Editorial standards

How we research and review

Where our numbers come from, how we compare insurers, how we keep guides current and how the site is funded, so you can judge how far to rely on what you read here.

Last updated: October 21, 2026

The short version

In short: every figure on SmartCoverage comes from a source you can check, listed at the end of each guide with its date. Companies cannot pay to be included or ranked. Every guide shows when it was last reviewed, and our calculators explain the assumptions behind their results.

Who we are

SmartCoverage is an independent publisher, and guides are published under the name SmartCoverage Editorial Team. We are not an insurance company, agency or broker. We do not sell policies, collect quote requests or give personal insurance advice. You can read more on our About page.

Where our information comes from

We build every guide on public sources that anyone can check.

PricesPublished rate studies from firms such as NerdWallet, MoneyGeek, Insurify and Insurance.com, always with the study date and the sample profile behind a figure.
Satisfaction and claimsThe latest J.D. Power studies of auto, home, life and health insurance customers.
Financial strengthRatings from AM Best, which show how well placed an insurer is to pay claims.
ComplaintsComplaint records from the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search, compared with each company’s size.
Health and tax rulesHealthCare.gov, Medicare.gov, CMS, HHS and IRS guidance for subsidies, Medicare and HSA and FSA limits, plus research from KFF.
State rules and policiesState insurance departments and statutes, and insurers’ own product pages and policy documents.

Each guide lists its main sources at the end, with links and dates, so you can check the original data.

How we compare insurers

When a guide ranks or compares companies, we look at the same five things every time:

  • Price for the sample profiles used in recent rate studies.
  • Customer satisfaction and claims handling from J.D. Power.
  • Financial strength from AM Best.
  • Complaint levels from the NAIC, relative to company size.
  • Availability: where a company sells and who can buy, such as military families only.

We explain why a company comes out ahead for a particular kind of customer. When sources disagree, for example one study finds a company cheapest and another does not, we say so rather than choosing the figure that suits a ranking. Insurers cannot pay to be included, to change their position or to remove criticism.

Your own price depends on your age, location, driving or claims history, credit where insurers may use it, the home or car you insure and the coverage you choose. Our figures are a starting point, not a quote.

How our calculators work

Most guides include a calculator, quiz or chart. Each one uses the data and rules cited in its guide, such as IRS contribution limits, federal poverty guidelines or published average premiums, and the assumptions are explained next to the tool. They are simplified models: useful for comparing options and seeing what matters, not a replacement for a quote or a tax calculation.

Calculators run entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored. You can find all of them on our Tools page.

How we keep guides up to date

Review date on every guideShown at the top or bottom of each guide.
New studiesFigures are rechecked when new rate studies or J.D. Power results are published.
Every autumnHealth guides are reviewed before open enrollment and when Medicare, HSA and FSA limits change.
When rules changeGuides are updated when a law, regulation or key figure changes, and the review date moves with it.

How we use AI tools

We use AI tools to help with research, outlines and first drafts. Every guide is reviewed by our editorial team before publication: figures are checked against the original sources, anything we cannot verify is removed, and the text is edited for accuracy and clarity. We do not publish AI text without that review.

How the site is funded

SmartCoverage is free to read and funded by advertising, including ads served by Google AdSense. Advertisers do not choose which companies we cover and have no say in our rankings or conclusions. Ads are always shown separately from editorial content. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how ads and cookies work on this site.

Corrections

If you spot an error or something out of date, email contact@coveragesmartt.com or use our contact page, and tell us which guide and what needs checking. We review every report, and when we correct a guide in a meaningful way, we update its review date.

What we do not do

  • We do not give personal insurance, legal, tax or medical advice.
  • We do not sell policies or pass your details to insurers.
  • We do not accept payment for reviews or rankings.

Before you buy, compare quotes from several insurers, read the policy documents and, for complex situations, speak to a licensed insurance agent or your state insurance department. The information on SmartCoverage is for general educational purposes only. Coverage, prices and rules vary by insurer and state and change over time.

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