How are mutual insurance companies fundamentally structured?

Mutual insurance companies are fundamentally structured to be owned by their policyholders. This means that instead of stockholders seeking profit, the policyholders are the ones who have a vested interest in the company’s operations. As owners, policyholders are entitled to participate in the company’s decision-making and may receive dividends from the company's profits. These dividends are distributed based on the company’s financial performance and the amount paid in premiums by the policyholders.

This structure contrasts sharply with other forms of insurance companies, where the focus may be on generating profits for shareholders or behaving as government-operated entities. In mutual insurance companies, the focus is primarily on providing coverage to policyholders while ensuring that any excess earnings are returned to those same policyholders in the form of dividends, reinforcing the alignment of interests between the insurance company and its members.