Car Insurance

 

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.

I. Loss in case of damage to vehicle by:

a. Accidental external means
b. Fire, external explosion, self-ignition, lightning and frost
c. Burglary, housebreaking and theft
d. Malicious act
e. Riot and strike damage
f. Flood, typhoon, hurricane & cyclone
g. Earthquake, volcanic eruption or other convulsion of nature
h. Risk while in transit by air, road, rail, inland waterway, lift or elevator.
i. Transport of motor cycle to nearest workshop in case it breaks down (Subject to Rs 100 limit)
j. In the event of motor cycle being disabled by reason of loss or damage:
• the insured may authorize repair of Motor Cycle necessitated by damage for which the liability of the company should not exceed Rs.200 for such repair.
• The company should be provided a detailed estimate of the costs incurred.

II. Third Party Liability on the insured in case of:

a. Death or bodily injury to a third party (except for the person employed by the insured)
b. Damage to property of a third party (except for the property held in trust or custody by the insured of a third party)
c. Indemnity to any person driving any on insured order/permission given that he is not entitled to indemnity under any other policy
d. Indemnity to the insured even when he is driving a vehicle not belonging to him and not hired by him under a hire purchase agreement
e. In case of death of a third party, the company will indemnify the deceased’s personal representatives in the terms of and subject to the limitations of the policy

Health Insurance

Health insurance helps covers routine and emergency medical care costs, often with the option to add vision and dental services separately. In addition to an annual deductible, you may also pay copays and coinsurance, which are your fixed payments or percentage of a covered medical benefit after meeting the deductible. However, many preventive services may be covered for free before these are met. 

Health insurance may be purchased from an insurance company, an insurance agent, the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, provided by an employer, or federal Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

The federal government no longer requires Americans to have health insurance, but in some states, such as California, you may pay a tax penalty if you don't have insurance.