| Bailees Customers Policy | |
| Policy that covers the loss or damage to property of customers regardless of a bailee's legal liability. | |
| Basic Form | |
| See Dwelling Property 1. | |
| Basis | |
| An amount attributed to an asset for income tax purposes. It is used to determine gain or loss on sale or transfer or to determine the value of a gift. | |
| Benefit Period | |
| A period of time typically one to three years during which major medical benefits are paid after the deductible is satisfied. When the benefit period ends, the insured must then satisfy a new deductible in order to establish a new benefit period. | |
| Benefits | |
| The amount payable by the insurance company to a claimant, assignee, or beneficiary under each coverage. | |
| Binder | |
| A written or oral contract issued temporarily to place insurance in force when it is not possible to issue a new policy or endorse the existing policy immediately. A binder is subject to the premium and all the terms of the policy to be issued. | |
| Binding Receipt | |
| A receipt given for a premium payment accompanying the application for insurance. If the policy is approved, this binds the company to make the policy effective from the date of the receipt. | |
| Blackout Period | |
| The period during which Social Security benefits are not paid to a surviving spouse: between the time the youngest child reaches age sixteen and the widow's sixtieth birthday. | |
| Blanket Contract | |
| A contract of health insurance affording benefits, such as accidental death and dismemberment, for all of a class of persons not individually identified. It is used for such groups as athletic teams, campers, travel policy for employees, etc. | |
| Blanket Medical Expense | |
| A provision which entitles the insured person to collect up to a maximum established in the policy for all hospital and medical expenses incurred, without any limitations on individual types of medical expenses. | |
| Blue Cross | |
| An independent, non-profit membership corporation providing protection on a service basis against the cost of hospital care in a limited geographical area. | |
| Blue Shield | |
| An independent, non-profit membership corporation providing protection on a service basis against the cost of surgical and medical care in a limited geographical area. | |
| Boat Owners Package Policy | |
| A special package policy for boat owners that combines physical damage insurance, medical expense insurance, liability insurance, and other coverages in one contract. | |
| Boiler and Machinery Insurance | |
| Coverage for loss arising out of the operation of pressure, mechanical, and electrical equipment. It covers loss of the boiler and machinery itself, damage to other property, and business interruption losses. | |
| Bond | |
| A certificate issued by a government or corporation as evidence of a debt. The issuer of the bond promises to pay the bondholder a specified amount of interest for a specified period and to repay the loan on the expiration (maturity) date. | |
| Book of Business | |
| The number, size, and type of accounts (policyholders) that an agent "owns." | |
| Bordereau | |
| An itemized statement of transactions resembling a spreadsheet format, commonly used in reinsurance. | |
| Branch Office System | |
| Type of life insurance marketing system under which branch offices are established in various areas. Salaried branch managers, who are employees of the company, are responsible for hiring and training new agents. | |
| Break in Service | |
| A calendar year, plan year, or other consecutive 12-month period designated by the plan during which a plan participant does not complete more than 500 hours of service. | |
| Broad Form | |
| See Dwelling Property 2; Homeowners 2 Policy. | |
| Broker | |
| A marketing specialist who represents buyers of property and liability insurance and who deals with either agents or companies in arranging for the coverage required by the customer. | |
| Burglary | |
| Breaking and entering into another person's property with felonious intent. | |
| Burglary and Theft Insurance | |
| Coverage against property losses due to burglary, robbery, or larceny. | |
| Business Insurance | |
| A policy which primarily provides coverage of benefits to a business as contrasted to an individual. It is issued to indemnify a business for the loss of services of a key employee or a partner who becomes disabled. | |
| Business Interruption Insurance | |
| Protection for a business owner against losses resulting from a temporary shutdown because of fire or other insured peril. The insurance provides reimbursement for lost net profits and necessary continuing expenses. | |
| Business Life Insurance | |
| Life insurance purchased by a business enterprise on the life of a member of the firm. It is often bought by partnerships to protect the surviving partners against loss caused by the death of a partner or by a corporation to reimburse it for loss caused by the death of a key employee. | |
| Buy-Sell Agreement | |
| An agreement made by the owners of a business to purchase the share of a disabled or deceased owner. The value of each owner's share of the business and the exact terms of the buying-and-selling process are established before death or the beginning of disability. | |