What do mutual insurance companies typically distribute to their policyholders?

Mutual insurance companies are unique in that they are owned by their policyholders rather than shareholders. This ownership structure allows them to distribute dividends to their policyholders as a return on their investment in the company. These dividends are typically based on the company's performance and can be seen as a share of the profits that come from underwriting operations and investments.

When a mutual insurance company has a profitable year, it can allocate a portion of those profits back to its policyholders in the form of dividends, which can help policyholders offset their premiums or be taken as cash. This practice emphasizes the mutual model's focus on serving the interests of the policyholders, rather than maximizing profit for shareholders.

In contrast, profit distribution methods such as profits or stock options are more typical of stock insurance companies, which prioritize shareholder returns. Interest typically pertains more to the earning side of the operations rather than being a product offered or distributed to policyholders.