• An ice dam is an accumulation of frozen water in the gutter system and at the edge of the roof, preventing the subsequent runoff of melted snow from the roof/gutter system. Ice dams are common in areas with heavy snow accumulation. In most cases, frost starts inside the house when heated air seeps into an unheated attic. This phenomenon creates warm areas on the roof, causing snow to melt outside. Melting snow flows down the slope of the roof until it reaches the cold overhang, where it freezes again. The process continues, causing the ice to accumulate along the eaves and form a dam. Eventually, this dam forces the water to accumulate under the roof tiles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the house. Ice dams can cause structural failure, corrosion of metal fasteners, and mold growth on attic and wall surfaces. Few homeowner insurance policies cover de-icing. However, the Special Hazard Form HO (HO 5) usually covers internal or external damage resulting from ice dams.

  • Identity theft insurance is an additional endorsement available under a homeowners policy for criminal event insurance in which an impostor obtains key personal information, such as a social security number or driver’s license, to impersonate the insured. The information can be used to obtain credit, goods and services on behalf of the victim, or to provide the thief with false credentials. This confirmation ensures that the first party covers the costs incurred by the insured person as a result of any identity theft first discovered during the period of the policy.

  • An immediate annuity is an annuity purchased with a lump-sum premium that begins to be paid to the annuity recipient at the end of the first set payment period. If, for example, the payments are monthly, then the first payment will be made 1 month after the purchase of the annuity. If the income period starts at the beginning of the first income period, the annuity is an “annuity due”. Immediate annuities are most commonly purchased as a settlement option on a life insurance policy.

  • Evidence of coverage for immigration violations is a type of evidence of coverage that is sometimes added to Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policies. Only a few insurance companies offer these approvals, which generally fall under three types of costs otherwise excluded by standard EPLI policy provisions. These costs include coverage for (1) the defense of managers/supervisors charged with criminal violations of federal, state, and local immigration laws; (2) criminal fines and penalties; and (3) civil fines and penalties. Coverage is usually subject to a sublimit (eg $25,000) which is not in addition to the normal policy limit. When payments are made on these endorsements, they reduce the policy limit. One caveat associated with this endorsement is that civil and criminal fines/punishment coverage may be considered against public policy and therefore not insurable in certain jurisdictions. However, to date there have been no known issues with the lighting provided by such approval.

  • The Disabled Physician Exemption is an exception found in most forms of physician liability insurance policy that excludes coverage for claims arising from acts committed by a physician under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances. The basis for this exclusion is that the errors made by the doctor when exposed to these types of substances are under the control of the insured person and thus can be prevented. Essentially, this exemption is intended to reduce the moral hazard associated with insuring physicians who do not seek treatment for a substance abuse or addiction problem.

  • Damaged property is covered by Commercial General Liability (CGL), property that is no longer usable because it includes a defective product or work of the insured and can be restored to use by repairing, removing or replacing the defective product or work. Claims for loss of use of damaged property are excluded from CGL coverage.