underinsurance

American  

[uhn-der-in-shoor-uhns, -shur-] / ˈʌn dər ɪnˌʃʊər əns, -ˌʃɜr- /

noun

1. insurance purchased against damage or loss of property in an amount less than its true value, sometimes bought intentionally by the insured with full knowledge of the risk.

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Etymology

Origin of underinsurance

under- + insurance

Example Sentences

Still, wrangling over unpaid claims and underinsurance have slowed Los Angeles’s rocky recovery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The researchers discovered “large differences in average underinsurance across insurers.”

From MarketWatch • Oct. 9, 2025

Others point to problems in the U.S. health care system, such as uninsurance, underinsurance, and high co-payments and deductibles, and to underlying trends in chronic diseases that might be caused by nutritional policy failures.

From Slate • Aug. 20, 2025

The Commonwealth Fund has long tracked rates of underinsurance, when even people with coverage struggle to pay for care.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 26, 2023

Delving further, we uncovered a poorly constructed and executed portfolio, significant underinsurance for their personal property and liability and far too much life insurance for the needs they outlined.

From Forbes • May 27, 2014