What is insurance and what kinds are there?

Insurance is a means of guaranteeing your financial protection against various risks. There are different kinds of insurance to cover different circumstances.  Policies are available for business purposes and for personal needs. Personal insurance is further divided into:

Property/Casualty Insurance - Provides protection for property like homes, cars and household possessions, in addition to protection from liability as a result of their use.

Life Insurance - Provides funds to a designated beneficiary or beneficiaries in the event of an insured's death.

Health Insurance - Pays for costs related to your health (e.g., doctor visits, hospital stays and diagnostic tests).  Disability Insurance, a form of insurance that combines elements of life and health insurance, pays you for income lost due to a disabling injury or illness.

Life, health and disability insurance are often provided through employers.  Ask your employer about these coverages and check with your agent to make sure they meet your needs.

Government Benefits - As a working citizen, you pay for insurance programs run by the government.  Social Security is a retirement and disability program in which almost all workers in the United States are required to participate.  Medicare is the federally-sponsored health program for persons over 65 and individuals with disabilities.  Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and the federal government to extend health coverage to poorer Americans.  In addition, laws in most states require employers to carry workers compensation insurance so that workers injured or exposed to an illness on the job can receive compensation.  Many states also require employers to pay into unemployment insurance, so if a worker is laid off, he or she will receive some money while seeking a new job.

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Association of Wyoming Insurance Agents
		P.O. Box 799 Sundance, WY 82729-0799 Voice: (307) 283-2052 Fax (775) 796-3122 Email: awia@vcn.com