Exclusions

What Does Exclusions Mean?

Exclusions, in the context of insurance, refer to certain provisions in an insurance policy that exclude coverage for expenses arising because of the occurrence of a specific event. In insurance, exclusions help keep premiums fair by nullifying the possibility for large payments for a handful of insured individuals who are at risk for unusual catastrophic events.

Insuranceopedia Explains Exclusions

For instance, a personal auto insurance policy does not cover the vehicle if you use it for commercial purposes. This is because the policy specifies commercial use of the vehicle as an exclusion in the policy.

All insurance contracts include specific details such as:

• Declarations that identify the insured, the insured’s address, the insurance company, the risks and property covered by the policy, the policy limits, any applicable deductibles, the premium payable and the term of the policy
• Definitions that describe important terms used in the policy document
• Insuring agreements that specify the covered perils, the risks, the nature of coverage etc.
• Exclusions that describe the property, perils, hazards or losses arising from specific situations that the policy does not cover
• Endorsements that denote additional forms attached to the policy that modify it unconditionally or based on the existence of certain conditions
• Policy riders that specify the terms of a policy amendment

As such, exclusions will vary based on the type of insurance policy.

• Health Insurance: Exclusions could pertain to certain pre-existing medical conditions.
• Homeowner’s Insurance: Exclusions could denote conditions under which the common policy provisions would not cover any damages to the property.
• Automobile Insurance: Exclusions will specify situations in which the policy would not cover a loss such as the injury or death arising from an intentional act.
• Life Insurance: Exclusions could include situations such as acts of war, suicide or indulging in dangerous activities.
• Disability Insurance: Exclusions could include pre-existing conditions, acts of war or disability arising because of some illegal activities.