Insurance & Protection: What Should You Have in Place?
Insurance can protect your income, home, vehicle, health and the people who depend on you. The important part is knowing what coverage applies to your life, what you already have and what may deserve another look.
Have These Now provides educational information, not personalized insurance advice. Policy needs, eligibility, pricing and coverage terms vary by person and insurer.
What deserves a look?
Protection works best when the pieces make sense together.
Insurance is not one single decision. Different policies are designed for different risks. Health insurance may help with medical expenses, auto coverage addresses vehicle-related risks, homeowners or renters insurance protects parts of your home life, and life insurance can help provide financial support after a death.
Your job may also provide insurance benefits that you would otherwise need to arrange yourself. That means changing employers, retiring, getting married, having a child or buying a home can change the protection you already have.
The goal is to understand what you are protecting, what coverage you already have and where a meaningful gap may exist.
What kinds of insurance may belong in your life?
Not every type of insurance applies to every person. Use this section as a review guide for the protection connected to your work, family, health, property and financial responsibilities.
Life Insurance
Designed to provide a death benefit to named beneficiaries. It may be especially relevant when someone depends on your income, care or financial support.
Health Insurance
Review where your coverage comes from, what your plan requires, important network information and what happens if your employment or household changes.
Disability Insurance
Disability coverage may replace part of your income if an eligible illness or injury keeps you from working. Employer-provided coverage and individual policies can differ substantially.
Homeowners or Renters Insurance
Home coverage can help address risks involving your dwelling, personal property and liability. Renters may also need coverage for belongings and liability even when the building itself is insured.
Auto Insurance
Vehicle coverage can include liability and other protections depending on your policy and state requirements. Keep policy details and accident information accessible.
Umbrella Liability Coverage
Umbrella policies may provide additional liability protection beyond certain underlying policies. They are not necessary for everyone, but can be worth understanding when liability exposure is a concern.
Long-Term Care Considerations
Long-term care planning can involve insurance, personal savings, family support and public programs. The options and costs can vary widely, so this is usually a planning conversation rather than a single policy decision.
Questions worth working through
Life insurance is really about the people left behind.
The right question is not simply “Do I have life insurance?” It is whether the protection you have still matches the people, obligations and financial responsibilities in your life.
Use the Life Insurance Worksheet →Beneficiaries deserve their own review.
Beneficiary designations can appear on life insurance policies, retirement accounts and other financial arrangements. A major life change is a good reason to confirm that the people listed still match your intentions.
When should you take another look at insurance?
Insurance often changes because life changes. These are some of the moments when existing coverage, beneficiaries or employer benefits may deserve another review.
Changing Jobs
Employer health, life and disability coverage may change when you leave.
Review Job ChangeGetting Married
Household coverage and beneficiary decisions may need another look.
Marriage ChecklistHaving a Child
A new dependent can change life insurance and household protection needs.
New Child ChecklistBuying a Home
Homeownership adds property, liability and financial responsibilities.
Home Purchase ChecklistLook for gaps, not just policies.
Having an insurance policy does not automatically mean the protection still fits your situation. A useful review looks at what changed, what the policy covers and what responsibilities would be difficult to handle without financial protection.
Work through protection one step at a time.
Use these Have These Now tools when you are ready to move from general review to a more focused checklist or worksheet.
Life Insurance Needs Worksheet
Organize the people, obligations and financial responsibilities worth considering when reviewing coverage.
Use Worksheet ChecklistBeneficiary Review Checklist
Review beneficiary designations across policies, retirement accounts and other important arrangements.
Review Beneficiaries PersonalizedMy Prepared Life Checklist
See which insurance, money, document, family, home and emergency responsibilities may apply to your life.
Build My ChecklistVerify important insurance information at the source.
Insurance requirements, consumer protections and program rules can vary. These official resources are useful starting points when you need authoritative information.
Insurance & protection FAQ
How often should I review my insurance?
A regular review can be useful, but major life changes such as a new job, marriage, divorce, a new child, a home purchase or retirement are especially important times to check coverage.
Is employer life insurance enough?
It depends on your coverage, household responsibilities and what happens to the policy if you leave the employer. Review the actual benefit amount and portability rules rather than assuming workplace coverage is sufficient.
Why should I review beneficiaries?
Beneficiary designations can remain unchanged even when relationships and family circumstances change. Reviewing them helps confirm that the people currently listed still match your intentions.
Do renters need insurance?
A landlord's policy generally protects the building owner's interests, not necessarily a renter's personal belongings or liability. Renters should review what protection may apply to their own property and responsibilities.
What is the first step if I am unsure what insurance I have?
Start by gathering current policy documents and employer benefit information. Make a simple inventory of the coverage you already have before deciding what may need attention.
Start with the protection that matters most to your life.
You do not need to solve every insurance question today. Review what you already have, confirm who depends on you and work through the areas that deserve attention.