self-insure
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
Etymology
Origin of self-insure
First recorded in 1930–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You can either self-insure and set aside enough money for a prolonged period of care, buy traditional long-term-care insurance, or decide upon some kind of combination.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
She says more and more people are looking to self-insure their pets, but warned it requires "quite a lot of discipline" and that it is not the norm.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
Cava will renew its health coverage in August, and executives are considering whether to self-insure, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
You could also self-insure by setting money aside annually for long-term care expenses.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2021
Other oil firms have tax-haven subsidiaries through which they self-insure their facilities.
From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2020
That includes the self-insured employers that Cuban is aiming to influence.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Yet if drug companies sell drugs to insurance companies or to employers who are self-insured, two problems arise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
It would not apply to patients on Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, or Medicare, and it would exclude self-insured plans offered by large employers, which are regulated by the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2025
Thungela told Reuters it intends to become fully self-insured in future, without specifying the timeframe.
From Reuters ● Aug. 31, 2023
Most large employers, like Amazon, Boeing and Microsoft, provide self-insured plans that don’t fall under the OIC’s authority, and oversight is limited.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 6, 2023
Interestingly, from what I have read, the $2 million–to–$4 million range is also around the point where many financial planners consider self-insuring for long-term care instead of purchasing long-term-care insurance.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Other consumer advice bodies warn self-insuring options can also be risky, as savings may still not cover a big bill.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
As the company’s sole owner, he was willing to make big bets with his money—buying the Little Birds, for example, and then self-insuring them when no one else would.
From BusinessWeek ● Nov. 21, 2013
Bank of America is an example of a self-insuring company, and it has voluntarily extended under 26 benefits early to its employees as well.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2010
Still, it seems that people would be better served by self-insuring, i.e. putting $15.99 per month into a savings account and earning interest, rather than paying for such coverage and then possibly never getting divorced.
From New York Times ● Aug. 6, 2010
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
