Readability in Insurance: An Analysis of the Comprehension of New Policies

James A. Collier

Journal of Insurance Issues, 1985, vol. 8, issue 2, 79-89

Abstract: Nobody really believes that insurance policyholders read their policies when they are delivered. One would expect them to check on the spelling of their names, the limits, deductibles, descriptions of properties, and the premium. They might anticipate a special kind of loss and read parts of the policy to be sure coverage exists. Insureds are not policy-readers, and they probably do not read leases, warranties, finance charges, or lengthy operating manuals. This article begins with the decision of two recent court cases centering on the meaning of words and how well policies are understood by insureds. Then the background fo the easy-to-read movement is reported, followed by tests of the older and the newer policies using the Reading Ease Test and the Fog Index.

Date: 1985
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