Homeowners Insurance

Does My Maine Homeowners and Auto Insurance Cover My College Student?

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2542619678_07b45bfae6_2 This weekend, we move one of our kids back to college. He’s excited to re-join his friends and regain his independence that was suspended when he moved back home for the summer. We suppose that there’ll be some actual education taking place, too. It’s a big change for our family, not to mention our grocery bill.

So what does a Maine insurance agent do to his home insurance and car insurance policies when his kid goes off to school? This year: nothing. Next year may be different. Here’s why.

Home Insurance
Your Maine homeowners insurance covers you and “members of your household”. As long as he lives in a dorm and returns home every summer, he meets that definition – even though he’s over 18 and a legal adult. So, his computer, TV and other stuff are covered by our policy. Our liability coverage also follows him – which is handy given the behavior of 20 year-old males sometimes. 38457170_0a034cb1df_2

Next year, he might do a semester abroad. Would our homeowners policy cover him then? Yes, as long as he still is a resident of our household (i.e. lives at home on school breaks and vacations).

What if he rents an off-campus apartment next year? Well, that probably changes the rules. If his name is on a lease; if he stays year-round in the apartment; or if he no longer lives at home, then he’s not a member of our household. He needs to buy a renters’ insurance policy from a local independent agent. Cost: about $150 per year.

This fall, a new development in Portland called Bayside Village opens. They’ve been advertising on MTV, and set up a sales office next to a local pizza joint. It makes me wish I could go to college again! Bayside Village will house students from several local colleges. It offers access to public transportation and downtown Portland. Its furnished apartments include most utilities. It’s a lot like a dorm, but is unaffiliated with any school. Our advice for clients: don’t rely on your homeowners policy to protect you here – get a renters’ insurance quote.

Auto Insurance
Our son is not taking a car with him to school. Our insurer gives us an auto insurance discount (or draws a little less blood) for this. We don’t have to tell our insurer when he’s home for the summer or on break, and using one of our cars. Our Maine car insurance quote already presumes that he’s using our vehicles when he’s home.

Two of his roommates have cars at school. What if he’s successful in convincing us that he needs a car to “get a job”, “get an internship”, “come home for visits” or “get food”? Then, we have to tell our insurance company that he has a car at school. Adios discount, hola higher premiums!

What about that semester abroad? Would he be covered by our auto policy to drive a car in another country? Not on your life!

Keep in mind that your policies could certainly be different from mine. Contact your own Maine insurance agent with questions about how to best cover your situation.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in Maine if You’re Not in a Flood Zone?

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2008 was one of the wettest summers in Maine in 20 years. Several storms dumped more than an inch of rain each, causing flash flooding and washing out roads. This caused traffic accidents and property damage. This followed one of Maine’s snowiest winters, which caused massive flooding in Aroostook County.

Unfortunately, many people find out the hard way that Maine homeowners insurance, business property insurance and condo insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The most common provider for flood coverage in the U.S. is The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The product is sold by nearly every Maine insurance agency.

As many Mainers learned this summer, you don’t have to live next to a body of water to suffer from flooding. NFIP says that 25% of flood claims come from “low to moderate risk areas.”

Take a look at this video taken on Stevens Avenue in Portland taken earlier this month.

Note: Stevens Avenue in Portland is 100’ above sea level, flat, and miles from a body of water.

For those in special hazard zones, flood coverage can be expensive – often more than homeowners policies. Lenders usually require homeowners to purchase this coverage. Outside of these special hazard zones, the cost of flood coverage is much less – often as little as $200 per year.

For more information, contact your agent at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

Alternative Heat: Burning Wood

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Rising heating oil prices have Mainers thinking about the cold of winter in the middle of summer. Firewood supplies are scarce, and prices high, the newspaper reported last week. Consumer advocates are warning about unscrupulous dealers and unsafe wood-burning practices. Even Gov. John Baldacci is using his bully pulpit to spread the word.

Maine insurance agents and companies have been concerned for a few years about the prospect of paying more Maine homeowners insurance claims due to fires caused by inexperienced woodstove operators. Presque Isle’s MMG Insurance has some of the best material, from a two-page brochure (pdf) to a 13 page manifesto (available upon request).

If you’re thinking of burning wood, check them out.