After a long and bitter winter spring has finally begun to appear in central Pennsylvania; and with the change in season comes that annual tradition of spring-cleaning, a time when we clean our homes and try to catch up on the things we lapsed on during the winter months. This year, though, instead of just cleaning your home, we recommend taking some time to clean up your insurance policies, too.
We know that the last thing you want to think about is insurance, but consider this: ignoring your insurance needs now could quickly become a major issue later thanks to the problems that arise during the changing seasons. So as the spring season begins knocking on our doors we recommend reviewing five extremely important insurance policies this month:
1. Auto Insurance: We’ve talked before about the importance of having car insurance that goes above and beyond basic legal requirements; with spring in air, going beyond those minimum requirements is more important than ever. With spring comes potholes, and with potholes come potentially expensive repairs. Fortunately pothole damage is typically covered by collision coverage – but if your policy doesn’t include this, springtime may have a very unpleasant welcoming gift waiting on the roads for you.
2. Flood Insurance: The state of Pennsylvania deals with its fair share of rain and snowfall – many areas experience over 50 inches of precipitation each year. Combine this precipitation with Pittsburgh’s geography – hills, mountains, and rivers and creeks abound – and you have the potential for flooding. Even residents in low risk areas are encouraged to prepare for potential flooding; however, a standard home insurance policy does not cover spring flooding damages. Fortunately there are plenty of affordable flood insurance policies out there – so if you haven’t invested in this insurance yet, now is the ideal time to do so.
3. Homeowners Insurance: That winter weather doesn’t just take its toll on the local roads – it can also cause major damage to your driveway. Unfortunately, winter weather cracks usually aren’t covered under a basic homeowners policy. So if your driveway is getting older or is prone to cracking, now is an ideal time to talk to an insurance agent about how to cover the costs of a potential repair in the near future. This is also a good time to make sure that your homeowners policy will cover any likely possible damages, such as those caused by weather – remember, spring storms are often unkind to your home’s roof and sidings!
4. Health Insurance: Health insurance can be tricky to navigate any year; with market changes due to the Affordable Care Act officially in place, it’s more important than ever that individuals take the time to look into their health insurance coverage and options. While open enrollment under the ACA is currently closed, individuals can still get 2014 coverage under the ACA in select situations; you can also see if any plans could offer you great coverage for a smaller cost down the line.
5. Life Insurance: While thinking about life insurance can be unpleasant, a lot can change in a year, which makes checking in on your policy on a regular basis incredibly important. Are your beneficiaries up to date? Is the amount in and cost of your policy appropriate for your needs? Only you can answer those questions – and only by reviewing your policy can you be sure that it currently matches and covers your final wishes.
These five insurance policies deserve your full attention during your spring cleaning sessions. But important as reviewing these insurance policies is, we know that thinking about insurance can become frustrating and confusing. That’s why we’re offering to help you evaluate your current insurance policies this spring.
You can make sure that you’re ready for 2014 by contacting us today and setting up your appointment. Everyone on our staff at the Fisher Widmann Flick Insurance Agency is a specially trained insurance expert who can make your insurance policies cover exactly what they need to cover, all at a reasonable cost. So go ahead and get in touch, central Pennsylvanians – this is one part of your spring cleaning errands that we can definitely handle!