An ex gratia payment refers to a voluntary payment made by an insurance company to an insured party, even though it may not be legally obligated to do so. It may refer to a payment made out of goodwill, compassion, or a sense of moral obligation, rather than a contractual or legal obligation. Ex gratia payments are typically made in situations where the insurer acknowledges a claim but deems it outside the scope of coverage or beyond the policy limits. These payments are made as a gesture of goodwill to provide some financial assistance or support to the insured party, even though the claim may not meet the strict criteria for coverage.
