The risk that having insurance may encourage riskier behavior because the policyholder does not bear the full cost of a loss. Deductibles and coinsurance are common tools insurers use to reduce moral hazard by keeping policyholders financially invested in preventing losses.
Related Terms
Coinsurance
The percentage of costs you share with your insurer after meeting your deductible. For example, with 80/20 coinsurance, the insurer pays 80% of covered expenses and you pay 20% until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum.
Deductible
The amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. A higher deductible generally means a lower premium. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and file a $5,000 claim, you pay $1,000 and your insurer pays $4,000.
Underwriting
The process insurers use to evaluate the risk of insuring a person or asset and determine the appropriate premium. Underwriters review applications, claims history, credit scores, and other data to decide whether to issue a policy and at what price.