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What is homeowners insurance?
What is renters insurance?
How often should I review my policy?
What is auto insurance?
How can I save money?
What determines the price of my auto policy?
How do I file a claim?
How do I pick an insurance company?
What type of business insurance coverage do I need?
What is General Liability?
Why do I need certificates of insurance for sub-contractors?
How do I get a certificate of insurance?
Do I need workers compensation insurance?
What is homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy insures the home itself and your belongings.
Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes liability damage caused by household pets.
Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility. Please contact your agent for specific coverage questions and how to purchase coverage for these types of losses.
What is renters insurance?
Renters insurance provides financial protection against the loss or destruction of your possessions when you rent a house or apartment. While your landlord may be sympathetic to a burglary you have experienced or a fire caused by your iron, destruction or loss of your possessions is not usually covered by your landlord's insurance.
Like homeowners insurance, renters insurance also covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home or elsewhere by you, a family member or your pet and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.
Renters insurance covers your additional living expenses if you are unable to live in your apartment because of a fire or other covered peril.
How often should I review my policy?
* There are four events that should trigger a review of your policy:
1. When your policy comes up for renewal
2. Major purchases or alterations/improvements to your home
3. You have made your home safer
4. Major lifestyle changes
Please contact your agent anytime you make changes or improvements that involve your home.
What is auto insurance?
Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.
Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:
* Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
* Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
* Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.
An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.
Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it's time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.
How can I save money?
The price you pay for homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the size of your house and the insurance company you buy your policy from.
Everyone wants to save money, but don't shop by price alone. You want a company that answers your questions and handles claims fairly and efficiently.
Selecting and agent or company representative that takes time to answer your questions is important.
What determines the price of my auto policy?
There are many factors the influence the price you pay for auto insurance. Your premium will depend on the following
Your driving record.
The number of miles you drive each year.
Where you live.
Your age.
The vehicle you drive.
The amount of coverage.
How do I file a claim?
Call you insurance agent as soon as possible regardless of who is at fault. Find out whether you're covered for this loss. Even if the accident appears to be minor, it is important that you let your agent know about the accident.
If the claim happens after your agency's business hours, check your policy for claim reporting information. Most company's have a 24 hour claim service that will assist you with your claim.
How do I pick an insurance company?
Contact Mel Foster, as Independent Agents we have the ability to provide optimum coverage at reasonable prices with a company the best fits your needs.
What type of business insurance coverage do I need?
Because there are many types of business risks, there are many aspects to a commercial business policy to consider. Contact Mel Foster and consult with an agent experienced in commercial insurance.
What is General Liability?
General Liability provides coverage for other individuals who are on your property and/or exposed to your operations.
Why do I need certificates of insurance for sub-contractors?
An audit may require you to show that sub-contractors had their own insurance coverage. The sub-contractors' certificates of insurance will prevent you from being charged with their exposure.
How do I get a certificate of insurance?
Contact our Marketing/Certificate Department for a certificate of insurance.
Do I need workers compensation insurance?
Employers have a legal responsibility to their employees to make the workplace safe. However, accidents happen even when every reasonable safety measure has been taken.
Workers compensation provides payments to injured workers, without regard to who was at fault in the accident, for time lost from work and for medical and rehabilitation services. It also provides death benefits to surviving spouses and dependents.
Each state has different laws governing the amount and duration of lost income benefits, the provision of medical and rehabilitation services and how the system is administered. For example, in most states there are regulations that cover whether the worker or employer can choose the doctor who treats the injuries and how disputes about benefits are resolved.
Workers compensation insurance must be bought as a separate policy. Although in-home business and businessowners policies (BOPs) are sold as package policies, they don't include coverage for workers' injuries.
