Glossary

From the US perspective, an insurer domiciled in one state but licensed to operate in another US state is considered a foreign insurer. In effect, it is a domestic insurer doing business outside of the state in which it is domiciled. For example, an insurer domiciled in Arizona is a foreign insurer in New Mexico.

Foreign liability coverage is a specialty policy for an insured's liability for foreign operations arising out of a permanent branch office, manufacturing facility, construction project, or other operation located in another country. The commercial general liability (CGL) policy provides coverage for incidental exposures—for example, when an executive who lives and works in the United States and occasionally travels overseas for business trips. For permanent operations in foreign countries, a separate foreign liability policy is required.

A foreign title equivalent coverage provision is an endorsement to directors and officers (D&O) liability policies extending coverage to individuals working in the foreign subsidiaries of the insured organization. The endorsement affords coverage to persons whose duties, responsibilities, and legal liability exposures are similar if not identical to their US counterparts but whose official titles are not "director" or "officer" and are, therefore, not covered, absent this endorsement.

Foreign voluntary workers compensation (FVWC) coverage is needed if the insured employs workers outside the United States or maintains a physical location in another country. FVWC coverage is sometimes referred to as employers responsibility coverage. It typically covers three categories of workers. U.S. hires or "expats": These are citizens or legal residents of the United States who have been hired to work outside of the United States. Third country nationals (TCNs): These are workers hired in a country outside the United States who are assigned to work in a country other than their country of origin. An example is a French citizen who is assigned to work in the United Kingdom. Local nationals: These are workers hired in a country outside the United States to work in that country. For example, a French citizen assigned to work in France is a local national.

Forgery or alteration coverage insures against loss due to forgery (signing the name of another with intent to deceive) or alteration of the insured's checks, bank drafts, and other financial instruments drawn against the insured's bank account.

A form is a document prepared in a prescribed arrangement of words and layout.

Formularies in workers compensation have the goal of ensuring injured workers are given the most appropriate medications for their conditions at the right dosage. Drug formularies started in the group health area and were primarily a way to reduce costs, since out-of-pocket expenses are involved. There are different tiers to guide the best drug for the patients with the aim of finding the one that is the least expensive. Because workers compensation does not typically include copays, the goal for many jurisdictions is clinical efficacy—finding the medication that will result in the best outcome for the injured worker and get them back to function and, ultimately, work.

A fortuitous event is one subject to chance without the implication of suddenness.

A forum is a court or place of jurisdiction where a lawsuit is filed or in which a hearing or trial is conducted.

A forum selection clause is a contractual provision in which the parties establish the place of jurisdiction (such as the court or judicial body) for any litigation between them arising under the contract. Parties commonly include these clauses so that they can pick a forum more favorable to their needs, thus increasing predictability and convenience.