Public Service Announcement. Check your insurance limits.

[Dave_L]

Ill say it over and over but people still don't listen. Make time each year to sit down with your agent and review your policies. Talk about changes within the industry, changes within your household, etc. The agent can't keep tabs on every single customer but the agent can sit down with you, review your policies, make recommendations, etc.

So many people hate insurance that they strip their policy down to go as cheap as possible to "show the man". Ultimately, you only hurt yourself. Pay for the appropriate coverage and you'll be 10x's happier down the road.

[RblDiver]

Which would you consider more affordable, adding on more to your regular auto insurance policy, or getting an umbrella policy?

[SSChameleon]

Some companies offer a discount on auto for adding an umbrella, when that is the case the umbrella is the way to go.

[OtterbatHellcat]

I don't know much about auto insurance, but when CO. went no fault, I raised everything on my cars to 250/250/ 500 and have my deductible way high, $2000 or something like that. I didn't want anyone suing me and having to lose my home and stuff like that.

I know that I'm lacking on homeowner insurance though, but, selling the place soon so........I'll be more on top of quality insurance for my home in the future.

[<MADDOG>]

Great info guys.

I also will chime in with the home insurance bit: people who were affected by the forest fires here in C/S had quite a shock when it came coverage vs $ of rebuild. Especially in Black Forest.

[jerrymrc]

Thanks for posting, even before i was with allstate, i've always had 100/300/100. Is it possible to have too much coverage?

What I have carried for 20 years. Though these days I may want to raise that. I will say the whole "insurance" thing is starting to grate on me. Years ago you carried Ins to protect the odd occurrence.

The number of people that damn near live off it is staggering. I will not drag up the info but I think my last years cost for "Insurance" was about about $24K. With health running $18K of that.

[jhood001]

Which would you consider more affordable, adding on more to your regular auto insurance policy, or getting an umbrella policy?

I'm sure Stu can weigh in better, but I carry an umbrella policy with State Farm for that reason and for legal fees in the event of a defensive shooting or firearm related accident. I checked with them 3 different times to make sure the umbrella would actually cover such a scenario and at least with State Farm, it does.

And thanks a bunch for the post, Stu!

[Irving]

I don't sell, so I have no idea what stuff costs. Also,I handle more minor stuff, so I don't personally handle a lot of limits issues.

[Irving]

Good advice.

I'll throw in my $0.02 and say take a look at your home owners insurance coverage as well. When our house was robbed last year, we found out the hard way that the wife's jewelry was only covered up to $500. Who the fuck has less than $500 in jewelry?

Can't believe I forgot about this. Unscheduled items like jewelry and guns come with a cap, just like the above example. I believe the common cap on firearms is $2,000 if you do not have them scheduled. You guys don't know anyone with more than $2,000 worth of guns do you?

Scheduling is where you list each item on a separate endorsement. Call your agent and ask for more details. If you don't have an agent, get one you like and get to know them.

[jerrymrc]

Can't believe I forgot about this. Unscheduled items like jewelry and guns come with a cap, just like the above example. I believe the common cap on firearms is $2,000 if you do not have them scheduled. You guys don't know anyone with more than $2,000 worth of guns do you?

Scheduling is where you list each item on a separate endorsement. Call your agent and ask for more details. If you don't have an agent, get one you like and get to know them.

Yep. "sporting goods" are all lumped into one. I added a rider years ago.