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The basic concept of insurance is to provide financial assistance in case of a disaster (of any sort). You shouldn't really intend to use insurance; that's not what it's there for. Since each type is a little different, here are my recommendations for each kind:
Everyone should have health insurance; many people have very reasonable group policies available through their employers. Go with those when available (and reasonably priced). Otherwise, if you find yourself on your own, you have a bunch of options. Assuming you have an emergency fund established to handle anything minor that arises, you can probably get away with a high-deductible policy, which will make it much cheaper. For the best savings, go for a deductible of at least $1000 (which means that you pay that much in a given year before assistance kicks in). While it'd be nice to have something better (if you could afford it), something like this should be reasonably priced (approximately $100 a month for a healthy young adult, a little more for those who are a bit older).
You need it by law, so you can't choose to not have this one if you own a vehicle. Try to find something affordable by shopping around (that applies to all types of insurance). I use Bear River Mutual, which (in Utah) offers the lowest rates I've found, but requires that you have a good driving record and not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs (apparently those things increase your risk of accidents, and they won't take you). Other states often have similar smaller insurance companies that offer much better deals than the big companies, so ask about them through your local insurance agent.
Here's a biggie for financial planning that is frequently surrounded by a lot of confusion. The purpose of life insurance is to replace your income for your family or dependents if you die. That's all. Probably the most sensible time to get life insurance is when you have children. Without kids, your spouse could probably find enough work to support themselves if you were to die, but with kids around, that would be more difficult. There are a bunch of types of life insurance to avoid, and really only one to consider (for most people). Don't fall for any sales pitch offering you whole life, variable, or universal insurance. Those all include a mediocre investment package besides the death benefit, and you can do better investing on your own. The type to get is called Term Insurance. For a set term (20 or 30 years) you pay a constant fee for the priviledge of getting a lump sum payout to your beneficiaries if you die. This can provide a constant stream of income, allowing them to live without undue financial hardship without your income as long as needed. If no one in your family depends on your income, you obviously don't need life insurance. Likewise, don't get life insurance policies for your kids. Absolutely not necessary. You may consider one for your spouse however, even if they are the stay-at-home, no-income type, because if they were to die, you would need to pay someone to take care of everything they used to do for you for "free" (babysitting, etc). There are a bunch of rules of thumb for how big a life insurance policy to get. In general, 7 to 10 times your yearly income would be a decent target, but this will vary immensely by case. Even simpler: If you don't make a lot of money (say, under $40,000), go for a $250,000 policy. If you want your survivors to be better off, make it half a million (or just use some quick calculations to come up with your own figure). $50,000 (an amount commonly provided automatically through some employer benefits) is not enough. Be aware that you won't need to keep paying for life insurance forever, just until you don't need the income replacement. So, when you're 60 and have enough assets saved that you could live on them without working, just cancel your term life insurance. Simple.
You're four times more likely to become disabled early than to die early. So, consider disability insurance. If you can't work, the bills still need to be paid, and this provides a way if an accident were to befall you. There's two types: one that pays out if you can't work the job you currently have ("own-occupation"), and the more typical kind, which only pays out if you can't work at all. If you're a surgeon, and damage your hands, you lose that income, but maybe you could be a school crossing guard. No "own-occ" insurance, no payout. It costs more, but may be worth it for some.
Young folks need not concern themselves with this just yet, but if you're 50+, give this a serious think-over. There's a 1 in 3 chance you'll end up in a care home of some sort, and they're pricey. This stuff pays the bills for you if you end up there. The premiums are high (and can get astronomical if you wait until you're 65+), but may be worth it if there's a chance you'll need the assistance (and there is).
Okay, to sum up insurance: it's there to protect you (and/or your dependents) financially. It only takes one serious hospitalization to wipe out all your investments (no matter how large), so insurance is a safety net to keep you from needing to tap into the money you're investing. While it may feel silly to pay for something you may never use, you'll feel a lot worse if you need it and don't have it. To get started, try using an online comparison web site (like insurance.com) to get price estimates for your situation.