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This is variable. While I've personally never had to experience it(knock on wood), I've had associates deal with insurance issues, such as debating on wether repair or totaling of the car is the more beneficial option(for the insurance company). Which, if you're without a vehicle and reliant on it for a job, can be very annoying and stressful.
Personal experience, my increase in insurance cost escalated to the point where my 6-month bill came in, I calculated the cost, and it was the equivalent of paying for a second car note.
I called up the company and more or less forced them to give me a lower rate, but come on.
Then, there's predatory regulations I've seen(and had to deal with) in terms of home insurance. Wasted money, in my opinion, required by the banks as an additional cost of home ownership and much better put aside into a savings account.
I won't even go into life insurance. I've seen both sides of that fence, and it's bad.
Insurance as a whole has a roundly negative opinion from people. You could schedule a death-game with insurance CEOs as the participants and you'd probably have people lining up for miles, cheering the spectacle on.
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