Online Free Insurance Quotes

Finding insurance can be difficult. So many choices; so many things to consider. We have to buy car insurance if we need or want to drive anywhere. We should buy renters insurance if we have belongings we want to protect.

We need homeowners insurance if we have a mortgage. Health insurance is a big decision.

In theory, we could save our money and put it away over time in anticipation of a "what if." But, what if that "what if" happens tomorrow? Could you afford to fix your car or your home? Would you be able to pay doctor's bills?

Do you have enough in savings to cover yourself in the event of an emergency - of any kind?

These are some of the questions we need to ask ourselves when we research insurance policies. While some coverage is required (by law or a mortgage company), most insurance is optional, but highly recommended.

Be sure to compare insurance quotes instantly using our FREE tool above.

What is insurance?

Paying for insurance is a way of paying for protection in the event of property loss or damage or physical injury. An insurance policy provides you with a certain amount of coverage as soon as you begin paying premiums and as soon as any waiting period has been completed.

If an event happens, your insurance policy will pay at least part of the money due to fix your car, your home, healthcare costs or funeral expenses. Insurance helps us to protect our family by protecting our savings, investments and assets.

How does insurance work?

Weighing the option of saving up to pay the costs in the event of an accident, illness or injury versus paying for an insurance policy that you may or may not use, is an analysis many of us complete. Savings can take time, diligence and discipline.

Purchasing an insurance policy also takes time, diligence and discipline, but you’re the coverage is available immediately, when you need it.

To provide a hypothetical example:

Your car has been damaged in an accident. According to the auto body shop it will cost $4,000 to repair your car. Your insurance policy has a $500 deductible. After you pay the $500 to the body shop, the body shop sends the remaining amount due as a bill to your insurance company.

Without insurance you would be liable for the entire $4,000 fee. While you may have $4,000 available in savings or via a loan, that money could be used in other ways for your family.

Compare the $4,000 for auto repairs to treatment for a broken bone that could cost upwards of $10,000. Medical insurance will pay the majority of the treatment while saving $10,000 may have taken a few years and could be spent within hours of medical care.

How do you decide what you insurance you need?

The basic insurance policies you should have include:

• Auto – The law in most places requires some form of auto insurance. The low cost of most basic policies can help you prevent risking your assets in the event of an accident.
• Homeowner’s or Renter’s – Most mortgage companies require homeowner’s insurance to protect their investment in you and your property. Renter’s insurance protects your belongings.
• Life – Life insurance protects the people you care about in the event of your death. Benefits from this coverage can be used to replace your income, pay off debt and pay medical or funeral costs.
• Health –.Health insurance pays for most of your medical needs – from preventative care up through catastrophic illness or injury.
• Long-term disability – If you are ill or injured and cannot work, long-term disability provides you with a percentage of your income.

Additional policies that you can purchase include Critical Care, Vision, Dental, Long-Term Care and Short-Term Disability.

How can I obtain insurance coverage?

While some insurance may be available through your employer as long as you are employed, not all policies provide the coverage you need. Individual policies are available for all types of insurance plans and can supplement coverage you may be offered at your job.

Individual policies can be purchased directly from an insurance carrier (an insurer), via an insurance sales agent or via third party providers. Purchasing directly from an insurance carrier or an agent may limit your ability to compare all of the options available from the many insurance providers.

Carriers will be able to provide you with the details for their policies. Agents may offer options from several different insurance carriers, but typically do not offer many.

Online insurance sites are able to provide you with a wide variety of coverage and carrier options at any time of day for your convenience.

What do I need to know before I search for coverage?

Each type of insurance has its own details that you should understand, but the first consideration should be understanding you own needs.

• Your budget: How much can you afford to pay in premium costs each month?
• Your car or home: How much insurance is required by law in your state, by your landlord, by your auto leasing company or by your mortgage company?
• Your family: How much income would you want to cover in the event of a disabling illness or injury or in the event of your death?
• Your health: How much can you afford to pay in co-pays and deductibles? Do you have any existing health concerns?

Once you know how much coverage you need or want, you can begin comparing policies.

What should I look for when reviewing coverage options?

Comparing coverage options is the best way to make sure you're getting a good price and the right coverage for you. For example:

• Is the deductible the same?
• Is the maximum (annual and/or lifetime) benefit the same?
• Do the policies offer equal payments for equivalent claims?
• Is the premium payment frequency the same?
• Do the exclusions vary?
• What is the renewal policy?
• Will your rates go up year after year?
• Are the insurance companies offering the coverage reliable?

The key to comparing coverage is to look at the options side by side to review nuances that exist between policies.

How do you know if the insurance provider you select is reliable?

Insurance carriers are rated by independent companies who review financial stability, reliability, claims history and any other company specifics that can provide an insured (or potential insured) a high level overview. Two of the most common insurance rating companies are The A.M. Best Company and Standard & Poor’s.

Both of these rating agencies allow you to look up an insurance carrier to compare their rating to other companies.

Online insurance policy review, policy comparison and quoting can save you time and effort on your own schedule. Be sure to do your research before you begin your search to fully understand what you need and to make your time online well spent.

Use the FREE quote tool below!