| Treatment of Annuities as Securities |
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| Variable annuities are differentiated from fixed annuities by virtue of how the benefits are funded. In a traditional fixed annuity, an annuitant pays a premium(s) and is guaranteed a certain rate of return over a life expectancy; thus, benefit payments can be determined with precision. In a variable annuity, premium payments are held in a separate account or accounts. More... |
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| Twisting |
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| What is Twisting?More... |
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| Types of Insurance Companies |
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| The structure of an insurance company may affect how it does business. Insurance companies may take the form of regular stock companies, may be mutual insurance companies, or may be "captive" subsidiaries of companies that effectively are self-insured. More... |
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| Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act |
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| When an insured or a beneficiary submits a claim to an insurer, the insurer has a duty to respond and to do so in a certain manner. The Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (UCSPA), a model act adopted in over 40 states, provides industry guidelines for the insurer to follow when paying or denying claims. In general, the UCSPA requires the insurer to act promptly and fairly in response to a claim with a reasonable basis for any denials.More... |
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| Denial of Claims |
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| An insurer may deny a claim for a loss made by an insured in certain circumstances. However, the insurer must follow certain standards and guidelines when making such a denial. More... |
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