What does the "co-insurance" clause mean?

The co-insurance clause refers to a provision in an insurance policy that dictates how costs are shared between the insurer and the insured after a deductible has been satisfied. This clause typically specifies a certain percentage split of the expenses incurred, which means that once the deductible is paid, the insurer will cover a designated percentage of any additional allowable costs, while the policyholder is responsible for the remaining percentage.

This arrangement is designed to encourage policyholders to insure their property to a value close to its actual value and to share in the risk. For instance, if a policy includes an 80/20 co-insurance requirement, the insurer would cover 80% of the costs once the deductible has been paid, and the policyholder would be accountable for the remaining 20%. This incentivizes careful risk management and financial participation in the coverage.