Coverage
Browse our articles about coverage
No-Exam, Simplified Issue and Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
Skipping the medical exam is possible in three different ways, and they are not equivalent. Here is what each one trades away in return for speed.
Read MoreSimplified Issue, Guaranteed Issue and the Graded Death Benefit
A no-questions-asked policy usually comes with a limited death benefit for the first years. Here is exactly what that means and how to tell which type you are buying.
Read MoreTerm vs Permanent Life Insurance: How They Differ
Term life covers a set period and pays only if you die during it. Permanent life lasts for life and builds cash value. Here is how each is built and who each fits.
Read MoreWhat Final Expense Insurance Is Meant to Pay For
The death benefit is unrestricted cash to a beneficiary, not a prepaid funeral. Here is the full list of costs that arrive at death and which ones people forget.
Read MoreWhat Is Final Expense Insurance?
Final expense insurance is small whole life coverage bought to cover funeral and end-of-life costs. Here is how it is structured and who it is designed for.
Read MoreTitle Insurance, PMI and Homeowners Insurance Compared
Three products a buyer pays for at closing, protecting three different parties against three different risks. Here is what each one does and who it actually protects.
Read MoreQuotes, Binders, ID Cards and Policies: The Documents
A quote is not coverage and an ID card is not a policy. Here is what each insurance document proves, when it takes effect, and which one a lender or officer wants.
Read MoreLoss Assessment Coverage: When the Association Sends a Bill
When a condo or HOA charges owners for a shared loss, loss assessment coverage pays your share. The built-in limit is small, and the deductible sublimit is smaller.
Read MoreNannies, Housekeepers and Household Employees
Hiring someone to work in your home can make you an employer. Here is where a homeowners policy responds, where workers compensation takes over, and how the two interact.
Read MoreThe Additional Coverages Buried in Your Home Policy
Past Coverages A through F sits a list of small, specific coverages most homeowners never read. Several of them pay for things people assume are not covered at all.
Read MoreBinding Restrictions: Why Coverage Closes Before a Storm
Once a storm is named and forecast to threaten an area, insurers stop writing and changing policies there. Here is how the restriction works and how to stay ahead of it.
Read MoreInsuring a Home Under Construction: Builders Risk
A standard homeowners policy is written for a finished, occupied house. Here is what builders risk covers during construction and who is supposed to buy it.
Read MoreTermites, Rodents and Pests: Why Policies Exclude Them
Insect and vermin damage is excluded from standard home policies as a maintenance issue. Here is where the exclusion stops, and what the collapse exception really covers.
Read MoreAfter a Burglary: How a Home Theft Claim Works
Theft is a covered peril, but it is the peril where sublimits bite hardest. Here is the claim sequence, the categories that are capped, and the common denial reasons.
Read MoreLightning, Power Surges and Damaged Electronics
Lightning is a named peril on every home policy. Surges from other causes are treated differently, and the exclusion that follows is easy to miss until a claim.
Read MoreThis content is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. Coverage, exclusions, eligibility, and pricing vary by insurer, by policy, and by state, and only the policy documents control what is covered. Always confirm the details of any coverage with a licensed insurance agent or the issuing carrier before you buy.