insurance definition

A contract to provide coverage or protection in exchange for a payment or "premium." Examples of insurance protection include liability, property, business interruption, life, disability, etc. The company paying the premiums for the protection will have insurance expense and possibly an asset, Prepaid Insurance (if the premiums are paid in advance). The insurance company would have insurance premium revenues and possibly a liability, Unearned Insurance Premiums (if the premiums were paid in advance).