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Policy Plain

Insurance policies, read line by line

A magnifying glass over a printed table of figures beside a calculator
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Coverage basics

Deductibles, limits, exclusions and how premiums are set.

Every policy rests on the same few ideas: what is covered, what is excluded, how much the insurer will pay and how much you carry yourself. Once those are clear, two quotes become possible to compare.

The pages here explain the building blocks without tying them to any one insurer. Terms are used a little differently from one company and one state to the next, so check the definitions section of your own policy.

From the catalog

Read alongside this shelf

  1. GDE 01

    Reading a declarations page, field by field

    What each part of a declarations page tells you, and why the page only makes sense next to the rest of the policy.

    Reading guide Accessioned

  2. LEX 01

    Insurance terms in plain language

    Short definitions of the words on a quote, a declarations page and a claim letter.

    Lexicon Accessioned

  3. RUL 01

    Policy Plain editorial standards

    The rules we follow on sources, state differences, numbers, corrections and the limits of general information.

    House rules Accessioned

  4. CHK 01

    Insurance renewal review checklist

    What to compare between last year's policy and this year's, and which questions to put to your agent.

    Check sheet Accessioned

  5. DSK 01

    Deductible break-even calculator

    Enter two deductibles and their premiums to see the extra premium, the saving per claim and the break-even point.

    Desk tool