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Home Insurance
FAQs
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Auto Insurance
FAQs
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HOME
INSURANCE FAQs
Why
should I buy homeowner's insurance?
A home can require
a tremendous investment of money, time, and energy. Homeowners insurance
is designed to protect that investment by insuring the actual structure
or structures and the personal possessions in and around them, as well
as providing liability protection for the residents. Through homeowner's
insurance, you can protect yourself and your family from enormous loss
in the event of damage or destruction to your home and property. Most
likely, if you have a mortgage on your home, you are required to carry
homeowner's insurance.
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What
is a deductible?
Deductibles place
responsibility for the initial cost of certain claims -- and some of the
risk -- back on the insured. Basically, a deductible is the amount you
must to pay out of pocket before the insurance company will step in and
pay for the loss of your property. Your deductible has a direct effect
on the amount of your premiums. The higher the deductible -- that is,
the more you have to pay out of pocket -- the lower your premiums will
be.
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How
much will I pay for homeowner's insurance?
To set the amount
of your premiums, the issuing company will first want to assess what kind
of risk you might present. Be prepared to share plenty of information
about you and your home. The company will consider your credit rating,
whether you have a criminal record, your previous addresses, and if you
have a history of insurance claims. An insurer will want to know what
kind of work you do, your employment history, your marital status, and
your age. An insurer will also want to know about the construction of
the home. Is it brick or wood? How many square feet is it? How old is
it? Are there any unattached structures on the parcel? How far is the
house from a fire station? Is it perched on a cliff above the ocean? Deadbolt
locks, smoke detectors, and other preventive measures can lower your rates.
But certain kinds of pets, a pool, and other potential opportunities for
personal injury can raise your rates. So can running a home business.
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How
can I lower my premium?
If you want to lower
your monthly premium, or buy more coverage for less money, one way is
to carry a higher deductible. A higher deductible also may make sense
if you believe that your chances of making a claim are remote enough to
warrant assuming extra financial risk.
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What
if I'm found liable for injuring another person?
As long as the injury
was due to your negligence and was not intentional, your homeowner's policy
should cover any medical bills and legal expenses, up to the liability
policy limits.
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What
kinds of damage does a basic
homeowner's policy cover?
Most basic policies
protect against damage from:
- Fire and lightning
- Windstorm and hail
- Explosion
- Riot and civil
commotion
- Aircraft
- Vehicles
- Smoke
- Vandalism and malicious
mischief
- Theft
- Damage by glass
or glazing material that is part of a building
- Volcanic eruption
You can also step
up coverage to include:
- Falling objects
- Weight of ice,
snow, and sleet
- Three kinds of
water-related damage from home utilities or appliances
- Electrical surge
damage
Protection is subject
to policy limits and deductibles can vary.
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What
damage to my house would not be covered by my homeowner's policy?
It depends on the
type of policy you own. But in general, unless you buy additional coverage,
you won't be compensated for losses due to floods, earthquakes, nuclear
accidents, wars, intentional damage, and normal wear and tear. Other exclusions
may also apply.
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If
my home burned to the ground, how much money would the insurance company
give me?
Insurance companies normally use one of two methods to figure how much
you will be reimbursed for a loss if the amount is less than your coverage
limits. The most common calculation is the actual cash value, which is
the replacement value minus depreciation. The second calculation is simply
the replacement cost of the lost property with no depreciation, but usually
with a maximum value. Also, don't forget that the company will subtract
the amount of your deductible from the settlement.
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How
will I be able to recall the contents of my home if it is destroyed?
It's wise to generate
a detailed list of your possessions. Making a video or photographic record
of your possessions is advisable, as well. You may want to consider storing
your inventory in a safe-deposit box off your property, or at least in
a lockable fireproof storage box in your home. Not only will a record
of your possessions take most of the guesswork out of filing a claim,
police say such documentation can help you prove ownership in case your
belongings are recovered from a thief. Also, you may want to videotape
or photograph the mess after a disaster and before you begin the cleanup.
This can help you prove the extent of damage without having to wait to
get your life back in order.
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What
can I do about expensive possessions, like jewelry and camera equipment,
that are far more valuable than the coverage limits of my homeowner's
policy?
You can purchase additional
coverage, through an endorsement to your existing policy or with a separate
policy, to extend the limits of coverage for specific items.
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I
want to buy a condominium. Will my homeowner's policy be different from
the one I had when I owned a house?
Insuring a condominium
is different from insuring a house because of the way ownership is structured.
A homeowner's policy covers against losses, and you can only suffer a
loss if you have ownership. Because there are areas of common ownership
in a condominium complex, your homeowners association may have a master
policy. The extent of the coverage you buy will depend on what the master
policy covers. The standard homeowner's policy for condominiums is called
HO-6. It will likely cover your personal property, shield you and your
family from some types of liability, plus pay to repair any portion of
the unit you own under the terms of the condominium or cooperative documents.
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I'm
renting an apartment. Will my landlord's insurance cover my belongings
if the building burns down?
If you rent an apartment
or a house, the building owner is responsible for any perils that befall
the property. Rest assured, if the place burns down, your landlord's insurance
is responsible to compensate him for damage to the structure. But if your
personal belongings -- your furniture, your stereo, your clothing -- are
destroyed, it's you who loses - unless you have renter's insurance. Renter's
insurance is a kind of homeowner's policy for non-homeowners. It contains
most of the same provisions of a basic homeowner's policy, except the
part that covers the home itself. Up to certain limits, a renter's policy
covers your personal belongings against destruction or theft, and protects
you against claims of liability if you cause injury to someone or an individual's
property.
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Besides
me, who else is covered under my homeowner's policy?
In general, a homeowner's
policy will have a named insured, which is usually the owner or tenant
named on the deed or lease. The named insured's spouse is covered as well,
even if he or she is not named on the policy declaration. Other users
and residents also may be covered to a lesser extent by the personal property
and liability provisions in the policy. For instance, the insured's children
or someone under 21 in the insured's care would likely be covered. Employees
such as gardeners or housekeepers may also be covered against loss of
personal property on the premises. And you may also extend coverage to
your guests if you make a request to your insurance company in advance.
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AUTO
INSURANCE FAQs
What
should I do if I'm involved in an accident?
The first priority
is the condition of those involved. Call for medical help if anyone at
the scene is injured. Notify the police as soon as possible. Obtain the
names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all persons involved, including
passengers and witnesses, and the license plate numbers of all other cars
involved.
It's best not to admit
an accident was your fault, even if you think it was. A simple apology can
be construed as an admission of fault. Let the authorities determine who
was responsible. Auto accidents can be disorienting even if you are not
physically injured. You may not be aware of all factors leading up to the
crash, so state only what you know about what happened. Contact your insurance
company as soon as possible, even if damages were minor.
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What
does it mean when a car is "totaled"?
After an accident
or theft recovery, if the insurance company decides your car is "totaled,"
it means the estimate of repairs exceeds the car's value. At this point,
the insurance company will likely send you a check for your car's value.
It gets to keep your car unless you make arrangements to buy it back "as
is".
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What
should I do if another driver hits my car?
If you were not at
fault in the accident, you will make a third-party claim to the at-fault
driver's insurance company. Because you are the claimant, the insurance
company typically will issue the check directly to you. It's your responsibility
to pay the repair shop, and the lender if you have a car loan. If the
other driver doesn't have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage
will take effect.
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How
do I handle a claim if I cause an accident?
If you own your vehicle
and have collision insurance, you will file a first-party claim with your
insurance company. It may issue a check either to you, the shop that repairs
your vehicle, or to both of you. If you have a lease or a loan, the lending
institution may be named on the check. Of course, you will also have to
pay your deductible. If other vehicles were involved, the insurance company
will settle with the other drivers and you probably won't be involved.
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What
happens if my car is stolen?
If your car was stolen,
be prepared to wait. Most insurance companies will impose a waiting period
to see if the police recover your car. If your car is still missing after
the waiting period, usually 21 days, you should receive a settlement soon
after. If your car is recovered during the waiting period, the insurance
company will want to see a repair estimate before deciding how to proceed.
If your policy has
a provision for replacement transportation, you may be required to pay
for a rental car out of your own pocket and then submit a claim to the
insurance company for reimbursement.
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What
effect does my driving record have on my auto insurance?
A good driving record
is critical to your ability to obtain auto insurance. If your past is
free of tickets, accidents, and drunk driving arrests, chances are excellent
that you will pay much less than the person who has a history of these
infractions.
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Does
the kind of car I drive matter to an insurance company?
Yes! In addition to your age and driving record, the type and value of
the car you drive is one of the most important factors in the amount of
your premium. Sports cars, for example, can cost significantly more to
insure because they may be a favorite among thieves, because statistically
people tend to drive them faster, and because they may have a higher replacement
cost than a sedan or a van.
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Why
would I want to buy more insurance than state law requires?
If you are found to be liable for an amount greater than the coverage
limits of your policy, you must pay the difference. If you don't have
enough cash, the injured party can go after your home, financial assets,
and even future earnings. It's wise to consider increasing your liability
limits when you own a house or other valuable assets.
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Why
does a high deductible cause my premium to go down?
Generally, the more risk you assume, the less risk you assign to the insurance
company, which charges according to how much risk it is insuring against.
A deductible is the initial dollar amount of a loss that you must assume
before the insurance company will pay your claim. Auto insurance deductibles
typically range from $250 to $1,000.
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Why
does my insurance company want to know my age?
Statistically, the risk of an automobile accident fluctuates with age.
Teenagers are among the most expensive drivers to insure because their
inexperience makes them more likely to be in an accident than drivers
over age 25.
Just as a teenager
will have to pay more for being young and inexperienced, drivers can expect
to pay less as they reach the age range where they are statistically the
safest on the road, roughly from ages 40 to 55. In some cases, rates may
go up as a driver becomes elderly.
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Can
I insure my boat?
Yes. Recreational boat insurance is similar to automobile insurance. You
can purchase liability coverage and physical damage coverage. Some policies
also offer medical payments, uninsured boater coverage, and legal defense
coverage. If you borrowed money to buy the boat, your lender will probably
require you to carry insurance.
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I
am retired, but I work part-time as a handyman. Do I need special insurance
coverage for my truck, which I use when I'm hired to make repairs?
Generally, a personal auto policy may be all you need unless you are driving
other people around frequently. In some cases, an independent contractor
such as a carpenter or landscaper may need a commercial policy -- if the
vehicle is used more than 50 percent of the time for business purposes.
And personal auto policies must have increased limits to cover any equipment
that is permanently attached to the vehicle, such as an expensive generator.
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I
have towing and labor coverage on my auto policy. Does it only come into
effect after an accident?
Towing and labor coverage provides emergency road service and pays for
towing charges. This coverage is not limited just to accidents, but can
be used any time your car breaks down. Labor such as a tire change or
battery jump-start performed at the site of a disabled vehicle will be
covered, but not the later repair work performed in a service station.
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What
is the difference between the cancellation and non-renewal of an auto
policy?
A non-renewal means only that your company does not want to offer you
a policy any longer -- possibly because of your driving or claims record
over the last three to five years. More than likely, you will find other
insurers that are willing to provide insurance at a higher price.
Auto insurers may
cancel your policy at any time if you fail to pay your premium, lose your
driving privileges, or have not accurately reported the facts relating
to your level of risk. A cancellation will make it hard to get insurance
for a long time to come.
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My
state requires minimum insurance coverage of 15/30/5. What does that mean?
Minimum liability limits of 15/30/5 refers to $15,000 bodily injury liability
per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. Insurance
requirements vary from state to state.
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I
have heard of states with no-fault laws and PIP coverage. How does that
differ from states with standard coverage?
There are some states with various forms of no-fault insurance. Generally,
no-fault laws require each person involved in an auto accident to pay
his or her own medical expenses and lost wages -- and stricter versions
disallow certain pain-and-suffering lawsuits. Therefore, many no-fault
states require drivers to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which
pays extensive medical expenses, lost wages, and a small death benefit
for the driver and all passengers. PIP usually comes with a 20 percent
deductible. In some states, both no-fault and PIP coverage are optional.
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I
plan on driving through several states during my next vacation. I carry
the minimum coverage allowed by my state, but will my insurance cover
me if I have an accident in another state while I am away?
Clearly, the laws concerning insurance coverage can vary greatly from
state to state. It might be comforting to know that if you have the minimum
auto liability coverage for your home state, but are involved in an accident
in another state, your policy will generally adjust to meet that state's
minimum legal requirements.
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Can
a driver be found partially to blame for an automobile accident?
In some states, comparative negligence laws make it possible for more
than one driver to share responsibility. If a red car is driving too fast
and rear-ends a blue car, but the blue car did not have functioning taillights,
then the red car may be found 70 percent responsible and the blue car
30 percent. A driver may only collect damages for the percentage of the
accident that was not his or her fault, so the driver of the blue car
could recover only 70 percent of the damages.
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What
exactly are the types of coverage included in a standard personal auto
policy?
Bodily Injury Liability
- Pays for medical expenses, legal expenses, and judgments against you
when you or your car is involved in an accident that causes the injury
or death of another person.
Property Damage
Liability - Pays for damages to the property of others, caused by
you or your vehicle.
Uninsured/Underinsured
Motorist (UM/UIM) - Covers the costs associated with damage or injury
caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.
Medical Payments
- Covers the medical bills of you and your passengers after an auto accident,
regardless of who is at fault.
Collision -
Covers the damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision, regardless
of who is responsible. Collision coverage requires the payment of a deductible
by the insured.
Comprehensive Physical
Damage - Pays for damage to your car that is not the result of an
auto accident, such as theft, vandalism, fire, hail, natural disasters,
hitting a deer, etc. Comprehensive coverage also requires a deductible,
and will only pay as much as the car was worth before sustaining the damage.
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