What Is Insurance?

 


Most people have some kind of insurance: for their car, their house, or even their life. Yet most of us don’t stop to think too much about what insurance is or how it works.


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.


Insurance Policy Components

When choosing a policy, it is important to understand how insurance works.


Types of Insurance

There are many different types of insurance. Let’s look at the most important.


Health Insurance


Home Insurance


Auto Insurance


Life Insurance


Travel Insurance