The New Year is a great time to take stock of our lives. You might be focusing on your
health or your finances. But I would encourage you to start 2016 by reviewing your
insurance coverage.
Your insurance policies and insurance needs change over time as you move, switch jobs,
add to your family, buy a new car and grow older. Here are six New Year’s insurance
resolutions to help you fine-tune your insurance policies.
1. Auto Insurance
Tell your insurer if there are any changes in your driving habits. Maybe you’ve moved or
switched jobs and your drive to work isn’t as far. These details can save you money.
Also, talk to your insurance agent about covering any older vehicles you own. Since your
policy will repair or replace only up to the value of the vehicle, paying for full coverage
on an aging car may not be worth it.
2. Home Insurance
The start of a new year is a great time to update your home inventory. The information
you put on this list will make an insurance claim faster and easier to settle. If you’ve
never made a home inventory, click here for tips and a template to get started.
Another good resolution: make sure your home insurance coverage remains high enough
if you ever have to repair or rebuild at today’s construction prices.
3. Life Insurance
As you launch into 2016, look for ways to cut life insurance costs. Have you become
healthier? Did you stop smoking? Are you off medications? You may now qualify for
preferred rates.
4. Health Insurance
Want to trim your health insurance costs in the new year? The best way is to become
more educated and informed about your health care. For healthy people who rarely go to
the doctor, it may make sense to seek lower premiums through a higher insurance
deductible.
If you have minimal insurance or a high-deductible plan, you may be able to save money
by negotiating whenever you get a medical bill. Don’t be shy about asking your doctor or
hospital for a discount.
5. Flood Insurance
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 90 percent of major
natural disasters in the U.S. involves flooding. Yet many at-risk homeowners don’t have
flood insurance.
A flood insurance policy is separate from your homeowner’s policy which does not pay
for flood claims. The National Flood Insurance Program is run by the FEMA. It works
with nearly 90 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance.
6. Earthquake Insurance
Oklahoma experienced almost 600 magnitude 3+ earthquakes in 2014, but the damage is
not covered by residential insurance policies. Assessing your need for a special
earthquake insurance policy should be high on your list of New Year’s resolutions.
Premiums are generally lower on an earthquake policy; however, the deductible is
generally higher. Many times these policies are best used for catastrophic earthquake
damage. Earthquake coverage can be added either by an endorsement to your current
homeowners policy or by a stand-alone policy.
These six resolutions will help you start off 2016 by spending wisely and getting the
coverage that matters the most. If you have any other questions about insurance, contact
the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at
www.ok.gov.