Insurance policies - is plain English the answer?

This paper traces the evolution of risk insurance from ancient Babylonian contracts to modern policies, highlighting key developments in Europe and England. Early marine insurance, formalized by Lloyds in the 16th century, set enduring conventions, while fire and vehicle insurance emerged later without standardized forms. The rise of the consumer movement in the 1960s and 1970s prompted calls for clearer, more accessible insurance documents, leading to the Plain English Movement. Despite reforms, evidence suggests that policy comprehensibility remains limited, as conceptual complexity often outweighs linguistic clarity. Resistance from legal professionals and consumer reluctance further complicate progress. The study concludes that while documentation has evolved, achieving truly user-friendly insurance policies remains an ongoing challenge, with mixed results from plain language initiatives (AI generated abstract, Copilot)