For many people, insurance is a big part of their financial plans regardless of their status. But for a single mom like me, it is a necessity. If there is anything that single parents shouldn’t be without, it’s a contingency plan. Having only one person taking care of the family means there is hardly someone else to fall back on if something goes awry. This is where insurance comes in as the family’s safety net.

Before I discuss the types of insurance single parents need, it is first important to determine how much of your pay you can allocate for insurance premiums. Once you have reviewed your budget, check which ones your employer already covers for you as part of the employment package. Normally, employers provide health insurance coverage for its regular employees while others go so far as to provide life insurance also. If that is the case, then number one on your list should be health insurance for your children.

Before getting premium life insurance quotes from insurance companies, you should check for discounts you may get if you carry your children’s coverage through your employer. You will get huge savings if the coverage will be included in your company’s group insurance.

Though some employers do cover employees’ life insurance, most are at minimal levels. If you have more than 1 child, you may have to check if the coverage will be sufficient in the unfortunate event that you may not be around to support them. Should this be the case, you may want to get a separate life insurance to secure your children’s needs.

Next on the priority list, if you are already covered by health and life insurance, is disability insurance. Being the sole breadwinner in the family, it is important that you have alternative means of support in the event that you become unable to work. Make sure the coverage would be enough to support the family’s needs, including additional expenses that may be necessary for the disability.

These are the insurance policies critical for the family’s security. If you have more to spare in your budget, you can acquire some more to strengthen your contingency plan. These would include comprehensive auto insurance, home insurance, and long term care.

Even if premiums may saddle your budget, minimizing the risk of incurring insurmountable costs in case of catastrophes may be worth the cost. At the moment, premiums have declined substantially due to the economic crisis, especially in the financial sector. Thus, it may be the perfect time to get the basic insurance packages which you previously could not afford. But don’t forget to choose a stable insurance company and get information on types of policies they offer. Don’t scrimp on small companies that may fold at the drop of a hat.

Part of a single parent’s responsibility is likewise preparing for the future, even if it means anticipating the worst that could happen. At the end of the day, it is the future of our children that we need to secure while we have the ability to safeguard it. Many have fallen prey to financial disasters because they did not prepare enough for the possibilities.

Samantha Gregory

Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.

Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.

She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.