Insurance is an operation by which a person (the insurer) undertakes to provide a service, under an insurance contract, for the benefit of another individual (the insured) upon the occurrence of a risk and subject to the payment of a contribution or a premium. The risk constitutes the object of the insurance. An insured takes out insurance to protect himself against harmful events (illness, fire, theft, death, etc.) or against the risks associated with certain objects he owns (car, home, etc.).
In the event of the occurrence of a risk, the insurer undertakes to pay a benefit in the form of money either to the insured, or to a third party, or to the beneficiary within the framework of life insurance. In return for this service, the insured pays a premium or a contribution to the insurer. This amount corresponds to the cost of risk and the operating costs of the insurer.
Insurance must be taken out with a company that is authorized to carry out this activity. It can be an insurance company or even a bank. The subscription is made by signing an insurance contract.