Glossary

The Write-Your-Own Program, available under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), allows participating insurers to issue NFIP flood insurance policies, in contrast to policies issued directly by the NFIP. WYO insurers write the coverage on their own "paper," but the NFIP reinsures 100 percent of the coverage. Regardless of whether the NFIP or a WYO insurer issues the policy, the coverage provided is identical. WYO insurers employ exactly the same policy terms that are included in policies issued directly by the NFIP. The majority of flood insurance policies are written via the WYO program.

To write, in an insurance context, means to insure and/or to underwrite.

"Written as such" is used to indicate, typically in a reinsurance exclusion, a stand-alone policy written to cover a specific peril or risk where that specific peril or risk is the only named peril or risk in the stand-alone policy. A stand-alone policy is in contrast to a policy that broadly covers a variety of perils or risks.

A written premium is the premium registered on the books of an insurer or a reinsurer at the time a policy is issued and paid for.

Wrongful act refers to the event triggering coverage under a liability policy. Typically, a "wrongful act" is defined as an act, error, or omission that takes place within the course of performing professional service.

A wrongful death claim is a claim made on behalf of survivors or beneficiaries when a person has died as a result of wrongful conduct (either negligent or intentional). Such claims are generally made by those who were financially dependent upon the deceased. Damages recoverable as a part of wrongful death claims are measured as the loss incurred by virtue of the deceased having been deprived of a natural lifespan. Such damages include medical expenses prior to death, loss of earnings during the expected natural life of the deceased, and loss of consortium.

Wrongful deprivation of a career opportunity refers to a type of employment-related claim alleging a failure to provide specific types of training that will advance an employee's career. For example, if a first-line supervisor is not permitted to enroll in a course for managers, this could give rise to a claim of wrongful deprivation of a career opportunity. Claims alleging wrongful deprivation of a career opportunity are typically covered by employment practices liability insurance policies.

Wrongful discipline is a type of employment-related claim alleging that either (1) an employee was disciplined for an infraction that did not occur, or (2) if the employee did commit the infraction, the discipline meted out for the infraction was excessive. Claims alleging wrongful discipline are typically covered by employment practices liability insurance policies.

Wrongful failure to employ is a type of employment-related claim alleging that an employer refused to hire an applicant who is qualified to perform a specific job. Claims alleging wrongful failure to employ are sometimes combined with an allegation of discrimination. Claims alleging wrongful failure to employ are typically covered by employment practices liability insurance policies.

Wrongful failure to grant tenure or partnership refers to a type of claim most frequently made against educational institutions and professional organizations (typically law and accounting firms). Such actions assert that despite having met all requirements for tenure/partnership, such as working a required number of years, publishing a specific number of books or professional papers, or receiving a certain rating in professional or teaching evaluations, the individual has unfairly been denied tenure or partnership. Employment practices liability insurance policies written for professional organizations and educational institutions routinely cover allegations of wrongful denial of tenure or partnership as a standard peril. Coverage for wrongful denial of tenure or partnership encompasses both the cost of defending the educational institution/professional firm against such allegations and payment of any settlements or judgments associated with these claims.