|
General
FAQ's |
 |
| Q: |
What kinds of questions should I be
expected to answer when I am applying for an insurance policy? Why do
insurers need so much information? |
|
A: |
When you apply for an insurance policy, you
will be asked a number of questions. For example, the agent might ask you
your name, age, gender, address, etc. In addition, you will be asked a
number of other questions which will be used to determine how likely you
are to make a claim.
When an insurance company is deciding whether or not to offer
automobile insurance to a potential customer, it will want to know about
the person's previous driving record, whether they have any recent
accidents or tickets, and what type of car is to be insured.
Insurance companies have different programs for different customers.
Adults with good driving records will generally pay less for auto
insurance than will a young driver with traffic tickets. In order to
determine which program you qualify for, an insurance company needs basic
information about you.
In addition to your age, gender and driving experience, information
about the vehicle you drive, and how you drive it, is also needed to
determine a fair price. For example, a large luxury car costs more to
repair or replace than a sub-compact; and, someone who commutes 30 miles
each way is more likely to be in an accident than someone who rides the
bus to work and drives only on weekends. |
 |
|
Q: |
What are the advantages to using an agent
to purchase insurance? |
|
A: |
By using an agent to purchase insurance, the
policyholder receives more personal service. An agent with whom there is
direct contact can be vital when purchasing a product and absolutely
necessary when filing a claim. A local, independent agent is able to
deliver quality insurance with competitive pricing and local personalized
service. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Auto FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
What should I consider when purchasing
automobile insurance? |
|
A: |
There are a number of factors you should
consider when purchasing any product or service, and insurance is no
different. Here is a checklist of things you should consider when
purchasing automobile insurance.
- Don't base your decision on price alone. Base your decision on value
- what you get for what you pay. Consider the quality of the company's
claims service and consumer education.
- Purchase the amount of liability coverage which makes sense for you.
- You should decide which optional coverages you want. For example, do
you want optional physical damage coverages or is the market value of
your car too low to warrant purchasing them.
- Once you have decided what you want in your automobile insurance
policy, you can now decide from whom you would like to purchase the
insurance. For example, you may decide you like the idea of purchasing
insurance from a mutual company rather than a stock company.
|
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What are some practical things I can do to
lower my automobile insurance rates? |
|
A: |
There are a number of things you can do to
lower the cost of your automobile insurance. The easiest thing to do is to
shop around.
It is not surprising to find quotes on automobile insurance that can
vary by hundreds of dollars for the same coverage on the same car. When
you shop, be careful to make sure each insurer is offering the same
coverage. Many insurers use the ISO policy forms, but this is not always
the case.
Another way to lower the cost of your automobile insurance is to look
for any discounts that you may qualify for. For example, many insurers
will offer you a discount if you insure multiple cars under the same
policy, or if you have had a driver education class in the last five
years. Be sure to ask your agent or your company about their discount
plans.
Another easy way to lower the cost of your automobile insurance is to
increase the deductible. Simply raising your deductible from $250 to $500
can lower your premium sometimes by as much as five or ten percent.
However, you should be careful to make sure that you have the financial
resources necessary to handle the larger deductible. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
I have an older car whose current market
value is very low - do I really need to purchase automobile insurance?
|
|
A: |
Most states have enacted compulsory insurance
laws that require drivers to have at least some automobile liability
insurance. These laws were enacted to ensure that victims of automobile
accidents receive compensation when their losses are caused by the actions
of another individual who was negligent.
Except for the minimum liability coverages that you may be required to
purchase, many people with older cars decide not to purchase any of the
physical damage coverages. It is often the case that the cost of repairing
the damages to an older car is greater than its value. In these cases,
your insurer will usually just "total" the car and give you a check for
the car's market value less the deductible. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Suppose I lend my car to a friend, is
he/she covered under my automobile insurance policy? |
|
A: |
Whenever you knowingly loan your car to a
friend or an associate, he or she will be covered under your automobile
insurance policy. In fact, even if you do not give explicit permission
each time a person borrows your car, they are still covered under your
automobile insurance policy as long they had a reasonable belief that you
would have given them permission to drive the car. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What is the difference between collision
physical damage coverage and comprehensive physical damage coverage?
|
|
A: |
Collision is defined as losses you incur when
your automobile collides with another car or object. For example, if you
hit a car in a parking lot, the damages to your car will be paid under
your collision coverage.
Comprehensive provides coverage for most other direct physical damage
losses you could incur. For example, damage to your car from a hailstorm
will be covered under your comprehensive coverage.
It is important to know the differences between the collision and
comprehensive coverages for a couple of reasons.
- In order to make an informed purchasing decision about these
optional coverages, you need to know the difference between them.
- The deductibles under the collision and comprehensive coverages are
often different in amount.
|
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What factors can affect the cost of my
automobile insurance? |
|
A: |
A number of factors can affect the cost of
your automobile insurance - some of which you can control and some which
are beyond your control.
The type of car you drive, the purpose the car serves, your driving
record, and where you live can all affect how much your automobile
insurance will cost you.
Even your marital status can affect your cost of insurance. Statistics
show that married people tend to have fewer and less costly accidents than
do single people. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Homeowner FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
What is homeowners insurance and who should
buy this type of coverage? |
|
A: |
Homeowners insurance is one of the most
popular forms of personal lines insurance on the market today. The typical
homeowners policy has two main sections: Section I covers the property of
the insured and Section II provides personal liability coverage to the
insured. Almost anyone who owns, rents or leases property has a need for
this type of insurance. And many times, homeowners insurance is required
by the lender as part of the requirements in obtaining a
mortgage. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What is the difference between "actual cash
value" and "replacement cost"? |
|
A: |
Covered losses under a homeowners policy can
be paid on either an actual cash value basis or on a replacement cost
basis. When "actual cash value" is used, the policy owner is entitled to
the depreciated value of the damaged property. Under the "replacement
cost" coverage, the policy owner is reimbursed an amount necessary to
replace the article with one of similar type and quality at current
prices. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What factors should I consider when
purchasing homeowners insurance? |
|
A: |
There are a number of factors you should
consider when purchasing any product or service, and insurance is no
different.
Here is a checklist of things you should consider when you purchase
homeowners insurance.
- First and foremost, purchase the amount and type of insurance that
you need. Remember that if your policy limit is less than 80% of the
replacement cost of your home, any loss payment from your insurance
company will be subject to a coinsurance penalty. Also, determine the
amount of personal property insurance and personal liability coverage
that you need.
- Second, determine which, if any, additional endorsements you want to
add to your policy. For example, do you want the personal property
replacement cost endorsement or the earthquake endorsement?
- Finally, once you have decided on the coverage you want in your
homeowners insurance policy, you can now decide which insurer you would
like to purchase the insurance from.
|
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What are some practical things I can do to
lower the cost of my homeowners insurance? |
|
A: |
There are a number of things you can do to
lower the cost of your homeowners insurance. The best thing to do is to
shop around.
It is not surprising to find quotes on homeowners insurance that vary
by hundreds of dollars for the same coverage on the same home. When you
shop, be careful to make sure each insurer is offering the same coverage.
Many insurers use the ISO policy forms, but this is not always the case.
Another way to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance is to look
for any discounts that you may qualify for. For example, many insurers
will offer a discount when you place both your automobile and homeowners
insurance with the them. Other times, insurers offer discounts if there
are deadbolt exterior locks on all your doors, or if your home has a
security system. Be sure to ask your agent or company about discounts any
that you may qualify for.
Another easy way to lower the cost of your homeowners insurance is to
raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible from $250 to $500 will
lower your premium, sometimes by as much as five or ten percent. However,
be careful to make sure that you have the financial resources necessary to
handle the larger deductible. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What are the policy limits (i.e., coverage
limits) in the standard homeowners policy? |
|
A: |
[Note: this answer is based on
the Insurance Services Office's HO-3 policy.] Coverages A and B provide protection to the dwelling and other
structures on the premises on an "all risks" basis up to the policy
limits. The policy limit for Coverage A is set by the policyowner at the
time the insurance is purchased. The policy limit for Coverage B is
usually equal to 10% of the policy limit on Coverage A. Coverage C covers
losses to the insured's personal property on a named perils basis. The
policy limit on Coverage C is equal to 50% of the policy limit on Coverage
A. Coverage D covers the additional expenses that the policyowner may
incur when the residence cannot be used because of an insured loss. The
policy limit for Coverage D is equal to 20% of the policy limit on
Coverage A. The coverage limit on Coverage E - Personal Liability - is
determined by the policyowner at the time the policy is issued. The
coverage limit on Coverage F - Medical Payments to Others - is usually set
at $1000 per injured person. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Where and when is my personal property
covered? |
|
A: |
Coverage C, which provides named perils
coverage, applies to all your personal property (except property that is
specifically excluded) anywhere in the world. For example, suppose that
while traveling, you purchased a dresser and you want to ship it home.
Your homeowners policy would provide coverage for the named perils while
the dresser is in transit - even though the dresser has never been in your
home before. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Do I need earthquake coverage? How can I
get it? |
|
A: |
Direct damages due to earthquakes are not
covered under the standard homeowners insurance policy. However, unless
you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, you probably do not need
this coverage. If you do live in a part of the country with high
earthquake activity you may want to consider adding an earthquake
endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy. This endorsement will
cover damages due to earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other
earth movements. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Do I need Flood Coverage? |
|
A: |
That depends on whether your properties lies
in a flood plain as determined by US Government Flood Maps. We have these
maps available and can provide flood coverage should it be required or
desirable. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Small Business General FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
What is fire legal coverage?
|
|
A: |
Fire legal coverage provides coverage to for
you if you rent a business space and are held responsible for fire damages
to that rented space. It does not apply to all business risks.
|
 |
|
Q: |
What is the difference between Replacement
Cost (RC) and Actual Cash Value (ACV)? |
|
A: |
Replacement Cost is the current cost to
replace property. Actual Cash Value is the replacement cost less
depreciation. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What does 80% co-insurance mean?
|
|
A: |
Insurance carriers require that an insured
party pay 80% of the replacement cost in order to collect a partial loss
in full. This is the way the insurance company encourages all insureds to
adequately insure their property in relation to other insureds.
|
 |
|
Q: |
Does my policy cover physical damage to a
vehicle I rent? |
|
A: |
This damage will be covered only if that type
of coverage is purchased. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Can other people drive my business vehicle?
|
|
A: |
Other people may drive your vehicle with your
permission. It is important that they be listed on your policy if they are
regular drivers of the vehicle. |
 |
|
Q: |
How does an audit work? |
|
A: |
At the end of the policy term, the insurance
company will review the policy and either charge or credit the
policyholder based upon an audit of estimated figures. Examples of
estimated auditable items include sales and payroll. Audits can be
performed onsite by an auditor or via mail or telephone. A premium is
charged for audit estimations. |
![]() |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Why do I need certificates of insurance
from sub-contractors? |
|
A: |
An audit may require you to show proof that
sub-contractors had their own insurance coverage. The sub-contractors'
certificates of insurance will prevent you from being charged for their
exposure. |
 |
|
Q: |
What is General Liability?
|
|
A: |
General Liability provides coverage for other
individuals who are on your property and/or exposed to your
operations. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What does Products/Completed Operations
mean? |
|
A: |
Products/Completed Operations refers to the
liability coverage for damages caused by your operation or products after
the point at which you no longer have control of them. |
 |
|
Q: |
What is Business Interruption/Extra Expense
coverage? |
|
A: |
Business Interruption/Extra Expense coverage
provides coverage for income loss and the expense of establishing a
temporary site during repairs due to damages related to a fire or
compensable loss. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What is the difference between "Named
Insured", "First Named Insured" and "Additional Insured?"
|
|
A: |
Named Insureds are those listed by name in the
relevant block of the policy's declaration page. Although the named
insured is commonly one person, partnership, corporation or other entity
with insurable interests, multiple named insureds may be included.
The First Named Insured is the first "named insured" listed on the
policy declarations (front page of the policy). This insured acts as the
legal agent for all named insureds in initiating cancellation, requesting
policy changes or accepting any return premiums. The first named insured
may also be responsible for payment of the premiums.
An additional insured is an entity to which a policy's coverage is
extended. An additional insured must be added to the policy prior to a
claim being paid. There must be a tied to relationship between the
additional insured and named insured. Being an additional insured on
another's policy does not eliminate the need for someone to have his/her
own Commercial General Liability policy. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Small Business Property Insurance FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
What is a peril? |
|
A: |
A peril is the cause of a possible loss
(examples include fires or windstorms). |
 |
|
Q: |
What is Business Income Coverage (Time
Element)? |
|
A: |
Business Income Coverage provides coverage for
loss of earnings and ongoing expenses when operations are curtailed or
suspended due to property damage resulting from a covered cause of loss.
|
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Should I purchase special coverage for my
computer equipment? |
|
A: |
Electronic Data Processing (EDP) equipment can
be covered as unscheduled business personal property in "commercial
property" forms such as the building and personal property coverage. An
EDP equipment floater can provide added benefits. Many EDP floaters cover
special perils such as mechanical or electrical breakdown and typically
cover property in transit. |
 |
|
Q: |
What is co-insurance? |
|
A: |
In property insurance, co-insurance is a
clause under which the insured shares in losses to the extent that he/she
is underinsured at the time of a loss. You may have heard of co-insurance
relative to health insurance; this is a provision in which the insured and
the insurance company will share covered losses in an agreed proportion.
|
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Small Business General Liability FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
What is a third party claim?
|
|
A: |
A third party claim is a claim brought against
you by someone other than an insured. |
 |
|
Q: |
Does my General Liability Policy provide
coverage if my company is sued for pollution? |
|
A: |
This insurance does not apply to bodily
injury, property damage, advertising injury or personal injury arising out
of the actual, alleged or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage,
migration, release or escape of pollution. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Does my General Liability Policy provide
Liquor Liability Coverage? |
|
A: |
Yes, your General Liability policy provides
liquor liability coverage unless you are in the business of manufacturing,
distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages. These
types of businesses need to purchase additional coverage specific to
liquor liability coverage. |
 |
|
Q: |
What is Fire Legal Liability coverage?
|
|
A: |
Fire Legal Liability provides coverage against
liability for fire damage to premises rented to the named insured or
temporarily occupied by the named insured with the owner's permission.
Most Commercial General Liability policies provide a separate limit of
$50,000 to cover this exposure. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Will my liability insurance cover me if I
am sued in another country? |
|
A: |
Most liability policies provide coverage for
lawsuits only if they are brought in the United States, its territories
and Canada. |
 |
|
Q: |
What is the difference between Employee
Benefits Liability Coverage and a Fiduciary Bond? |
|
A: |
The Employee Benefits Liability policy was
designed primarily for a variety of benefit plans to provide coverage for
administrative errors and omissions. The Fiduciary Bond policy was
designed to cover a fiduciary's ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security
Act) exposures that are caused by a "wrongful act." Fiduciary coverage
responds to claims for damages arising out of improper investments as well
as plan and employee advice. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What is an Umbrella
Policy? |
|
A: |
An umbrella policy provides additional limits
of insurance over and above underlying coverages found on a General
Liability, Automobile or Workers' Compensation policy. If there is a
claim, the underlying policy will pay its limits of liability and the
umbrella policy coverage would then be activated. |
 |
|
Q: |
When do I need to purchase Workers'
Compensation Insurance? |
|
A: |
Most states require an employer to purchase
workers' compensation insurance as soon as they have employees. These
states also consider a corporate entity to have employees from the moment
the corporation is formed.
Workers' compensation insurance will provide medical expense and
disability income for injured employees as required by the laws of each
state. In addition, the insurer will defend any claim proceeding or suit
against the insured for benefits payable under the policy.
Premium shall be computed on the basis of the total remuneration
(payroll) paid or payable by the insured for services covered by the
policy. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What should be included in the
remuneration? |
| A: |
In addition to ordinary wages or salaries,
remuneration includes several other types of compensation. These include:
|
- Bonuses
- Extra pay for overtime work except as provided in Rule V-E
- Pay for holidays, vacations or periods of sickness
- Payment by an employer of amounts otherwise required by law to be
paid by employees to statutory insurance or pension plans
- Payment to employees on any basis other than time worked, such as
piece work, profit sharing or incentive plans
- Payment or allowance for hand tools or power tools used by hand and
provided by employees and used in their work operations for the insured
- The rental value of an apartment or house provided for an employee
based on comparable accommodations
- The value of lodging received by employees as part of their pay
- The value of meals received by employees as part of their pay to the
extent shown in the insured's records
- The value of store certificates, merchandise, credits or any other
substitute for money received by employees as part of their pay
|
| Items not included are: |
- Tips and other gratuities received by employees
- Payments by an employer to group insurance or group pension plans
for employees other than payment covered by Rule V-B.2e
- The value of special rewards for individual invention or discovery
- Dismissal or severance payments except for the time worked or
accrued vacations
|
 |
|
Return to
top |
|
|
 |
|
Life FAQ's |
 |
|
Q: |
How much life insurance should an
individual own? |
|
A: |
Rough "rules of thumb" suggest an amount of
life insurance equal to 6 to 8 times annual earnings. However, many
factors should be taken into account in determining a more precise
estimate of the amount of life insurance needed.
Important factors include:
- Income sources (and amounts) other than salary/earnings
- Whether or not the individual is married and, if so, what is the
spouse's earning capacity
- The number of individuals who are financially dependent on the
insured
- The amount of death benefits payable from Social Security and from
an employer sponsored life insurance plan
- Whether any special life insurance needs exist (e.g., mortgage
repayment, education fund, estate planning need), etc.
It is recommended that a person's insurance advisor be contacted for a
precise calculation of how much life insurance is needed.
|
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
What about purchasing life insurance on a
spouse and on children? |
|
A: |
In certain circumstances, it may be advisable
to purchase life insurance on children; generally, however, such purchases
should not be made in lieu of purchasing appropriate amounts of life
insurance on the family breadwinner(s). It is of utmost importance that
the income earning capacity of the primary breadwinner be fully protected,
if possible, through the purchase of the required amount of life insurance
before contemplating the purchase of life insurance on children or on a
non-wage earning spouse. In a dual-earning household, it is important to
protect the income earning capacity of both spouses. Life insurance on a
non-wage earning spouse is often recommended for the purpose of paying for
household services lost at this individual's death. |
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Should term insurance or cash value life
insurance be purchased? |
|
A: |
Although a difficult question--one whose
answer will vary depending on circumstances--several principles should be
followed in addressing this issue.
It must first be recognized that in any life insurance purchasing
decision, there are at least two basic questions that must be answered:
- "How much life insurance should I buy?" and
- "What type of life insurance policy should I buy?"
The question contained in (1) involves an "insurance" decision and the
question contained in (2) requires a "financial" decision.
The "insurance" question should always be resolved first. For example,
the amount of life insurance that you need may be so large that the only
way in which this needed amount of insurance can be afforded is through
the purchase of term insurance with its lower premium.
If your ability (and willingness) to pay life insurance premiums is
such that you can afford the desired amount of life insurance under either
type of policy, it is then appropriate to consider the "financial"
decision--which type of policy to buy. Important factors affecting the
"financial" decision include your income tax bracket, whether the need for
life insurance is short-term or long-term (e.g., 20 years or longer), and
the rate of return on alternative investments possessing similar risk.
|
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
How does mortgage protection term insurance
differ from other types of term life insurance? |
|
A: |
The face amount under mortgage protection term
insurance decreases over time, consistent with the projected annual
decreases in the outstanding balance of a mortgage loan. Mortgage
protection policies are generally available to cover a range of mortgage
repayment periods, e.g., 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Although the face amount
decreases over time, the premium is usually level in amount. Further, the
premium payment period often is shorter than the maximum period of
insurance coverage--for example, a 20-year mortgage protection policy
might require that level premiums be paid over the first 17 years.
|
 |
|
Return to
top |
 |
|
Q: |
Can an existing life insurance policy be
used to provide for the repayment of an outstanding mortgage loan?
|
|