The Health Guide

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An increase to a premium applied because the insurer assesses the risk as higher than standard.

When an underwriter accepts an application but judges the risk above standard, it can add a loading — usually expressed as a percentage of the standard premium — instead of declining or excluding. Loadings are set individually, differ between insurers for the same history, and are written into the policy once accepted. Some insurers will review a loading later where the reason for it was a measurable factor that has since changed, but they are not obliged to, so ask in writing what evidence would be considered and when.

Guides that use this term