Back to blogUpdated · 1 min read

Loss

Loss, in terms of insurance, is when you (the policyholder) have suffered a financial loss because of something that has happened that is covered by your policy.

Are all losses insured?

In short, no. Not all losses are covered by your insurer. What losses are covered differ from insurer to insurer and it’s usually outlined in the policy wording.

How does my insurer put a value on a loss?

The value that your insurer puts on your loss should be at a level that will put you back into the position you were in before the loss happened. For some losses the process of determining that value is easy. If you crack your windscreen the value of the loss is simply the cost of replacing it. However, if your house is broken into, an assessor will need to determine the cost of replacing the lost items and whether you bought enough cover on your total home contents. If you didn’t buy enough cover the loss will be reduced proportionally (known as the principle of average).

Does my insurer pay for the full loss?

If your claim is valid, your insurer will cover you for the amount that you are insured for (your sum insured), minus your excess (your contribution to each claim).

You might also like

Definitions

Average

Average is when your claim’s payout is reduced by the proportion (%) of how much you under-insured your stuff by.

1 min read
Definitions

Retail value

A car's retail value is the amount that dealerships would expect to sell the car for, on average. It’s also the highest value your car can be insured for.

1 min read
Definitions

Sasria

The South African Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria) is a government-owned, non-life insurer that covers a number of special risks that other insurers are not allowed to cover.

1 min read