Insurance Coverage: Know Your ChoicesAt Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc., we understand the importance of protecting your home and everything inside it. That's why we offer a range of comprehensive home insurance policies that cater to your unique needs and preferences. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing top-notch customer service and protecting homeowners in League City, TX, and the surrounding communities.
Our homeowners insurance policies include coverage for damages caused by natural disasters, theft, and other unforeseen circumstances. You can have peace of mind knowing that your most important investment is safeguarded under our policies. Additionally, we offer competitive rates and a simple process for obtaining a personalized insurance quote that fits your budget. Our agency has been serving the Texas Gulf Coast communities for over three generations, and our reputation speaks for itself. Continue reading to learn more about how our home insurance policies can provide you with the protection you deserve. “Open Perils” and “Named Perils” Coverage A peril, as referred to in an insurance policy, is a cause of loss, such as fire or theft. Coverage can be provided on an “all perils” basis, or a “named perils” basis. Named Perils policies list exactly what is covered by the policy, while Open Perils (or All Perils) policies will list what is excluded from coverage. Named Perils policies are generally more restrictive. A dwelling policy usually provides coverage for both the dwelling and contents on a named perils basis, while a homeowners policy usually provides coverage for the dwelling on an all perils basis, and for the contents on a named perils basis. Package Versus Peril-Specific Coverage A package policy provides coverage for multiple, but usually not all perils. A homeowners policy, for example, is a package policy typically providing coverage for the perils of fire, lightning, and extended coverage. Extended coverage includes coverage for the perils of windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, vandalism, malicious mischief, theft, and breakage of glass. Some policies, such as earthquake or flood policies, provide coverage for specific perils that are often excluded in package policies. Fire and sprinkler leakage damage as a result of an earthquake may be covered by a standard homeowners policy. To purchase the most appropriate insurance, it is important for you to consider what additional perils you may face. And, you should always verify what is covered in your specific policy. Does My Policy Cover That? 1. Earthquakes – Most property insurance policies exclude coverage for losses resulting from earthquakes (although they often cover losses related to fires following earthquakes). Separate policies are typically required to ensure coverage against losses from earthquakes. Some states with risk of loss from earthquakes have government mandated insurance plans that provide earthquake coverage to property owners who are unable to obtain insurance through the voluntary market. (See page 8 for explanation of voluntary and involuntary markets.) 2. Flood – Most property insurance policies exclude coverage for losses resulting from flood. So unless you purchase a flood policy, you do not have coverage for flood losses. (For a more comprehensive discussion of flood insurance, please see Preparing for a Flood, page 25.) 3. Hail – Most property insurance policies provide coverage for losses resulting from hail. Hail is a named peril, meaning for coverage to apply under a “Named Perils” policy, hail must be defined as a covered peril. 4. Hurricanes – Most property insurance policies provide coverage for losses resulting from hurricanes, except for flood loss associated with the hurricane. (See Preparing for a Flood, page 25, for more information.) However, some policies only provide limited coverage for hurricanes, or require that a higher deductible be purchased specifically for the hurricane peril. Most states with risk of loss from hurricanes have government mandated insurance plans that provide hurricane coverage to property owners who are unable to obtain insurance through the voluntary market. (See page 8 for explanation of voluntary and involuntary markets.) 5. Tornadoes – Most property insurance policies provide coverage for losses resulting from tornadoes (although they do not cover losses resulting from the peril of flood; see Preparing for a Flood, page 25, for insurance availability). While tornadoes may not be specifically mentioned as a covered form of loss, tornado losses are one event covered under the broader term windstorm. Windstorm includes tornadoes, straight-line winds and hurricanes. However, there may be instances where coverages and deductibles may apply specifically to hurricane and not to all windstorms.6. Wildfires – All property insurance policies provide coverage for losses resulting from fires. Depending on the level of exposure, you may need to consider a higher deductible to obtain coverage, or keep it affordable. Most states have coverage available via the FAIR plan, or a JUA, if the voluntary market is not willing to provide coverage. 6. Wildfires – All property insurance policies provide coverage for losses resulting from fires. Depending on the level of exposure, you may need to consider a higher deductible to obtain coverage, or keep it affordable. Most states have coverage available via the FAIR plan, or a JUA, if the voluntary market is not willing to provide coverage. How Much Insurance Is Enough? Depending on the type of policy, the different dwelling coverage options could be: 1. Replacement Cost Coverage 2. Actual Cash Value 3. Special Payment - loss is paid before dwelling is repaired, rebuilt or replaced. 4. Functional Replacement Cost or Market Value Coverage - repairs are made using common, modern materials and methods without deduction for depreciation unless repairs are not made, and if a total loss, the payment amount will be the market value of the home. 5. Stated Value - a selected value is established by the insured, and this value is the limit of liability. Depending on the coverage you select at the time of purchase of your policy, if you should incur a loss, the settlement of that loss will vary. A loss can be settled based on a replacement cost, repair cost, or actual cash value basis. Replacement cost is not the market value of your home, nor is it the tax-assessed value. It is the cost to replace the damaged property, with no reduction for depreciation of the damaged property. Actual cash value is the cost to replace the damaged property reduced by an allowance for depreciation. Functional cost or market value (also known as repair cost) is the cost to repair the damaged property with equivalent construction for similar use. An example of functional replacement would be to replace a plaster wall with drywall. If stated value coverage is selected, the maximum amount paid at the time of loss is the value of the policy, even if the loss amount is larger than the value of the policy. Personal Property Coverage Choices Depending on type of policy, the different personal property coverage options could be: 1. Replacement Cost Coverage 2. Actual Cash Value What Does Insurance-to-Value Ratio Mean? This is the relationship of the amount of insurance purchased to the replacement value of the property. It is important to have an accurate assessment of the replacement cost value of your home. If you do not, and then have a loss, the cost to actually replace your home may be more than your insurance policy will provide. That means you would be responsible for covering the difference. Major catastrophes, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires can often create a demand surge for materials and labor, resulting in increased costs to replace damaged property. This must be considered when establishing the appropriate replacement cost for your property. Most property policies require that the property be insured to at least 80% of the replacement cost, or loss payments will be reduced by a proportion of the insured value to 80% of replacement value. This is referred to as the coinsurance penalty. It is also important to realize that other limits within your policy are a percentage of the dwelling coverage amount. For example, the limit of coverage for your personal property will usually be at 50% of the dwelling limit. Additional coverage is available via endorsement, and is typically increased if you purchase replacement cost coverage for your contents. Replacement Cost Coverage In order to qualify for replacement cost coverage, you will most likely be required to insure your property to at least 80% of the replacement cost. As long as this requirement is met, and if you have a total loss, your insurance policy will cover the total cost of replacing your home. Further, if the property is not insured to at least the 80% value, then the payment for partial losses may be reduced. Additional Limits in Case of Total Loss Many insurance companies offer an endorsement that will provide the full coverage to replace the property in the event of a total loss. Usually, the company requires that the property be insured to at least 100% of the replacement cost of the property in order to qualify for this additional coverage. As long as this requirement is met, if you have a total loss and it costs more to replace than your limit (from a misestimate or demand surge), your insurance policy will be increased. The amount of the increase depends on the endorsement purchased, and can be anywhere from 25% to 100%. Optional Coverages Additional coverages may either be included in your policy, or available for a separate price. Coverages like building code upgrades, which provide coverage for upgrades that the community requires for building codes when a home is being repaired or rebuilt as a result of a covered loss, may be available separately. Also, optional coverage for perils, such as earthquake insurance, is often purchased to supplement a homeowners policy. Ways You May Be Able To Affect Your Premium Adjust The Deductible A deductible is the amount of loss paid by the policyholder before any loss is paid by the insurer. The larger the deductible, the lower the premium. A policy may have different deductibles based on the peril of the loss. Many insurers are selling homeowners insurance policies with percentage deductibles for storm damage instead of the traditional dollar value deductibles that are used for other types of claims such as fire damage and theft. One of the more common percentage deductibles is the hurricane percentage deductible, which applies to damage solely from hurricanes. Therefore a policyholder may have a $1,000 deductible for fire losses, but a 2% deductible for hurricane losses. Hurricane percentage deductibles can be very significant. An earthquake policy could add a third deductible that could very well differ from all deductibles in the homeowners policy for the same property. Dollar Deductibles – The dollar value the insured must pay before the insurance company will pay the remainder of the claim. With a policy that has a $500 standard deductible, for example, the policyholder must pay the first $500 out of pocket. Some insurers are selling policies with higher dollar deductibles for hurricane and earthquake damage. The higher the deductible for a given policy, the lower the premium, since the insured is bearing more of the risk. Percentage Deductibles – Percentage deductibles are based on the home’s insured value. So if a house is insured for $100,000 and has a 2% deductible, the first $2,000 (or 2% of the insurance value of $100,000) of a claim must be paid out of the policyholder’s pocket. In many states, policyholders have the option of paying a higher premium if they would rather have a traditional dollar deductible instead of a percentage one, or if they prefer to have a lower percentage deductible. Percentage deductibles are sometimes mandatory. Note that with a percentage deductible, the dollar value changes as the insured value changes. Qualify For Discounts Discounts vary widely by state and insurer. It is recommended that homeowners check the prices of multiple insurance companies before choosing a company to provide insurance coverage. The following list of potential discounts is not intended to be complete: 1. Discounts may be offered for purchasing home and auto insurance from the same insurer. 2. Discounts may be available for homes with smoke detectors, burglar alarms, or dead-bolt locks. 3. Homes with sprinkler systems may also be eligible for discounts. 4. Discounts may be available for policyholders that are at least 55 years old and retired. 5. Some professional, alumni, and business groups qualify for discounts from some insurers. 6. Sometimes insurers give discounts for long-term policyholders. 7. The extent to which the homeowner has protected the structure from windstorm may make the home eligible for discounts for shutters, superior roof construction and connection, or other such mitigation techniques. Take Care Of Your Home 1. Prior Loss – A “prior loss” is one that has occurred to the home prior to applying for insurance. The current owner of the home may or may not have been the owner of the home at the time of the loss. The treatment of prior losses varies widely by insurer. The treatment also varies widely by state. In certain areas, insurers may surcharge policies that have had a prior loss within a certain period of time. 2. Repair of Existing Conditions – Many insurers consider the existing condition of the home when determining the premium for the policy and also the availability of certain coverages or policies. Some insurers may provide a price break to policies where there has been a recent roof renovation. Different roof types may also be eligible for a discount. Complete renovations of plumbing or electrical systems may be eligible for lower premiums. 3. Post Event – It is the responsibility of the insured, and in the insured’s interest, to reduce further loss once an incident has occurred. For example, if a window is broken during a hurricane, the insured should cover the window to prevent rain from getting in the house. The costs for these actions are usually covered by the insurer. |
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