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Home Insurance Deductibles And Options

By Caroline Flaren


"This policy contains a clause which may limit the amount payable." Many people don't fully understand the meaning of this. The majority of home insurance policies have this on the first page of the document.

They are talking about the deductible on the policy. When you suffer a loss, there's almost always a deductible to be paid. The deductible amount may differ based on the type of loss you experience. A loss is only paid out to the policy holder after the deductible is paid. When the deductible is higher, the premiums paid are lower in comparison.

A policy may have different deductibles based on the peril of the loss. Typically, the majority of deductible types are:

Glass breakage deductible: Applies to claims relating to glass that forms part of your house. Typically, you can eliminate this deductible for a small additional premium.

Earthquake deductibles cover insurance claims that result when an earthquake causes damage. Typically, you get to choose from a few different earthquake deductible options. A percentage of the total property covered by the insurance plan is calculated, and the home owner can choose from these.

Crime deductibles refer to losses that are a result of burglary, vandalism, mysterious disappearance, and theft. Vacation and rental properties are generally the only property that these deductibles apply to. Generally there are $5,000 and $10,000 deductible options.

Water deductibles refer to damage from water, and usually is only for vacation and rental homes. The 2 basic choices are $2,500 and $5,000, depending on the policy holder's needs.

Standard policy deductibles are for to cover other kinds of claims that we have not covered here. Typically, you get to choose from several options, which range from $500 to $5,000.

Premiums are kept low by having deductibles, which will stop a home owner from making minimal damage claims. This significantly reduces an insurance company's costs, thereby helping to keep everyone's premium down.

If you have a low deductible you may be tempted to make claims on very small losses. When these minimal claims are made, the home owner will typically lose their "claims free discount". Base rates for the homeowner could rise after several smaller claims, and this could be actually more expensive than to repair or replace the damages on your own. When the amount claimed by the homeowner is too great, a renewal of the insurance policy may actually be denied.

If you opt for a higher deductible, you'll see a fairly significant saving in your premium amount. A home owner gets insurance to be covered when a major disaster occurs, like a fire, water damage, windstorm damage, or theft, not for minor damage that may happen in the home. Because of this, having a higher deductible is recommended. You'll save money, and by covering very small losses yourself, you'll keep your premium down. Your insurance will be there for you when you really need it.




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