insurance

Insurance: Definition, How It Works, and Main Types of Policies

What Is Insurance?

Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which a policyholder receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients’ risks to make payments more affordable for the insured. Most people have some insurance: for their car, their house, their healthcare, or their life.

Insurance policies hedge against financial losses resulting from accidents, injury, or property damage. Insurance also helps cover costs associated with liability (legal responsibility) for damage or injury caused to a third party.1

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Insurance is a contract (policy) in which an insurer indemnifies another against losses from specific contingencies or perils.
• There are many types of insurance policies. Life, health, homeowners, and auto are among the most common forms of insurance.
• The core components that make up most insurance policies are the premium, deductible, and policy limits.
• How Insurance Works
• Many insurance policy types are available, and virtually any individual or business can find an insurance company willing to insure them—for a price. Common personal insurance policy types are auto, health, homeowners, and life insurance. Most individuals in the United States have at least one of these types of insurance, and car insurance is required by state law.
• Businesses obtain insurance policies for field-specific risks, For example, a fast-food restaurant’s policy may cover an employee’s injuries from cooking with a deep fryer. Medical malpractice insurance covers injury- or death-related liability claims resulting from the health care provider’s negligence or malpractice. A company may use an insurance broker of record to help them manage the policies of its employees. Businesses may be required by state law to buy specific insurance coverages.2Most insurance is regulated at the state level.There are also insurance policies available for very specific needs. Such coverage includes business closures due to civil authority, kidnap, ransom, and extortion (K&R) insurance, identity theft insurance, and wedding liability and cancellation insurance.
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
  PERSONAL FINANCE
   INSURANCE
  Insurance: Definition, How It Works, and Main Types of Policies
  
  By JULIA KAGAN
   Updated February 28, 2024
  Reviewed by ERIKA RASURE
  Fact checked by KATRINA MUNICHIELLO
  
  Sorry, the video player failed to load.(Error Code: 101102)
  What Is Insurance?
  Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which a policyholder receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients’ risks to make payments more affordable for the insured. Most people have some insurance: for their car, their house, their healthcare, or their life.
  
  Insurance policies hedge against financial losses resulting from accidents, injury, or property damage. Insurance also helps cover costs associated with liability (legal responsibility) for damage or injury caused to a third party.1
  
  KEY TAKEAWAYS
  Insurance is a contract (policy) in which an insurer indemnifies another against losses from specific contingencies or perils.
  There are many types of insurance policies. Life, health, homeowners, and auto are among the most common forms of insurance.
  The core components that make up most insurance policies are the premium, deductible, and policy limits.
  
  Investopedia / Daniel Fishel
  How Insurance Works
  Many insurance policy types are available, and virtually any individual or business can find an insurance company willing to insure them—for a price. Common personal insurance policy types are auto, health, homeowners, and life insurance. Most individuals in the United States have at least one of these types of insurance, and car insurance is required by state law.
  
  Businesses obtain insurance policies for field-specific risks, For example, a fast-food restaurant’s policy may cover an employee’s injuries from cooking with a deep fryer. Medical malpractice insurance covers injury- or death-related liability claims resulting from the health care provider’s negligence or malpractice. A company may use an insurance broker of record to help them manage the policies of its employees. Businesses may be required by state law to buy specific insurance coverages.2
  
  Most insurance is regulated at the state level.
  There are also insurance policies available for very specific needs. Such coverage includes business closures due to civil authority, kidnap, ransom, and extortion (K&R) insurance, identity theft insurance, and wedding liability and cancellation insurance.
  
  Insurance Policy Components
  Understanding how insurance works can help you choose a policy. For instance, comprehensive coverage may or may not be the right type of auto insurance for you. Three components of any insurance type are the premium, policy limit, and deductible.
  
  Premium
  A policy’s premium is its price, typically a monthly cost. Often, an insurer takes multiple factors into account to set a premium. Here are a few examples:3
  
  Auto insurance premiums: Your history of property and auto claims, age and location, creditworthiness, and many other factors that may vary by state.
  Home insurance premiums: The value of your home, personal belongings, location, claims history, and coverage amounts.
  Health insurance premiums: Age, sex, location, health status, and coverage levels.
  Life insurance premiums: Age, sex, tobacco use, health, and amount of coverage.