Month: January 2018

More Maine Home Insurers Cover Water & Sewer Lines

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Portland Maine Water District is one of several that have offered a service contract for underground water and sewer lines. Available through a third party provider called HomeServe, the plans for both types of pipes cost $168.00 per year. We wrote a blog post in 2010 to help our clients decide if it was worth the cost for them.

Additional Reading: Water District Plans vs. Service Line Insurance

Off the Shelf Home Policies Don’t Cover Exterior Pipes

Homeowners, renters and condo unit owner policies cover water damage to your home from leaky or frozen pipes. But they don’t cover damage to pipes outside the home, like water supply or sewer lines between your home and the street.

Insurance Companies Now Sell Underground Line Coverage

Some Maine insurance companies now offer underground service line coverage. Like the water district plan, they have a coverage limit – often $10,000, with a $500 deductible. That’s more than the water district service contract, which covers up to $3,500 for water lines and $5,000 for sewer lines.

Insurers now selling this coverage in Maine include Andover Companies, Concord Group and Vermont Mutual. Some sell the coverage a la carte, while others include it in a special bundle of coverage. In all cases, you have to purchase it – it’s not automatically covered by homeowners policies.

Is the Coverage the Same?

Along with the coverage limits, there are other important differences. For example, the water district service plan has no co-payment, while insurance company policies usually have a $500 deductible.  Also, the water district service agreement covers unblocking clogged pipes, while insurance policies generally do not. The contract wording is different, too. Water district plans exclude “pre-existing conditions” and “acts of God”. Those exclusions are NOT found in property insurance policies.

Which is Cheaper? Homeowners Policy or Water District Plans?

Insurance companies charge different premiums for the coverage. Most are much less than the $168 per year charged by the water district – some as little as $25 per year!

If you live in Southern Maine and would like a quote for underground line insurance on your home, apartment or condo, contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent at 207-799-5541. We can help you find the best overall value, with several quotes from top insurers. We’re independent and committed to you.

Uninsured Motorists Insurance in Maine

Posted on by admin

Every U.S. state except New Hampshire requires liability insurance. Makes sense. People should be able to pay for damage they cause to other people or their property. But there are always some who fail to get insurance for a variety of reasons. If you’re injured in an accident with an uninsured driver, it can be confusing and maddening. But the staff at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in Portland, Maine can help you make sure you’re protected by your own automobile insurance policy.

Maine is a “fault” state. A person ruled to be at-fault in an accident is responsible for all damages or injuries caused. Some states, including Massachusetts, are “no-fault”. Each person pays for their own vehicle damage in an accident regardless of who is at fault. Maine requires at least $50,000 per person of uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays for any injuries caused by someone else whose insurance will not cover it.  For instance, if your medical bills and pain & suffering are $100,000, and the other person has $25,000 of liability insurance, your own insurance will cover the rest of the charges. This could be very beneficial in an “at fault” state like Maine, especially if the other person has no coverage at all.

Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in Portland, Maine to find out more about automobile insurance and learn what to do if you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist. Don’t wait until you are in that situation to learn what you need to know. Get information about a new policy, or come see us make sure your policy is up to date and that you have the coverage you need.

Not ready to talk to an agent yet? You can compare Maine car insurance prices by getting up to 6 quotes in 10 minutes from our website.