
Insurance rates are determined by a class rating or an individual rating. Individual rating includes judgment rating and merit rating, which can be further classified as schedule rating, experience rating, and retrospective rating. Merit rating is based on a class rating, but the premium is adjusted according to the individual customer, depending on the actual losses of that customer. Schedule rating uses a class rating as an average base, and then the premium is adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure. Factors that may increase or decrease the premium include the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained. A schedule in insurance is used to define various add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your policy. For example, a schedule may outline the insurer's financial responsibility in the event of a windstorm claim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Schedule rating is a merit rating method that uses a class rating as an average base, then adjusts the premium according to specific details of the loss exposure. |
| Factors | Factors that may increase or decrease the premium include the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained. |
| Examples | Schedule rating is used to determine premiums for commercial property insurance, commercial insurance, car insurance, and burglary insurance. |
| Add-ons and exclusions | Schedules define add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your policy, such as extra coverage for valuable items or protection against mold. |
| Rate increase notification | Insurers must notify policyholders of a rate increase at least 30 days before the date the increase is scheduled to take effect. |
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What You'll Learn
- Insurers use a schedule rating to determine the premium for commercial property insurance
- Schedule rating is based on a class rating, which is then adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure
- Schedule rating is used to define add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your insurance policy
- Retrospective rating is used when schedule rating cannot accurately determine the premium
- Merit rating is based on a class rating, but the premium is adjusted according to the individual customer

Insurers use a schedule rating to determine the premium for commercial property insurance
Insurers will first determine a base rate using a class rating, which reflects the losses of the entire class. The class rate is then modified based on specific details of the individual customer, such as the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained. These factors are used to calculate credits and debits, which are added to the average premium for the class to determine the final premium.
Schedule rating is predominantly used for commercial property insurance and ocean marine insurance. It is also used when other rating methods, such as retrospective rating, cannot accurately determine the premium. Retrospective rating uses the actual loss experience for the period to determine the premium, but it may not be indicative of future losses in certain cases, such as burglary insurance.
In addition to determining insurance premiums, schedules are also used in insurance to define add-ons, exclusions, and clarifications in a policy. For example, a schedule may list additional people covered by the policy, types of damage that are not covered, or the financial responsibility of the insurer in specific instances.
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Schedule rating is based on a class rating, which is then adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure
Insurance rates can be determined by a class rating or an individual rating. Class rates depend on the underwriting class of the insured, and the insurance company adjusts the premium to reflect the losses of the entire class. Individual rates, on the other hand, depend on the specific individual. Merit rating is a type of individual rating that can be further classified into schedule rating, experience rating, and retrospective rating.
An example of schedule rating in practice is when an insurer offers a discount on property insurance premiums if the insured installs certain security devices in their home or on their property. Schedule rating allows insurance companies and their underwriters to apply either credits (discounts) or debits (surcharges) to the insured’s premiums based on specific conditions.
Schedule rating is often used when determining premiums for commercial property insurance and ocean marine insurance. It is also used when retrospective rating cannot accurately determine the premium, and where past losses are not necessarily indicative of future losses, such as for burglary insurance.
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Schedule rating is used to define add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your insurance policy
In insurance, a schedule is a list that defines add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your insurance policy. In other words, it is a list of items or circumstances that are either covered or not covered by your insurance policy. This allows for more accurate and customised premium pricing based on individual risk factors.
For example, if you have items that are more expensive than the cap on your insurance policy, you can schedule these items for extra coverage. Scheduling valuable items like jewellery, bicycles, and expensive electronics is common, as it comes with extra perks. Damages and losses to scheduled personal property are usually covered under replacement cost, will be covered for a more comprehensive range of perils, and won't include a deductible.
In the state of New York, renters and homeowners have a windstorm deductible added to their insurance. Since this isn't standard, the schedule lays out exactly how much the insurer will pay out in the event of a claim. This is an example of how a schedule is used to clarify the insurer's financial responsibility.
Schedules are also used to list items that are excluded from your policy. For example, most insurance policies will have a list of dog breeds that are excluded from renters' personal liability coverage. The description of the dogs in question can be found in the Canine Liability Exclusion Endorsement schedule at the end of the policy.
Schedule rating is a method of determining insurance premiums that is based on a class rating, which is then adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure. This means that the premium is determined by adding credits and debits to the average premium for the class. For example, in commercial property insurance, factors such as the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained are considered.
Overall, schedule rating allows for a more precise and equitable approach to insurance pricing by taking into account individual risk factors and specific details of the insured item or circumstance.
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Retrospective rating is used when schedule rating cannot accurately determine the premium
Insurance rates are determined by a class rating or an individual rating. Individual rating includes judgment rating and merit rating. Merit rating can be further classified as schedule rating, experience rating, and retrospective rating.
Schedule rating uses a class rating as an average base, then the premium is adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure. For example, schedule rating is used to determine premiums for commercial property insurance, where factors such as the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained are considered.
Experience rating uses the actual loss amounts in previous policy periods, typically the prior three years, as compared to the class average to determine the premium for the next policy period. If losses were less than the class average, the premium is lowered, and if losses were higher, the premium is raised.
A retrospectively rated insurance policy begins with premiums based on expected losses. Once the policy expires, the premium is adjusted to reflect the actual losses incurred during the term of the policy. This method incentivizes the insured company to control its losses, as the price of the policy is likely to decrease if the insured can limit risk exposure.
Retrospective rating is often used for general liability, workers' compensation, and group health insurance.
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Merit rating is based on a class rating, but the premium is adjusted according to the individual customer
Merit rating is a method used to determine insurance premiums. It is based on a class rating but adjusted according to individual customers and their actual losses. This method is often used for commercial insurance and car insurance, where customers usually have some control over losses.
Merit rating is used when a class rating can give a good initial approximation, but the factors are diverse enough to yield a greater spread of losses than if the composition of the class were more uniform. This means that merit ratings can be used to vary the premium from what the class rating would yield, based on individual factors or actual losses experienced by the customer.
Merit ratings are determined by three benefits: schedule rating, experience rating, and retrospective rating. Schedule rating uses a class rating as an average base, and then the premium is adjusted according to specific details of the loss exposure. Some factors may increase the premium, and some may decrease it. For example, when determining premiums for commercial property insurance, factors such as the size and location of the building, the number of people in the building, how it is used, and how well it is maintained are considered.
Experience rating uses the actual loss amounts in previous policy periods, typically the prior three years, and compares them to the class average to determine the premium for the next policy period. If losses were less than the class average, the premium is lowered, and if losses were higher, the premium is raised. Retrospective rating, also known as a retro plan, uses the actual loss experience for the period to determine the premium for that period, limited by a minimum and maximum amount that can be charged. Part of the premium is paid at the beginning, and the other part—the retrospective premium—is paid at the end of the period, with the amount determined by actual losses for that period.
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Frequently asked questions
In insurance, a schedule is a list that defines add-ons, exclusions, or clarifications in your policy. For example, it can include additional people covered by your policy or types of damage your insurer can't cover.
A scheduled rate uses a class rating as a base and then adjusts the premium according to specific details of the loss exposure. Some factors may increase the premium, and some may decrease it. The final premium is determined by adding these credits and debits to the average premium for the class.
A class rate is when the insurance company adjusts the premium to reflect the losses of the entire class. A scheduled rate, on the other hand, takes into account specific details of the loss exposure to adjust the premium.
A retrospective rate uses the actual loss experience for a period to determine the premium for that period, limited by a minimum and maximum charge amount. A retrospective premium is paid at the end of the period, with the amount based on actual losses. A scheduled rate is used when a retrospective rate cannot accurately determine the premium, such as for burglary insurance.






























