Insurance policies usually run for a period of 12 months. An insured can cancel a policy at any time and request a refund of premium. Therefore, insurers must only take into the books of account that portion of premium which corresponds to actual elapsed time on risk. That portion of premium which can be taken up in the accounts is called earned premium. That portion of premium yet to expire is termed unearned premium.

The date on which the cover of an insurance policy commences.

A method of calculating unearned premium, usually under a proportional reinsurance treaty where premium details are provided quarterly. Risks are assumed to attach on average on the middle day of each quarter. Therefore, at the end of a calendar year, 7/8ths of premiums on policies accepted in the first quarter are assumed to be earned, with 1/8th unearned, and so on.

Any writing appearing on a policy, or additional documentation attaching to a policy, whereby the printed terms of the policy, the parties to it, or other particulars, are varied.

An incident or situation, which occurs in a particular place during a particular interval of time.

A payment made by an insurer to a claimant as an act of grace, where no contractual entitlement to the claim exists. The insurer will make an ex gratia payment in order to maintain good will, public relations, or as a matter of social justice or some other non-contractual reason.

An excess on a policy is the first amount that must be contributed by the insured towards each claim. When one or more excesses apply to a policy, they will be shown on the insurance schedule.

Items or conditions that are not covered by the insurance contract.

The date upon which a policy ends. Conventionally, 4.00 pm is the normal time of expiry, although this varies by type of policy and by insurer.