An insurance policy is a legally binding contract between an insurance company and the person who buys the policy, commonly called the "insured" or the "policyholder." In exchange for payment of a specified sum of money, called the "premium," the insurance company agrees to pay for certain types of loss or damage as specified by the contract. When a loss occurs which meets all of the requirements described by the terms of an insurance policy, the loss is said to be "covered" by that policy.