When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
Unexpected events can derail even the best financial plans. This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to protect income, assets, and family security through effective insurance strategies. Whether you’re a financial professional or planning for your household, you’ll gain practical insights into health, life, disability, and long-term care coverage—and learn how to integrate them into a comprehensive risk management plan.
Through real-world case studies, interactive tools, and expert interviews, you’ll explore advanced concepts and policy features that impact financial resilience. Designed for a broad audience—including aspiring and current insurance and financial planning professionals—this course empowers you to make informed decisions and better serve clients or your own household.
This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online @aces.illinois.edu/online.
In the course orientation, you will get to know the course, your classmates, and our learning environment, and gain the technical skills needed. Then, we will start exploring the foundations of health insurance. We will learn what health insurance is, why it matters, and how different plans—like HMOs and PPOs—work. We’ll also dive into key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and advanced concepts that shape coverage today. By the end of this module, you’ll understand the types and purpose of health insurance and be able to analyze major policy features.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Key Provisions•5 minutes
Benefit Carve-Outs Explained•3 minutes
Dental Insurance Overview•2 minutes
COBRA Coverage Essentials•6 minutes
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)•3 minutes
Understanding Medicare•10 minutes
Medicare Supplement Insurance•4 minutes
Federal Income Tax Treatment•3 minutes
Olivia and Rachel: An Introduction •1 minute
Meet Rachel & Olivia•1 minute
Olivia and Rachel: Health Insurance Perspectives•1 minute
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
Olivia and Rachel: Learner's Guide•10 minutes
Explore More – Health, Disability, and Life Insurance•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 40 minutes
Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
Module 1 | Knowledge Check•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
Module 2 | Planning for the Unexpected
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this module, we will examine how disability and long-term care insurance protect income and assets when life takes an unexpected turn. We’ll start with the basics, explore advanced concepts, and analyze a real-world case study to see how coverage decisions impact financial security. You’ll also hear from experts who share practical insights on planning for the unexpected. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to explain the fundamentals of disability and long-term care insurance and evaluate advanced coverage options.
What's included
8 videos2 readings
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 43 minutes
Module 2 Overview•1 minute
Disability Insurance Fundamentals•7 minutes
Long-Term Care Insurance Basics•7 minutes
Understanding Medicaid•4 minutes
Advanced Long-Term Care Concepts•3 minutes
Planning for the Unexpected: Long-Term Care Insurance Basics & Timing•9 minutes
Long Term Care: Considerations for Care Communities•11 minutes
Olivia and Rachel: Disability Insurance Pespectives•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Olivia and Rachel Disability Learner's Guide•10 minutes
Explore More – Disability and Long-Term Care Insurance
•10 minutes
Module 3 | Life Insurance Essentials – What You Need to Know
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will focus on life insurance as a cornerstone of financial planning. We’ll learn why life insurance matters, compare different policy types, and calculate how much coverage you need. You’ll use interactive tools and hear from industry experts to connect theory to practice. By the end of this module, you’ll understand the purpose of life insurance, differentiate between policy types, and estimate your own coverage needs.
What's included
10 videos4 readings1 assignment1 plugin
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 57 minutes
Module 3 Overview•2 minutes
Types of Life Insurance Explained•9 minutes
The Need for Life Insurance•6 minutes
Calculating Your Life Insurance Needs•5 minutes
Participating Life Insurance Policies and Dividend Options•2 minutes
Common Insurance Termination Options•5 minutes
Life Insurance Essentials: What You Need to Know•5 minutes
Industry Perspectives on Life Insurance•10 minutes
Providing Peace of Mind•5 minutes
The Importance of Company Values•6 minutes
4 readings•Total 23 minutes
Life Happens | Interactive Exercise •1 minute
Calculate | How Much Life Insurance Do You Need? •10 minutes
Reflect | How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?•2 minutes
Explore More – Life Insurance Essentials•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 3 | Knowledge Check•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Explore | Real Stories•15 minutes
Module 4 | Bringing It All Together: Integrating Risk Management Strategies & Conclusion
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this final module, we will bring everything together. We’ll integrate health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance into a comprehensive risk management strategy. You’ll review policy features, explore real-world scenarios, and apply concepts to financial planning decisions. After this module, you’ll be ready to complete the final assessment and earn your Coursera certificate!
What's included
15 videos4 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
15 videos•Total 64 minutes
Module 4 Overview•2 minutes
The Mechanics of Life Insurance: An Introduction•1 minute
The Three Components of a Term Life Insurance Premium•6 minutes
Universal Life Insurance and Policy Cash Values•5 minutes
Life Insurance Cash Values•5 minutes
The Driver of Permanent Life Insurance•5 minutes
Cash Value Growth•6 minutes
Guarantees of Whole Life Insurance•5 minutes
Minute with Craig: Do I Need Life Insurance?•4 minutes
Minute with Craig: Term or Perm, the Great Debate•4 minutes
Minute with Craig: Agents, Commissions, and Premiums•4 minutes
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
Can this Coursera course count toward a certificate or degree?
Yes! Although completion of the Coursera course alone is not credit-bearing, it is a required component of a graduate-level Canvas course that can be “stacked” toward advanced credentials such as an academic (transcriptable) graduate certificate or a degree. If you decide to pursue further education, the credits you earn from this course can be applied toward a formal academic program, provided that you meet all the requirements of admission to the certificate or degree.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.