The Right Coverage

Insurance protects consumers--while also maddening them. Shopping for the right policy can quite confusing and "consumers are really at a disadvantage," says J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. Getting paid for claims is sometimes no easier: "It has become a war of attrition," says Joseph Ditré, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care.

Bloomberg.com consulted consumer advocates, academics, financial advisers, insurance agents, and adjusters for advice on how to avoid overpaying, underinsuring, or missing out on claims you deserve to have paid. Click ahead for tips and tricks of the trade.