Why can't I get House Insurance during Hurricane Season?
Well... You can! As long as there is no Hurricane or threat of Hurricane within a certain area you should be able to obtain an insurance policy from just about any insurance company. Freaky, huh?! AND, the rate is NO different than pre-Hurricane Season! Really!! HOWEVER... you knew this was coming, huh? IF THERE is a threat of Hurricane, you will be seriously restricted as to which carrier is still writing insurance but some still do. IF you can afford it, you can usually obtain coverage if the Hurricane is not forecasted to come directly to your town. Whew! Feel better?
But, why can't I get CAR Insurance during Hurricane Season?
Ummm... If a car insurance company doesn't want to write insurance in your town because of threat of Hurricane or Heavy Storm? You might want to evacuate along with everyone else! This is a good sign it's really gonna hit and your car is gonna get smashed by a tree... or flipped on top of a house ... or crashed during evacuation rush.. OK Forget I said that last one and just get out of town!
What in the world is a Hurricane Deductible and 2% of WHAT?
Well, first of all, if you have a Hurricane Deductible and not a WIND Deductible... Good For You! This means that if Tropical Storm Sally comes thru and lands a tree on your roof, then the lower wind deductible will apply and not the higher 2% deductible. A Tropical Storm can be a very strong wind but if it has not been categorized as a Hurricane then it is just a 'wind' not a Hurricane! Since the deductible means the portion of the claim that you must pay out of pocket, this is good for you, right?
The standard Hurricane Deductible in the State of Florida is 2% (of the Dwelling Insured Value) which can be considerable. If your home is insured for $200,000, your deductible is $4000... Ouch!
If I have Hurricane Coverage included in my Homeowner Policy, why doesn't it cover flood claims?!
Good Question! BUT, America has a National Flood Insurance Program that works in hand with FEMA to chart your property and rates and will pay claims if the policy is purchased. This releases insurance companies from having to pay Flood Claims under ANY homeowner policy in the country! AND, this also means you are not paying for flood insurance in your homeowner policy to pay for flood claims for the lucky ones that live on waterfront property. They must pay their own flood insurance premiums!
Let's Face It...
Insurance Companies are a business and must make money or why bother? If all they do is pay claims with no consideration for making money, they will not be around when we need them. Insurance Companies must watch their bottom line like any other business. So, deductibles and restrictions are a way to avoid too much exposure to a possible overload of claims which could put them under. HOWEVER, they allow for buy-backs of coverages and decreasing deductibles and that's why you need US, your agent. We can guide you thru the maze of endorsements, restrictions and deductibles to obtain a policy that best suits your needs.
Feel free to call or email us anytime. Or, click on the Quote Link for your FREE insurance quote.