You simply cannot get through life, without purchasing insurance at some point. However painful this truth is, when you must buy insurance, you do yourself a disservice if you do it without learning the ropes first. A few little tips can save you a lot of money and get you better coverage.
When you are getting an insurance quote make sure to tell them anything and everything that may qualify you for a discount. For instance, high school might have been ten years ago, but you were an honor student and that qualifies you for a discount. Another thing that qualified me for a discount was that I work in the medical field, so be sure to tell them where you work. We all love saving money, so be sure to ask about all possible discounts.
It may go without saying, but someone needs to put it out there. When it comes to insurance, just tell the truth! I heard a story about a guy who had his windshield shattered who did not report it to his insurance company for two weeks. In that two weeks he changed his policy to include zero deductible comprehensive so it wouldn’t cost him anything to fix it. Lo and behold the insurance found out! Can you guess where he is now?
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.
When you think about insurance, think hard about how much of your available income you want to spend on insurance versus investments. This is because, of course, each of us has a finite amount of money to spend on anything, so we have to make smart decisions about it. For example, if you are in good health and can save a lot on your insurance budget by buying low-cost term insurance, that will free up income you can use to invest in either long-term care insurance or actual income investments.
To cover your home for earthquake damage in California, you must purchase separate earthquake insurance. Regular homeowner’s insurance will not cover quake damage. Your insurance company or broker can help you understand the risk in your area and provide the coverage for you. Many homeowners choose not to get earthquake coverage, as it can be quite expensive.
The bigger the deductible, the lower your insurance costs will be. Just keep the amount of the deductible in a savings account in case of a claim. Many claims fall below the deductible amount, so neither you or the company has to bother with the claims process, saving everyone time and keeping the cost of the policy low.
Your insurance experience will be better if you employ just a few of these ideas. The more you learn, the better you will be at finding great deals and avoiding nasty pitfalls. Everyone needs to buy insurance, but not everyone learns how to do it right. Educating yourself translates directly into better insurance for less money.