Almost nobody reads an insurance policy end to end, and honestly they do not need to. But five sections decide the outcome of most claims, and they are quick to find.
1. The sum insured
The maximum the policy will pay, and the number every claim is measured against. If it is below the true value, claims are reduced in the same proportion — insure a home for half its rebuild cost and a claim pays half, even a small one.
2. The excess
The part of every claim that stays with you. A higher excess means a lower premium; it also means small claims are effectively uninsured. Check the figure and decide whether you would genuinely be comfortable paying it.
3. The exclusions
The most informative page in the document. Cover lists tell you what a marketing team wanted to highlight; the exclusion list tells you where the policy actually ends. Read it against what you really do.
4. Waiting periods
Periods after inception during which some cover is not yet active — common in health policies for pregnancy, certain surgeries and chronic conditions. Knowing them prevents the worst kind of surprise.
5. The declarations
What you told the insurer: the address, the vehicle, the activities, the medical history. An incorrect declaration can reduce or void a claim, and it is the section most often left stale after a move or a change of business.