Showing all 57 terms
Actual Cash Value (ACV)
What your property is worth today, accounting for depreciation. If your 5-year-old laptop cost $1,500 new, its ACV might be $400. Compare with replacement cost.
Adjuster
The person from your insurance company who investigates your claim, assesses the damage, and determines how much the insurer should pay.
AM Best Rating
A financial strength rating for insurance companies. A++ is the highest (Superior), meaning the company is extremely likely to pay claims. Check this before buying any policy.
Beneficiary
The person who receives the payout from a life insurance policy when the policyholder dies. Update this after any major life change (marriage, divorce, kids).
Binder
A temporary document that proves you have insurance coverage before your official policy is issued. Often used during home purchases.
Bundling
Buying multiple policies (like auto + home) from the same insurer to get a discount. Typical savings: 5–25%.
Cash Value
The savings component of a whole life insurance policy that grows over time. You can borrow against it or cash it out (with consequences).
Claim
A formal request to your insurance company asking them to pay for a covered loss or event.
COBRA
A federal law that lets you keep your employer's health insurance for up to 18 months after leaving a job. You pay the full premium (typically $600–$800/month for individuals).
Co-insurance
The percentage of costs you share with your insurer after meeting your deductible. If your plan has 80/20 co-insurance, you pay 20% and the insurer pays 80%.
Comprehensive Coverage
Auto insurance that covers non-collision damage — theft, vandalism, hail, falling objects, animal strikes. Required if you have a car loan or lease.
Collision Coverage
Auto insurance that pays to repair or replace your car after an accident, regardless of who's at fault. Also typically required with a car loan.
Co-pay
A fixed amount you pay for a healthcare service (like $25 for a doctor visit). Separate from your deductible.
Coverage Limit
The maximum amount your insurer will pay for a covered claim. Going over this limit means you pay the difference out of pocket.
Declarations Page
The summary page of your insurance policy listing your coverages, limits, deductibles, and premium. Keep this accessible — it's your policy at a glance.
Deductible
The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums, but more cost when you file a claim.
Disability Insurance
Replaces a portion of your income (typically 40–70%) if you can't work due to illness or injury. Available as short-term (3–6 months) or long-term (years to retirement).
Dwelling Coverage
The part of homeowners insurance that pays to repair or rebuild your home's structure (walls, roof, floors) after a covered event.
Elimination Period
The waiting period before disability or long-term care insurance benefits begin. Typically 30, 60, or 90 days. Longer periods mean lower premiums.
Endorsement (Rider)
An add-on to your insurance policy that modifies coverage — adding protection for jewelry, increasing liability limits, or covering specific risks.
Exclusion
Something your policy specifically does not cover. Common exclusions: floods, earthquakes, intentional damage, normal wear and tear.
FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
An employer-offered account that lets you set aside pre-tax money for healthcare expenses. Use-it-or-lose-it: unspent funds are generally forfeited.
Grace Period
Extra time after your premium due date during which your policy stays active. Typically 10–30 days, depending on the policy type.
Guaranteed Renewable
A policy the insurer must renew as long as you pay your premiums. They can raise rates for your entire risk class, but can't single you out.
HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan)
A health plan with higher deductibles but lower premiums. In 2026, the minimum deductible is $1,700 (individual) or $3,400 (family). Qualifies you for an HSA.
HSA (Health Savings Account)
A tax-advantaged account for medical expenses, available with an HDHP. Triple tax benefit: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses.
HO-3 Policy
The most common homeowners insurance policy. Covers your home's structure against all perils except those specifically excluded (like floods and earthquakes).
HO-4 Policy
Renters insurance. Covers your personal property and provides liability protection, but not the building structure (that's your landlord's responsibility).
Inflation Protection
A feature on long-term care or disability policies that increases your benefit amount over time to keep pace with rising costs. Usually adds 3–5% annually.
Insurable Interest
You must have a financial stake in something to insure it. You can insure your own life, your spouse's life, or your business partner's life — but not a stranger's.
Liability Coverage
Pays for injuries or damage you cause to others. Included in auto, homeowners, and renters policies. If someone slips on your property and sues, liability coverage handles it.
Loss of Use
Part of homeowners/renters insurance that pays for temporary housing and living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered event.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Pays for care that health insurance and Medicare don't cover — nursing homes, assisted living, home health aides. Best purchased in your 50s or early 60s.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
Private insurance that fills gaps in Original Medicare coverage, like co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. Different from Medicare Advantage.
Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Private mortgage insurance required when your down payment is less than 20%. Protects the lender if you default. Typically 0.5–1% of the loan amount annually.
Network (In-Network / Out-of-Network)
Healthcare providers contracted with your insurance company (in-network) charge lower rates. Going out-of-network means higher costs or no coverage.
Non-cancelable
A policy the insurer cannot cancel or change in any way — including premium increases — as long as you pay on time. The strongest consumer protection.
Own-Occupation Disability
The insurer considers you disabled if you can't perform the duties of your specific occupation. You receive benefits even if you could work in a different field.
Any-Occupation Disability
The insurer only considers you disabled if you can't perform the duties of any occupation you're qualified for. Much harder to qualify for benefits.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum
The most you'll pay for covered healthcare in a plan year. After reaching this amount, your plan pays 100%. In 2026, the max is $8,500 (individual) or $17,000 (family) for HDHPs.
Peril
A specific risk or cause of loss that's covered by your policy — fire, theft, windstorm, hail, etc. An 'all-perils' policy covers everything except what's explicitly excluded.
Personal Property Coverage
The part of homeowners or renters insurance that covers your belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing, etc. — against covered events.
Policy Term
How long your insurance policy is in effect. Term life insurance might have a 20-year term. Auto and home policies are typically 6 or 12 months.
Pre-existing Condition
A health condition diagnosed before your coverage starts. Critical in pet insurance (generally excluded) and long-term care insurance (may prevent approval).
Qualifying Life Event
A major life change (marriage, birth, job loss, divorce) that lets you enroll in health insurance outside of the normal open enrollment period.
Replacement Cost
What it costs to replace your damaged or stolen property with a new equivalent item, without deducting for depreciation. Better than actual cash value coverage.
Scheduled Personal Property
An endorsement that provides extra coverage for specific high-value items (jewelry, art, musical instruments) that exceed your policy's standard limits.
Sub-limit
A cap within your policy that limits coverage for specific categories of items. Your policy might cover $30,000 in personal property but only $1,500 for jewelry.
Term Life Insurance
Life insurance that lasts for a specific period (10, 20, or 30 years). If you die during the term, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit. No cash value component.
Title Insurance
Protects homebuyers and lenders against defects in the property's title (like undisclosed liens or ownership disputes). Purchased once at closing.
Umbrella Insurance
Extra liability coverage that kicks in when your auto, home, or renters liability limits are exhausted. Typically $200–$400/year for $1 million in additional coverage.
Underwriting
The process insurers use to evaluate your risk and decide whether to offer you coverage and at what price. Involves reviewing your health, driving record, or property details.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Auto insurance that protects you if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient insurance. Required in many states.
Universal Life Insurance
A type of permanent life insurance with flexible premiums and an investment component. More complex than term life and generally not needed in your 30s.
Waiting Period
The time between enrolling in coverage and when benefits become available. Health insurance, pet insurance, and disability insurance all have waiting periods.
Whole Life Insurance
Permanent life insurance that covers your entire life and builds cash value. Much more expensive than term life. Generally not the best choice for people in their 30s.