86. To ensure there is sufficient premium to pay policyholder losses, what relationship should exist between the cost of insurance and the risk?
Answer: B
Higher premiums should be paid for risks that are more likely to experience a loss.
The relationship that should exist between the cost of insurance and the risk is that higher premiums correspond to risks that are more likely to incur losses. This ensures that there is sufficient funding to cover potential claims.
A) Higher rates should be paid for risks that purchase higher coverage limits.
While it is true that higher coverage limits may require higher rates, this option does not directly address the relationship between the likelihood of loss and premium costs. The focus should be on the inherent risk level, rather than solely the amount of coverage.
B) Higher premiums should be paid for risks that are more likely to experience a loss.
This option correctly identifies the fundamental principle of insurance pricing, where premiums are determined based on the probability of a loss occurring. Insurers charge higher premiums for higher-risk situations to ensure they can cover potential claims.
C) All risks should be subject to the same premium, regardless of the likelihood of loss.
This option is incorrect as it suggests a flat premium rate for all risks without considering the differing probabilities of loss. Such an approach would be unsustainable and would not provide adequate funding for claims.
D) All risks should be subject to the same rate, regardless of the type of coverage purchased.
This statement is also incorrect because it ignores the variations in risk associated with different types of coverage. Different risks require different premium rates to reflect their unique loss potentials.
Conclusion
Higher premiums for higher-risk situations ensure that insurers can adequately cover potential claims, making option B the only correct choice. All other options fail to recognize the critical relationship between risk likelihood and insurance costs, which is essential for maintaining insurance viability.