Knowing what insurance works best for you

→Health insurance: I rarely deal in absolutes, but I make an exception with health insurance. Everyone must have it. Alarmingly, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that close to 46 million Americans are uninsured.

→Car insurance: If you drive a car, you have a responsibility — to yourself and to others — to carry some type of insurance.

→Life insurance: Everyone doesn’t require life insurance. The important thing is to make sure you have it if needed; obtain the right type to suit your needs.

→Homeowners and renters insurance: If you own your home, you want to make sure you have adequate coverage to protect both your dwelling and your possessions. If you rent, look into renters insurance. Your landlord’s policy will only cover damage to the dwelling, not to your possessions.

→Umbrella liability policy: This provides coverage beyond your car or homeowner’s insurance in the event that you might be sued for an injury caused by you or your property.

→Long-term care insurance: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that at least 70 percent of people over 65 will require some type of long-term care services at some point.

→Car rental insurance: This is usually covered by auto insurance and by some credit cards.

→Pet insurance : Premiums can be larger than average pet care costs.

→Flight insurance: Health and life insurance are usually sufficient.