Definition: Life insurance and pension funding

Category: Balance of payments

Holders of life insurance policies, both with profit and without profit, make regular payments to an insurer (there may be just a single payment), in return for which the insurer guarantees to pay the policy holder an agreed minimum sum or an annuity, at a given date or at the death of the policy holder, if this occurs earlier. Term life insurance, where benefits are provided in the case of death but in no other circumstances, is a form of direct insurance, and is excluded here and included in Other direct insurance (code 256).

Pension funds are separate funds established for the purpose of providing income on retirement for specific groups of employees. They are organised and directed by private or public employers or jointly by employers and their employees. They are funded by contributions from the employer and/or the employees and by the investment income earned on fund assets, and they also engage in financial transactions on their own account. They do not include social security schemes organised for large sections of the community that are imposed, controlled or financed by general government. Pension fund management services are included. In the case of pension funds, "premiums" are generally described as "contributions", while "claims" are generally described as "benefits". http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_035/l_03520050208en00230055.pdf