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Terrorism Insurance

Terrorism Insurance

Definition

Insurance covering loss due to acts of terrorism. Unless endorsed to exclude loss due to terrorism, commercial insurance policies issued in the United States (for example, commercial property policies, commercial general liability (CGL) policies, and commercial auto policies) generally provide terrorism insurance coverage. Terrorism insurance also may be written on a stand-alone terrorism policy.
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Related Terms

Terrorism Endorsement

A provision attached to an insurance policy that restricts, excludes, or otherwise explains coverage for loss due to terrorist acts. The passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) of 2002 voided all terrorism exclusion endorsements then in force on commercial property and casualty policies, to the extent that such exclusions eliminated coverage for certified acts of terrorism as covered by the federal program. It also led to the creation of many standard terrorism endorsements that provide for a wide range of terrorism coverage options: from no terrorism coverage at all (permissible only when the insured rejects or fails to pay for TRIA terrorism coverage) to full coverage for both international and domestic terrorism, subject to the $100 billion program-year cap established in the Act.

Stand-Alone Terrorism Coverage

A separate, specialty insurance policy that covers loss due to terrorism. The vast majority of stand-alone terrorism policies are property policies that cover loss resulting from damage to the insured's own property. Stand-alone terrorism coverage contrasts with terrorism coverage provided as part of a commercial property policy covering other risks of loss. It is purchased primarily by organizations that are viewed by insurers as being at high risk of loss due to terrorism in one of the following situations: when terrorism coverage is not available as part of the commercial property policy, when the price of terrorism coverage from the insurer providing the commercial property policy is too high, or when the terrorism coverage offered by the insurer providing the commercial property policy is too narrow.

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