Deregulation
Under Washington state law known as “use-and-file,” commercial property/casualty contracts negotiated between insurers and businesses may go into effect immediately. The policy itself can be filed for state review later.

Stand-Alone Dental
This plan type provides dental coverage but does not include any other coverage.

Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Long-term-disability plans provide income for an individual who cannot work because of an illness, disease, or non-occupational injury. Most plans require that the individual be a full-time employee for at least one year before the disability coverage applies.

Fleet coverage
This is multi-vehicle coverage that applies to businesses that rely on a number of vehicles and need to insure them collectively.

Earthquake coverage
Quake coverage is available as additional coverage to standard commercial property and casualty policies. Earthquake coverage is available throughout Washington state, although it is relatively expensive for masonry structures and business operations with high-risk inventory or equipment.

Indemnity
Indemnity plans are also referred to as “fee-for-service.” Unlike managed-care plans, indemnity plans allow absolute freedom in selecting physicians or medical facilities and permit self-referral to a specialist.

Basic Hospital
Basic-hospital plans cover only in-hospital (inpatient) care, not other services. This benefit also may be limited to an approved or network facility. Hospitalization in a different facility may qualify for less coverage or none at all.

Flood
Coverage for damage caused by floods is not included in ordinary homeowners and commercial policies, but must be added as an endorsement. Flood insurance, which also covers damage caused by mudslides, is available through a program run by the Federal Insurance Administration; contact your agent or call (800) 427-4661 for more information.

COBRA Benefits
COBRA stands for “Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985,” which requires companies with 20 or more employees to offer separating employees the option to continue their group health-care coverage at their own expense.

Dependent Property
This refers to a kind of business-interruption endorsement on a commercial policy that protects you from financial losses caused by problems somewhere other than your business. “Dependent property” is defined as property not owned, operated or controlled by you but on which you are dependent for normal business operations.