What's the deal with insurance?

What's the deal with Britons' obsession with insurance? Everywhere I go, people are always trying to sell me one type of insurance or another: travel insurance, bicycle insurance, renters insurance, car insurance, pet insurance, appliance insurance, etc., etc.  In the US, I had health and homeowners insurance and that's about it. I've never once paid for travel insurance even for major trips! Just curious!

I don't think it's a British thing.  Everytime we bought an appliance, the salesperson wanted to sell us insurance with it.  And there was definitely a pet insurance "trend" before I left the US 3 years ago.  Renters insurance was always highly suggested when I was renting a place, as well.

Surely you had car insurance if you had a car in the US?  In Florida, it was mandatory.  (Though I know in some states - or at least one state - it didn't used to be.  Don't know if it's still that way?)

My husband will never leave the UK without travel insurance. I always thought he was being ridiculous until one year we went to the USA and two of us ended up in the hospital it's a good thing we had insurance!

Travel insurance as more people tend to travel outside the country (less do so in the States)...rental or house insurance is always a GREAT idea...car insurance is manditory and I've NEVER been without it even in the States (illegal I think to be without it). 

apstyle- i agree with you, mostly.  some insurances are mandatory, no matter where you are: car, house, renter's etc.  however, this thing with insurance on appliances? my boyfriend's nan has insurance on her 23 year old washing machine, fridge, boiler etc.  works for her, but i'd rather have a savings account to dip into if and when anything breaks, need replacing etc.

the travel insurance thing- i would never travel w/o international health insurance.  the cost of repatriating, etc would be astronomical.  the lost bags, etc I think is just part of travelling.

-meg