Your Friendly Helper, Insurance

Imagine you have a big, soft blanket that keeps you warm when you feel a little chilly. Or think about holding a grown-up’s hand when you cross a busy street. It makes you feel safe, right. I am like that feeling. I am a special helper you have 'just in case' something surprising happens. Maybe your favorite red ball bounces away and gets lost, or you tumble and get a little scrape on your knee. I am there to make sure everything will be okay again soon. I am a cozy, happy thought.

I am a very, very old idea. A long, long time ago, even before your grandparents were born, people in big cities decided to be super friends. They made special clubs. Each friend would put a shiny coin into a big box. If someone in the club felt sad or needed help, they could use the coins from the box to feel better. It was a wonderful promise to take care of each other. Then, one day in a city called London, there was a very big fire on September 2nd, 1666. It made many people sad because their homes were gone. But it gave them a great idea. A man named Nicholas Barbon thought it was a super idea. He helped people make a new promise. They all agreed to put a little money together. If a fire ever happened to one house, everyone would help fix it. They called this wonderful promise Insurance. That’s me. I am a promise to help.

Today, I am still helping families all over the world. I am like a superhero helper that you can’t see. I am there when a car gets a little bump and needs to be fixed. I am there to help when you visit the doctor to get your check-up and stay healthy and strong. I am even there if a big, windy storm makes a mess in your yard. I am the happy promise that says, 'Don’t you worry, we will fix this all together.' I am Insurance, and I’m your friendly backup plan, always ready to help make things right again.

Earliest Known Principles c. 1750 BCE
First Standalone Insurance Policies c. 1347
First Fire Insurance Company Founded 1680