Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Do I need Landlord Insurance Coverage?

Many people turn to real estate which is purchasing rental properties to increase their assets and wealth. Owning investment property makes you a business owner. Every business needs to protect its assets and reduce the owners from personal risk. This is done with the purchase of landlord insurance.

Landlord insurance is very similar to homeowners insurance in many ways. However, it expands the coverage to protect the owners and the assets of business. Your landlord insurance policy will cover your property for damage. Should your building be destroyed or damaged from fire, your insurance covers rebuilding it. It is important to work with your licensed insurance professional to determine the proper amount of coverage.

Get an estimate from a contractor or two, do the work to determine the real cost associated with rebuilding. Underinsuring can cause headaches and you holding the bag to pay the difference if the coverage is not adequate. In some cases, enough to cause very serious financial hardship which could include foreclosure or even bankruptcy. Consider what is excluded and make sure to ask about flood protection, lightning, wind, and other types of natural disasters.

Every carrier and policy is different, read the coverage carefully and make sure you understand what is covered and what is not.

A landlord insurance policy will typically carry a loss income provision. Check to make sure your policy includes lost rental income. In the event of a fire or loss, the lost rental income will reimburse you during the rebuilding phase. If you depend on the rental income, make sure your landlord policy covers this provision. This is a huge difference from a typical home owner’s policy.

A landlord insurance policy also will normally carry liability protection as well. In the event a tenant or third party is injured or sues you, this coverage will protect you as the landlord. Your landlord insurance will cover legal and court costs and pay out in the event of a judgment. Review the liability coverage in detail with your licensed insurance professional.

It’s also important to remember that your tenant’s belongings are not covered by your landlord insurance policy, only yours as limited by the policy. Many landlords require tenants to carry their own insurance before renting to them.

Make sure your properly covered and review the landlord insurance on a regular basis with your licensed insurance professional.

Comparing Landlord Insurance Coverage

Compare landlord insurance before you commit to any insurance. If you are renting a property out as an extra source of income, it is probably just that, an extra source of income. This means that you have other work to do, and you can't devote every waking minute of your day to your building. Of course, there are some things that you are going to have to find the time to do, but there are other things that you can do that do not take much time at all, such as getting and comparing landlord insurance quotes. As a landlord, you need to make sure that you are protected from the many things that can happen to landlords, and the right insurance will offer you the protection you need. After all, why else do you think they call it insurance?

Now, as we already said, you probably already have enough on your plate, and you may think that you just don't have time to shop around for good rates on insurance. If you already have insurance, this may have been what you did. Unfortunately, you may not be getting the best possible rates. It really doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort to receive and compare landlord insurance quotes. You can do it online, and it doesn't matter what time of the day or night you make your request, you will still have the answers you are looking for in a couple of minutes.

Why You Need Landlord Insurance & Why You Need to Compare Landlord Insurance

Paying a little bit now for landlord insurance can save you a lot of money in the long run, especially if you end up really needing that insurance. There are many different things that landlord insurance will cover, so you can be sure that you are going to be protected when you rent your property out to others. For instance, if you are renting an apartment or house that is partially or completely furnished, your insurance should include coverage for the items you own. That way, if they are damaged by your tenants, you will be able to afford to have them repaired or replaced. Other things that landlord insurance covers include:

Legal Fees – If you have to sue a tenant for unpaid rent, you could end up with quite a bit in legal expenses. Having landlord insurance will help, because it will cover these expenses for you, so you do not have to pay them yourself.

Damages Caused by Natural Disasters – If your rental property is damaged by such things as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or other natural disasters, and you end up with an empty building while repairs are being done, your landlord insurance will cover the rental income you would lose until the building is able to be rented again. One thing to remember is that damage from flooding is not always covered, so if your property is in an area where flooding is a possibility, make sure that flood damage is included in your coverage.

Injuries to Others on Your Property – If one of your tenants should happen to injure himself while on your property, and the injury is caused by something that was in a state of disrepair, your tenant could very well end up suing you for medical and other expenses. If you have landlord insurance, you will not have to pay these expenses yourself. It doesn't even have to be a tenant who can sue you for injuries. If your tenants have guests, or even if someone is visiting the property, if they are injured as a result of something that you should have repaired, then you will be responsible for any expenses.

It's Important To Shop Around for Landlord Insurance & Compare Landlord Insurance Quotes

You should never get your insurance from the first company that gives you a quote. Just like anything you purchase, you need to make sure that you are getting the best prices for your insurance, and in order to do so, you need to shop around. At one time, this meant either going from company to company in person to talk to agents for quotes or telephoning each individual insurance agency. Today, you can simply enter a little bit of information online, and in minutes you will have quotes from many different insurance companies. Then you can compare landlord insurance quotes and prices and decide which company is offering you the best deal.
Having a rental property is a great way to bring in an extra income, but remember, there are many responsibilities that go along with being a landlord. Making sure that you have enough landlord insurance is one of those responsibilities. Request your free quotes today, compare landlord insurance quotes, and get the landlord insurance you need, at rates you can afford. If a time does come when you need to have landlord insurance, you will be glad you did.

Missouri Landlord Insurance

Landlord insurance is one of the most important things you need to be concerned about as a landlord. Remember that as a landlord, you have many responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is making sure that you have the proper amount of insurance. There are a few different types of insurance that all landlords should have in order to protect themselves from any number of things that can happen. When you are renting to someone, there are all kinds of things that can happen, and you need to be sure that you are protected so that you don't end up having to spend a whole lot of money.

Having landlord insurance will give you that protection you need, and if you are going to become a landlord or you are already one but don't have enough or any insurance, then it is time that you start getting some quotes and get yourself some protection as soon as possible.

Insurance All Landlords Need

Unfortunately, having tenants often means having damages to your rental units, and having insurance will make sure that you can afford to replace or repair things that are broken or otherwise damaged. For instance, if you are renting out a furnished apartment, and the tenants caused damage to the furniture, your insurance will help you with the cost to replace or repair that furniture. This type of insurance is known as a limited contents policy or full contents policy.

If you have a limited contents policy, it will be for apartments that are not furnished, and it covers things such as window treatments, lighting fixtures, carpeting and flooring, and appliances. If you do supply appliances, you should make sure that you have liability insurance as well, just in case there are any accidents due to faulty appliance wiring, or even because of problems with lighting fixtures or broken stairs (basically, anything that a tenant or one of their guests can injure themselves on). Other types of insurance landlords should have include:

Loss of Rental Income Coverage – There are some things that we just can't do anything about, such as natural disasters, but things like these can leave you with buildings that you cannot rent, and they are just sitting there without helping you collect income. When you have loss of income coverage, you don't have to worry about this, because you will receive the income you lost as long as you are making repairs to the building. This gives you the time you need to make sure that everything is properly repaired, and depending on what happened to the building in the first place, your building or property insurance may cover a lot of those expenses as well. Some of the things that can happen that cause damages loss of rental income coverage pays for include fires, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Landlord Liability Insurance
– If someone, such as a tenant or one of their guests, were to injure themselves while on your property and the injury was caused by something on the property, that person could sue you for damages. This can get pretty expensive, and you could end up having to pay for medical expenses, time missed from work and more. Let's say a tenant trips and falls over a broken stair. That tenant breaks his leg and is unable to work. He is going to expect you to not only fix the broken step, but to also pay for his medical bills and his salary while he is unable to work. When you have landlord liability insurance, these costs will be covered, so you do not have to worry about trying to pay for everything on your own.
Here is something else that you should know about landlord liability insurance. Sadly, at one time or another, most landlords will experience this: tenants who skip out without paying the rent or simply cannot pay their rent for any number of reasons. In order to get this money, landlords must take their former tenants to court, which of course involves expenses such as court and legal fees. These are expenses that will be covered by landlord liability insurance. You would be surprised at how pricey legal fees and other related expenses can get, and if you do end up in a situation where this happens, you will be relieved to know that your insurance is going to cover these expenses for you.

How To Get the Best Landlord Insurance Rates

You may hear a lot of other landlords complain about the price they are paying for their landlord insurance. Yes, there are costs involved, but it shouldn't be so much that someone needs to really complain about it, and maybe it is time that you suggest they look elsewhere for better rates on their coverage. When you are looking for your own landlord insurance, there are a few avenues you can take. You can get advice from others, which may or may not be the best idea. Or you can get a number of quotes and choose the best products at the best rates.

Getting free quotes is easy, and it only takes a couple of minutes. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions, and in no time at all, you will have all of the quotes you need to get just the right amount of landlord insurance, at rates you can afford and won't complain about.

What If You Already Have Insurance?

You may be thinking, “I already have insurance, so there is nothing here I don't already know about”. Well, even if you do have insurance already, it is still a good idea to look around and make sure that you really are getting the best rates. Often, people get insurance coverage, and their policies remain the same, or their rates increase throughout the years. These same people can get quotes from other insurance companies and find that they would be able to save money by switching. It can't hurt to request your free quotes and just see if you may be paying too much for your landlord insurance. If you are, there really is no reason why you can't make the switch to start saving money.

When Should You Get Landlord Insurance?

If you are already a landlord, but you do not have the proper amount of landlord insurance, or you do not have any insurance at all, then it is time to get your free quotes. You have been really lucky so far, but you don't really need to push your luck any more than you absolutely have to. If you have just purchased your first rental property, you should make getting insurance one of your first priorities. As we already said, even if you do have insurance, it never hurts to get quotes to see if you can get better deals elsewhere.

Getting quotes for landlord insurance is easy, and it doesn't take any time at all. Most often, all you have to do is enter your zip code, and you will be on your way to getting quotes from a number of insurance companies. Then, all you have to do is sit back and study each one to see which is the best for you. Compare the various products and rates, figure out exactly what you need, and come up with a policy that is going to suit your needs, as well as your budget. Because you can get all of your quotes online, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home to get the information you need about landlord insurance products and their rates.

Having a rental property is a really great way to bring in extra income, but remember, there are all kinds of responsibilities that go along with being a landlord. Your property must always be in tip-top condition, and if anything needs repair, the repairs must be made in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if a tenant calls and says that the oven is not working properly, you need to have an electrician come in as soon as possible to repair it, or if it is too old, you may even have to replace it. If there are loose stairs, you need to fix them. Any problems are your problems, not your tenants' problems, and you must take care of them. If you do not take care of these problems, things can happen, and unless you have the proper landlord insurance, you may have to pay a lot of money for repairs and compensation.

You can get a number of quotes easily when you fill out our simple form, and you don't have to waste time calling individual insurance companies to get quotes, which may take a few days if agents are busy and ask to get back to you later. When you can get the same information in a matter of minutes, it doesn't really make sense to do it any other way. Get your landlord insurance quotes today, and get the insurance you need to protect you when you are renting your property out to others.

Landlord Insurance 101

Landlord insurance is a necessity for protecting yourself and your property, which is likely one of your biggest investments. You need landlord insurance that is comprehensive and affordable. To get low cost rates on the best landlord insurance policies available, simply enter your basic information here and you'll be contacted by one of our agents, that will shop with competing companies, who are anxious to provide quality coverage at the cheapest rates. They will offer you the low priced quotes on the best landlord insurance policies. It's quick and easy to compare policies - get your free quotes today!

Rental property insurance is a policy that covers a property owner from financial losses connected with their property that is used as a rental for tenants. Generally landlord insurance will cover the building itself, whether it is a house, apartment, condominium, vacation rental or any other dwelling. There is an option to include the contents with in the building, but the owner can also choose to have a tenant buy their own renters insurance policy to cover the replacement cost of any damaged items.

Each landlord building insurance policy will be different because the rental properties vary as do coverage needs. However, you'll usually want to have coverage for perils such as fire, flood, lightning, storm, explosion, escape of water or oil, subsidence, theft, vandalism and earthquake -if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes. The majority of companies will offer the option for additional coverage beyond standard landlord property insurance. This additional rental property coverage may include items such as accidental damage, legal protection, the cost of alternative accommodation if the rental is unlivable, and contents coverage.

Landlord Renters Insurance

Obtaining a comprehensive landlords rental property insurance policy will allow you to rent our your investment property to a tenant with confidence. Landlords rental property insurance provides protection for your property from damage and protects you from legal and personal liability. Generally, your rental property home insurance will cover the following:

Your rental building, whether it is a house, condominium (condo), building, apartment, townhouse, duplex, quad, vacation rental property or any other dwelling.
Additional private structures, such as a garage, shed or barn.
Any personal contents that are provided by the homeowners for use by the renters. These contents can include appliances, furniture or tools that are stored at the rental property site or provided for use by the tenants.

There are two primary forms of landlords buildings insurance, which are landlord rental dwelling insurance and landlord's rental condominium insurance. The rental dwelling coverage covers the homeowners of a rental building designed for one to four families. Rental condominium coverage is for if you own a condo and rent it out to tenants.

Landlord Building Insurance

When you compare the best landlord insurance companies, rates and quotes, you must ensure the rental property coverage will give you adequate protection and liability coverage. The sum insured should represent not your buildings market value, but the full cost to re-build your rental property. The cost to re-build can be much higher than the market value of your rental property. Your landlord property insurance should cover the cost of you to re-build or pay for damages caused by perils such as the following: severe weather (storms, lightening, floods), fire, smoke, aircraft, explosion, impact from vehicles or fallen trees, subsidence, burst pipes or leakage of oil or water, theft, vandalism, civil commotion, and malicious damage caused by tenants or renters.

When you compare rates looking for a cheap quote, be sure to be aware of what is covered and what is not covered. Just because a rate is cheap, doesn't mean it's the best deal. Make sure your landlords renters property insurance policy is fully explained to you. If you have a claim but it is not covered by your policy, you could end up paying for it out of pocket, which would negate the cheap rates that you thought you had.

Landlord Contents Insurance

As a landlord and homeowner, you will want liability protection in relation to the contents of your rental property. Contents coverage will protect you against the financial cost of damage to your personal property in the unit you rent to tenants. Homeowners can choose a limited contents policy or full contents policy. Limited contents policies are typically used for unfurnished or partly furnished let properties and will generally cover items such as light fixtures and fittings, curtains, carpets, appliances, and such. Even if the property is sparsely furnished, a landlord or homeowners should consider liability coverage in case of injury to tenants or guests caused by defective cookers, lighting fixtures, or stairs. If there was an incident, the compensation of the claim would be substantial.

For full contents insurance, you will want ensure you have adequate coverage to replace your lost items in the event a claim needs to be made. When getting landlord insurance quotes and estimates, be sure to talk to your agent about actual cash value (ACV) when considering content insurance for the replacement cost of your belongings. Actual cash value will cover the replacement cost of your items minus the deductible. Otherwise, you will only get what the value of the lost item is in cash. This is an important distinction. For instance, if you bought a laptop 5 years ago for $2,500 but the value of the computer today is only $500, you would only get $500 for the laptop to replace it. Obviously, it will cost more than $500 to replace your laptop. However, with actual cash value for your landlord contents insurance, you will get enough money to replace the laptop with a similar model in today's market. If you have any valuables or unusually expensive items, be sure to talk to an agent about these as you may want to buy a separate rider.

Legal Expenses

Some tenants' personal circumstances during their lease period may cause them to break their lease or affect their ability to pay rent. It may also affect their ability to properly maintain the home or may interfere with their plans to move out a the end of their tenancy. This could be due to a job loss, business failure, end of a relationship, accident or illness. If this occurs, you will have to deal with burdensome attorneys' fees, document preparation fees and other related expenses. Legal expense coverage as part of your landlord liability insurance will provide coverage for these expensive legal costs.

Landlord Liability Insurance

Landlord liability insurance protects you against bodily injury or property damage lawsuits that could arise from covered losses on your insured rental property. As landlords or homeowners, it is important to protect yourself against any claims that could arise if a tenant or their guest is injured on your rental home. For instance, if a tenant fell down the stairs or hurt themselves due to faulty electric work, you could be held liable as the owner. If you do not have proper landlord insurance, the cost of legal claims could be so great you could become bankrupt.

Generally, this type of landlord liability insurance coverage is not offered to commercial buildings. If you own a commercial building rather than a rental property such as a vacation home, condo, townhouse, duplex, quad, or house, you will need to look into commercial property insurance policies. Additionally, tenants should be aware that the landlords liability insurance and or landlord contents insurance only covers the fixtures in the rental property, the staircases, elevators, appliances, and such. This does not cover the tenants personal belongings. A tenant should purchase a renters insurance policy for protection of their personal valuables that are in the home.

Landlord insurance is important for protection of your most valuable assets. Your rental property is an excellent investment and needs to be protected. It is easy to compare landlord insurance policies and rates. You can quickly and easily find cheap rates from local agents by filling out the basic form. You will be contact by landlord insurance companies that provide coverage in your area. Just compare the quotes and save on the cost of your landlord insurance. Take the first step in protecting your valuables get your free landlord insurance quotes today!

If you leave your home vacant you could lose your insurance coverage

If you leave your house empty for too long, you could lose your home owners insurance — and your home equity if a fire or other disaster destroys or damages your house.

Insurance companies hate vacant houses, whether you’re taking a extended vacation or you’re moving out of town and leaving your house empty. If you’re not home and a water pipe busts, a fire starts, or someone breaks in, chances are the subsequent mess is going to be pretty big — along with the insurance claim for the damage.

If you’re lucky, your insurance company will let you leave the house vacant, but just won’t pay for certain things like broken glass, vandalism, or malicious mischief. At worst, your home owners insurance company will yank your policy if you go away and leave the house unattended for a month or more.

Some companies, like State Farm, decide on a case-by-case basis whether you can keep your policy when you’re temporarily not living in your home, especially if you’ve got a plan to take care of the place while you’re out of town.

Say you’re going on a two-month, around-the-world cruise (lucky you!). You’re more likely to keep your coverage if you hire a company to shovel the snow so your home looks occupied while you’re gone.

Some insurers will cancel your policy if your house is vacant for 30 days. If that happens to you, call a commercial insurance broker like Select Insurance group at 636-410-6219. Commercial agents sell insurance to landlords who have vacant houses all the time — during renovations, or when they’re between tenants-otherwise known as "vacant home insurance"

Expect to pay about 15% to 20% more than you were paying for your regular homeowners insurance.

The bottom line is that if you’re heading south for the winter, read the fine print in your home owners policy to see what it says about vacancies. Then, email your agent or insurance company to double-check the rules. Don’t call, because an email is a written record of your communication. You might need that record later if the company refuses to pay a claim because your house was vacant.

Have you left your house vacant for more than a month? Did you check your home owners insurance policy before you left?

Insurance Quotes for Rental Properties & Properties With Habitational Exposure

Insurance rates for rental properties can be divided into two parts, based on the classification of the rental properties themselves. It is important to understand the distinction first. Basically the number of units and use are the main factors affecting the classification.


Insurance for Rental Properties of 1 - 4 Units
Insuring buildings with 1 to 4 units entails less risk for carriers compared with insuring larger commercial properties of five units or more. Also some companies stop offering coverage for properties above certain numbers of stories (3 or 7 for example.)

Properties that are 4 or less units can be insured under a commercial policy. In certain circumstances, a dwelling fire policy (form of personal insurance) may also be offered for these properties. If the insured person occupies one of the units in property of 4 units or less, then a regular homeowners policy may be used to cover them. In this proper landlord liability coverage is needed to cover people with exposure to renting tenants. Properties of 4 unites or less may not qualify for any personal insurance (dwelling fire or homeowners insurance) if there is mix use then commercial coverage is necessary.


Insurance for Rental Properties Over 4 Units
Insurance coverage for rental properties over 4 units are subject to different underwriting guidelines. More scrutinized rules related to risk acceptability and pricing are used with these properties. More attention is given to age of the building and the safety measure used such as fire extinguishing systems; exit signs; safety of hallways and common areas; updates of the electrical, heat and plumbing systems; accessibility and safety of the parking area & stairs; etc. Buildings with commercial stores exposures undergo further scrutiny regarding types & activities of business operated in the commercial units and hours of operations.


Habitational Insurance Programs Coverages
Typical coverages in the habitational insurance programs include building coverage, liability coverage, and loss of rental income. Certain coverage may be critical to the property owner such as ordinance of law coverage. Replacement cost coverage is desirable if available (older buildings may not qualify with certain insurers.) Depending the location of the risk, replacement cost may range between $125 to $150 per square foot. Liability coverage offers protection for the owners against any lawsuits brought against them from tenants and the public. Bigger investment properties may require higher liability, in which case an umbrella policy may be necessary. Loss or rental income is important to provide for the loss of rental income in the event of loss, such as fire.

How to Find Inexpensive Commercial Auto Insurance

Whether you’ve finally decided to start your dream business or you’re just in charge of the company fleet, if your business owns vehicles for any reason you’re going to need to find commercial auto insurance coverage to protect your assets. In many respects, commercial auto insurance functions much like your own personal car insurance, but with a few key differences that are worth knowing about before you have to negotiate with an insurance company. Let’s take a look at how to find inexpensive commercial auto insurance and where you’ll get the best rates.

So – what is commercial auto insurance? Essentially, this is a package of auto insurance policies that are designed to mitigate the risks involved with using vehicles for business purposes. Unlike most personal vehicles, commercial vehicles are only on the road during the busiest hours of the day, and many are oversized vehicles like vans or trucks that can require special licensing and great skill to drive safely. A good commercial auto insurance package will take all of these factors into consideration to offer you an effective liability policy that covers your business against costs and lawsuits stemming from accidents.

In regards to cost, part of the cost of your commercial auto insurance is going to come from the driving history and records of your company drivers. It’s an unfortunate reality that you must ask every one of your new drivers for a driving abstract or history document, which is typically available from the local DMV. If you notice a history of accidents, tickets or other issues on the record of your next potential new hire – it may be best to skip them and go with a driver that has a safer history. Not only will this help save money on your commercial auto insurance, but you will also be protecting your vehicles and the lives of other people who may end up on the wrong end of an accident with your risky new driver.

As you probably know through purchasing personal auto insurance for your cars at home, vehicles with higher values tend to cost more to insure. Keep this in mind when you’re thinking of buying or replacing vehicles in your fleet. If you have your eye on a particular make or model, call your commercial auto insurance company and ask them what the insurance rates are like for that vehicle. If they’re too high for your budget, consider some other cars or trucks that are suitable for the tasks you need the vehicle for. Also, buying used or off-lease vehicles can help save quite a bit on commercial auto insurance.

Typically, the best deals are found when you make use of bulk vehicle insurance rates through the same commercial auto insurance company. Avoid having the insurance policies for your company vehicles spread out to multiple companies, as you will be paying rates that are closer to retail than if you stick with the same insurer. Also, try to obtain the exact same insurance policy for all of the vehicles in your company fleet. This avoids some vehicles costing more than others for insurance, and can help you leverage the “bulk” factor for significant discounts.

Finally, it’s worth checking with your commercial auto insurance company to see if they offer insurance bundling services if you are willing to move your general liability, business insurance and other policies over. By bundling up your commercial auto insurance with other forms of insurance, you can generally receive bulk or bundle discounts that can end up shaving a small fortune off of your business’ annual insurance bill.

Knowing a few of these tips can help save hundreds, or even thousands of dollars per year on your commercial auto insurance. Remember: vehicles (and drivers!) are assets like any other, and they deserve to be protected with the best commercial auto insurance that you can afford. Don’t skimp on insurance costs to try to save a buck; as many entrepreneurs can tell you, it can really come back to bite you later.

Select Insurance Group is here to help you with your commercial auto insurance – we’ve worked out deals with a number of auto insurance companies to provide you the best rates possible. To find out more and to get a price quote, click here and fill out a commerical auto quote form. It’s that easy!

Do I Need GAP Auto Insurance?

Just bought or leased a new car? What if you get into an accident soon after taking your brand new car off the lot? If you assume that you are fully covered because of your collision coverage, think again. This is where GAP Insurance (sometimes called Loan/Lease Insurance) can come in handy.

When You are Upside Down on Your Car

The old saying about your car losing value the minute you drive it off the lot is absolutely true. So, during the early years of a car loan or lease, depending on how much you borrowed to finance the car, it's easy to be “upside down” on your car, meaning that you owe more on your car loan or lease than the vehicle is worth. If you're in an accident, and your car is totaled, the insurance carrier is only responsible for paying for the replacement value of the car (i.e., the market value of your car). So, if you are upside down at the time of the accident and owe the bank or lessor more than the replacement value of the car, the settlement amount you receive from the insurance company will be less than the amount you owe. Unfortunately, you are responsible for the difference and may find yourself in the unenviable position of continuing to make payments for a car you no longer have.

Let's look at a real world example: Say for instance you paid $25,000 for your new vehicle and borrowed the entire purchase price. Say that you have an accident a month later that totals your new car. You've probably only made one payment on the car, and so your loan amount is still close to the $25,000 you originally borrowed. Unfortunately, even with full comprehensive or collision coverage, you will only receive the market value of your vehicle, which will be as much as 20%-30% lower than the purchase price (remember - a new car depreciates significantly the minute you drive it off the lot). That means you may be stuck paying that 20%-30% out of your own pocket. On a $25,000 car, just a 20% depreciation would be $5,000! That amount could be more if you financed your taxes and license into your loan.

How Can GAP Auto Insurance Help?

GAP stands for Guaranteed Auto Protection. But, most people just use the term "Gap" to represent the gap in coverage between how much one owes on a car and how much the car is worth. Gap coverage is insurance that pays for the difference between how much you own on the car (either through a loan or lease) and what you are reimbursed from the insurance company in the event of a total loss. If you are financing or leasing a new vehicle purchase and putting very little (or no) money down, you need to consider getting Gap insurance to protect you financially from a major accident in the first 1-2 years after purchase that results in a total loss of your car.

Get a quote for Auto Insurance with GAP protection here

Sunday, December 25, 2011

INSTANT AFFORDABLE MISSOURI SR22 FILINGS ONLINE!




CLICK HERE FOR YOUR INSTANT MISSOURI SR22 FILING. ENTER YOUR INFORMATION, GET A QUOTE, PRINT A POLICY, AND HAVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY FILE YOUR PAPERWORK WITH THE STATE INSTANTLY, TO GET YOU REINSTATED!

Affordable Missouri SR22 Insurance

Our agency specializes in finding AFFORDABLE Auto Insurance for drivers who need SR22 filings in Missouri. Received a DUI violation? Had an uninsured accident? Had more minor moving violations in one year than the law permits? No Problem! Let us find you the lowest price auto insurance quotes from the best insurance carriers in Missouri. Fill out an Auto Insurance quote form now and let us find you the best price available!

You drove under the influence. Now what?

You’re likely to pay a fine, face suspension of your driver’s license, attend a DUI education course and serve probation. Some states may require impounding your vehicle, performing community service, installing an ignition interlock device, or serving a short jail sentence.

DUI penalties vary, but one thing is certain: you’ll need auto insurance before you can get back on the road. Select Insurance Group offers affordable SR22 auto insurance coverage for DWI offenders, so get a quote now!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Caught driving without auto insurance?

In some compulsory insurance states, insurers must notify the proper state agency that a motorist’s coverage has lapsed, but much time often elapses before the overworked state agency takes action. In most compulsory insurance states, police officers can confiscate a motorists license tags if the motorist cannot produce proof of insurance.

SR22 and Proof Of Insurance

Tags seldom are seized until motorists commit offenses that bring them to the attention of the police. Even if insurance dodgers are prosecuted and convicted of violating compulsory insurance laws, they have little to fear. Many judges, who deal routinely with far more serious offenses, are quite lenient with someone who does nothing worse than refuse to buy insurance. In short, regardless of their reason for not purchasing coverage, insurance dodgers face little risk of meaningful punishment. Find cheap sr22 insurance here.

For these reasons, compulsory laws are viewed by many as futile. In the states that have experimented with such laws over the past several decades, every imaginable means of enforcement has been tried and retried at one time or other with the same results: little difference in the percentage of insured drivers. With extremely- vigorous (and costly) methods of enforcement, some states have managed to reduce their uninsured motorist level somewhat.

Another major argument against compulsory laws is that they are too costly to administer. In states with compulsory laws, besides processing millions of forms showing evidence of insurance, these departments must also process many other kinds of forms as well: changes of registration, new registrations, insurance cancellations and terminations, plus changes in vehicles, insurance companies, and names. In addition, insurance companies have substantial expenses in notifying state authorities whenever a policyholders coverage lapses or expires.

Proper enforcement of compulsory laws requires an extensive data processing system, special layers of state bureaucracy, and enough state police officers to locate and confiscate the license plates of uninsured drivers. Apart from the fact that crime-fighting resources and highway safety patrolmen must be diverted to track down uninsured motorists, no state can afford the vast amount of funds needed to follow up, identify and punish all insurance people who avoid their responsibility.

Of all the states with compulsory laws, Missouri has carried out the most effective and extensive enforcement program. Supervised by the Motor Vehicles Department, record-keeping and forms preparation are done by a computer system provided by the Department of Transportation. The Department of Public Safety employs some 50 staff police officers who confiscate about 19,000 sets of license plates a year.

Why is auto insurance necessary?

Mandatory auto insurance laws

Support for compulsory insurance laws stems from the belief that such laws increase the number of financially responsible drivers. Many state legislators say that, because of constituent pressure, it is politically difficult for them not to support compulsory auto insurance laws.

These laws often require that drivers present proof of insurance before they are allowed to register their vehicles and make it illegal to drive without proof of current insurance. The seriousness of the crime and penalty for driving without proof of insurance vary among the states, with possible punishment ranging from a fine to a jail sentence. Some states, like Missouri, require motorists to present documentary proof of insurance to register their cars, but the majority require only that people sign affidavits attesting that they have, and will maintain,
liability coverage. Find affordable sr22 insurance coverage here.

In contrast to compulsory insurance laws, financial responsibility laws, in force in the majority of states, do not make it illegal to operate a vehicle without insurance or the financial equivalent (usually in the form of posting a bond to cover damages) until after an accident occurs.

Even the best and best-enforced compulsory insurance laws, however, offer no protection from operators of stolen vehicles, drivers from other states, drivers of unregistered vehicles, hit-and-run drivers, drivers whose insurance limits are too low to pay for all the damage they have caused, or insurance dodgers who cancel their policies soon after they receive proof-of-insurance certificates and register their vehicles. Therefore, even in states with compulsory insurance laws, motorists need uninsured and under-insured motorist insurance to protect themselves from losses caused by these drivers.

In the mid 1950s New York was the first state to enact a statute requiring insurers to offer uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Virtually every state now requires auto insurers to offer this coverage, and in 29 states and the District of Columbia drivers must purchase it.

Most state laws mandate a minimum basic UM coverage be offered at limits equal to the automobile bodily injury coverage required under the state’s financial responsibility law for liability. The concept is that the policyholder is provided with the minimum protection required by law irrespective of whether the at-fault driver has insurance. Because such limits were often unrealistically low (that is, insufficient to cover actual accident costs), insurers began making available higher limits of UM coverage, usually in amounts up to the third-party liability coverage chosen by the insurance buyer. The theory was that policyholders should have access to the same level of protection for themselves as they were providing to others.

As insurers offered higher limits of UM coverage, an anomalous situation developed. A policyholder carrying higher limit UM might be in a more advantageous position after being injured by an uninsured motorist than after being injured by a financially responsible motorist carrying lower limits of bodily injury liability insurance. Therefore, the next step in the progression was development of coverage designed to fill the gap between the limits available to the victim of the inadequately insured motorist with the desired degree of
protection.

This form of insurance is known as under-insured motorist coverage (UIM). Thirty-two states have laws or regulations requiring insurers to offer this type of coverage, and insurers offer it voluntarily in most other states.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Discount vehicle insurance – What kinds of discounts can you avail?

Discount vehicle insurance from Select Insurance Group – What kinds of discounts can you avail?

Most of you who own a vehicle must be having your auto insurance policy. Almost all vehicle owners are aware of a few kinds of discounts on their vehicle insurance policies. But very few people know that there is a long list of discounts available with car insurance policies. If you’re a bit proactive and if you’ve done your homework, you can also qualify for a number of discounts on your auto insurance policy. Read on to know a list of added discounts that can drastically cut down your monthly premium amounts on your vehicle insurance policy.

The safety discounts on your vehicle insurance policy

When anyone buys a car, getting a vehicle insurance policy is a prudent decision. You should start with getting your vehicle insured first. There are some particular discounts that you’ll get if your vehicle is installed with safety features. The more your vehicle is protected from accidents, the lesser you have to pay on your insurance premiums. If you have installed airbags, anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft system, you’ll be charged lesser on your vehicle insurance premiums. If your vehicle is equipped with daytime lights and seat belts, you can also qualify for discounts. Therefore, if you were unaware of the safety discounts, equip your car with the above mentioned devices in order to save those extra dollars.

The discounts related to drivers

If you have a chance to better yourself as a driver, make use of it to save money on your auto insurance policy. There are some discounts for drivers who have gone through a driving course from a reputed driving institution. It is considered by most auto insurance companies that of the driver are trained well, they are less prone to road accidents. This will also lessen the chance of their filing a claim. If the driver has a clean driving record and has not made too many road accidents, he will also be granted lower insurance premiums. The same goes for the credit report as this is the most important thing taken into consideration by most lenders. Go through credit repair first, if you have a poor credit score and then go for getting a vehicle insurance policy.

The discounts on coverage

There are some other coverage discounts that are given for multi vehicle insurance. If you insure more than one vehicle from a particular insurer, you may get discounts on your vehicle insurance policy. Moreover, you should insure from a particular company to save the dollars on your policy. If you have health insurance, life insurance policies from an insurer, you can get your vehicle insurance policy from the same insurer to save money. The insurance company may reward you with generous and lucrative discounts on your premiums.

Therefore, if you’re a prospective vehicle insurance buyer, keep in mind the various discounts mentioned above. This will help you take an informed and measured decision so that you make the wisest choice before investing your money.

visit www.selectinsuranceteam.com to learn more

SR22 Insurance – Does an sr22 make my car insurance more expensive?

An sr22 is required when you have a suspended driver license or an sr22 filing could be needed to keep a drivers licenses from being suspended.

Car insurance rates are based on your driving record. An sr22 filed on you car insurance will not affect your car insurance rate.

There is a small fee for the sr22 filing but your rates are going to be based on the reason for the sr22 filing.

Some people refer to car insurance with an sr22 as sr22 insurance, but actually an sr22 is not insurance. An sr22 is a certificate filed with your car insurance company letting the state department of motor vehicles know you are currently insured.

Drivers who receive a no insurance ticket and are required to file an sr22 will not be affected as adversely as a driver who was convicted of driving under the influence and must file an sr22.

A few examples of drivers who might be required to file an sr22 would be drivers who have accumulated too many points on their driving records for offenses such as too many moving violations, accidents, driving without car insurance, driving on a suspended license, DWI, DUI or a refusal to submit to an alcohol or drug test.

If you need to file an sr22, please allow our agents to give you a quick sr22 insurance quote and find you cheap sr22 insurance.

Select Insurance Group agents specialize in high risk driving records. Remember, just because you have a less than perfect driving record, you do not have to pay for high car insurance rates. It is up to you to shop you for cheap car insurance rates!

Common SR22 Questions

When drivers are required to file an SR22 with their state it is often a misunderstood form. Each state will require the SR22 form for different reasons and some states actually don't require it at all. Here are a few common questions that drivers ask when they are required to file the SR-22.

Why do I need an SR22?

Depending on your state laws you may be required to file an SR22 due to lack of paying child support, driving under the influence or accumulation of points. Check your state for specific reasons and reference you court documents for why they require it.

How much does an SR22 cost?

The cost to file an SR-22 form is usually $15-$30 depending on the insurance company. This cost does not include the cost of auto insurance or the increase in your premium due to the nature of the traffic violation.

Where can I get an SR22?

Most auto insurance companies will offer the filing but not every state requires it. If you are required to file an SR22 insurance form contact a trusted car insurance provider to get a quote.

For more answers to SR22 FAQ's visit http://selectinsuranceteam.com.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Stay Afloat with Boat Insurance

M illions of Americans take to the water each year during boating season, traveling the coastlines, rivers, lakes and canals all over the country. The watercraft range from simple rowboats to jet skis to small motorboats to luxury yachts. Boat owners spend significant amounts of money buying and maintaining their boats. The need for boat insurance protection when the boat is on the water is obvious, but many boat owners question the need for it during the off-season. However, insurance is just as important when the boat is in storage as when the owner is using it.
A typical boat insurance policy provides a package of coverages, including:

* Damage to the boat, motor, and trailer;

* Damage to portable property used in the maintenance and operation of the boat, including things like anchors, life jackets, oars, tools, skis and surfboards, lights, and fire extinguishers;

* Damage to other types of property, including sports equipment, clothing, and other personal effects;

* Damage to equipment on shore, such as boat covers;

* The cost of recovering a sunk or stranded boat;

* The cost of emergency service and towing;

* Damage to non-owned or substitute boats;

* Loss of fishing tackle;

* Liability coverage for injuries or damages for which the boat owner is legally responsible; and

* Coverage for injuries the boat owner or others on the boat suffer in an accident with an uninsured watercraft.

A boat owner will need these coverages if her boat gets into a collision with another boat, or if thieves steal scuba gear from it, or if fire damages the motor. However, losses are still possible while the boat is out of the water. Progressive Insurance reports that nearly two out of every 10 boat claims it receives from northern states occur between Labor Day and Memorial Day, when most owners are not using their boats much. Some examples of losses that could occur:

* The storage building housing the boat over the winter burns to the ground.

* Vandals damage the boat in the middle of the night while it's in the owner's driveway.

* A neighbor's child, playing in the owner's yard, runs into the boat stored there and injures his head.

* Someone steals the boat and its trailer from the yard at a repair shop.

* While the boat is stored in the yard, heavy snow melt causes a flash flood that damages the boat's interior, including the mechanical system and the radio.

Some insurance companies offer "disappearing deductibles," where the deductibles for collision and damage losses from other causes decrease by a certain amount for every claim-free year the policyholder has. Those companies will grant this benefit only to boat owners who keep their insurance continuously in force with them.

Other discounts are related to safety equipment kept on the boat. Having items like fire extinguishers approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and ship-to-shore radio equipment could reduce the amount of the premium. Also, completing a boater's safety course offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, or the U.S. Power Squadrons can gain some favor with the insurance company.

A professional insurance agent can provide advice on the types and amounts of coverage a boat owner needs. She can also recommend insurance companies that have expertise in boating, good claims-paying practices, and reasonable prices. Insuring a boat all year round can be expensive, but compared to the cost of a large uninsured loss, it may well be worth the cost.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Why Should I Work With An Agent?

The internet has made shopping for insurance easier. Instead of driving around town to meet with an agent, you can compare rates, benefits, and apply online. Some insurance companies even let you apply right from their website.

Does it still make sense to have an agent help you choose a plan? You bet.

Agents are insurance experts. Itýs their job to help you shop plans from leading carriers so you can be confident youýve found the best rates and benefits for you.

4 Reasons To Work With An Insurance Agent
When you consider all the benefits, working with an agent just makes good sense.

Agents guide you through the process. Buying an insurance policy can be complicated. An agent walks you through each step of the process and helps you make sense of all the "insurance-talk".
Agents offer you choice. Your agent has a portfolio of plans to choose from, and will know which policy will protect you the best.
Agents troubleshoot mistakes. A mistake on your application can cause a company to raise your rates or even reject your application. Your agent will help you fill out your application correctly so you get the rates you deserve.
It's free. This is the best part about getting insurance through an agent. Agents collect payment from the companies they represent. So you get all the advice you want, absolutely free.
As professional agents, we're happy to help you find the best plan. You can compare popular plans on our website, too. Get started now with your free online quotes.

Why You Should Buy Your Own Health Insurance Policy

For years, Americans expected their health insurance to be provided by their employers. Health coverage came standard with most jobs, and many people never worried about paying their doctor and hospital bills.

Those days are gone. Today, the rising cost of healthcare means that most companies can't afford to offer coverage. And now more and more people are looking at individual health insurance.

Individual Health Makes More Sense
Many people think that individual health coverage is more expensive that group health coverage. And many people think it's hard to find individual coverage that offers comprehensive health protection.

The reality is that individual health insurance offers several advantages over group health insurance. Sure, it'd be nice if your boss paid ever last dime of your health premium — but that's getting rarer and rarer. Employers keep shifting more costs onto their employee's shoulders. For many American workers, every few months means a bigger chunk of their paycheck going to pay for their “employer-sponsored” insurance policy. And many workers are finding that these insurance policies leave plenty to be desired.

The Advantages Of Having Your Own Health Policy
There are several advantages to owning your own health policy.

The right coverage for you. With group coverage, everyone gets stuffed into the same policy. You end up paying for benefits you'll never use… and your own unique healthcare needs often get overlooked. In an individual policy, you get health coverage that's tailored for you.
Coverage you can keep. Leave a job, and you leave behind your employer-sponsored coverage. But with an individual policy, you can go wherever your career path takes you — and your health insurance comes with you.
You are only responsible for yourself. In a group policy, the cost of healthcare is spread out among everyone. That means you end up paying for everyone else's health choices. With individual coverage, you only pay for your health.
For many people, individual health insurance makes more sense. And for less than you think, you can get a comprehensive health insurance plan designed to fit your needs.

Want to learn more? Get free quotes and compare plans online. In less than a minute, you can see for yourself which plans make the most sense for you.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Are all insurance agents the same?

To get the best deal on insurance, many people consult an insurance agent or broker. But did you know that there are different kinds of insurance agents and brokers — and the one you choose can make a big difference in the type of service you get and the choices you’re offered? Here’s the difference:

Captive Agents and Brokers — Captive agents work with a specific insurance company, and as part of their business agreement with that company, they can offer only that company’s insurance products. They may also be required to sell other products from that company, such as annuities and investment plans.

Independent Agents and Brokers — Independent agents and brokers can offer products from many insurance companies. This helps them better serve your interests, as they can review multiple options to find a policy and rate that’s right for you. Insurance rates vary from company to company. Independent agents can put together a customized insurance plan.

If you’re ready to contact an independent agent to talk about saving money on car insurance, here are a few things to consider:

•Has your life situation changed recently? Many factors determine auto insurance rates, not just vehicle year, make, model, body type and engine size. If you’ve recently moved, gotten married, had a birthday or experienced a similar life milestone, mention this to an independent agent or broker. You may be eligible to save money on your car insurance.
•Is your car getting older? You don’t always need the same level of physical damage coverage on older cars as on newer ones. If you drive an older car, an independent agent or broker can advise you on what level of coverage makes the most sense. Raising your deductible could save you money each year, too.
•Do you have another type of vehicle that also needs coverage? If you have a motorcycle, boat, RV or other “toy,” you might save money by having it covered by the same company that insures your car. Talk to an independent agent or broker about it.

Another plus to working with an independent agent or broker is their ability to offer guidance for all your insurance needs—auto, home, life, business and more. They can customize a package of policies just for you.

Did You Know?
Unlike captive agents, independent agents and brokers can offer products from many insurance companies. This helps them better serve your interests, as they can review multiple options to find a policy and rate that’s right for you. visit selectinsuranceteam.com for more details

Get the Insurance Policy Discounts You Deserve

One in five drivers aren’t taking advantage of all the car insurance discounts available to them, according to a survey by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.

To make sure you’re getting the savings you deserve, ask your independent agent for a policy review. Some of the discounts you could be taking advantage of include:

•Multi-vehicle discounts. If you have another car, or a motorcycle, boat or RV that you tool around in on the weekends, you could save by insuring all of your vehicles with the same company.
•Pay up front. Some insurance companies will give you a break if you pay in full instead of monthly.
•Paperless savings. You could save big—and save a tree—if you choose paperless billing. In most states, Progressive offers discounts to customers who get electronic statements and sign their policy documents online.
•Loyal customer. Sticking with the same company can have benefits. Loyal Progressive customers can take advantage of discounts as well as perks like accident forgiveness.
•Student savings. If your teen is a good student, or away at school and not regularly driving your car, you could get a discount.
Talk to your independent agent for more information on discounts that might be available to you.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Secret Health Insurance tax deductions for your Small Business

For those who are self-employed or own a small business, there is a Federal tax deduction for your health insurance. There is also a refundable tax credit for those who are self-employed in Missouri. Contact your CPA for the details or call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT for more money-saving tips..

How Can I Find Affordable Health Insurance in Missouri?

So you need affordable health insurance in Missouri? Luckily for you, we have made a sophisticated tool to assist with your search. With it, you can compare different health insurance plans to find the best price and coverage for you. Simply CLICK HERE to receive your free comparison of affordable health insurance in Missouri or Call us for FREE at 1-855-GET-SELECT Ext 101. Yep, it’s that easy.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

An insurance broker can help you save cash!

We all like having to pay our monthly insurance fees, right? We simply can't wait until those payments start emptying our accounts like clockwork soon after payday, right? I am certain that you will agree that those are two of the silliest assertions you've heard in a long time!

Then why, if paying our premiums leaves such a terrible taste in our mouths, do we accept the very first policy we can get our hands on? Why don't we do a bit of homework until we discover the most cost effective insurance policies with the best cover? Won't paying our insurance policies month after month then be a bit less agonizing?

One of the best ways to discover insurance plans is by making use of an insurance broker.

Most "normal" people don't possess extensive knowledge of the insurance industry.

If the insurance company suggests that I take advantage of policy A, and that I must also select policy B, C, and D in addition to that (to receive the best coverage of course!) it's almost guaranteed that the average buyer will believe them and that I will most likely end up paying 5 times more than necessary.

An insurance broker in contrast, makes a living off insurance! Selling insurance policies is their "8 hours a day 5 days a week" job and that makes them experts in the field!

The good thing about having a broker is that they will not be charging you anything more - you might in fact end up saving cash! Yes, of course these brokers have to get paid for their products and services, but this is usually in a form of commission from the insurance companies. These commissions already form part of your month-to-month premium, regardless of whether you use a broker or not. Yes it's true! If client An opts for policy A from company A without using a broker, client A will be paying the same for this specific policy than client B would be when making use of a broker.

Another positive point about using the expert services of an insurance broker is that they do not work for a particular insurance provider (don't confuse an insurance broker with an insurance agent like a state farm, american family, farmers, shelter, or allstate). For this reason your broker will be able to provide you with numerous quotations and choices from various insurance agencies. They will also know which policies and companies to steer away from.

Having access to an insurance broker is almost like having your own insurance personal assistant. You can settle back and relax while they handle everything - from the first quote to the actual pay-out of a claim following an accident!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

3 Health Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you're perusing your employer's open-season packet or weighing your options after getting a pink slip, you may be facing some critical decisions about health coverage. Avoid these three common pitfalls.


Focusing on premiums alone.

A higher-premium policy with low co-payments could be a better deal than a lower-premium policy. For example, if your doctor is out of network, how much will you pay for each visit? And how many of the medications you take are brand-name drugs? Many insurers are now charging coinsurance rather than fixed co-pays for generic, brand-name and specialty drugs. Your cost for a specialty drug could be as high as 38% of the cost of the medication. So if you take expensive medicines, you may end up paying hundreds of dollars more a year. Your best bet, if you can find it, may be a policy that still charges co-pays for out-of-network visits and prescription drugs.

Skimping on coverage limits.

One of the costliest mistakes you can make is to buy a policy with inadequate coverage. These policies may look attractive because they have low premiums and deductibles. But a maximum benefit of as little as $50,000 to $100,000 per accident or illness could leave you with tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. Also beware of policies with long lists of exclusions and low dollar limits for each type of procedure.

A better way to lower your premiums is to buy a high-deductible policy with a coverage limit of at least $1 million ($3 million or $5 million would be even better). If you buy a policy with a deductible of at least $1,150 for single coverage or $2,300 for family coverage in 2009, you can also make tax-deductible contributions to a health savings account and use the money tax-free for medical expenses in any year.

Ignoring alternatives to COBRA.

If you lose your job, you may sign up for coverage under COBRA, the federal law that lets you keep health insurance under your former employer's plan for up to 18 months. The economic-stimulus plan provides a 65% subsidy for COBRA premiums for up to nine months for people who are laid off between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. But after the subsidy ends, you'll pay full freight. The average employer policy costs $4,700 a year for individuals and $12,600 for families, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

If you have health issues, COBRA may still be your best option. But if you're healthy, you may find a better deal on your own. Get price quotes at www.selectinsuranceteam.com or click here to check out Assurant's Affordable Health access Plans

For more important insurance information, follow us on Twitter (Selectbrokers)

Steve Ludwig
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) Ext 1

Thursday, July 7, 2011

OnStar® offers one year of free service to qualifying Safeco policyholders

Safeco,one of the companies that Select Insurance Group represents, pursues partnerships with best-in-class companies to offer you benefits that promote safe driving. OnStar, a company that aims at improving vehicle safety, is offering a free year of service to qualifying Safeco policyholders.

OnStar currently offers their advanced connection technology, including features such as in-vehicle security, hands-free calling, turn-by-turn navigation, crash response, and remote diagnostics systems, on more than 40 General Motors (GM) car models. Safeco policyholders who own an OnStar®-enabled car, and who don’t currently use the service, are eligible for this promotion.

*Please note: Safeco will not provide policyholder’s private information to OnStar

Laid off? COBRA Insurance comes with quite the bite!

What Is COBRA?

COBRA insurance may be an option for health care coverage if you have been laid off.

If your former employer has 20 or more employees, the company is required by a 1986 federal law to offer you the option to pay for an extension of your health insurance coverage for at least 18 months. This law is known as COBRA, which stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.At the time you are laid off, your employer must inform you in writing about your rights under COBRA. You then have 60 days from the date of the notice or the date your health insurance ended to enroll, or sign up for coverage under COBRA. If your company went out of business or went bankrupt, COBRA will not be available.

How Much Does COBRA Cost?

When you sign up for COBRA, you will continue to have similar health insurance and the same health plan benefits that you had while employed. However, you must pay the health insurance premium that you paid before you were laid off plus the amount your former employer was paying for you. The employer may also add a 2% administrative fee.

Depending on your individual circumstances, COBRA can be very expensive. If you are getting coverage for yourself, you may have to pay up to $400 per month; family coverage may be more than $1000 per month!!! These amounts will vary depending on the benefits provided by your employer's health plan.
What If I Can't Afford the Monthly COBRA Premium?
$1,000 every month is a lot of money and probably more than you expected to pay, especially if you also lost your income and are collecting unemployment insurance. For some workers, the COBRA payments can amount to more than 60% to 70% of their monthly unemployment check. Many laid-off workers who are eligible to continue their health insurance coverage through COBRA cannot afford to do so.

What Ir I can't afford the Monthly COBRA Premium?

If you cannot afford COBRA, Select Insurance Group offers Individual health insurance options that will provide the health coverage benefits at an affordable Price.

Select Insurance Group is located in multiple states and we specialize in working with families and individuals in-between-jobs. We offer a wide SELECTion of companies we work with to get you that desirable price you are looking for. Why spend hours shopping from company to company when you can hire us at no additional cost to shop all the competition and answer all your insurance questions.

Quotes are free. CLICK HERE to shop online or call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT

Steve Ludwig
Select Insurance Group
President/CEO
636-410-6219 Ext 1
www.selectinsuranceteam.com

Online Health Insurance | Online health insurance quotes | Online Medical Insurance

Online health insurance for individuals, family and self employed health insurance shoppers is what we do. Simply begin a online health insurance search by clicking here, after clicking you will be requested to place some basic profile information, which is all secure and never sold and needed to gain you an accurate quote. The online health insurance quote page will take you through 3 steps that takes less then 3 minutes to complete. Different from other online health insurance quoting sites, ours will provide both online health insurance and offline individual health insurance quotes, many high quality plans are not available online but are still great plans and policies with cheap health insurance rates that should not be skipped over. Our health insurance brokers will send you 1 email with these quotes in them and a way for you to view more information about the individual health insurance plan they are recommending. Our online health insurance system costs the consumer nothing, and is completely free to use as often as you would like. Please make your request with confidence in knowing we are a brick and mortar health insurance brokerage with over a decade of expertise working on your behalf and with the one goal of making sure your online health insurance quotes from us are the cheapest health insurance quotes you find. If you think our online system is right for you, search online health insurance.

Cheap Health Insurance | Cheaper health insurance | Cheapest Health Insurance

The term cheap health insurance seems to have become the holy grail to many individual health insurance shoppers, both as a desired outcome and as something difficult to obtain. People can spend hours on the phone and online trying to find that elusive cheap health insurance quote. They will spend considerable time trying to both get online health insurance quotes and even more to understand information about possible plans and the carriers: attempting to figure out what is covered, what the benefits are and what the restrictions are or exclusions of the plan. Occasionally a individual or family will find that perfect policy but often they just end up tired and frustrated or end up buying a cheap health insurance policy that has the price they want but not the benefits that they need if a major medical insurance event were to happen. Although a cheap health insurance plan is hard to find, when considering benefits needed, it is still possible to find affordable health insurance. Contact our individual health insurance brokers at 1-855-GET-SELECT, they will help you find cheaper health insurance without your needing to search the four corners of the earth for that elusive cheapest health insurance that may not meet the real healthcare need you and your family or employees may have.
Purchasing individual health insurance with a registered licensed health insurance broker is your best bet at being able to buy quality cheaper health insurance and still get the major medical insurance benefits you would expect in your policy. Our health insurance brokers will not just provide you with the cheap insurance quote, but they will actually take the time to go over the individual health insurance information with you and help you understand what you can add and take away from you plan to get that rates down to a cheaper health insurance price. Click HERE to compare online health insurance rates

Family Health Insurance Quotes - Family health insurance

A Family health insurance quote is the same as an individual health insurance quote. When people think of looking for insurance not only for themselves but for their entire family, they may not think of individual health insurance. But not only is individual health insurance for the individual, it can be for the family health insurance needs as well. Most individual health insurance carriers (family health insurance) have a plans for families. These family plans have advantages over placing each member of the family on a separate individual policy, by placing everyone on one plan together a significant discount in price is provided.. In some cases the maximum out of pocket is lower, or the deductible only has to be met by two members of the family or just one. There is also the advantage of a single bill and one policy. Often an insurance broker is both knowledgeable experienced with individual health insurance companies and policies. Our insurance brokers deal with not only family health insurance quotes, but individuals and can help you and your family find effective and economical family health insurance. Click HERE for a FREE quote!

Affordable Health Insurance | Affordable Health Insurance Quotes | Affordable Medical Insurance

We understand that the rising cost of individual health insurance is costing consumers a large amount of their family budget. Due to this our professional health insurance brokers go the extra mile and search through a wide array of affordable health insurance quotes in order to bring you the very best options in your area. We pride ourselves on lowering your individual health insurance bill and increasing your coverage most of the cases we handle. In the end we goal is to gain you an affordable health insurance quote that provides the needed coverages to make sure your family is secure if anything should ever happen. We do not sell discount or limited plans that can cost people huge when filing a medical claim.

We set ourselves apart from other online health insurance portals by also looking for offline affordable health insurance quotes for you as well, and by providing preferred individual health insurance rates. Our clients claim they find better more affordable health insurance quotes this way then any other. We also will help explain the differences in medical plans for you and consult you to determine what benefits are important to you and which ones are not. By doing this we can identify parts of a medical policy that are not important and eliminate that portion of coverage and bring your rates down even more, the end results is the affordable health insurance we keep talking about. Our online health insurance brokers are ready to go to work for you and at no cost to you, simply click here to get started

Affordable Self Employed Health Insurance | Self employed health insurance quotes

Self Employed health insurance shoppers are small business owners whom are often in need of individual health insurance specially designed to cover you 24 hours so that you are covered while working as a self employed person of independent contractor. When you are self employed you can't rely on your company to supply your health insurance care needs, you are the company. As such you need to find affordable self employed health insurance. This is by no means difficult if you know what to look for and watch out for, there are many companies who supply self employed health insurance plans for the individual small business owner. The trick is to find a reputable company who can supply a policy which fits your needs but is still affordable. When you submit your quote request with our system it is immediately reviewed by a live licensed health insurance broker who specializes in assisting the self employed in finding coverage. Our health insurance brokers have assisted in thousands of policies and have specialized in helping the self employed community find quality cheap health insurance for over a decade. Once you submit you quote to us, we will review all the plans available in your area and only send you the plans that best meet your needs as a small business owner and have the most competative rates in your area. This is all done within a few minutes of when you submit your request for a online health insurance quote. To begin simply click here.
Self Employed Health Insurance TIP: Many people think by going direct to a carrier they can get cheaper health insurance, but in reality health insurance brokers can help you access preferred health insurance rates as well as plans from many companies at once and as a independent party they are always wanting to gain you access to the cheapest health insurance quotes available.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

How does having a pool affect my home insurance rates?

Having a pool can affect your home insurance rates in a significant way. Your homeowners insurance is all about providing coverage against financial loss from listed perils including liability, as well as things such as fire, theft, storm damage and more.

The premium you pay the insurer is based on how much of a risk you and your home present. Those with a swimming pool have a greatly increased risk of a potentially costly liability claim. Therefore you should expect to pay higher home insurance rates than those with no pool.

Read on to learn all of the details about homeowners insurance and swimming pools and then to find the very best home insurance rates just enter your zip above to start finding the best insurance!

What’s The Big Deal About Pools?
Having a swimming pool means that you have added yet one more way a person can get hurt or injured to your home. According to the Center for Disease Control, 3200 people drown yearly. Over 300 children under the age of 5 die from drowning in home spas and pools yearly. Over 50% of childhood drownings take place in a pool at the child’s home. 33% take place in a pool owned by a relative, friend or neighbor. Even those rescued from pools often die later in hospital. Amongst those who survive, 1 in 5 suffers serious, permanent brain damage. Medical costs from near-drownings can be very high, because often they are lifelong.

Apart from the obvious drowning risk, having a pool is considered to be an attractive nuisance. What that means is that even if you are not in your pool or watching your pool, others who know that you have a pool may come and use it for their own pleasure. It could result in a serious accident occurring at your pool by people you have not authorized to use it. Despite the fact that they are unwanted guests, you can still be held liable for their injuries on your property, especially in light of having an attractive nuisance.

What You Can Do To Reduce The Effect Of A Pool On Your Insurance
Having a pool means that your homeowner’s insurance will cost more because of the increased risk of personal injury. In addition, most insurers will suggest that you carry higher than typical liability coverage. The claims involved with pool injuries and death tend to be very costly, necessitating the extra coverage.

If you have a swimming pool, you should know that there are things you can do to minimize the impact of it on your homeowners insurance premium. You should make sure it is not visible from the front of your home. Install safety features such as a fence or locked gate around it. Things like slides and diving boards increase your liability risk and should be avoided also. You should also implement rules concerning the safe use of your pool to minimize the risk of injury.

Covering the Pool Itself
The physical swimming pool is covered under your homeowners insurance as an “other structure.” Therefore typically it will be covered up to 10% of the value of your home coverage for losses that incur through one of the covered perils. Therefore if your home is covered for $200,000, your pool will have $20,000 coverage. However, if you live in a cold climate, make sure you properly winterize your pool, because damage from freezing and thawing is not covered by your homeowners insurance.

To best protect yourself, all pool owners should carry higher levels of personal liability on their homeowners insurance than the $100,000 liability limit that is standard for many policies. If you have significant assets you are at even greater risk for liability and should raise your coverage accordingly in order to provide good financial protection. You may also want to consider taking out an umbrella liability policy in addition to your homeowners policy for added protection.

When you are in the market for a good homeowners insurance policy to protect your home, its contents, your pool and yourself from potential losses from liability, be sure to shop around. Different insurance companies have differing policies concerning pools. Some will require you to put certain safety features in place. Others will require raised liability limits. You may also find a big difference in premiums because of your pool. Therefore it pays to shop around for the best coverage and the best price.

Compare Pool Insurance Quotes
To quickly and easily get the quotes you need, click here. All you have to do is enter your zip code and answer questions about your home and your insurance needs, and your information will be submitted to a variety of insurers offering coverage in your area. In no time, you will have all the quotes you need to compare and choose from. Get started now with our online quote finder for quick, easy home insurance shopping.

Floods - Don't Rely on Disaster Assistance!

Floods? That's what disaster assistance is for, right?

Wrong - Disaster assistance is only available when the President declares a disaster. Federal disaster assistance is USUALLY A LOAN that you must PAY BACK WITH INTEREST. For a $50,000 loan at 4% interest, your monthly payment would be around $240 a month ($2,880 per year) for 30 years, in addition to your mortgage loan that you still owe on the damaged property. Plus you would need to buy and maintain flood insurance for the life of the loan.

Flood Insurance is affordable! The average premium for flood insurance coverage is less than $570 a year (even less outside of high risk zones). Plus, when you submit a flood insurance claim, you are compensated for all covered losses whether or not a disaster has been declared - and you do not have to pay it back.

There is a standard 30-day waiting period for new policies unless purchased during a home closing. There are also restrictions for selling or changing policies while a named storm is in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information, call your Select Insurance Group Agent at: 855-GET-SELECT or visit www.selectinsuranceteam.com

Are You Properly Insured with Your Home Based Business?

People who work out of their homes face the unique risk of losing both their home AND their source of income. Despite this fact, many home-based business owners do not purchase separate insurance for their businesses. Home owner’s policies vary, but many will provide a minimal amount of coverage for home-based business property. Liability on a homeowner’s policy may provide coverage for employment such as a baby sitter, but NOT for employees of your home-based business.

There are options for gaining affordable insurance for your home-based business. Some home owner’s policies offer a home-based-business endorsement for very small businesses (a few thousand a year in income). For larger businesses, especially if you have employees, a stand-alone Home Business Policy is more appropriate.

If you gross over $250,000, or employ more than three workers, you may have problems. Also, you can’t usually bundle coverage with a home owner’s policy if you have a co-owner who isn’t a relative, or who doesn’t live in the home. In such cases, consider a more comprehensive business owners policy, known as a “BOP.”

Why Is It So Difficult to Insure a Vacant Home?

Why Is It So Difficult to Insure a Vacant Home?

Vacant homes can be attractive to burglars and vagrants, who can access empty property more easily than occupied homes and cause damage.

And if you're not living in the property full-time, it's probably not getting the same proper care or attention as an owner-occupied property. The vacant property could sustain lots of damage if, for example, a pipe bursts or a branch falls on the roof. It's the responsibility of the homeowner to address problems right away and prevent further damage.

Insurance is about leverage. You pay a small consideration (the premium) for a large sum of money in return (the benefit). Check with me on how vacant properties are treated to make sure you're covered for both physical damage and liability. There is a big difference and experience really counts in this category.

call me for your free vacant home insurance consultation at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)

summer toys: Insuring your pool, trampoline, or boat

Winters are long and cold where I live in the St. Charles, MO. When summer finally arrives, all you want to do is take advantage of the warmer weather-whether it's riding a jet ski at the lake or taking a dip in the pool at home.

These "toys" are what summer's all about, but there's always that chance of someone getting hurt using them-which puts a real damper on the fun. Because of that risk, it's smart to have insurance coverage to protect you.

If your summertime fun involves a recreational vehicle (RV), an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a personal watercraft (PWC) like a jet ski or a wave runner, a boat, a golf cart, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a trampoline, a pool, or even a swing set, you should consider the possibility of an accident and how to protect yourself before it happens.

What Kind of Insurance Coverage Do You Need for Your Summer Toys?

Review the types of insurance available to you for your particular toy. You will need to consider physical damage coverage for your property as well as liability insurance. Most insurance policies also include coverage for property damage to others and coverage that will reimburse you or a guest for hospital or doctor bills.

Property Damage: If you're thinking about getting property damage coverage, estimate the value of your property and how much you would lose. If you have an RV or a boat, you're probably looking at a pretty sizable loss without insurance. We usually recommend choosing the highest liability limit the underlying policy has to offer and then adding an umbrella policy to your portfolio.

Liability Insurance: If you or a guest is injured while using one of your summer toys, medical bills can add up quickly. A guest could even sue you if he or she is injured on your property. If you're worried about legal action or high medical bills not covered by your homeowner's policy, you should talk to your insurance provider about adding extra liability coverage to your homeowner's insurance plan, or take a look at an umbrella policy.

Umbrella Coverage: If you have an umbrella liability policy, don't forget to include your summer toys on this extended liability coverage. Confirm that your umbrella carrier will allow any of these toys to be included. Some carriers may not allow personal watercraft to be included.

Trampolines
Kids love trampolines, but they carry significant risks. Check with your carrier to make sure your homeowner's insurance policy covers a trampoline. Some carriers prefer not to absorb that exposure, and some may cancel or decline to renew your policy if they find out you have one on your property.

Pools
Physical damage to an underground pool is probably not covered on your homeowner's policy if "earth movement" is specifically excluded. An aboveground pool may be protected by "other structures" coverage in the policy. Medical expenses and liability coverage on the homeowner's policy will provide some coverage if a guest is injured.

Boats
Your homeowner's policy can include a boat up to a certain length. Check with your carrier on its size limitation. However, I usually recommend insuring your boat on a separate policy altogether. That way, if there's a claim, it doesn't count against your homeowner's policy.

Just like sunscreen protects your skin from sunburn, insurance will help protect your finances in the event of a lawsuit. Claims are considered a blemish on your record. The more claims you have, the higher a risk you are considered to be. You'll have to pay higher premiums, and you may even have trouble getting coverage.

And just as important as being properly insured is exercising all safety precautions when operating your summer toys, to keep them fun and safe.

Discuss with your agent what kind of summer toys you have and how you will be using them to determine how much insurance you need to protect your assets, your lifestyle, your health, and your well-being.

Steve Ludwig is a licensed insurance agent at Select Insurance Group with a broad spectrum of expertise in accident, health, property and casualty insurance as well as specializing in working with the individual.
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affordable health insurance top 10 ways to save

Top 10 Ways to Save on Health Insurance

There is a great assortment of health insurance plans available in this country. Cost, however, should not be the only reason to commit to any particular plan. By looking for plans that match the necessities of your family, you will be able to adequately protect your loved ones while saving big on money. Below, you will find ten great suggestions for cutting costs on your health insurance plan.

1. Health insurance premiums are all very different, so it is important to make comparisons between many health insurance quotes. Look over the benefits of several different plans and their monthly premiums. It is important that the plan offer sufficient catastrophic coverage and a lifetime maximum benefit of at least two million dollars.

2. We suggest raising your deductible. A high deductible almost guarantees a low monthly premium; however, you will be held accountable for paying your medical bills on your own dollar until the deductible is reached. Plans are available that can remove the deductible for expenses such as office visits, preventative care, prescriptions, and accidental injuries.

3. Consider the cost of co-insurance. This is the fee that your insurance provider pays after meeting your deductible. Companies tend to pay 80% of medical bills after the deductible of usually five to ten thousan dollars, and the insurance company usually covers bills over the annual maximum in full. Some companies will offer 50% co-insurance plans, which can lower monthly premiums; however, for someone who makes regular doctor visits, these plans can cost more money over time.

4. Ensure that the insurance policy meets your medical service provider needs. Insurance plans usually have a list of providers, which offer services for your insurance plan at a reduced cost. By going outside the list of preferred providers, you risk the insurance company only paying a portion of your medical fees.

5. Get a separate policy for each family member. Particularly for children under 18 and older family members, individualized plans can mean saving extra dollars on a health insurance policy.

6. Take the health insurance offered by your workplace. Employers typically pay a portion of or the entirety of an employee's premium; however, they tend to not offer the same services for dependents. If your dependents do not make frequent doctor visits, it may be helpful to consider separate plans based on their needs.

7. Consider COBRA Alternatives. Former employees can participate in COBRA plans, as they offer an extension of an employer-sponsored plan. Individual plans can often help healthy COBRA participants save money. However, those who need repeated medical attention should not consider alternatives, as they can be denied coverage as a result of medical health history.

8. Reduce the risk of being denied coverage. The majority of states offer health insurance plans for people unable to get health insurance from regular providers because of serious medical conditions that require consistent care. High-risk plans are often expensive, which is why it is important to qualify for the plans offered under traditional insurance carriers. Make sure your insurance company knows when a condition has been remedied and no longer needs additional care or medicine.

9. Get a high deductible plan that works with a health savings account. Through a Health Savings Account you can place money into a separate account that will earn interest and be immune to taxes. This account can be used to pay regular medical fees. These accounts work with high deductible plans, which means you will not pay as many premiums. The savings earned by these accounts reduce the potential of not being able to pay for unanticipated medical bills.

10. Learn about government assisted health programs. These plans are typically available to those living below the poverty level; however, there are states that provide assistance programs for those living above the poverty level too. Government assistance comes through subsidies that partially pay premiums for regular health insurance providers.