Do I want occurrence or claims made?
Asked by: Prof. Monserrat Kertzmann | Last update: August 3, 2025Score: 5/5 (56 votes)
What is better, claims Made or occurrence?
Claims-made coverage is portable. You can take the coverage from one insurance company to another. The advantage to an occurrence policy is its permanence. The period of time you are insured under an occurrence policy is protected forever by the policy you had that year.
Is per claim or per occurrence better?
Typically for the first five years of coverage, claims made policies tend to be less expensive than occurrence policies. But keep in mind that as your business faces more exposures, your premiums will increase; usually, after five years, the cost of a claims-made policy begins to even out with occurrence policies.
Can you switch from occurrence to claims Made?
Claims-Made policies provide coverage for 'claims' only when BOTH the alleged incident AND the resulting 'claim' happen during the period the policy is in force! Switching from an "Occurrence" to a "Claims Made" form is the least perilous change.
What are the benefits of occurrence?
The most obvious benefit of an occurrence policy is that it offers long-term protection. As long as coverage is in place when the incident occurred, it's possible to make a claim on that period years into the future. Another advantage is that occurrence policy costs tend to be fixed.
Occurrence vs. Claims-Made Case Studies (Real Life Examples)
Are auto insurance claims made or occurrences?
Virtually all homeowner's coverages and automobile coverages are “occurrence policies.” With this type of coverage, the occurrence (negligent act and accident) must occur within the policy coverage period or term of the policy.
Why are claims made malpractice insurance policies so popular?
The benefit of a claims-made policy is that it's typically less expensive, at least in the early years. It's less expensive because coverage typically expires on the expiration date of the policy and the insurer understands its liability for claims as of that date.
What is the purpose of the claims made form?
Insurance companies commonly write policies on a claims-made form. This means your insurer helps cover claims filed during your policy period. There are two features of a claims-made policy that can affect coverage: Retroactive date: Your policy provides coverage if an incident occurs on or after a specified date.
What does occurrence insurance cover?
An occurrence-based policy covers losses that happen during the time you have the policy, regardless of when you file a claim. It is designed to protect you against long-tail events – incidents that could cause injury or damage years after they occur.
Can you make the same insurance claim twice?
On the other hand, there are times when trying to file multiple claims on the same accident would be considered “double dipping” or insurance fraud – and this is illegal. You cannot file redundant claims with more than one insurance company in an attempt to get paid twice for the same damages.
How many claims is too many?
Officially, there is no set limit to the number of claims you can file. However, it's important to understand that frequent claims can have long-term effects on your policy. Insurers may view a history of multiple claims as an increased risk, which can influence your policy renewal and premium rates.
What does "claims-made" mean?
A claims-made policy provides coverage that is triggered when a claim is made against the insured during the policy period, regardless of when the wrongful act that gave rise to the claim took place.
What is an example of per occurrence?
For example, say your policy's per-occurrence limit was $1 million and the aggregate limit was $2 million. Your company gets sued on two separate occasions in the same year, each time for $1 million. Because your per-occurrence limit is $1 million, both lawsuits will be covered.
What is the difference between per claim and per occurrence deductible?
A per occurrence deductible is like most auto or homeowners insurance you might be familiar with; you pay the $500, and that's the max you'll pay when something happens. But if your deductible is per claim, that means a separate deductible gets applied to every claim filed in a single occurrence.
How long does tail coverage last?
How Long Should Tail Coverage Last? If you get tail coverage, it can last a year or more. You can work with your insurance agent or insurer to see how long of an extended reporting period is right for your business. The longer your tail coverage, the longer your protection can last.
Is cyber insurance claims made or occurrence?
However, many other types of business insurance policies are usually claims-made. For instance, errors and omissions, professional liability, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability and cyber coverage are typically claims-made policies.
Which is better claims made or occurrence based?
A claims-made policy only covers incidents that happen and are reported within the policy's timeframe, unless a "tail" is purchased. An occurrence policy has lifetime coverage for the incidents that occur during a policy period, regardless of when the claim is reported.
What is the occurrence limit for insurance?
An occurrence limit is the max an insurance company will cover per claim. The aggregate limit is the total claim costs an insurer will cover during a policy period, which is typically one year.
What is the difference between an accident and an occurrence in insurance?
The term "occurrence" encompasses more than just an accident because accident is narrower in scope than occurrence. This can be seen in those cases decided before the occurrence wording was adopted. Accident, according to these cases, did not include coverage for damage occurring over time.
What is an example of occurrence insurance?
With occurrence policies, your aggregate limit resets every year. For example, let's say you purchased a $1 million occurrence-based general liability policy. In year one, you get sued for $1 million. When your policy renews at the beginning of year two, you'll have another $1 million of coverage to protect you.
What does it mean when a claim is made?
An insurance claim is essentially a formal request for your insurance company to pay for damages or losses that the claimant believes you are responsible for. This could stem from various incidents such as car accidents, property damage, or personal injuries.
What is the difference between a claims made and a claims made and reported policy?
Under a claims-made policy, a claim must be made during the policy period in order for there to be coverage. Under a claims-made and reported policy, both a claim must be made and that claim must also be reported during the policy period. A grace period may apply for claims made late in a policy period.
Who pays the highest malpractice insurance?
Malpractice insurance costs work out to about 3.2% of most physicians' incomes. And while malpractice insurance can be a hefty monthly bill for surgeons, obstetricians tend to pay the highest rates of all.
Why are some policies claims made?
A claims-made policy is a type of insurance policy most commonly used to cover the risks associated with business operations. For example, these policies are often used to cover the potential for mistakes associated with errors and omissions (E&O) in financial statements.
What does malpractice insurance not cover?
Medical malpractice does not cover liability that arises from sexual misconduct, criminal acts, and inappropriate alteration of medical records.