Glossary

An ice dam is an accumulation of frozen water in the gutter system and at the roof edge that prevents subsequent drainage of melting snow from leaving the roof/gutter system. Ice dams are common in areas that receive heavy snow buildups. In most cases, ice dams begin inside the house when heated air leaks up into the unheated attic. This phenomenon creates warm areas on the roof, causing the snow on its exterior to thaw. The melting snow moves down the roof slope until it reaches the cold overhang, where it refreezes. The process continues, causing ice to build up along the eaves and form a dam. Eventually, this dam forces the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the home. Ice dams may cause structural framing members to decay, metal fasteners to corrode, and mold to form in the attic and the wall surfaces. Few homeowners insurance policies pay for ice dam removal. The special perils HO form (HO 5), however, typically covers interior or exterior damage arising from ice dams.

Identity theft coverage applies to losses incurred by an individual from an imposter obtaining key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver's license numbers, that allow the imposter to impersonate the insured. The information can be used to obtain credit, merchandise, and services in the name of the victim or to provide the thief with false credentials. The insurance may provide access to experienced identity theft case managers to guide you through the process of restoring control over your identity and reimburse related costs such as obtaining credit reports, lost wages, or loan application fees related to the theft. The insurance can be a stand-alone policy or added to a homeowners policy by endorsement.

An idiopathic injury is one that arises spontaneously and has no identifiable cause.

Immediately dangerous to life and health refers to the maximum level to which a healthy individual can be exposed to a chemical for 30 minutes and escape without suffering irreversible health effects or impairing symptoms. It is used as a "level of concern."

Immediate annuity is an annuity purchased with a single premium under which payment to the annuitant begins at the end of the first prescribed payment period. If, for example, payments will be on a monthly basis, the first payment will be made 1 month after the annuity is purchased. If the income period begins at the inception of the first income period, the annuity is an "annuity due." Immediate annuities are most often purchased as a settlement option under a life insurance policy.

An immigration violation coverage endorsement is sometimes added to employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policies and provides some coverage for violations of immigration laws. Some insurers offer these endorsements, which usually address three types of costs otherwise excluded by the standard provisions of EPLI policies. These costs include coverage for (1) defending managers/supervisors charged with criminal violations of federal, state, and local immigration laws, (2) criminal fines and penalties, and (3) civil fines and penalties. Coverage is usually subject to a sublimit (e.g., $25,000) that is part of—not in addition to—the policy's regular limit. When payments are made under these endorsements, they reduce the policy's limit. One caveat associated with this endorsement is that coverage for civil and criminal fines/penalties may be considered contrary to public policy and, thus, uninsurable in certain jurisdictions. However, to date there have been no known challenges to the coverage provided by such an endorsement.

An impaired physicians exclusion is found within the majority of physicians professional liability insurance policy forms eliminating coverage of claims that result from acts committed while a doctor is under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or other controlled substances. The rationale for this exclusion is that errors committed by the physician while impaired by these types of substances are within the insured's control and are thus preventable. In effect, this exclusion aims at reducing the moral hazard inherent in insuring doctors who do not seek treatment for a substance abuse problem or addiction.

Impaired property is where property has sustained loss of use because it incorporates the insured's defective product or work and can be restored to use by the repair, removal, or replacement of the defective product or work. Claims for loss of use of impaired property are excluded from CGL coverage.

An impaired risk in an insurance context is a substandard, or less desirable than average, risk.

Impairment is the loss of physical or mental function as a result of an injury or illness. Impairment can be temporary or permanent.