For the purposes of this title, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section.
(1) INSURANCE. A contract whereby one undertakes to indemnify another or pay or provide a specified amount or benefit upon determinable contingencies.
(2) INSURER. Every person engaged as indemnitor, surety, or contractor in the business of entering into contracts of insurance.
(3) PERSON. An individual, insurer, company, association, organization, Lloyd’s insurer, society, reciprocal insurer or interinsurance exchange, partnership, syndicate, business trust, corporation, and every legal entity.
(4) COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of Insurance of this state.
(5) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Insurance of this state.
(6) DOMESTIC INSURER. One formed under the laws of this state.
(7) FOREIGN INSURER. One formed under the laws of any jurisdiction other than this state. Except where distinguished by context, “foreign” insurers includes also “alien” insurers.
(8) ALIEN INSURER. One formed under the laws of any country other than the United States of America, its states, district, territories, and commonwealths.
(9) STATE. Such term, when used in context signifying a jurisdiction other than the State of Alabama, means any state, district, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States of America.
(10) AUTHORIZED INSURER; UNAUTHORIZED INSURER. An “authorized” insurer is one duly authorized, by a subsisting certificate of authority issued by the commissioner, to transact insurance in this state. An “unauthorized” insurer is one not so authorized.
(11) TRANSACT. Such term, with respect to insurance, includes any of the following:
a. Solicitation and inducement;
b. Preliminary negotiations;
c. Effectuation of a contract of insurance; or
d. Transaction of matters subsequent to effectuation of a contract of insurance and arising out of it.