place due to the risk insured.
• Importance of Insurance: Insurance is a simple means of sharing the
burden of loss or damage among many people. It plays a significant
role in business in view of the large-scale production and distribution
of goods in national and international markets. It is an aid to both
commercial and industrial enterprises. It enables the insurance company
to invest the premium received from the various policy holders into
securities which is ultimately used for national development. Insurance
is also a source of employment for many people.
• Types:Insuranceasaserviceactivitymaybeclassifiedintofourbroadtypes:
Life Insurance : Whole-life policy, Endowment policy
Fire Insurance : Time policy
Marine Insurance : Voyagepolicy,Mixedpolicy,Floatingpolicy
OthersKinds of : Motor-vehicles insurance, Burglary
Insurance insurance, Fidelity insurance, Personal
accident and sickness Insurance,
Liability Insurance, Property Insurance.
WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT
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1. What is meant by ‘business risk’?
2. Define Insurance.
3. Why is insurance considered important? List any two reasons.
4. What does ‘Endowment’ life policy mean?
5. What is a ‘Voyage Policy’?
6. What is meant by ‘Hull’ insurance?
7. How insurance is important as an aid to trade and industry? Explain.
8. How does whole life policy differ from endowment life policy? Why is
life insurance also called life assurance?
9. Explain the types of risks which are covered by (i) Motor Vehicles
insurance; (ii) Fidelity insurance.
10. What purpose does Marine Insurance Policy serve? Explain the different
types of marine policies, which may be of use to exporters and importers.
11. Aperson suffering from cancer did not disclose this fact while taking a
life insurance policy. Name the principle he violated and explain it
about 50 words.
12. At what time there should be insurable interest in, a) Life insurance; b)
fire insurance; and c) Marine insurance.
10.1 i. True, ii. False, iii. False, iv. True,
v. True, vi. True
10.2 i. Loss, ii. Secured, iii. Securities, iv. Industry
10.3 i. False, ii. True, iii. True, iv. False,
v. True, vi. True, vii. True, viii. True
10.4 i. Mutual trust and confidence, ii. Contract,
iii. Indemnity, iv. Proportionately
ACTIVITIES FOR YOU
• Students may be prepared to make enquiry about the number of
shopkeepers in their localities who have got insurance cover against
loss by fire.
• Students may be required to enquire from the neighbours about the
number of persons who have taken life insurance policy whether whole-
life or endowment policies.
TERMINAL EXERCISE
ANSWER TO INTEXT QUESTIONS
MODULE - III
Service Sector
Insurance Services

Insurance services in india

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Insurance services in india