How to read your insurance policy - a quick guide

Nobody reads their policy until they need it. Here are the sections that actually matter:

Declarations page - your coverage limits, deductibles, and whats insured. This is page 1-2 and the most important part.
Insuring agreement - what the policy covers in broad terms. Usually pretty generous sounding.
Exclusions - what is NOT covered. THIS is where they get you. Read every exclusion carefully.
Conditions - your responsibilities (reporting timelines, cooperation requirements, proof of loss deadlines). Miss these and your valid claim gets denied on a technicality.
Endorsements - modifications to the base policy. Sometimes they ADD coverage, sometimes they REMOVE it.

Pro tip: search your policy PDF for "not covered" and "excluded." Those two phrases tell you more than anything else in the document.