You’ve worked hard to acquire the things you own, and now it’s time to take the necessary steps to make sure you’ve adequately protected them. Read our smart tips about best practices for getting home, auto, health, life, and other types of insurance, and for understanding what your policy covers.
Save money on your insurance premiums by raising your deductible. You can save $100 or more on your auto insurance premium by raising your deductible from $250 to $500. Likewise, if you increase your homeowner’s deductible from $500 to $1,000, you could save even more. Even increasing your health insurance deductible helps you save money on premiums.
When filing an insurance claim, be sure to write down the claim number as soon as your are given it and keep it in a safe place. This is helpful because you will need this number at any point that you speak with the insurance company about the claim. You may find it helpful to copy this in multiple locations such as on your computer and phone.
If you can afford to do so, it is cheaper to pay your insurance premiums all at once rather than by making monthly payments. Most insurance companies will charge interest and other fees on top of your monthly payments, or may offer a discount for paying in a single lump sum.
Make sure you get insurance to cover work-related property when you have a telecommuting or independent contracting job. If you work from home, your rental or home owner’s insurance policy does not cover work-related items such as computer equipment used for work so having a separate policy protects work-related property from theft or damage.
To save money on your insurance, you should review all of your policies at least once per year. Talking to your agent about any changes that have happened is a good way to stay up to date in your coverage. Let your agent know about things you have added and things you don’t have any more.
To make sure your insurance claim gets processed quickly and correctly, you should make note of who your adjuster is at the company. Many companies will hire an independent adjuster to make the visit to determine how accurate the damages reported are, but the adjuster who actually works for your company, is the one who makes the final determination of your case.
Next time you’re shopping for insurance, approach one of the companies you currently use for another type of insurance to see if they will give you a preferred rate. Your homeowner’s insurance company may give you a significant deal, if you approach them and ask about whether they can offer you a preferred customer auto insurance rate.
Before heading off on your own to buy insurance, check with your employer to see if they offer a company plan that may work for you. Many companies use the power of their workforce size to get plans and discounts that are unreachable by the general public. The limits may be low however so study the plans carefully before making a choice.
Make sure that your pet insurance representatives are familiar with animals. You do not want someone handling your pet’s claim if they do not even know what a Pomeranian is. Before you purchase your policy, you may want to call and speak to one of their claims workers, and quiz them on what they really know.
Avoid paying high commissions to an agent for your insurance coverage. With all of the different ways to buy insurance these days, don’t waste some of your hard earned money paying out a commission. Do your research and purchase directly from the insurance company to get the best deals.
If you are adding your teenager to your insurance, check for the available discounts. Most insurance companies offer savings for good students, good drivers, amount of safety features in a car and many more. Ask and find out what your company offers and see what you can save.
Grouping your insurance policies together is a great way to save money in the long-term. If you combine your auto, health and home insurance, you should be able to save thousands of dollars over the life of your policy. Just make sure you’re choosing a great company to handle your policy.
Private insurance plans can run you thousands of dollars per year, so make sure that you tweak your policy to your particular needs. You might have a nest egg saved up and are not worried about ample coverage, but you also need to make sure your kids are fully covered. Split the difference here, and save the money.
The insurance view smokers as less responsible customers because fires can be started when burning cigarettes are left unattended. When choosing insurance policies, seek out every discount you are entitled to, which includes a non-smoking discount.
Insurance is an investment you make in case of an emergency or disaster. From auto accidents to health problems, if you have insurance it can help you rest assured that you will be able to afford the damages incurred. Having that peace of mind can help you rest better knowing that whatever happens, it is covered.
If your vehicle does not have them already, you should have airbags and an anti-theft device installed. Since these things add a particular amount of safety and security to your vehicle, it will end up costing you much less when it comes to paying your monthly auto insurance premiums.
Keep all documentation from your insurance company in a central location for ease of access. This includes copies of your policy, correspondence related to claims and any other written communication. If you receive electronic communications back up the communications to an external storage device regularly and keep the device in a secure location.
Insurance covers many aspects of your life, so it’s important to understand what you’re buying when you purchase a policy. The above tips will help you navigate the sometimes difficult world of insurance. Now that you’re armed with this information, you can make better decisions about buying and keeping the coverage you need.
