What is the process called that involves selecting risks for insurance policies?

The process of selecting risks for insurance policies is known as underwriting. Underwriting is critical as it involves evaluating the risks associated with potential policyholders to determine the terms of coverage and the premium to be charged. The underwriter assesses various factors such as the applicant's health, lifestyle, occupation, and family medical history to gauge the probability of a claim being made. This careful evaluation helps insurance companies maintain a sustainable risk portfolio while ensuring that they can offer policies to qualifying individuals at appropriate rates.

Risk assessment, while related, is a broader term that encompasses the general evaluation of risks but does not specifically pertain to the selection and decision-making process regarding individual applications for insurance. Premium rating refers to calculating the cost of the premiums based upon those evaluations but does not involve the selection process itself. Policy evaluation typically occurs after a policy has been issued to review its effectiveness or compliance but does not pertain to the initial selection of risks. Thus, underwriting is the precise term used for the process in question.