G – Glossary of Insurance Terms
This page provides a glossary of insurance terms and definitions that are commonly used in the insurance business. New terms will be added to the glossary over time.
The definitions in this glossary are developed by the NAIC Research and Actuarial Department staff based on various insurance references. These definitions represent a common or general use of the term. Some words and/or phrases may be defined differently by other entities, or used in a context such that the definition shown may not be applicable. naic.org
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Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) – an aggregate of the accounting standards, principles and best practices for the preparation of financial statements allowing for consistency in reporting.
Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) – act, repealing Glass-Steagal Act of 1933, allows consolidation of commercial banks, investment institutions and insurance companies. Established a framework of responsibilities of federal and state regulators for these financial industries. It permits financial services companies to merge and engage in a variety of new business activities, including insurance, while attempting to address the regulatory issues raised by such combinations.
Goodwill – the difference between the cost of acquiring the entity and the reporting entity’s share of the book value of the acquired entity.
Gross Paid-in and Contributed Surplus – amount of capital received in excess of the par value of the stock issued.
Gross Premium – the net premium for insurance plus commissions, operating and miscellaneous commissions. For life insurance, this is the premium including dividends.
Group Accident and Health – coverage written on a group basis (e.g., employees of a single employer and their dependents) that pays scheduled benefits or medical expenses caused by disease, accidental injury or accidental death. Excludes amounts attributable to uninsured accidents and health plans and the uninsured portion of partially insured accident and health plans.
Group Annuities – Deferred Non- Variable and Variable – an annuity contract that provides an accumulation based on both (1) funds that accumulate based on a guaranteed crediting interest rates or additional interest rate applied to designated considerations, and (2) funds where the accumulation vary in accordance with the rate of return of the underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder. The contract provides for the initiation of payments at some designated future date.
Group Annuities – Deferred Variable – an annuity contract that provides an accumulation based fund where the accumulation varies in accordance with the rate of return of the underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder. Must include at least one option to have the accumulation vary in accordance with the rate of return of the underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder and may include at least one option to have the series of payments vary in accordance with the rate of return of the underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder. This annuity contract provides for the initiation of payments at some designated future date.
Group Annuities – Immediate Non-Variable and Variable – an annuity contract that provides an accumulation based on both (1) funds that accumulate based on a guaranteed crediting interest rates or additional interest rate applied to designated considerations, and (2) funds where the accumulation vary in accordance with the rate of return of the underlying investment portfolio selected by the policyholder. The contract provides for the initiation of payments at some interval that may vary, however the annuity payouts must begin within 13 months.
Group Annuities – Immediate Variable – an annuity contract that provides for the first payment of the annuity at the end of the fixed interval of payment after purchase. The interval may vary, however the annuity payouts must begin within 13 months. The amount varies with the value of equities (separate account) purchased as investments by the insurance companies.
Group Annuities – Unallocated – annuity contracts or portions thereof where the Insurer purchases an annuity for the retirees.
Group Annuity – a contract providing income for a specified period of time, or duration of life for a person or persons established to benefit a group of employees.
Group Health – health insurance issued to employers, associations, trusts, or other groups covering employees or members and/or their dependents, to whom a certificate of coverage may be provided.
Group Code – a unique three to five digit number assigned by the NAIC to identify those companies that are part of a larger group of insurance companies.
Group Credit – Life – contracts sold in connection with loan/credit transactions or other credit transactions, which do not exceed a stated duration and/or amount and provide insurance protection against death.
Group Health Organizations – Health Maintenance (HMO) – a plan under which an enrollee pays a membership fixed fee in advance in return for a wide range of comprehensive health care services with the HMO’s approved providers in a designated service area.
Guaranty Fund – funding mechanism employed by states to provide funds to cover policyholder obligations of insolvent reporting entities.
