Underwriting Skills for Agents

Course Overview

Underwriting is a critically important function and is performed each time an insurance application is taken. Its purpose is to determine if applications represent risks acceptable to the insurer to determine whether or not the insurer will issue a policy to an applicant. Underwriting is based on a variety of criteria, established by each insurer and regulated by state laws. Each underwriting decision involves balancing the insurer’s desire to earn premium with the insurer’s ability to cover claims and remain in compliance with regulatory financial requirements while making a profit.

This course discusses each important facet of underwriting. It begins by answering the question “What is Underwriting?”. Factors in underwriting, including key components used in underwriting when the application insures people, property, a business or business operations, are delineated. Then, the various types of underwriters are discussed and how their responsibilities differ depending upon the line of insurance they underwrite. The four basic underwriting decisions, whether to reject an application, issue the application as substandard, issue the application as standard, or issued the application as preferred, are taken up next. Finally, the monitoring of underwriting decisions is explained.

Upon completion of this course, the agent will have a solid understanding of the importance, function process and purpose of underwriting. The agent will also know his or her important role in this process.The course also covers insurance fraud which one of the key challenges for insurers.