Monthly Archives: November 2012

Why Should a Traveler Buy Travel Insurance?

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Any traveler should at least investigate the topic of travel insurance. In some cases, it can be nothing less than essential. Travelers in the Dunmore, Honesdale, and Milford, Pennsylvania areas consistently take advantage of the coverage offered by travel insurance.

There is quite a range of items commonly covered by travel insurance. For instance, it is common to see flight delay insurance, trip cancellation coverage, medical insurance, baggage loss, and much more included on these policies. Destination weddings even include these and related items.

Some of these items can become troublesome. For instance, losing a big can result in a large expense, as well as missing a flight. While these might not seem like incredibly important areas, they can be quite simple to cover with a cost-effective travel plan.

However, make no mistake – there are examples where travel insurance can be a very good idea:

  • Imagine missing the connecting flight for your non-refundable cruise. Without travel insurance, you could lose the high ticket price of your cruise.
  • Many health insurance policies do not provide coverage out of the country. If something were to happen to a traveler in this situation, the potential ramifications could be drastic, financially.

Don’t be afraid to investigate travel insurance for an upcoming trip. It would be wise to see an independent agent who will be able to guide you through available coverage. By using an independent agent, you can compare quotes from top-tier insurers – and you can rely upon the agent’s expertise in this area.

Contact your agent today to see how travel insurance can provide peace of mind. As these policies are notably inexpensive, it is wise to secure coverage for trips – especially when you have a lot to lose in these “what if” scenarios. Your agent can talk you through your options with ease, allowing you to purchase a policy that’s right for your needs.

What are Comprehensive and Collision Coverages and Why Do I Need Them in Pennsylvania?

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When you drive a car in Pennsylvania, you must carry a minimum amount of state mandated liability coverage. Liability coverage is mandatory because it pays for damages to another person or their property, if you are found to be the cause of an accident. Comprehensive and collision insurance are usually optional, however, you may be forced to buy this type of additional coverage if you finance a car and the lender requires full coverage.

An auto policy that includes both comprehensive and collision coverage will cost you more than one that just covers property and bodily injury liability. You pay more for this type of insurance because the insurance company is assuming more risk. If you are living in Honesdale or working in Milford, Pennsylvania, you know that even a small accident can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Collision, as its name suggests, will cover damage to your vehicle if it hits another car or stationary object. It will also pay to repair your auto if you run it into a ditch and it flips over.

Comprehensive insurance covers all other perils that are not collision related. You can file a claim if your car is stolen, vandalized or damaged by a hail storm. Acts of God, acts of kids playing and acts of cats with sharp claws are all covered by comprehensive.

It makes sense to buy the extra coverage because car repairs are expensive. If you have a new car or one that is worth more than a few thousand dollars, this type of insurance is well worth the couple of hundred dollars it will cost. You can lower the additional premium on your policy by choosing a high deductible. Keep that deductible reasonably low so you do not wind up having to pay thosands out of pocket before your comprehensive coverage kicks in.

Flood Insurance for Pennsylvania Homeowners: Are you at Risk?

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Pennsylvania home owners may be taking an unnecessary risk by not having flood insurance. If you think that your regular home insurance coverage will protect you in the event that rising water enters your house, you would be mistaken. Floods, caused by overflowing rivers, heavy rains or other natural sources outside of your home, are not always covered by standard Pennsylvania home owners policies.

While home owner policies provide coverage for water damage caused by a hole in your roof, broken pipe, or an overflowing bath tub, you need a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home against the risk of water damage caused by an outside source of rising water infiltrating your home.

Flood insurance is not mandatory in the state of Pennsylvania, although if you live in an area that is flood prone, your mortgage company may require you to purchase this type of insurance. FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), are the government backed providers of this type of insurance. You can purchase the coverage you want or need through your independent agent..

A policy that covers floods is priced on the basis of how likely the risk is of your house flooding. If you live in a low lying area along the Pennsylvania coast, you may be more susceptible to flooding than if you live up in the mountains of central or western Pennsylvania. Historical data is used to decide whether or not your home is located in a designated flood zone.

A policy that protects your house from the risk of damage from flooding, does not become effective until 30 days after it is purchased. If you rush on down to your independent agent to purchase a policy a day before an imminent storm hits, overflows a nearby body of water, and floods your house, the damage caused will not be covered.

What is the Difference between Full and Limited Tort on my Auto Insurance in Pennsylvania?

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Making the right choice for auto insurance is a difficult task for anyone. Before you make your decision, you need to understand all the little details about insurance and the options that are available to you. Some of the options are self-explanatory, while others may require a little bit of work to figure out. One question that seems to come up often among those who are shopping for insurance is “What is the difference between full and limited tort insurance?”

With limited tort insurance, you are still covered as far as property damage and paying for injuries that occur during an accident. However, with limited tort insurance, you cannot sue for pain and suffering if you are in an accident.

With full tort insurance, you have the other types of insurance, but you can also sue for pain and suffering after an accident. You may not think about it, but if you are in a major accident, you could be in pain for months or years down the road. This could affect your ability to provide for yourself and your family. Full tort insurance is certainly preferable when it is a viable option.

However, full tort insurance is, of course, more expensive than limited tort. But, the price may not be as expensive as you think. Talking with your independent agent is the best way to figure out if it is in the budget for you to add full tort to your current or new policy.

If you do not have an independent agent, you are stuck dealing with a faceless corporation. An agent makes things easier for you. Whether you are in or around Dunmore, Honesdale or Milford, Pennsylvania, you should have little trouble finding an agent that can fit your needs and make things easier for you during the insurance policy creation process.