The Institutes Knowledge Group CPCU-500 Exam - Topic 3 Question 6 Discussion

CPCU 500 explains that coinsurance is a policy condition designed to encourage insureds to carry insurance close to the property's value. If the insured carries less than the required amount, the insurer applies a coinsurance penalty on partial losses. The required amount of insurance is calculated as:

Property value coinsurance percentage.

Here, the building's value is $1,000,000 and the coinsurance requirement is 80%, so Courtland must carry at least:

$1,000,000 0.80 = $800,000.

Courtland only carried $600,000, which is below the required $800,000. Under the standard coinsurance formula, the insurer's payment (before deductible) is:

(Amount carried Amount required) Loss amount.

So the payment is:

($600,000 $800,000) $100,000

= 0.75 $100,000

= $75,000.

This result illustrates the CPCU 500 concept that underinsuring to save premium can create a significant out-of-pocket cost even on a moderate loss. Courtland would absorb the remaining $25,000 (plus any deductible, if applicable) because it did not meet the coinsurance requirement.