Insurance can be complicated and confusing. This guide answers some basic questions about the types of coverage you need

By Jeff WuorioWinston Churchill once described the Soviet Union as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." The same might be said of insurance in its varied forms.
You know you should have a comprehensive, cost-effective network of coverage, but what you need and how much can be confusing. Here are answers to 15 of the most commonly asked questions about insurance:
1. What sorts of insurance do I need?
Most people need to be concerned with insuring four areas: their possessions, their life, their health and their finances.
2. When you're talking about possessions, does that mean homeowners insurance is the most important?
Probably, because a house is likely to be the single biggest investment most of us make. The rule of thumb with homeowners insurance is not to skimp. If you can, pay extra for guaranteed-replacement coverage, which mandates that the insurer will replace your home if it is destroyed, regardless of the cost. If you instead specify a dollar amount of coverage, and it's not enough, you could end up paying the difference.
3. Once I have guaranteed-replacement coverage for my home, I'm all set, right?
Well, it's important to know what your homeowners insurance covers and what it doesn't. For example, particularly pricey items such as big-screen televisions and fancy stereo equipment are often excluded from policies or, at the least, inadequately covered. The same goes for antiques, collectibles, expensive jewelry and furs. Ask for riders that specifically cover those items.
Additionally, homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Go to your town or municipal office to see if your home is in a flood plain. If so, these private insurers participate in the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program. Likewise, seek out earthquake insurance if you live in a vulnerable area.

More from MSN Money

4. I have a home office. Do I have any special insurance needs?Oh, yes. A great deal of home-office equipment, including computers, fax machines and copy machines, is excluded from most conventional homeowners policies. You have to obtain separate insurance to cover them. If you see clients in your home office, insurance becomes particularly important: You will need liability insurance as well. Check with your insurance agent to make certain your bases are covered.
5. Does homeowners insurance cover me if, say, someone slips on my front steps, breaks a leg and sues me?
Not completely. Homeowners policies -- and, for that matter, renters policies -- have liability limits. One option is an umbrella policy. This adds additional liability coverage, upward of $1 million, relatively cheaply (prices vary considerably from state to state). It also gives you additional liability coverage for your car.
6. Is car insurance an absolute must?
Absolutely. Every state requires that drivers have some sort of automobile insurance in place. Even if they didn't, it would be sheer madness to drive one inch without some form of protection. Slam into someone and wreck another car or kill someone, without the protection of auto insurance, and your financial life could be ruined.

Video: How much life insurance is right?
7. Why is auto insurance so expensive, and how can I hold down the cost?
The biggest bite comes from liability protection, which is composed of bodily injury protection and property protection. This is one element of auto insurance you shouldn't shortchange. Look for coverage of at least $100,000 per person, another $100,000 for property and $300,000 per accident. If you can swing it, add uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you if you're in an accident involving a driver with no insurance.
To make this more affordable, consider raising your deductibles (that portion of the expense you have to pay before your coverage kicks in). Pushing up deductibles to $500 or even higher can significantly cut your premiums. Consider eliminating collision coverage, which covers damage to your car. That's probably not wise if your car is new, but give it some thought if your car has a few years on it and driving around with a ding or two is no big deal.
Other ways to cut costs: Drive safely (drivers with good records get better deals); insure every car you own with the same company (packages that cover multiple vehicles often mean lower premiums); don't smoke (statistics show that smokers have more accidents than nonsmokers); and, if you're still in school and pulling down good grades, let your insurer know it (good marks sometimes cut premiums). For more help, see "Find a great price on auto insurance."
8. What about life insurance? Do I have to have that?
Does anyone depend on you financially? In its most basic form, life insurance covers a person's income. If no spouse, child or parent is depending on your income, then life insurance is optional. If you're married, or there is someone whose well-being depends on what you make for a living, life insurance can prove an essential form of protection.
There is one wrinkle that goes against the maxim "no income, no insurance." If one spouse works and the other stays home with kids, consider taking out insurance on the parent at home. Should he or she die, the death benefit could cover the hefty expense of child care.
9. How can I figure out how much life insurance I need?
It's something of an inexact science, but try MSN Money's Life Insurance Needs Estimator.
Continued: What exactly is COBRA?
1 | 2 | next >
Read more (open in new tab please)