Table of Contents
What is insurance?
Definition of insurance
Insurance is a contract represented by a policy that provides financial protection or reimbursement against losses. An insurance company pools clients’ risks to make payments more affordable.
Types of insurance
Some common insurance types include:
- Auto insurance
- Health insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Life insurance
- Business insurance
- Pet insurance
- Travel insurance
There are many other types for specific needs.
Benefits of insurance
The main benefits of insurance are:
- Protect assets from damage or loss
- Cover unexpected medical costs
- Provide peace of mind
- Required by law in many cases
- Replace income if you pass away
Insurance allows you to recover from disasters, accidents, and events that would otherwise be financially devastating.
How does insurance work?
Risk pooling
Insurance transfers risk from an individual to a pool. Many people pay premiums which creates a fund to cover the losses of the unfortunate few who need to file claims.
Premium calculation
Insurers calculate premiums based on factors like age, claims history, location, value of home/car, and more. Higher risks pay more for coverage.
Filing a claim
If an incident occurs, contact your insurer immediately to start a claim. Provide details and documents related to damage, injuries, or costs. The insurer investigates the claim, and you may accept or negotiate a settlement offer.
Premiums
Definition of premium
An insurance premium is the amount you pay for coverage. Premiums are typically monthly or annual costs.
Factors affecting premiums
Factors that impact premiums include:
- Claims and accident history
- Age and location
- Value of home/car
- Coverage types and limits
Saving on premiums
Ways to save on premiums:
- Maintain a clean claims history
- Choose higher deductibles
- Compare quotes from multiple insurers
- Ask about discounts you may qualify for
- Bundle multiple policies with one insurer
Deductible
Definition of deductible
The deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket on a claim before insurance covers the rest. For example, with a $500 deductible you pay $500 before insurance pays.
Types of deductibles
- Per occurrence – You pay the deductible per claim
- Per policy term – You pay the deductible once per policy period
- Disappearing – Deductible reduces over time
Choosing a deductible
Higher deductibles lower your premium but increase what you pay on each claim. Weigh premium savings against potential out-of-pocket costs.
Policy limits
Definition of policy limits
Policy limits cap the amount an insurer pays per claim or over the policy term. Exceeding limits means you pay the excess costs.
Types of policy limits
Common policy limits include:
- Per occurrence or accident
- Per person or injury
- Lifetime payout maximum
- Aggregate over a policy term
Choosing policy limits
Higher limits provide more protection but cost more in premiums. Consider your assets, risks, and budget. Lower limits reduce premiums but increase financial risk from large claims.
Exclusions
Definition of exclusions
Exclusions list losses an insurance policy does not cover. The insurer will not pay claims related to exclusions.
Common exclusions
Some common exclusions:
- Normal wear and tear
- Mechanical breakdowns
- Existing health conditions (on some health plans)
- High-risk activities
- Illegal acts
Avoiding exclusions
Read the policy exclusions carefully before signing up for coverage. Unexpected exclusions lead to surprise out-of-pocket costs if a claim is denied.
Health Insurance
Types of health insurance
Common health insurance options:
- Employer-sponsored plans
- Individual private plans
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans
What health insurance covers
Health insurance helps pay for preventive, emergency, and routine healthcare like:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Prescriptions
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Surgeries
- Mental health services
Choosing health insurance
Consider networks, out-of-pocket costs, covered services, and monthly premiums. Weigh plan types like HMOs, PPOs, and HDHPs.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance policies
Homeowners insurance policy types:
- HO-1 – Basic coverage
- HO-2 – Broad coverage
- HO-3 – Special coverage
- HO-4 – Renters
- HO-5 – Comprehensive
What homeowners insurance covers
Typical homeowners coverage includes:
- Dwelling – Pays to rebuild home
- Personal property – Replaces stolen or damaged possessions
- Loss of use – Covers hotel stays during repairs
- Liability – Injuries on property
Choosing homeowners insurance
Consider your home value, possessions, risk areas, budget, and deductibles. Higher deductibles reduce premiums.
Auto Insurance
Types of auto insurance
Main types of auto insurance:
- Liability – Bodily injury and property damage
- Collision – Damage to your vehicle
- Comprehensive – Theft, vandalism, weather, fire
- Uninsured/Underinsured motorist
What auto insurance covers
Auto insurance pays for accident-related:
- Damage to vehicles
- Injuries to yourself and others
- Liability for damages/injuries you cause
Choosing auto coverage
Consider minimum requirements in your state. Balance premium costs with deductibles and coverage limits.
Life Insurance
Types of life insurance
Life insurance policy types include:
- Term – Coverage for set period
- Whole – Lifelong coverage
- Universal – Flexible permanent coverage
What life insurance covers
Life insurance pays beneficiaries a lump-sum upon the policyholder’s death. This can cover costs like:
- Final expenses
- Funeral costs
- Debt payoff
- Children’s education
Choosing life insurance
Consider your financial dependents, debts, funeral costs, and income replacement needs. Compare term versus permanent coverage.
Other Types of Insurance
Business insurance
Business insurance includes:
- Property insurance – Covers damage to buildings or inventory
- Liability insurance – Injury lawsuits, copyright infringement
- Business interruption – Lost income due to shutdowns
- Cyber insurance – Data breaches and hacking
Travel insurance
Travel insurance covers:
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Delayed/lost baggage
- Medical emergencies
- Missed connections
- Accidental death or injury
Pet insurance
Pet insurance helps pay for:
- Veterinary visits
- Prescriptions
- Surgeries
- Hospital stays
- Diagnostic tests
Identity theft insurance
Identity theft insurance covers costs from identity theft like:
- Legal fees
- Lost wages
- Fraudulent charges
Consider your needs and budget
What types of insurance do you need?
Assess your risks and vulnerabilities. Homeowners with expensive belongings need more coverage than renters. Families with children need life insurance.
How much can you afford for insurance?
Insurance provides important protection, but premiums, deductibles and limits should fit your budget. Prioritize essential policies like health and auto insurance.
Compare policies from different providers
Compare premiums, coverage, exclusions
Get quotes from multiple companies. Compare costs, coverage limits, exclusions, ratings, and customer satisfaction.
Read online reviews
Research reviews and complaints online about insurance companies you are considering. This provides insight into customer experiences.
Read the fine print
Understand terms before signing up
Read the policy terms closely before signing up. Make sure you understand deductibles, limits, exclusions and your obligations.
Ask questions
Insurance policies contain complex legal language. Ask your agent to explain sections you find confusing before finalizing coverage.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational and inspirational purposes only. We’re sharing this information to offer ideas, tips and motivation for starting a business, but this should not be considered professional advice. Starting a business is complex with many moving parts, and what works for one aspiring entrepreneur may not work for another. Before taking any action, please consult with legal, financial, tax and other relevant professionals to determine the best steps to take for your own specific circumstances. The financial estimates, costs, revenues, timelines etc. mentioned in this post are approximate numbers gathered at the time of researching & publishing this post and are subject to change. We do not guarantee any specific financial or other results/outcomes.