Is your home insurance policy covering you when you need it most? If you’re like most people on a “standard” home insurance plan, there are several things that aren’t actually covered with your policy!
Don’t worry – you’re about to find out what a home insurance policy doesn’t cover, and how you can quickly make a few updates to your plan to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need.
Before we get into that, take a quick inventory of what you’re hoping is covered in the case an unfortunate event presents itself to you. As we take a deeper dive into what isn’t covered, you’ll be able to quickly identify whether you’ll need extra coverage or if you’re in the clear!
What Doesn’t A Home Insurance Policy Cover?
Most home insurance policies don’t cover the following:
- In-Home Businesses
- Floods
- Earthquakes
- Vehicles used for business
- High-value Jewelry.
Take a quick look at each in more detail, and how you can protect yourself.
In-Home Businesses Are Not Covered By Your Homeowners Insurance
Did you join the recent surge of people deciding to jump into at-home work, including freelancing, or even starting a business that’s based in their home? Whether you’ve just started or you’ve been at it for years, many people are unprepared for a sudden loss to their business equipment.
Don’t let that be you!
There are several ways to get your business property covered if you’ve got a home-based business.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), you can:
- Add a Policy Endorsement to your existing homeowners insurance. This simple endorsement is a simple way to increase your coverage to include business property. If your policy has minimal coverage for business property already (as some policies do), this can be a low-cost way to get the coverage you need.
- Add an In-Home Business Policy. This policy is for you if you need more comprehensive coverage for business equipment and have a need for liability coverage for your business. It can be a life-saver if you need to recoup costs beyond simple business property, such as loss of important papers, records, income, etc.
- Add a Businessowners Policy (BOP). If you’re a small/mid sized business that operates out of more than one location (including your home), you’ll want to consider the broader coverage offered by a BOP.
Be Careful: Floods Are Not Covered In Most Home Insurance Policies
This one is slightly tricky, as most people don’t think they live in an area susceptible to flooding.
However, “flooding” can mean many things in your insurance policy. For example, a failed sump pump or water damage due to a clogged drain are generally not covered in a standard home insurance policy.
Many people have been saved by adding a separate flood insurance policy, as there is some gray area in standard policies, and they chose to be safe rather than sorry!
Earthquakes Aren’t Covered
Earthquakes are on the rise, according to data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration branch of the US Government (and shown in this chart). Despite this, earthquakes are not covered by most home insurance policies.
If the thought of an earthquake hitting your area makes you tremble a little, you may want to consider specific earthquake coverage to be on the safe side.
Vehicles used for business
Not surprisingly, vehicles used for business are not covered in a homeowners policy, even if the damage to the vehicle happens on your property.
High-Value Jewelry
Jewelry-lovers take note! If you’ve got jewelry valued at over $2,000, there’s a good chance your homeowners insurance will not cover these pieces.
To make sure you’re covered, you can easily add on additional coverage into your policy to account for the loss if something should happen to your valuables.
We’d recommend learning about coverage for commercial auto insurance if you own vehicles used for business, or check with your employer to ensure they have the correct coverage.
We’re Here To Help Find The Right Coverage For Your Situation
Don’t be alarmed if you’re in any of the categories above. Everyone’s situation is unique, and you deserve to be informed about what is – and what isn’t – included in your coverage.
Let’s talk over your current policy and make sure you’ve got everything you need for your situation.
Contact us today to get a customized plan, or to just get the peace of mind that you desire!
