self-insurance

American  

[self-in-shoor-uhns, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪnˈʃʊər əns, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. insurance of one's property or interests against possible loss by the establishing of a special fund for the purpose instead of seeking coverage with an underwriter.

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self-insurance British  

noun

1. the practice of insuring oneself or one's property by accumulating a reserve out of one's income or funds rather than by purchase of an insurance policy

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Etymology

Origin of self-insurance

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

If you do have substantial savings, enough to start again, rent/buy a little place elsewhere as a bit of self-insurance.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

The Caribbean island nation of Barbados — home of swimming’s captive self-insurance subsidiary, the United States Sports Insurance Company — was key.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2024

For damages beyond these limits, all sequestration sites in the jurisdiction would pitch in via a form of pooled industry self-insurance, again up to a specified limit.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2024

But the need to earmark funds for self-insurance ties up money on the balance sheets of coal companies and could leave them vulnerable to large costs when something goes wrong, industry analysts say.

From Reuters • Aug. 31, 2023

There was a better, surer way to utterly destroy her,—a way he had long ago prepared,—not expecting any such contingency as this, but merely as a matter of self-insurance.

From The Moonlit Way by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)