Reinsurance Definition, Types, and How It Works (2024)

FAQs

Reinsurance Definition, Types, and How It Works? ›

Issue: Reinsurance, often referred to as “insurance for insurance companies,” is a contract between a reinsurer and an insurer. In this contract, the insurance company—the cedent—transfers risk to the reinsurance company, and the latter assumes all or part of one or more insurance policies issued by the cedent.

In simple terms, reinsurance could be defined as insurance for insurance companies. There are several types of insurance. They include proportional reinsurance, non-proportional reinsurance, excess-of-loss reinsurance, facultative reinsurance, and treaty reinsurance.

Reinsurance, or insurance for insurers, transfers risk to another company to reduce the likelihood of large payouts for a claim. Reinsurance allows insurers to remain solvent by recovering all or part of a payout. Companies that seek reinsurance are called ceding companies.

While they are both forms of reinsurance, facultative considers each policy individually and generally indicates a shorter term relationship. Treaty, on the other hand, considers multiple policies of a specific class of insurance issued by an insurance company and indicates the companies will work together longer term.

Insurers purchase reinsurance for essentially four reasons: (1) to limit liability on specific risks; (2) to stabilize loss experience; (3) to protect against catastrophes; and (4) to increase capacity.

The most common is called proportional treaties, in which a percentage of the ceding insurer's original policies is reinsured, up to a limit. Any policies written in excess of the limit are not to be covered by the reinsurance treaty.

Reinsurers play a major role for insurance companies as they allow the latter to help transfer risk, reduce capital requirements, and lower claimant payouts. Reinsurers generate revenue by identifying and accepting policies that they believe are less risky and reinvesting the insurance premiums they receive.

In an excess of loss agreement, the primary company retains a certain amount of liability for losses (known as the ceding company's retention) and pays a fee to the reinsurer for coverage above that amount, generally subject to a fixed upper limit.

Insurance offers coverage against unforeseen risks to individuals. Reinsurance, on the contrary, offers coverage to the insurance provider against certain losses and risks. Insurance and reinsurance are two important risk management concepts in the world of finances.

What is a simple example of facultative reinsurance? ›

Example of Facultative Reinsurance

Suppose a standard insurance provider issues a policy on major commercial real estate, such as a large corporate office building. The policy is written for $35 million, meaning the original insurer faces a potential $35 million in liability if the building is badly damaged.

Higher administrative costs: One major difference between treaty vs facultative reinsurance is the higher administrative expenses incurred in facultative transactions. This is because each arrangement requires individual risk evaluation and negotiation.

Reinsurance ceded is the action taken by an insurer to pass off a portion of its obligation for coverage to another insurance company. Reinsurance assumed is the acceptance of that obligation by another insurance company.

Reinsurance is a type of insurance that is purchased by insurance companies to reduce risk. Essentially, reinsurance may restrict the cost of damages that the insurer can theoretically experience. In other words, it saves insurance providers from financial distress, thus shielding their clients from undisclosed risks.

Reinsurance occurs when multiple insurance companies share risk by purchasing insurance policies from other insurers to limit their own total loss in case of disaster. By spreading risk, an insurance company takes on clients whose coverage would be too great of a burden for the single insurance company to handle alone.

Several common reasons for reinsurance include: 1) expanding the insurance company's capacity; 2) stabilizing underwriting results; 3) financing; 4) providing catastrophe protection; 5) withdrawing from a line or class of business; 6) spreading risk; and 7) acquiring expertise.

The most common forms of proportional treaties include Quota Share, Surplus and Facultative Obligatory treaties. For non-proportional types, the principal types include Risk Excess of Loss, Catastrophe Excess of Loss and Aggregate Excess of Loss treaties.

Excess insurance covers specific amounts beyond the limits in the primary policy. Reinsurance is when insurers pass a portion of their policies onto other insurers to reduce the financial cost in the event a claim is paid out.

Functions of Reinsurance

Protects the main insurer from catastrophes occurring. Increases the capacity to assume more risks & to issue more policies. Provides great stability to the profits of the insurance business. Distribution of risk to big players.