Concerning really big or controversial claims, the insurer will delay the claim as long as they can (make money on financing), then deny it (improve their loss ratio), then defend it if the claimant sues (in-house legal staff can spend a lot more than most consumers operating on their own).

FORBES: Why Spend $900 Billion On Health Insurance?

Likewise, rather than take out an interest-bearing loan, a business in need of financing might enter a musharaka, a partnership with profit-and-loss sharing.

FORBES: God And Mammon