Insurance is a way to manage your risk. When you buy insurance, you purchase protection against unexpected financial losses. The insurance company pays you or someone you choose if something bad happens to you. If you have no insurance and an accident happens, you may be responsible for all related costs.
Put simply, insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which a policyholder receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company.
How Insurance Works
A multitude of different types of insurance policies is available, and virtually any individual or business can find an insurance company willing to insure them—for a price. The most common types of personal insurance policies are auto, health, homeowners, and life. Most individuals in the United States have at least one of these types of insurance, and car insurance is required by law.
Businesses require special types of insurance policies that insure against specific types of risks faced by a particular business. For example, a fast-food restaurant needs a policy that covers damage or injury that occurs as a result of cooking with a deep fryer. An auto dealer is not subject to this type of risk but does require coverage for damage or injury that could occur during test drives.
How does insurance reduce your financial risk?
Imagine you’re driving your car and you hit a deer, which damages your car. If you
have the right kind of auto insurance policy, the insurance company will pay the
costs of the car repairs (minus the deductible — the portion you have to pay).
Now, imagine a water pipe bursts in your bathroom, ruining everything in that
room and the bedroom next to it. Typically, if you have homeowner’s or renter’s
insurance, the insurance company will pay to replace some or all of the damaged
property, once you pay your deductible. Insurance policies will only pay for things
that are described in the policy.
So, it’s important to read a policy carefully before you buy it so you will know exactly what is covered.
