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What is insurance?

Insurance, as a means of protecting a person’s interests against loss or damage has been used for at least 5,000 years — originally by traders seeking to protect their sea-going cargoes — but the first real policies, in the way we think of them today, came into being in the 17th Century.

Inurance is a financial safety net, helping you and your loved ones recover after something bad happens — such as a fire, theft, lawsuit or car accident. When you purchase insurance, you’ll receive an insurance policy, which is a legal contract between you and your insurance provider. And when you suffer a loss that’s covered by your policy and file a claim, insurance pays you or a designated recipient, called a beneficiary, based on the terms of your policy.

The most difficult thing about insurance is that you’re paying for something you hope you never have to use. Nobody wants something bad to happen to them. But suffering a loss without insurance can put you in a difficult financial situation.

Insurance is a way to manage your risk. When you buy insurance, you purchase protection against unexpected financial losses. The insurance company pays you or someone you choose if something bad happens to you. If you have no insurance and an accident happens, you may be responsible for all related costs.

Having the right insurance for the risks you may face can make a big difference in your life. People get insurance not only to help with risks from unexpected events but also to help pay for routine things, such as annual medical checkups and dental visits.

In addition, insurance companies negotiate discounts with health care providers, so their customers pay those discounted rates. An insurance policy is a written contract between the policyholder (the person or company that gets the policy) and the insurer (the insurance company).

The policyholder is not necessarily the insured. An individual or company may get an insurance policy (making them the policyholder) that protects another person or entity (who is the insured). For example, when a company buys life insurance for an employee, the employee is the insured, and the company is the policyholder.

What are the benefits of insurance?

Having Insurance Give You Peace of Mind

Insurance is an important financial tool. It can help you live life with fewer worries knowing you’ll receive financial assistance after a disaster or accident, helping you recover faster. When it comes to life insurance, this could mean your family doesn’t have to move out of the house or that your kids can afford to go to college.

For auto insurance, it could mean you have extra cash in hand to help pay for repairs or a replacement vehicle after an accident.

Insurance can help keep your life on track, as much as possible, after something bad derails it.

When you take out an insurance policy, depending on the risk you are covering, some of the benefits you might gain include:

You reduce or eliminate the risk of facing sudden, major expense if you, your family or your property suffer a misfortune.
You have the funds to meet the costs of any liability claims made against you, when you get blamed for someone else’s misfortune.
You create security for yourself and your family in the event that you lose your earning power through job loss or disability.
You provide financial security for your family in the event of your death.
You are covered if someone else who isn’t insured injures you or damages your property.
You have the best chance of quickly recovering your lifestyle after damage to your property, with someone taking care of you while restoration or replacement is under way.
You improve your credit-worthiness by being recognized as a responsible citizen, and may even be able to raise funds on the security of a policy.
If you’re in business, you can insure against risks that otherwise might not allow you to compete against bigger, financially stronger contenders.
You can protect yourself against the damage caused by some of the modern financial crimes, which are otherwise difficult for you to understand and assess – like identity theft.

Do You Need It and Is It Worth It?

Obviously, in our opinion the answer is undoubtedly “YES”. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

An average of more than one in every hundred homes suffers serious damage each year mostly caused by fire and weather events.
Earthquakes have hit 39 states since 1900 and caused damage in all 50 states.
Almost one half of all people in the second half of their working lives will suffer a disability lasting more than 90 days before reaching retirement age.
Most people who reach retirement age will need some level of Long Term Care in their later lives – 58% of men and 79% of women.
More than two million homes are burglarized every year, and more than a million cars are stolen
The cost of medical care is rising considerably faster than the rate of inflation. Thousands of people die every year because they don’t have insurance cover.

Insurance Pricing

Pricing an insurance policy is very unique and individualized. What this means that your insurance pricing will not be the same as your neighbor’s. Even if you have the same style home and cars, your auto insurance and home insurance pricing can be very different than that of your neighbor.

The same is true for Business Insurance. Two similar businesses can have different insurance pricing.

There can be thousands of rating tiers in today’s insurance company pricing models.

Thre are also external facttors that can affect insurance premiums. These factors can include:

Inflation
Increased Wages
Supply Chain Interruptions or Delays
Natural Disasters
Government Regulations

Why Are Insurance Rates Going Up So Much?

Insurance Pricing MUST Be Approved By The Sate’s Insurance Commissioner

Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies cannot just charge whatever they want for their insurance policies.

Insurance companies must file their rates and get approval from the state’s insurance commissioner for their insurance pricing.

Some states require that the rates are fully approved prior to the insurance company using the rates for their insrurance policies.

Other states have a “file and use” regulation. This means the insurance company file their rates with the insurance commissioner and start using their filed rates prior to the actual approval of the rates. If the commissioner approves the rates, they continue.

If the commissioner does not approve the rates or makes the insurance company make rate adjustments, the company must those adjustments for policies in force under the modified rates and for new policies moving forward.

What Can Affect The Cost Of Your Insurance?

Previous Claims – Insurance companies look back 3 to 5 years for claims history. Having previous claims will cause your insurance premiums to be higher.

Location – Where you live can affect your insurance premiums. Companies use claims statistics to determine the insurance pricing for each zip code.

Credit Score – Depending on the state rules, your credit score can make a difference in your insurance pricing. Insurance companies charge more to those with poor credit scores.

Auto Insurance Pricing Factors:

In addition to the above items, the following factors can affect the cost of your auto insurance (See our blog titled – How are Auto Insurance Rates Calculated?)

Age

Gender (in some states)

Marital Status

Driving Record

Type Of Vehicle (Not the color. Don’t believe the myth red cars do not cost more to insure…)

Vehicle Use

Annual Mileage Driven

Coverage Selections

Deductible Selections

There are also discounts that can be available for your auto insurance. Check out our blog titled – Available Discounts Can Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premiums Home Insurance Pricing Factors: Here are additional factors that can affect the cost of your homeowners insurance rates:

Replacement Value Of Home
Age And Construction Of The Home
Distance From Fire Department (determines fire protection class)
Coverage Selections
Deductible Selections
Roof Condition
Systems Updates (electrical, plumbing, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of our frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Am I Covered by my Homeowners Policy if I have a Business in the Home?

If you’re an Avon salesperson, a bookkeeper, or you’re selling MaryKay out of your home, then more than likely your homeowners policy specifically excludes any liability arising out of a business venture. Some homeowners policies do provide a limited amount of coverage. Be sure to tell your agent about your “Home” business, so they can be sure you’re properly protected.

What type of insurance is required to purchase and maintain a Florida license plate and registration?

Florida’s minimum coverage is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida license plate. Be sure to speak to your agent about additional insurance needs.

What is the difference between a Wind Deductible, Named Storm Deductible and a Hurricane Deductible?

Wind Deductible

This deductible is applied to all wind and hail events regardless if caused by a named storm, hurricane or just a windy day and a tree falls on your roof, the claim would be subject to the wind deductible. The amount could be a value such as 1000, 2500 or a % of the insured amount. Your policy might have a 1%, 2%, 3%, or 5% Wind deductible.

Named Storm Deductible

This deductible applies when a weather event has been declared by the U.S. National Weather Service to be a tropical storm or a hurricane. The force of wind must have been caused or resulted from the “Named Storm” event. The most common Named Storm deductibles are 1%, 2%, 3% or 5%.

Hurricane Deductible

This deductible applies when a weather event has been declared by the U.S. National Weather Service to be a Hurricane only. Deductibles usually range from 1%-5% as well.

If you have a Named Storm Deductible or a Hurricane Deductible and you sustain wind or hail damage not as a result of a Named Storm or Hurricane, your policy would be subject to the “All Other Perils” deductible which usually start at $500.

What is Homeowners Insurance?

Homeowners insurance is an insurance policy that protects you financially in the event that your home and property is damaged in a covered peril, or in the event of a covered lawsuit.

Perils that are typically covered by a standard home insurance policy include fire, wind, lightning, hail and theft. While no one plans on losing their home or possessions to any of these perils, it unfortunately happens every day. Ask yourself this: If your home was ever destroyed in a fire, for example, how would you pay to rebuild your home? That’s where your homeowners insurance comes in.

Homeowners insurance protects the investment you have made in your home by providing you with coverage for specific hazards.

But your home insurance doesn’t stop there. In the event that someone was filing a lawsuit against you for accidental damage you caused to their property, how would you pay for the costly legal fees? Standard homeowners insurance also contains liability coverage that protects you and your family against lawsuits where another party finds you liable for damage to their property or person.

Typically, a standard home insurance policy includes the following coverage:

Standard Home Insurance Coverages
Coverage A – Dwelling
Coverage B – Other Structures on Your Property
Coverage C – Personal Property/Contents
Coverage D – Loss of Use
Coverage E – Personal Liability Protection
Coverage F – Medical Payments

What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?

Replacement cost is how much it would cost to replace your property with new materials at current prices in the event of a loss. Actual cash value (ACV) is the value of your property at the time of a loss. ACV may be determined as the replacement cost minus depreciation.

What is covered by a basic auto policy?

Your auto policy may include six coverages. Each coverage is priced separately.

1. Bodily Injury Liability
This coverage applies to injuries that you, the designated driver or policyholder, cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission.

It’s very important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.

2. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder’s car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.

3. Property Damage Liability
This coverage pays for damage you (or someone driving the car with your permission) may cause to someone else’s property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings or other structures your car hit.

4. Collision
This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Even if you are at fault for the accident, your collision coverage will reimburse you for the costs of repairing your car, minus the deductible. If you’re not at fault, your insurance company may try to recover the amount they paid you from the other driver’s insurance company. If they are successful, you’ll also be reimbursed for the deductible.

5. Comprehensive
This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

As always, talk to your insurance agent about all your insurance needs.

Do I Need a Personal Umbrella Policy?

No one can tell you whether or not to purchase an umbrella policy; it is a matter of personal preference. We would recommend that you purchase an umbrella, as the cost is very reasonable, generally as low as $200 for $1,000,000 for a typical homeowner with two cars. The umbrella provides coverage in increments of $1,000,000 over and above your home and auto coverages and can even extend coverage for you as a director or officer of a non-profit organization.

Here are some quick examples that an umbrella policy actually paid a claim:

Eye Injury: $379,000
Pellet Gun: $600,000
Dog Bite: $679,000
Boat Accident: $1,500,000
Slander: $312,000
Water Skiing: $1,800,000
Drowning in a pool: $479,000
Hunting Accident: $529,000

Am I required to let the insurance company inspect my home?

Yes. The insurer is entitled to be familiar with the property being insured. Most inspectors will call for an appointment, especially if they want to inspect the inside of your home. If an insurer issues “loss control recommendations” as a result of the inspection, you must make the necessary repairs or changes to make the property insurable and to reduce the chances of loss. If you do not comply with these recommendations, the insurer may cancel your policy.

Why are contents replacement cost coverage and building replacement cost coverage so important?

Replacing your home and your furnishings, clothing and other possessions could be very expensive. Contents replacement cost is a critical part of your homeowners coverage. Why? If your television is stolen, your standard homeowners policy would cover the purchase price less depreciation applied to the stolen set. Under a policy with replacement cost coverage you are covered for the cost to replace the set. You do not have to worry about depreciation or inflation. Most of your personal property may be covered. However, antiques and rare items are subject to the actual cash value provisions of the policy.

Why buy renter’s insurance?

Just like homeowner’s insurance, renters face risks of loss. Sure, since a renter does not own the dwelling unit, she does not risk the residence itself. As a renter, the greatest risk is damage to or loss of personal property. Renters can also be liable to third parties that are injured while at the residence. If you rent, insurance acts as a risk transfer device to protect you against a catastrophic loss. In exchange for payment of a premium, you transfer the risk of property loss and liability to third parties to an insurance company.

I have a very valuable piece of jewelry. Is this covered by my basic policy?

If you own a item of specific value, you can add an endorsement, called Scheduled Personal Property (SPP), which acts like a mini-insurance policy on the specified and listed item or add Extended Coverage, which increases protection on jewelry, watches and furs (up to an aggregate limit for all of these items together which is specified on your policy). Both provide all-risks coverage (except for a few exclusions). Many people get extra protection on jewelry, cameras, coin and stamp collections, fine arts, furs, golfing equipment, guns, musical instruments, outboard motor boats, and silverware/goldware.

Does my homeowners insurance policy cover floods?

If my home is flooded, won't federal disaster assistance pay for my damages?

Not necessarily. Federal disaster assistance typically comes in the form of a low interest loan to help cover flood damage, not compensation for your losses. Even then, those loans are only available if the president formally declares a disaster and must be repaid along with any existing mortgage.

Do I really need flood insurance?

Even though flood insurance isn’t federally required, anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods. In fact, people outside of mapped high-risk flood areas file nearly 25% of all National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance claims and receive one-third of Federal Disaster Assistance for flooding.

I'm just getting my business started. Do I need insurance right away?

Yes, because the chance that you could suffer a loss begins with the first day of business. You can’t get help after the fact. If you suffer a loss and have no insurance or have improper or insufficient coverage, there is very little, if anything, your agent can do to help you. You must be prepared for the risks that are inherent in any business and the losses, sometimes catastrophic, that they can cause.

Also, many states and local jurisdictions require that businesses be insured to begin operating especially workers compensation insurance. And if you rent space for your business, your landlord probably requires that you be adequately insured as well.

I don't have any major business assets. Why do I need insurance?

Every business has some property. And, when you think about it, your business is your property. Just like your home and your car, your business needs to be protected from loss, damage and liability. In addition, your business is your source of income, so you need protection from the potential loss of that income.

Generally, there are two types of insurance-property and liability. Property insurance covers damage to or loss of the policyholder’s property. And if somebody sued for damages caused by you or your possessions (other than a vehicle covered by your auto insurance policy), the cost of the suit-both defending it and settling it, if necessary-would be covered by your liability insurance.

Now that my business is established, I think it is time to offer my employees some benefits. What do I need to know?

Employee benefits generally include health insurance (sometimes including dental and vision benefits), term life insurance, and possibly a retirement program. Group disability insurance is also available, although employers and employees opt for this benefit less frequently.

Employers can provide coverage for their employees alone or for the employees and their families. Cost is usually the determining factor. With the high cost of health insurance in the United States today, employers are more likely to ask employees to pay some or all of the costs of health insurance for their families and sometimes for the employees themselves.

Will I need to protect my employees in the event they are injured on the job?

Yes, and in most states there are legal requirements that must be met, and for which you may be responsible. State laws vary, but most states require that you carry some form of workers compensation insurance. This protects the employee and also offers you, the business owner, and some immunity from lawsuit by an injured employee.

What is Coinsurance on my Property Policy?

Most commercial policies include a “coinsurance” clause stipulating what percentage of the total value of your property must be insured to be fully reimbursed for a loss, even a partial one. (Most losses are partial.) If you insure for less than that amount, your insurance company may impose a “coinsurance penalty” on your claim.

Let’s say you have a building insured that you believe would cost $100,000 to replace and a coinsurance penalty in your policy of 80 percent. You insure the building for $80,000, thinking you have fulfilled the coinsurance clause. A fire loss causes $60,000 worth of damage, so you submit a claim. Your insurance company subsequently determines that the replacement cost of the building is actually $150,000. To determine how much to pay on the claim, the insurer divides the amount of insurance you purchased ($80,000) by the amount you should have purchased (80% of $150,000 or $120,000). The result (two-thirds of $60,000 is $40,000) is the amount of your claim the insurer will pay.

Thus, even for a partial loss within the monetary limits of your policy, you will receive only two-thirds of the amount claimed. If the building had been insured for at least $120,000, the insurer would have reimbursed you for the full amount of the loss.

Why do I need certificates of insurance from sub-contractors?

An audit may require you to show proof that sub-contractors had their own insurance coverage. The sub-contractors’ certificates of insurance will prevent you from being charged for their exposure.

What Does Commercial Auto Insurance Cover?

Commercial auto insurance covers a variety of situations. Options and terms vary from one insurance company to another, so be sure you fully understand what is included in the policy. If you work with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network, you can work with your agent to create a completely customized policy that matches your business needs, complete with all available discounts.

Several types of coverage may be included in your commercial auto policy; others are options that you can purchase separately. You will also need to choose the coverage amounts (“limits”) and deductibles. Typical coverage available includes:

Do I need Commercial Auto Insurance to deliver pizza?

If you use your own vehicle to deliver pizza, there are several options you can consider:

One of the best ways to find a commercial auto policy to suit your individual commercial vehicle insurance requirements is to speak with an independent agent in the Trusted Choice network who specializes in business insurance. An independent agent can compare policies and rates so you can find a policy you can afford.

What is property coverage?

Building and business personal property (also called contents) coverage protects your buildings and equipment, inventory, furniture and fixtures. Some policies include breakdown and business income coverage.

What is business income coverage?

In the event of a covered loss, this coverage may reimburse you for the net income that would have been earned if fire or other covered causes of loss had not occurred. Losses due to down time or extra expenses needed to restore operations (such as additional property rental) may be covered.

What is liability coverage?

There are many different types of liability to be covered for a business. Business liability may protect you from claims arising from customer bodily or personal injuries. Other liability that could be covered: damage to the property of others, products-completed operations, advertising, premises operations, fire, legal liability and related legal defense costs.

How can my business be covered for wrongful termination suits or sexual harassment?

Many insurance companies offer employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) as part of their business owners policy or as a stand-alone policy. EPLI can cover wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, mental anguish and other employment-related litigation.

What is professional liability insurance?

Otherwise known as malpractice insurance or errors and omissions insurance, professional liability insurance protects your business against claims resulting from professional services rendered by you to your clients. This type of insurance covers you and your employees in the event that someone claims you incorrectly performed or failed to perform your professional duties.

When do I need to buy workers' compensation insurance?

In most states, workers’ compensation insurance is required when you have one or more employees. Usually, the state penalties for employers who do not purchase workers’ compensation are very stiff.

How much does workers' compensation insurance cost?

Workers’ compensation insurance pricing is based upon your employee payroll, the number and job classifications of the employees, classification of your business and past loss experience. The employer pays for the cost of the workers’ compensation insurance.

What does workers' compensation insurance do?

Workers’ compensation insurance pays for the rehabilitation, recovery or medical bills of employees’ work related injuries, as well as lost time when they are off work due to a work related injury. Workers’ compensation insurance is not a substitute for health or medical insurance, since employees are only covered for on-the-job injuries.

At Angel Family Insurance we are committed to helping you find the right insurance coverage at the best price. We are an independent insurance broker with options for you.

Our experienced, local insurance agents, take the time to assess your individual needs and develop a policy that fits your budget.