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Insurance Education

What Do You Need To Know About Homeowners Insurance?

3/31/2021

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We've been talking a lot about topics that have been focused on and around homeowners insurance. This inspired us to dedicate a whole blog to the topic because we wanted to dive in a little deeper into what it is and what you need to know about it! 
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Hello, Charleston insurance holders and buyers! Welcome back to the Abri Insurance blog! We are a full-service, independent insurance agency representing you, the client, not the insurance company. With every policy under one roof, we customize the perfect insurance package for you while striving to deliver the highest level of customer service. In our last few blogs, we've been talking a lot about homeowners insurance, so we wanted to dedicate a whole blog to the topic and dig a little deeper into this very important coverage. Your home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, so it only makes sense to protect it. This insurance protects your home from damages to the home itself as well as protecting the possessions inside. With the springtime weather warming up, and the potentially dangerous storms that have already begun to appear in the Lowcountry, now is the time to make sure your homeowner's insurance is up to date and will cover everything you need when disaster strikes. Spend the time now to review your coverage, and if it's not what you need in times of disaster, come and speak with us! It is better to be fully prepared before disaster strikes than having poor coverage when it does! Let's learn a little more about homeowner's insurance so you know the ins and outs of what it truly is, what it covers, and some very common misconceptions to avoid! 

What Is Homeowners Insurance? 
Also called home insurance, this policy provides financial protection when your home or your belongings are damaged. Homeowner's insurance also covers damage or harm that comes to other individuals or their belongings. While it isn't required by law to have homeowners insurance, there are many reasons why you should have it, on top of what we have already mentioned. If you are planning to have a mortgage on your home, lenders will require you to have homeowners insurance up until the entire loan is paid back. Lending companies can demand that homeowners carry insurance to cover the exact amount of the mortgage they owe. 

What Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover? 
When heading into a particularly storm-heavy season in the Lowcountry, anything could happen at any time. That's why it is so important to know and understand what exactly your homeowner's insurance covers. A homeowner's insurance policy is split up into four different categories of what it will cover; your dwelling, your personal property, structures on your property, and the liability for damage or injury done to others or their belongings. When it comes to the coverage on your dwelling, it will cover to pay to repair the damage done by lightning, hail, hurricanes, wind, fire, and other natural disasters. Many standard policies will also cover damage done to detached buildings on your property like a gazebo, shed, and garages. Coverage of your personal belongings includes damage done to your sports equipment, furniture, clothing, and other personal items by fire, hurricanes, other natural disasters, and if they are stolen. It also covers items that are stored away from your home. Your landscaping and precious items like collectibles and jewelry are protected, but only to an extent. Your collectibles and special items are usually protected up to a certain dollar limit, and your landscaping items like trees and plants are covered for up to $500 per item. Liability covers lawsuits from harm or damage caused by you or your family to others, and also covers damage caused by your pets. 

What Doesn't My Homeowners Insurance Cover? 
While your homeowner's insurance covers quite a bit, you mustn't assume that it covers everything. Some items that homeowner's insurance doesn't cover are obvious, while some are still a little tricky. While you can add on extras to create a policy that covers you for exactly what you need, you might need to invest a little bit more into your coverage than what you think you do. A word to the wise, we would recommend going a little above your policy, at least have a policy that will cover you if you need to completely rebuild your home. What else should you know? 
  • Water damage done to your home by a busted pipe or leaking appliance will be covered by a standard policy. When rain damages your home during a bad storm, that too is generally covered. However, damage done to your home by flooding is not covered in a standard policy. This is something that you will need extra coverage for. 
  • Anything damaged that is caused by the natural movements of the earth (like earthquakes) will not be covered and will require extra coverage. 
  • While your homeowner's insurance will cover items that are stolen out of your car, it won't cover damage done to your car. Homeowner's insurance also won't cover damage done to your car while it is sitting in your driveway and it is damaged by a natural disaster, is a victim of fire, vandalism, or another car hitting it. All of this damage will be covered under your auto insurance, not your homeowner's insurance. 
  • While a trampoline might be a blast, any insurance companies consider them to be a liability and some policies won't cover them or any injury connected to them. 
  • Adding high-risk pool features to your backyard that are similar to a water park might also be considered high risk and could lead to your home being disqualified for coverage.  
  • Please be very careful about stashing large sums of cash in and around your home. In many policies, companies will add in stolen cash to the total value of all your collectible and precious items, and you will only receive coverage on a percentage of what you lost. 
  • Termite damage is not covered by most homeowner insurance policies. 
  • Certain breeds of dogs, especially those known to be very aggressive, are not covered by many policies. 
  • If you've been the recipient of bad workmanship that is faulty and lacking, it is difficult to claim anything on that. Please make sure your contractor is licensed for liability so they will have to cover any damage! 
  • If you are working from home and have large quantities of your products laying around, not everything can or will be covered if damaged or stolen. 
  • Sewer backup damage is not covered in most homeowner's plans, but you may have the option to buy more protection if this is a consistent issue. 

Myths About Homeowners Insurance
While it's great that there is a lot of information out there about homeowners insurance, there is also quite a bit of misinformation out there. We wanted to clear up these misconceptions so you know when you come across some bad information. If you question or thought your policy covered these misconceptions listed below, it's time to evaluate your policy and come speak with us at Abri! 
  • If your home is destroyed, your insurance will cover its current market value. 
  • Renters are covered by their landlord's policy! 
  • Mold, infestations, and termites and covered by your homeowner's insurance policy. 
  • Homeowner's insurance is required by law. 
  • It is too expensive and will make owning a home impossible. 
  • No matter how expensive an item is, my insurance policy will cover it and its cost if it is stolen. 
  • I won't need it, I can cover any repairs needed on my home without help. 
  • It is a waste of time to take inventory of everything in your home and how much these items are worth. 
  • My insurance company won't put me up in a hotel or help with the cost of living if I am displaced from my home if it is damaged. 
  • Flood damage is covered! 

You spend so much time in your home creating amazing memories, staying safe, and relaxing. A home is one of the largest and most important purchases you'll ever make, and one that many work for years to own. Keep your home properly covered so you and your family and the life you've built together can be protected and restored even after the worst. We encourage you to review your policy now, it is the perfect time to do so! You have three months until hurricane season begins, and while that might seem like a long way off, it will be here before you know it! If you would like to sit down and talk about your policy or if you would like to add more coverage, we are always here for you! We're Abri Insurance and we are here to make sure you have the best coverage for life in the Lowcountry! 
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The Realities of Natural Disaster and Catastrophe Insurance

3/17/2021

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While the idea of natural disasters isn't one we want anyone to spend much time thinking about, the reality is that it is still a possibility that we all have to face. Like everything, it's always best to be prepared, which is why we are going to be talking about disaster and catastrophe insurance today! 

As we have officially hit the one-year marker of living with Covid-19, the realities of dealing with natural disasters have become all too clear. It's very obvious now that we never really know what might happen and it is best to be prepared for anything and everything. Living in the Lowcountry, we aren't strangers to the fact that hurricanes, tropical storms, and their dangerous aftermath can bring disaster right to our front doors. With that in mind and after this past year, considering natural disaster and catastrophe insurance might be needed in your life sooner than you might think. It might not be on your radar now, but it might need to be. While we don't want you to sit and think about the possibilities of a natural disaster constantly, having natural disaster insurance allows you to ease that burden. It's our job to think about it, help guide you through it, and be here for you if a disaster ever does strike. We hope it never does, but just in case, we wanted to share some of the ins and outs of it all! 

  • One of the many questions we hear is if homeowners insurance covers natural disasters. While your homeowner's insurance will cover quite a bit when it comes to disasters like fires and severe weather, it does not cover floods or earthquakes. If you live in an area where these elements are common, it is wise to get separate policies to cover them. All of us here in Charleston are also no strangers to how powerful the wind can be. It is recommended that if you live in coastal areas such as the Lowcountry, that you look into or even include a policy for wind and wind damage. This policy can also be called hurricane coverage. It is also important to know and understand what your insurance policy covers in case of disasters heading your way. Many plans will extend their coverage to tornado damage, blizzards, and wildfires, but some very common and disaster events are still not covered. 
  • It is also important to know and understand that natural disaster policies are a combination of buying separate policies and adding them onto your current policy to protect you, your family, and your home. This can also be referred to as catastrophe insurance, which offers protection for earthquakes, flood, hurricanes, and human-made disasters like riots and terrorist attacks. 
  • For flooding insurance, you'll need to buy a specific plan through the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP is a federally run program that works with private insurance companies to give you federally sponsored insurance. It can take up to 30 days for the insurance to go into effect, so if you are in an area that is prone to flooding and flooding season due to hurricanes or other natural elements, the best time to get coverage is right now! 
  • There is also a type of insurance called hazard insurance that frequently overlaps catastrophe insurance. This plan covers what many refer to as "acts of God" such as volcano eruptions, meteorites falling for the sky, lighting, and more. Catastrophe insurance covers these things and other elements like those created by men like riots and terrorist attack damage. 
  • For all of our new clients, readers, and first-time catastrophe insurance buyers, it's very important not to confuse it with Catastrophic Insurance. This is a type of health insurance that is solely dedicated to paying for medical emergencies, illness, and accidents! 
  • A rule of thumb that you will often hear is that homeowners insurance doesn't cover any incidents caused by the movement of the earth. This is why earthquakes aren't covered and it also includes sinkholes, mudslides, and landslides not being included in your homeowner's insurance. 
  • Hail and tornado damage is usually included in most homeowner's insurance policies but only to a point, not every policy is created equal. For states that are very vulnerable to these events, your policies might charge a little more for this specific protection. It is also very important to make sure that if you live in a very tornado-heavy area to check your policy to make sure your policy will give you enough to completely cover your expenses if you need to rebuild your home. When it comes to disasters, reading the fine print and knowing the details are very important. If your policy only covers the cash value of your home, you might want to upgrade your policy replacement cost coverage. This coverage helps you rebuild exactly what you had before the disaster. 
  • Hurricane coverage can be a little tricky, especially for us here in the Lowcountry! Homeowner's insurance will cover some wind damage, some rainwater damage, and other elements like that, but it won't cover damage caused by flooding that happens as a result of storm surges. This is why flood insurance is so necessary for areas that are prone to hurricanes. 
  • It's also very important to know that damage done to your vehicles by a natural disaster is not covered by homeowners insurance, your car insurance would be responsible for these things. 
  • To fully recover from a natural disaster and to be fully compensated for all that you will need to rebuild and repair, you should look into extended replacement value coverage. This coverage helps with any surprise costs that appear that your homeowner's insurance policy won't cover, you will still be compensated for what you need.
  • Catastrophe insurance and homeowners insurance is similar in the fact that they are both are dedicated to protecting someone's home, but they are two very different things and two very different forms of coverage. Catastrophe insurance can cover and offer protection for businesses too and it offers protection against both natural and man-made disasters. 

Why should you be considering this kind of coverage now? When disaster strikes, you're left in a dire situation worrying about how to keep a roof over your head and your family safe and fed. Having to call around to make inquiries during this time can be difficult and next to impossible if you're one of many trying to contact the same insurance company during the aftermath of a disaster. Having this extra coverage in place will give you peace of mind at all times, and comfort if disaster does appear. You will know who to call and what will be taken care of right away, and be able to get back to your normal life in no time. Think ahead and give yourself and your family the gift of being completely covered no matter what's to come. We are here for all your questions, policy needs, and more. Never hesitate to reach out and call! We're Abri Insurance and we are here to make sure you have the best coverage for life in the Lowcountry! 

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The Truth Behind Boat Insurance!

2/17/2021

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While it might not be the best time to be out on the water in this damp and cool weather, it is the perfect time to prepare for when you can be! Today we are going to be talking about the truth behind your boat insurance! 

Dreaming of warmer days and spending hours back on your boat? Or have you not stopped spending days on your boat regardless of the weather? Nothing a few layers can't help with, right? Regardless if your boat is currently tucked gently away in storage or hasn't missed a Saturday out, having the proper coverage and insurance is incredibly important. It is so important that we want to dedicate a whole blog about how to have the best boat insurance to enjoy life in the Lowcountry, and to help keep you safe on and off land! 

What Do You Need To Know About Boat Insurance? 
  • The first step is choosing a plan that makes the most sense for you and your watercraft. If you feel uncomfortable in knowing what you need, sit down with us at Abri Insurance or with another trusted insurance agent or company to decide what is best for you. If you already have coverage for your boat, always make sure you know what is and what isn't covered. 
  • The rate you will pay for your insurance will depend on many factors including the type and size of your boat, your driving record, where you boat, what you are using your boat for (recreational vs. a money-making venture), and if you've been formally trained or not on how to use your boat. 
  • For those of you who don't boat all year round, there are saving options available to you. Some companies offer something called a "lay-up" which is a discounted insurance rate for when your boat is in storage for the off-season. 
  • Some homeowner's insurance policies do offer coverage for your boat, but only to a certain extent. Make sure to know what your homeowner's insurance covers when it comes to your boat and if it covers your boat at all! Don't make any assumptions.  
  • Depending on its size, you will need a stand-alone policy for your boat. It is also recommended that if your boat costs between $10,000 and $20,000 regardless of its size, it should still have its own policy. 
  • Basic boat coverage only offers limited coverage for your personal belongings. You can add on additional coverage for your personal belongings if you wish, which may feel like you're spending more, but in the long run, it will be a very smart investment and can help you save money. 
  • Extra coverage is very important outside of protecting your personal belongings. Please look into extra coverage for things like water towing, passenger injury, and fule spill liability.
  • Do you need boat insurance? We would always answer yes. Like we mentioned above, your homeowner's insurance does cover your boat, but only up to about $1,000 or 10% of what your home's insurance value is, according to nerdwallet.com. If you own a boat, you know coverage like that will hardly cover anything at all. Liability coverage, the coverage that pays for damage done by your boat, is also not covered under home insurance. 
  • Please remember that mother nature does not have an off button or an offseason. While most boat owners here in Charleston really only pay attention to the weather during hurricane season, there is still a threat of damage all year round. 
  • Owning a boat comes with a risk factor outside of being on the water. Damage while transporting your boat, theft, vandalism, fire, and much more can happen all year round. This time of year, theft is very common, since your boat is sitting unattended in a boatyard. Protect yourself and your boat beyond the time you spend on the water. 
  • Your boat, not surprisingly, is an investment. Most owners will finance the purchase of their boat instead of paying for it upfront. In these cases, most lenders will require you to carry boat insurance all year round! 

What Does Boat Insurance Cover? 
Basic boat insurance will offer its owner a certain amount of protection, but adding on more coverage can be your best route of action. Let's begin by talking about what your basic boat insurance policies will cover. 
  • Property Coverage - This will help in paying for repairs if your boat is damaged in an accident, from collision, fire, vandalism, theft, and damage done to permanently attached equipment like your anchor. 
  • Medical Coverage - This will help pay for the expenses you could incur if you or some else is injured on your boat, including X-rays, medications, and hospital visits or stays. 
  • Liability - This will help cover you if you are involved in an accident that results in damaging someone else's property. 
  • Having insurance for your boat also helps if you get hit or are involved in an accident with an individual who is not insured. 
  •  It is also best to speak with us at Abri about towing coverage, coverage for any special equipment you use for professional or recreational use on your boat, accessories, and your boat trailers. 
  • Also, consider adding on one of two damage coverage options. One is called an agreed amount value and the other is called actual cash value. In the case that your boat is destroyed, an agreed amount value plan will give you an amount of money that you and your insurance company agreed upon beforehand. The actual cash value option will give you the amount of money that the boat is worth on the market at the time of damage. 
  • Make sure to know where your insurance stands with coverage for gadgets, salvage, and mechanical breakdowns before going out on the water. 
  • If you are an owner of a yacht or a very large vessel, most policies will cover you for a certain amount of territory that you can navigate in and still be covered. If you venture outside of that area, you might not be covered. 
  • If you own or purchase an older boat, most insurance companies will send out a marine surveyor to assess the condition of the boat and its market value. However, it is always a safe option to have an inspection done like this even if it is not required. 
  • It is also very important to understand what your insurance will not cover. This includes damage from mold, insects, and zebra muscles. It does not cover damage from sharks or other creatures, normal wear and tear, and defective machinery or machine damage. 

What Are Some Common Boat Insurance Myths? 
  • My driving record doesn't affect my insurance premiums! 
This is very false! Your driving record will be checked when you go to buy boat insurance, and the more violations you have the more expensive your premium could be, and it might even prevent you from getting insurance until your record is cleared up. 
  • Insurance rates for owning a boat are very high! 
When it comes to owning any recreational vehicle or pursuing a hobby like owning a boat, you will have plenty out of pocket expenses. However, if you keep a good credit score, keep up with your excellent driving record, and take boat safety courses, you can be eligible for discounts on your premiums. 
  • My boat insurance will go up during hurricane season! 
This is a mixed bag statement. For those who don't live along the coast, hurricane season will not affect your insurance premium. However, for all of us here in the Lowcountry, insurance premiums are set due to your location. Since hurricanes are prevalent here, you might see higher monthly premiums than what your friends pay in landlocked stats who take their boat to the lake. 
  • I don't need boat insurance. 
While your local community might not require boat insurance by law, the marina you store your boat in and the company you financed it with will require that you do. 
  • My policy will cover my boat wherever I go! 
Please know that your coverage will only cover you and your boat within a certain area. Before traveling and going far distances on land or water, make sure you know where you can go with your boat while still being covered! 

Owning a boat is a huge responsibility but it will provide hours of fun and entertainment, and for all of our fishermen and shrimpers, a boat can help your business be very lucrative. We hope this information clears up any confusion or concern you have about your boating insurance. If you are still confused or have any more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to provide the best boat insurance in Charleston! We're Abri Insurance and we are here to make sure you have the best coverage for life in the Lowcountry! 

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Abri's Insurance Checklist for 2021!

1/19/2021

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It's the new year, and it's time to start fresh. To make the most out of your insurance plans this year, here is our insurance checklist for 2021! 

Hello readers, and welcome back to the blog! Goodness, it's 2021 already! As much as we were happy to see 2020 go, it's a little wild to think how quickly last year seemed to fly by! From all of us at Abri, we want to wish you a very happy and healthy new year! A new year is so exciting, it means growth, change, and adventure. You might buy a new home, a new car, get married, retire, or finally get the opportunity to take that trip you've been planning for years! We will be here for all of your insurance needs, changes, and upgrades to help support and care for you and your loved ones this year. A new year, in its harsh reality, also means that there is the opportunity to face bad weather, unexpected illness and injury, accidents, and much more. We will also be here to help you with all of your insurance needs to cover and care for all of these situations to keep you and your family as safe and protected as possible!

A new year also means making the most out of each of your insurance plans, and we want to make sure you're getting the most out of what you're paying for every month. To do that, we've created our very own insurance checklist for 2021. We ended 2020 with an end of the year checklist, and now we are kicking off 2021 with a checklist to make this the best year yet! 
  • We are sure that you're no stranger to making goals, plans, and resolutions for a new year. How about starting the new year off right with a resolution that you can stick with and start on the right foot with? Good news, it's simple and easy. Start this new year off by sitting down and reviewing all of your policies and coverage that you have for every aspect of your life. From home to health insurance, make sure you know exactly what you're paying for and will be covered for in 2021. 
  • What does 2021 have in store for you that you already have planned? Are you having a baby, retiring, moving, or buying a new home? If you already have these big life changes heading your way, make sure that your insurance policies are going to have you covered for everything you have planned and for all the possible things you don't have planned. 
  • This past year has lead us to spend a lot more time at home with our loved ones and our four-legged best friends. We appreciate our pets love and company now more than ever. Many homeowner insurance policies don't provide protection, care, or liability for your pets. Make sure to sit down and review your policy for this, or give us a call to update your current policies. 
  • 2020 was an incredibly unique and incredibly difficult year for small business owners. Did you begin your very own small business in the comforts of your craft room or beloved "she-sheds" and it has grown bigger than you thought possible? Are you looking into buying your very first insurance policy for your new small business in 2021? Now is the perfect time to start talking with us and getting started with that. Did you have to sell or close your business or part of your business at the beginning of the new year due to the impacts of 2020 and the pandemic? We are also here to help make that difficult process a little easier by helping you to change your insurance policies to reflect these changes! 
  • Like we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, a new year can rush in all kinds of wonderful and exciting things. It also has its share of difficult and unexpected expenses. While we hope these situations never happen to our clients, we want to make sure you're ready for anything! Are you and your auto insurance policy prepared and ready for the instance a car hits you and the driver doesn't have insurance? Remember, most basic car insurance policies just offer coverage for when you hit someone, and not the other way around. What happens if you're the one hit by someone who has no coverage? While this might cost a little more in your monthly premium, it will save you more money and a headache in the long run. Sit down and review your policy for uninsured motorist coverage. This will help you recover from an accident with someone who is uninsured, and it will even protect you if you're a pedestrian and you're hit in a hit and run situation. While it's sad that you can't rely on everyone, make sure to rely on yourself this year. We can help keep you safe no matter what. 
  • While life insurance and your life insurance beneficiaries might not be what you want to think about when starting a new year, it might be more important than you think. When you pass, whoever is listed as your beneficiary on your life insurance plan will receive your death benefit, no matter what your will states. Make sure your beneficiary and your other important paperwork match your intentions exactly as you want before the year gets away! 
  • Are you taking full advantage of your insurance companies? Almost every insurance company has its own app that can help manage your information, policies, payments, benefits, and more with just a click of a button. Make sure you've downloaded them onto your smart devices and that you're making the most of your policies. Some of these apps even come with opportunities to track your driving records and your health and wellness to help you save money or get money back. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of that in the new year? 
  • A new year always means new goals and aspirations, many of which take money and savings to achieve. One of the best ways to save money with an insurance plan is to have umbrella coverage or to bundle your plans. Using an umbrella plan can offer you more protection with everything you need insurance for, it can save you money, and it can also help you manage and work with fewer insurance companies. Why work with multiple companies, have multiple bills to pay, and different companies to call or contact when you need help when you can pay, manage, and work with just one or two? 
  • All professionals know the ins and outs of their industries, insurance is no different. Learning more about your policies, digging deeper into the insurance world, and truly understanding exactly what you and your family need in your unique and individualized coverage can be the best gift you've given yourself! Why not get a jump start on this new year and schedule a personal insurance review? These one on one meetings with us can help you tackle and check off all of your insurance to-do list items in one sitting. We might even be able to catch a few forgotten to-do list items, or help remind you of a few things you've forgotten to do or include in your current insurance plans and policies. 
  • A new year means new paperwork and documents to keep in your car, your wallet, and organized at home. You also need to make sure you keep track of last year's insurance documents when it comes time to do your taxes. Your insurance company will also be sending you specific documents to help with your taxes, so it's a lot to keep track of! Make sure to put your new documents in their proper places when you receive them, don't wait and let them get lost in piles of mail. Put your health insurance cards in your wallet, your auto insurance information in your car, and your home insurance and other policy information in a safe and secure location in your home. Having copies and putting them in a portable and fire and waterproof box is also not a bad idea. This way in times of emergency, it can be taken with you, or if your home is subject to fire or other natural disasters, your important insurance documents will be safe. 

These are just ten easy steps and ideas to put on your 2021 new year's checklist. They don't even include trips to the gym or cutting carbs! You can even schedule an appointment with us at Abri to make sure all of your insurance policies for your life here in Charleston, South Carolina are all in perfect order. All of us here at Abri want to make sure you have the healthiest and safest new year. So please take this checklist to heart, and please reach out to us right away if you need to change or update your policy in any way. It's better to be prepared now at the beginning of the year before anything happens over the next 12 months ahead of us. We're Abri Insurance and we are here to make sure you have the best coverage for life in the Lowcountry! 

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End Of The Year Insurance Checklist!

12/24/2020

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It has been an incredibly challenging year, but with everything organized and in its place, one last thing you'll have to worry about at the end of this year and the beginning of next year are your insurance plans! 

Hello readers, and welcome back to the blog! Can we all just sit back and relax and acknowledge that we did it? We made it through this year, we made it through another open enrollment period, and we are just about to step into a bright and fresh new year! We did it! We have so much to be thankful for, and we are so grateful for all of your support. We are happy to have helped so many of our returning customers find insurance plans that fit them perfectly for yet another year, and we are excited to have helped our new customers find the perfect insurance plans for their needs! Welcome to the Abri family! We are honored to help you, be here to support you, and keep you and your family safe and protected! 

While our last blog was all about rushing to use up your benefits now that you may or may not have hit your deductible, this blog is going to be a little extra holiday gift from us you. There is so much to wrap up at the end of the year, and so much to prepare for when the ball drops at midnight and we all step into the new year. To really make the last few days of 2020 count and to get the best foot forward for 2021, we wanted to give you a checklist of sorts. In this blog, we are going to be talking about important end of the year things to do and not forget about when it comes to your insurance plans. We are also going to be talking about some of the best things to think about and do with your brand new insurance plans for your brand new year! 

You've purchased all your gifts, sent out your holiday cards, decorated, baked, cooked, and planned. Your holidays are ready to go, but what about the rest of your end of the year affairs? Have you wrapped up everything you needed to with your insurance for 2020? Well, let's go through this list together, and let's see if your hard work has paid off or if there are a few last minute things to do with your insurance plans before we start toasting to 2021! 
  • We already covered a lot of this first checklist item in our last blog, but it is still worth mentioning again! Please remember to spend your HSA funds if your money and benefits don't roll over into next year! Also, take advantage of hitting your deductible. If you need any medical treatments, procedures, or even just your contacts or prescriptions filled, get all of that done now! 
  • Don't forget that tax season will be here in no time. Have all of your 2020 health insurance documents organized and ready to provide for all of your tax purposes. 
  • For all small business owners, make sure to check your insurance policies to make sure that your insurance is meeting all requirements for your state. This is also very important for tax season. 
  • For your car insurance, now is the time to review your policy too! Are you or an insured family member going to be continuing working from home in 2020? If so, you might want to change your policy to reflect this. Are you adding a child who just received their permit, or removing one who is getting their own car insurance? Also, double-check that you and all of your vehicles (motorcycles, motor homes, extra cars) are all insured properly! Have you been unhappy with your current insurance provider? We can help you with that, and we might even be able to find you a better auto insurance plan so you can get exactly what you want and need for much less. Also, don't forget to look for discounts, research if you've earned any rewards, or can work towards some for 2021! 
  • It's also time to review your home insurance plan. We all spent a lot of time at home this year, and a lot of us took advantage of that time to build extensions on our homes, built new patios, built new sidewalks, outdoor kitchens, new storage spaces, and garages! Make sure that with all of these new changes that you've made, that your current policy covers and protects everything! Also, for those who were unable to fix up or put money into their homes this year due to unemployment and other difficulties due to the pandemic, double-check that your insurance policy will help and cover any future repairs that will be needed. Also, for all of our readers here in SC and the southeast, the hurricane season was very mild for many of us. Who knows what that means for 2021. Are your home and your current homeowner's insurance policy ready for the possibility of some very big storms? What about flooding? 
  • 2020 was strange for a laundry list of reasons, and there is just so much we can't explain. Some of those things might be inheriting some amazing pieces of art, jewelry, a car, or other precious items from family members or friends. These might be the first items of their kind that you've owned that you want to protect with an insurance policy. Do you have an existing policy that will give these precious objects protection, or do you need to be speaking with us at Abri to get better insurance coverage? 
  • After all the gifts have been unwrapped and the decorations put away, make sure to take some time to update your inventory list of all of your valuables and belongings in your home that you want to keep track of and covered if anything were to happen to them. You'd be surprised how many items you can add to this list in just one year. Keeping up with this list every year can make sure that you don't get overwhelmed and prevents you from leaving anything out. Also, you never know when a disaster might hit. During the changing seasons, your home is in potential danger for what might be coming your way. Be prepared now before it's too late. 
  • Is this the year that you want to bundle your insurance policies? If you haven't yet or you haven't made time to, why not do it now before the new year starts to get ahead of you? 
  • While it might not get cold enough here in Charleston for our pipes to freeze or for it to snow, it's still a great time to do a once over and check in with all of your appliances and home systems. This is a great way to catch any big issues ahead of time so you don't have pipes bursting, refrigerators leaking, and exposed wires causing water or potential fire damage to your home when you may or may not be covered properly. We hope seeing potential accidents will lead you to update your policies and get you covered for these kinds of accidents in your home. 
  • If you have made any improvements to your home this year, please also make sure to share them with your agent! 
  • Life brings changes when we least expect or plan for it. Make sure to know all of your insurance plans inside and out so you know exactly what will be covered, even if you can't plan for what life might bring next. 
  • Has there been a change in your income? If so, see if this applies to your plans (like auto insurance) to see if you can negotiate your monthly premiums. This can keep you safe and help you not break the bank. Sometimes in these situations, it causes insurance holders to sacrifice the quality of their plans to save money. Double-check and work with your providers to see if there is something that can be done instead! 
  • Have you had any big life changes this year? Get married? Have a baby? Retire? If you have a life insurance plan, it's time to go back and check-in with your plan to make sure it reflects these changes. If you don't have a life insurance plan, then these big changes are the perfect examples of reasons for getting one! 

There you have it! What a list, and what an impressive amount of things to think about and get done before January 1st! We know that it might be difficult to make time to go through a checklist like this, but we promise that each of these bullet points is extremely important. If you are unsure about your insurance policies, have questions concerning life changes 2020 has brought you, or you are interested in upgrading your plans or finding a new provider, Abri is here for you! From all of us at Abri, we wish you and yours a very safe holiday and an even safer new year! 

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Don't Dampen Your Travel Plans; The Truth About Travel Insurance

11/25/2020

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While traveling might look a little differently this year, it's always smart to be prepared.

Traveling throughout 2020 has been such a strange and unique experience, and hasn't looked like anything we've ever seen before. For most, traveling has become something we've put on the back burner and will come back to once it's safe to do so again. However, even with that in mind, the most important thing to remember is that traveling as we've always known it will be back again. We will be able to enjoy every aspect of traveling again someday soon and will be enjoying our regularly scheduled vacation plans again. For now, it's just on pause. Until then, since we all have a little time on our hands, it's a great time to learn a little bit more about the many ways to keep you and your family safe the next time you're on your dream vacations. While you're dreaming about packing up your favorite overnight bag and the stack of books you want to read by the pool, we encourage you to start adding travel insurance to those thoughts and considerations.

One of our favorite topics is, of course, insurance, and it applies to every aspect of your life. In the spirit of celebrating the joy of travel and counting down the days until your next (safe) big trip, we wanted to chat about the truths and misconceptions of travel insurance. Myths and misconceptions on any topic are a dangerous road to go down. They can, sadly, cause hundreds of well-meaning people and travelers to make some not so smart decisions. Thanks to these myths floating around out there, travel insurance has gotten a pretty bad reputation that it's not needed and that it's a waste of time and money. Please know that these myths and misconceptions are called that for a reason and have been getting in the way of guaranteeing safe and fantastic trips for millions of people every year. Also keep in mind that if you are planning on traveling internationally, travel insurance is a necessity, and we wouldn't ever recommend getting on a plane without it.

Myth: My credit card offers plenty of protection while I'm traveling, and I won't need any more protection than that!
Fact: First and foremost, your travel credit cards only cover a few basic things, and in almost every situation they won't cover much if any healthcare if you get sick or injured while you're out of the country. If you're traveling inside of the United States, it still is very much the same. While your healthcare will be out of network while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home, most likely, it will still be better than traveling globally without any health insurance.  If you choose to rely on your travel credit card as your travel insurance while you're away from home, please call and speak with your credit card company first, just so you know exactly what protection you'll have, if any! Even the best travel credit cards out there offer little more than protection for stolen items, loss of baggage, or a canceled trip. While some medical expenses could be covered, the coverage limit will be very low. The amount you could be spending out of pocket could be huge, and much more than you would be paying for a travel insurance plan. We urge you to speak with us or your insurance provider about some travel insurance on top of the protection your credit card offers. This way your medical needs, if by chance something does happen when you're away, can be taken care of much more affordably.

Myth: Travel insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions.
Fact: This is a moment where we need to pause and have you read the fine print on any travel insurance package. If you have a pre-existing condition, and you were healthy and stable before the start of your trip, travel insurance will help cover you for things you might need if something happens due to your pre-existing condition while you're traveling. If you need more medication or need to see a doctor because of it, travel insurance will help taking care of you with ease. When planning out a trip and you choose to sit down and talk with us at Abri or with your current insurance provider, make sure you pick an appropriate travel insurance plan with your specific needs and with your condition in mind. According to AAA, they encourage people to remember that the term "pre-existing" can be much broader than many people realize. Don't just dismiss the idea that your condition isn't included under the pre-existing bubble. Make sure to do your research! Also, please don't wait to get coverage for your pre-existing condition added to your travel insurance plan. You will need to apply for it between 10 days and a month of booking your trip, according to AAA.

Myth: Travel insurance is too expensive!
Fact: Remember, as we've mentioned before, if you get sick or injured 100 miles or more away from your home or when you're outside of the country, it can cost you much more than what you'll end up paying out of pocket for your travel insurance policy. According to AAA, travel insurance will cost 5-8% of your trips overall cost. So, yes, the more your trip costs the more you will be paying for insurance. However, if you can't pay the out-of-pocket expenses if your trip is canceled, if you have to rebook your flight or hotel last minute, then travel insurance is the way to go. In any of these last-minute situations, your travel insurance will be able to give you the protection you need financially and for your mental well being.

Myth: I have great health insurance already, so that will cover me on my trip! Travel insurance and health insurance are the same things, anyway.
Fact: This is a very big issue that's found across the board, and it is also a very false statement. Your personal health insurance won't provide protection or support with trip interruption, trip cancellation, damaged possessions, stolen items, lost items, emergency evacuation, or if there is a natural disaster where you've chosen to vacation and you're now dealing with the situation as an expatriate. Travel insurance, on the other hand, does. Also, while your health insurance might cover "customary" and "reasonable" expenses when you're abroad, most of your other costs won't be covered, according to AAA. This can happen when you're simply out of network when you're traveling in the US, too. Also, Medicare does not cover chargers that happen outside of the United States. So, if you have to be moved to a different doctor or specialist while you're traveling abroad (also called medical evacuation) it will not be covered under Medicare and nor will your other medical related issues. Also, if you're using insurance through your employer while traveling, you might be the only one it covers during your trip. While your spouse or child might be covered under this insurance while you're at home, this might not be the cause while you're traveling. This could put your loved ones at serious risk while traveling if all you have is your normal health insurance with you during your trip and not travel insurance.

Myth: I'm incredibly healthy and I'm a very safe person. Nothing will happen to me or my belongings while I'm traveling!
Fact: While you might be healthy and safe, there is so much about life and other people that you cannot control when it comes to traveling and what could happen. So much of what could happen during a trip that could put you in danger or cause you to leave and head back home because of an emergency has nothing to do with how healthy you are or how safe you live your life. You don't have control over the weather, over a canceled flight, or if someone chooses to steal your belongings or passport. Don't assume either, that even if you're just traveling over a short period that you're safe from these disasters. One bad day, one bad storm, or the loss of all your luggage in a matter of one flight can happen when you least expect it. There is no amount of specific time between when a disaster can and cannot happen!

We hope we've put your traveling plans in a new perspective after reading this blog! During these unknown times where traveling is already a gamble, travel insurance shouldn't be a question. Be prepared, travel safely, and make sure to put travel insurance at the top of your to-do list when making plans for your next trip. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out and chat with us! We are here for all of your insurance needs and questions! We are excited to work with you and love being a part of the Summerville community!
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Best Tips For a Pain-Free Open Enrollment

11/18/2020

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The dawning of November means the beginning of open enrollment. If you are new to the process or you're looking to make it a much easier process than you've experienced, that is what this blog is all about! 

While the idea of turkey and stuffing is on the minds of most of our readers, November is an incredibly busy month for us and it has nothing to do with picking out what sides to match our turkey or the perfect pumpkin pie. While these are things we still make time for and hope you get a ton of enjoyment out of, November for all of us at Abri means one thing; Open Enrollment! While we want you to enjoy the most out of your Thanksgiving and the last bit of fall here in Summerville, if your insurance plan is expiring and you will be needing new health insurance coverage, we hope you make open enrollment one of your priorities over the next month. We are here to help you through every step of this process and want to make it an extremely pain-free experience. That is why we wanted to dedicate this blog to multiple ways on how you can make it a pain-free process and what some of the best ways to handle open enrollment are. Don't stress, you've got this! 

Open enrollment for 2021 began on November 1st and it ends on December 15th. Every year you only have a little over a month to search for, research, and choose your next best healthcare plan. Just a tad overwhelming. For our readers new to the blog and the insurance world, you might be curious about what open enrollment actually is. According to the dictionary, open enrollment is "a period of time during which one may freely enroll in or change one's selection of health insurance plan or other benefit programs that is ordinarily subject to restrictions." The short version is that your health insurance plan is expiring and it's time to get a new one. Sounds relatively easy, right? Well, we are here to make it as simple and as easy for our clients as we possibly can. Sadly, this is not the case for everyone.

Enrollment is a short period that pushes people to pick their plans very rapidly and has also been created to limit adverse selection. What makes it hard, even when you know all year that you have a short period to buy your plan, getting information about what your options are and what's available to you can be difficult to find or very confusing. That's where we can come in. If you are looking for an independent plan on the marketplace and outside of what your employers may or may not be offering, we can search the whole market with you and your family's needs and best intentions in mind. This can help you save time, save stress, save money, and help guarantee that all of you and your family's needs will be taken care of. 


While you begin your journey and begin the search for health insurance, we wanted to provide you with a list of tips and suggestions on what to be thinking about and what to avoid while you're searching in the market. 
  • Don't be fooled, please be in the know. Many insurance plans can simply be rolled over into the upcoming year, but that's not always the case. Please don't just assume that this is how it will be for you. Pay close attention to your policy and know if you will need to be looking for a new plan or not. Also, pay attention and discuss with your policyholder that even if you're rolling your policy over, double-check if anything is changing in your policy before you blindly decide to roll over your plan for this upcoming year.
  • Be aware of what kind of needs you and your family require and know how much you can pay for any out of pocket expenses, and know what kind of deductible will be best for your family. When considering a new plan, please take note of what services and plans your family needs. Are all of you relatively healthy or do each of you need consistent doctor visits? Is there a type of coverage that you want outside of basic medical care in your plan? Is there a set of doctors that you love and they are inspiring you to remain in their network? All of these questions need to be answered with your family and will dictate what you need to purchase. Don't buy an incorrect plan just because it's a good deal. Also, beware of low monthly payments and high deductibles. You might find a plan that has a low monthly rate, but that will more than likely be linked to an impossibly high deductible. This might be a great month to month expense for you, but you might end up spending more than you needed to reach your coverage or get the plan you needed, but instead, you're paying a ton out of pocket and never reaching your deductible. 
  • While it is hard to find the best doctor for you and your family, it might be more expensive to stay with a previous doctor especially when you're not even visiting them that often. Sometimes choosing to stick with a certain set of doctors means choosing an expensive plan that you don't even really need to have. Sometimes it is worth switching plans and doctors to save you and your family some serious money! 
  • Think about big changes that could be heading towards you and your family when choosing your next plan. Are you planning on having a baby in the upcoming year or possibly leaving or starting a new job? Is a child going off to college or are you and your spouse about to retire? No matter what big changes are heading your way, make sure you are aware of how each of these changes will affect your life and make sure your new potential plan reflects the support and care that you need to for these new chapters in your life

Now that you've read through this blog, are you feeling better about open enrollment? Regardless if you are or not, please remember that we are here to help. We know that you have many difficult questions to ask yourself to make sure you and your family are covered and cared for. We are here to do the rest of the heavy lifting once those decisions are made. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us now before open enrollment closes! We are excited to work with you and love being a part of the Summerville community!

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What You Need To Know About Hurricane Insurance

9/30/2020

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The joy of fall can be tainted by the threat that hurricane season is still with us until November 1st. Make sure your home and your family are prepared and insured for anything that could happen. 

Hurricanes and the Lowcountry go together like a day at the beach and a potential sunburn. No matter how much we love living here, there are just a few things that come with the territory. Hurricanes, flooding, and tropical storms are just some of the potentially dangerous, scary, and everyday threats we have to live with. It's the price to pay for living in one of the most beautiful places in the southeast. No matter if you're new to Lowcountry or not, you always need to make sure you're prepared for anything. Your home needs to be safe and secured, your evacuation plan needs to be established, and your insurance needs to be ready to support your home and property through what ever damage these storms could bring. According to Forbes, NOAA updated its 2020 storm prediction to upwards of 13 to 19 storms, already reaching 9 named storms by August of this year. In the past that many storms didn't appear until October. Over 60 million people are living right in the hot spot for these storms, and South Carolina is apart of that. Even if you aren't currently insured for the damages a hurricane can bring there is no better time than now to get started. 

  • According to Forbes, the good news is that some home insurance companies will give some partial insurance reimbursement for home improvements when preparing for hurricane season. Make sure to check in with us or your insurance provider to see if this will be an option for you. If you're in the market for a new policy, let us know if you'd like this to be an option or something available to you while we research the perfect plans! Hurricane shutters, windows, and roof protection can be some of the options that can be covered with a discount or a rate reduction with some insurance plans. 
  • Before hurricane season starts, you should spend some time sitting down with your policy to see what coverage you do have and what you might be lacking. If there is anything you might want to add to your current policy, please don't hesitate to chat with us about that. Also, if there is anything unclear about your policy, we are more than happy to explain and walk you through it. 
  • Take the time to make a proper inventory of your belongings just in case serious damage occurs. You can keep a written or digital list of your belongings, but taking a video can save you time and help with speeding up the adjustment process. If they can see it with their own eyes, the proof in what you lost is right there. They will see your electronics and valuables and will be able to price it quickly and proficiently. These videos can be stored in your cloud or your Google Drive, away from harm or other damage. 
  • Consider buying flood insurance. Even if you don't think it's necessary, consider the trend of hurricanes in the last few years. Coverage is now available further inland than ever before, thanks to damage and flooding from hurricanes like Harvey in 2017 and the like. Do your research and weigh the pros and cons with us to keep you safe and within your budget. 
  • It's hard to truly grasp the inevitable, but make sure your policy can cover some very big expenses. The Insurance Information Institute recommends that you should have a plan that will cover the expenses to rebuild your home if it comes to that. It is important to know that the resale value of your home is not the amount that it will take to rebuild it. If faced with such devastation, the last thing you want to worry about is if you'll be able to put a roof back over you and your family or not. 
  • When it comes to your possessions, along with taking meticulous inventory of what you have, make sure your policy covers and protects enough of what is important to you from the bottom floor to the attic. 
  • Don't forget to check your policy for other expenses that will need to be covered when disaster strikes. If your home has been destroyed, has serious flood damage, or your roof is missing, you'll need somewhere to stay. Some plans will offer ALE coverage, additional living expenses, that will cover the costs you'll build up if you have to lives somewhere else if your home has been rendered uninhabitable. According to the Insurance Information Institute, ALE will cover your hotel, meals, and other expenses that are above and beyond what you'd have to spend at home. 
  • When you check in with your insurance company or with us while preparing for a hurricane, make sure you have a policy that covers your car, boat, and other vehicles. Make sure to ask about coverage on additional buildings on your property like garages, storage units, sheds, and more. 
  • Keep all insurance documents in a safe and dry space. Adding them to your evacuation kit along with other important documents is always a safe idea. 
  • Always make sure you have the right deductible for what you need. Just to be safe, make sure you have the deductible amount saved up to pay it off when disaster strikes. Not having enough set aside to pay that deductible can prolong the recovery process. It might seem like a hefty sum to pay right now, but it will be far less than paying to replace everything lost in a disaster. 

How does your insurance plan stand up to all of these requirements, needs, and reminders? Are you ready for hurricane season and what's left of it? If not, please don't panic. We are just a phone call away and are here to help you get protected and covered. We are excited to work with you and love being a part of the Summerville community!

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