Buying Something We Hope We Never Use - Insurance

Being an insurance professional, I get to see firsthand the many benefits people receive by being properly insured. However, many people have a very false sense of many of the basic insurance concepts.

Here is one of the comments I often get from the client that is tired of paying insurance premiums. "I have never had a claim and can't see why I should continue to have to pay for the claims of other people". These "perfect" people really do not understand the real nature of tragedies or a sharing of risks. They think that since they have no claims, that there is no cost to cover them.  

I have a much different view. I consider myself blessed to have not had any major claims. I will gladly pay my premiums each month, and hope that tragedy never strikes. Insurance companies can pay hospital bills, rebuild houses, repair cars, etc. However, they can't totally "fix" every tragedy. If you are left in a wheelchair after a bad accident, that can't be "fixed". If your loved one dies in a house fire, there is no cure. If the father of the household dies, life insurance can help replace his income, but nothing can replace a father's love and life. 

The big picture is usually a lot bigger than our short term, rather limited minds bring into view. The next time you are tempted to complain about "those nasty insurance premiums", try and see the big picture. Insurance pays for the unexpected, the blindside, the tragedy that no one could see coming. The lucky ones go through life without major incident, grow old gracefully, and die in their sleep without sickness. We all would love to live in that category for our entire lives, and if you do count your blessings. Your insurance premiums paid for those less fortunate. I often tell people that if I could sell them an insurance policy that guaranteed no claims, they should buy the policy immediately. I would gladly pay a premium that prevented tragedy, and kept my family safe while helping others in their time of need. Obviously no such policy exists, but it should comfort us to know that those premiums do work to help us or others in some of the greatest times of need. I think I will gladly invest in this system with a smile.