What Is Risk In Insurance?

When something seems risky, many of us avoid the situation to protect ourselves and our loved ones. The definition of the word risk is a scenario that involves exposure to a bad event or the threat of danger. 

Although risk can be seen as healthy when it relates to calculated decision making at work and in life, risk in insurance is slightly different. Risk in this context is related to the potential for loss or damage to a covered person or item due to an unexpected event.

Insurance providers want to be as competitive when it comes to pricing as they can be. This is where risk comes in, as they can be more competitive if a person’s insurance premium is calculated based on the level of risk involved. 

Insurance customers generally agree with this idea, with 64% of customers taking the view that it’s fairest for consumers to pay for their individual level of risk. 

This also means that an insurance policy is matched to your lifestyle and needs, rather than related to the risks of a larger group of people. 

In this article, we explore what is risk in insurance and how insurance works when it comes to levels of risk. 

Contents

• What is risk in insurance?
• How do insurers assess risk? 
• Why do risk levels affect insurance premiums?
• High risk vs low risk insurance scenarios.
• Discover safe insurance with GasanMamo. 

What is risk in insurance?

A potential loss or unforeseen event that an insurance company agrees to cover within an insurance policy is known as an insurance risk. Examples of risk in insurance could be theft of your vehicle, loss or damage to personal belongings, or an unforeseen weather event affecting your home. 

If any of these things happen and they are covered under your insurance policy, then the financial loss you may undergo could be minimised by insurance compensation. 

Insurance providers protect against risk by naming specific risks in your insurance policy and stating what cover is available if these risk events take place. This protection is provided under the agreement that you pay regular insurance payments to access the insurance policy. 

How do insurers assess risk?

Every insurer will have their own individual risk assessment protocol they will follow for each customer. This will help them decide on the level of risk involved and support their policy calculation to ensure you gain the best possible insurance coverage for your needs. 

Typically, insurers will use the following areas to assess risk for an insurance policy:

1. Risk identification

Risk assessment usually begins with an examination of the potential risks that could affect the person, building or important item being insured. These could include theft, accidents, natural disasters or weather damage. 

Other aspects to consider may be insurance-specific, such as equipment issues or business interruption for enterprises seeking insurance. 

2. Risk analysis

Once risks are identified, they will then be analysed to decide on the level of risk they pose. This analysis may revolve around the likelihood of a risk happening and the consequences if it does. 

3. Risk evaluation

After risks are identified and analysed, an insurance provider will look at which risks have the most potential to occur and which ones are the most severe. 

This will lead to a cost-benefit analysis, where the insurance provider works out the balance of risk to include in your insurance policy. 

In essence, this whole process is called underwriting. This is the way in which an insurance company evaluates risk and determines if these risks can be covered adequately within an insurance policy. 

Why do risk levels affect insurance premiums?

Risk levels are directly linked to the total price of an insurance premium. This is because if there are risks that are seen to be more serious, this will raise the premium total amount. 

Why is this the case? Insurance providers complete a risk evaluation process, which tells them if a risk is more likely to happen. This then increases the chance of a claim being made, which affects the price of the insurance. 

There are factors which can affect the price of insurance premiums:

• Previous claims history can increase the chance of a new claim being made.
• Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, can affect the pricing of health insurance. 
• Personal characteristics, such as age or medical history, may influence pricing. 

A higher premium may encourage people to take out insurance to lower their level of risk. For example, if you take out business insurance and it’s higher because you don’t have security measures at your business premises, it may help to install security. 

High risk versus low risk scenarios

Any insurance policy you invest in should be calculated on your personal information, so that you gain the best possible coverage for your needs. 

Here are some high-risk factors to consider:

• High-risk personal circumstances, such as pre-existing health conditions, dangerous jobs or hobbies. 
• High-risk businesses may include construction, dangerous chemical handling, or demolition. 

Low risk scenarios:

• Low-risk individuals will typically be healthy, have jobs that don’t involve dangerous elements and don’t have a long claims history. 
• Low-risk businesses could have strong security and cyber security, have appropriate protections in place for employees or have minimal accidents on site. 

Discover safe insurance with GasanMamo

Whether you’re looking for health insurance, travel insurance, or landlord insurance, GasanMamo has the perfect policy just for you. With years of experience across multiple insurance sectors, our expert team can guide you through your insurance policy needs.

Why not get in touch with us to help you decide on the right type of coverage? You won’t believe how this can give you true peace of mind and help you relax.

Focus on your life and let us sort out protection for you and your loved ones. Discover the best insurance for your lifestyle by getting in touch for a chat with our friendly team.

GasanMamo Insurance is authorised under the Insurance Business Act and regulated by the MFSA.

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