Monthly Archives: May 2013

Does my home insurance policy in Pennsylvania cover for roof damage or roof replacement?

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As a homeowner you want to know what your insurance policy covers. In Pennsylvania, you can face many situations that can lead to roof damage. In most cases, your insurance will cover repairs, and possibly full replacement. Much of this depends on the event, amount of damage and age or condition of your roof.

Roof repair or replacement coverage

Storm damage may be caused by high winds, hail or even falling tree branches. In most cases, these events are covered. When you contact your insurance company, an inspector will be sent to your home.

The individual will perform a full inspection to determine the amount of damage and likely cause. A decision will be made regarding the extent of the damage and what work is required to restore your roof.

Prorating and deductibles

The age of your roof will make a difference in how much your insurance company will pay towards repairs or replacement. If you have a much older roof, you may not receive the full amount towards repairs. The amount you receive is also reduced by your deductible.

Coverage denial

There are situations where your home insurance company may deny your claim. If you have failed to provide proper maintenance, your claim can be denied due to neglect. In some cases, the roofing material may result in coverage denial. This can occur with cedar shake or slate roofs in some areas. Some companies will have an exclusion for hail damage. Check your policy carefully to see what is not covered.

We are an independent agent, covering Milford, Dunmore, Honesdale and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. Contact us today to speak with an agent. We can go over your policy to determine exactly what is covered and ensure you are paying the lowest rate possible.

Do Smokers and Diabetics End Up Paying More on their Life Insurance Policy?

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Smokers live by their own rules and totally ignore others around them with their harmful second-hand smoke. They risk their health and possibilities of purchasing a reasonable life insurance policy.

Diabetes is a condition brought on by a number of factors such as genes of which no one is responsible. Everyone that is overweight and considered obese (excess of 30 pounds over ideal ranges) is responsible.

Obtaining a reasonable premium price on life insurance for a diabetic will require that your agent know the different types of diabetes as this will have a bearing on rates. The lifestyle that the diabetic is living such as an exercise plan, and a diet plan with blood sugar levels staying within expected range all have a bearing on rates.

If a person chooses to keep these two issues private when applying for life insurance, these actions will put a policy at risk for cancelation.

However, this goes against standards of morality. If the person should die as complications of diabetes, it will not be difficult for the insurance company to find out their medical history and drop a long-standing policy. This will stop all payouts.

In order for a smoker, to purchase a cheaper insurance rate they will have to quit smoking for at least one year to take advantage of this lower premium. Our independent agent in Dunmore, Pennsylvania will look at what the person smokes and how much. Issues are varying, and this in turn, varies the insurance rate. The person will have to speak with an independent agent who is willing to help clients make crucial life insurance decisions.

Companies recognize the challenge of finding a reasonable premium price for smokers. When it comes to certain factors in life, such as, diabetes and smoking these two issues can almost double a insurance policy. Lower premiums are difficult to find, however, not impossible.

Call an independent agent today in Dunmore, Honesdale, or Milford, Pennsylvania. We can help you.

How to cancel my car insurance policy in Pennsylvania?

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If you live in Pennsylvania, in a beautiful area like Dunmore, Honesdale, or Milford, you probably enjoy driving around in your car. Sometimes, though, people have to sell their cars, they stop driving, or they want to switch to a different insurance agent. When that happens, they have to cancel their vehicle policy. Doing that isn’t complicated, but it’s important that you take care of it as soon as possible, so you can get the biggest refund of your unused premiums. Your auto policy was something you were paying for each and every month, and you don’t want to pay for something you’re not using.

How you can cancel the policy depends on the insurance company. That’s why working with us is so helpful. When you use an independent agent, you’ll have the opportunity to find the right policy for you, cancel that policy and/or get a different one when you need to, and get your questions answered. It’s a great way to handle your Pennsylvania insurance needs. If you don’t have an independent agent working with you, cancelling your information can be more of a hassle because some companies are less than helpful when you attempt to cancel with them.

While you might just be able to call up and cancel the policy, you may also struggle with doing that, depending on the company. Many insurers are very accommodating, while the others are less so and can make cancellations difficult. To avoid that, work with an independent agent that can help you get your policy canceled. Then you won’t have the stress of dealing with the insurance company yourself, and you can focus on the new policy, or on what you decide to do if you’re no longer going to be driving.

Does travel insurance cover baggage delay, loss, damage or theft?

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Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your homeowner’s policy will cover you if your bags are delayed, lost, damaged or stolen while you are on your trip of a lifetime to Honolulu. Most home policies will not reimburse you for your loss. You can, however, purchase travel insurance in Pennsylvania to cover such possibilities when you are traveling away from home.

As your independent agent serving Honesdale, Milford and Dunmore, Pennsylvania, we can find you the right kind of travel insurance for your next trip. While you probably do not need to worry about travel insurance if you are packing the car for a trip to grandma’s house in Pittsburgh, if you have baggage going on a plane or a cruise ship, you might want to consider taking out such a policy.

A lot of things can happen when you leave home on vacation or for business. If you arrive in Paris and your bags do not get there until three days later, you will have to buy some new clothes and toiletries. With the right travel insurance, you will be reimbursed. The same is true if your bag is lost and never shows up or your personal possessions are stolen or somehow damaged.

When you do buy this type of travel insurance, you need to carefully read the policy. Unlike a homeowner’s policy, travel policies are notorious for placing many restrictions and exemptions on when you can collect on a claim. Every insurer will require you to report a theft and get a police report before they will pay a dime. Cash, traveler’s checks and money orders are not covered. Other things like damage to your clothes because you packed a pen inside your bag and it leaked, are also often a reason that your claim will not be honored.

As your independent agent we can help you weed through the fine print and get the level of coverage you want and need. You will pay more for more comprehensive coverage. You can never completely protect yourself from all possible contingencies, but having a good travel insurance policy in place will make any possible loss less painful.