Why do lenders require flood insurance in addition to home insurance?

Posted on by agentinsure

Mortgage lenders may require flood insurance as part of the lending requirements, especially if the home is located in an area that is considered having a high risk for floods. These areas are designated as a “Special Flood Hazard Area” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Homeowner’s insurance does not usually cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a special type of coverage that is a separate policy. If the mortgage is federally insured or regulated, such as an FHA loan, and the home is in a high-risk area for floods, then having flood insurance is mandatory.

Even if a lender does not require flood insurance, it may still be a good idea to have it because weather patterns are changing and the risk of flooding may be there even if the home is not in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area. EcoWatch reported in 2017 that there is increasing flood risk due to the changing weather patterns that are causing routine flooding in areas that were not previously susceptible to flooding.

If you are looking to buy a home, check with an insurance agent at Freeland Insurance in Oklahoma City, OK and they can help determine if the home is in a flood zone. Sometimes real estate agents do not mention the need for flood insurance until the home someone wants to purchase is already in escrow. FEMA has maps available for the public that show where the flood zones are located. If the home is near a flood zone but not within the boundaries, it still may be a good idea to have flood insurance. Just a few inches of water that enters a home can do serious damage and create the need for costly repairs.

Contact an insurance agent at Freeland Insurance in Oklahoma City, OK for any flood insurance or other insurance needs.

3 Tips for Getting More Out of Your Health Insurance

Posted on by agentinsure

Your health insurance policy isn’t just a long-winded contract full of terms and contingencies you don’t understand, it’s a blueprint to how you can take care of yourself no matter how old you are or what specific options you may face. Here are a few tips from Freeland Insurance if you live in Oklahoma City, OK and you’re hoping to get more out of your insurance.

Ask Questions

This is a standard piece of advice for all of your insurance policies, but one that often isn’t practiced because most people simply don’t have a good deal of interest in their policy. But biting the bullet and asking the tough questions is a good way to get a better handle on how insurance works in all situations. It can also make you as aware of the services that aren’t covered as opposed to the ones that are.

Apply Common Sense

It’s impossible for insurance companies to predict every possible event that may occur to a person, which is why policyholders may want to think before they make certain decisions. While it’s true that you should never assume anything specific, you can also apply relatively basic logic when it comes to whether or not a certain service will be covered. In other words, if you have major medical insurance only, your policy isn’t likely to cover dermatology visits for cosmetic purposes only.

Call Freeland Insurance

Our insurance agency is built on helping the people of Oklahoma City, OK get the most out of their policies — no matter what their priorities or budget happens to be. For more information about our services or to receive a health insurance quote, give us a call today. We can help you get a handle on health insurance!

Does Commercial Insurance Cover Employees?

Posted on by agentinsure

Commercial insurance is something that every business can benefit from and it can help protect plenty of things when it comes to your business. There are a ton of things that your commercial policy covers that you may not be aware of and one of them is your employees. For those in the Oklahoma City, OK area, the agents with Freeland Insurance can help you to find the right policy for your individual needs. Commercial policies can do wonders for employers if they have the right one in place.

For starters, your commercial policy is going to cover your employees for a range of things. It helps cover them if they are injured on your property first and foremost which is one of the most important things. Instead of you having to pay the full medical bills of an employee that is injured on your property, you can use your policy to help pay their medical bills so that you do not have to worry about how to help pay if they are injured.

For those that have a policy in place, you can specify how much is going to be paid if an employee is injured and how the employee can go about collecting. For the most part, your commercial policy is going to protect your employees from bodily harm while on your premises.  Though this might not seem like a terribly common occurrence, you will be surprised to find that more people are injured in the workplace than you might imagine. For those that live in the Oklahoma City, OK are, the agents with Freeland Insurance can help you find the policy that is going to protect not only you but also your employees while they are on your property.

Does a Daycare Need Commercial Insurance?

Posted on by agentinsure

One of the most rewarding careers is one that involves working with children. Whether it be operating your own daycare center or teaching at a local high school, working with children is a great way to help raise the next generation that will be running our country. As a daycare owner, though, there are many things that you need to take into consideration. Take for example insurance. Does your daycare center have all of the proper insurance coverage that it needs? For now, let’s take a quick look at daycare centers and the various types of insurance they need. 

You will find it very beneficial to invest in commercial insurance for your daycare center. With this type of insurance, you will receive a variety of benefits, including those related to general liability and professional liability coverage. With general liability coverage, this will help provide coverage for claims that relate to property damage. For example, if a child is injured on your business property and has to go to the hospital, you will have to pay for the involved expenses. With the right insurance policy, though, you can have peace of mind in knowing that you won’t have to dip into your own pocket to pay for the medical expenses or the damages that are sustained by your property. 

The best way to determine what type of insurance coverage your daycare center needs is by speaking with a qualified insurance specialist. To learn more about commercial insurance for daycare centers, please don’t hesitate to contact Freeland Insurance today serving the Oklahoma City, OK area. A professional insurance agent can help you assess which types of insurance will be the most beneficial for your daycare center. 

Does Your Commercial Insurance Policy Provide Adequate Coverage for Company Vehicles?

Posted on by agentinsure

Many business owners make the mistake of thinking that their company vehicles are covered by their property and loss insurance which is often not the case. If you are a small business owner and would like to ensure that all of your business assets are properly covered, Freeland Insurance is here to help.

We are a full-service insurance agency that is proud to serve the greater Oklahoma City, OK area. Our agents are fully trained in multiple lines of coverage and can work with you to determine that your business has the comprehensive coverage that it requires.

Comprehensive Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Coverage for injury or damage, caused by your company or someone else, is crucial to protecting you in the event of an accident. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverage (BI/PD) covers you in the event of an accident and will protect you from major financial loss, no matter who’s fault the accident may be. Medical Payment coverage will help to defray any medical costs that are incurred due to the accident.

Coverage for uninsured motorists is another level of protection that is available. Our agents can work with you to determine which of the different lines are appropriate in your situation, and also calculate the appropriate coverage level. Vehicle insurance is an important part of protecting your company and all of your hard work.

Please give us a call today at (405) 692-6106 to schedule an appointment to ensure that your company vehicles are adequately covered, no one wants to learn about gaps in their insurance policies after a loss or damage event has occurred! Freeland Insurance is proud to serve the greater Oklahoma City, OK area and looks forward to working with you! Call us today.

Home insurance surprises

Posted on by agentinsure
Freeland Insurance serving Oklahoma City, OK  works hard to make sure that you have all your insurance needs.  But you need to make sure with your insurance agent that everything you need is covered.

Things your homeowner’s insurance might not cover

It’s always best to ask your insurance agent what you might need.

Sewer backup: If a sewer backs up into a home, it can do some serious damage to floors, walls, furniture and electrical systems — and it’s typically not covered by a standard policy.

Floods: Frankly, flood insurance is a different insurance.   Make sure, if this is an issue, that you include it in your policy.

Sinkholes: Most home insurance policies will not cover damage associated with ‘earth movement,’ such as an earthquake or sinkhole.

Mold: Depending on your insurance this may or may not be covered.  Sometimes, it’s pricey, but depending on where you live this is something you might want to add. With a leak or flooding, get rid of the water asap, so mold doesn’t grow.

Construction work damage: If you are renovating your home it probably isn’t covered by your policy, a rider might be added.   If you have a contractor, it would fall under their liability insurance.   Make sure they are covered.

Jewelry, antiques, and fine art: Most standard policies have limits for other expensive collectibles. The best way to protect these items is to get a separate insurance rider that specifies exactly what these items are.

Earthquakes: Earthquake damage is not included in standard policies.

Stolen/destroyed cash: It’s difficult to convince the insurance company that you had thousands of dollars stashed away in your home when it was destroyed. So keep it in a safe place or keep minimal cash on hand.

 

Umbrella insurance for business and home

Posted on by agentinsure

Umbrella insurance plans can be a great fallback when you have a lot of risk to cover, and you want to catch it all with a single safety net. If you’re considering calling Freeland Insurance to get your home and business covered under the same umbrella policy in Oklahoma City, OK, here’s what you’ll want to do, first:

Consider Whether Your Business Needs Umbrella Coverage

You should take a moment to consider your business risks. Even if your business is just you and a smartphone, you might have some major risks to consider. If you have clients or customers visiting your place of business, then you have liability to think about. If you drive a company car, then commercial liability might be required. On the other hand, there’s not much reason to buy additional coverage if your business hasn’t grown past a laptop in the corner of your living room yet.

Weigh The Costs

Generally, umbrella insurance won’t be that big of an expense added on top of your monthly insurance payments. You won’t know for sure until you ask for rates, but umbrella coverage is typically cheaper than buying extra coverage for each item individually. Before buying umbrella insurance, it’s a good idea to get quotes for additional coverage on each item individually and weigh that against umbrella.

Freeland Insurance can help to connect you with the coverage you need. A lot can happen in Oklahoma City, OK, and umbrella coverage is just one of the ways in which you can protect yourself against calamity at home and at work. Compare the costs, consider what your business risks are, and determine whether you need umbrella insurance to cover home and business.

Flood Insurance: The What and the Why

Posted on by agentinsure

When you make a large purchase, you want to make sure it is properly protected. Whether it be a car or a home, protecting it with the right insurance is one of the smartest moves you can make. Just think about it. If your home becomes damaged due to excessive winds, then anything from the windows to the roof may need to be replaced. Replacing these things can cost you thousands of dollars and many hours of labor. With the right insurance, though, you can rest assured that the accompanying costs will be covered under your insurance policy. Let’s take a quick look at what flood insurance is and why you need it. 

What is flood insurance?

Most homeowner’s policies do not provide coverage for flooding. And what is so sad about this is that many people think their insurance does provide this type of coverage and they don’t find out that it doesn’t until they go to file a claim. Flood insurance is its own type of insurance and needs to be added onto your homeowner’s insurance policy. With the right type of coverage, you can have peace of mind in knowing that no matter what happens to your home, you can receive compensation for any damage that occurs to it. From fire to flooding, insurance should always be viewed as a necessity. It is an investment that can pay for itself many times over in a single claim. In fact, insurance can be viewed as one of your biggest assets.

If you would like to learn more about flood insurance, please contact Freeland Insurance serving the Oklahoma City, OK area today. 

Don’t Face Medical Issues Alone

Posted on by agentinsure

Health care has become a driving concern for many people. Our health is what we have all our lives, and issues that impact it may affect life for a long time to come. Be certain your health insurance is the best you can have so that medical expenses are reduced for you and your family. Assure yourself of access to hospitals and doctors that can help you in your time of need. FM Insurance, serving the Oklahoma City, OK area, stands ready to provide you with the health insurance information you need to make those important decisions about coverage and care. We’ve even provided an online tool for researching online quotes for health insurance so that you can know within minutes what options are there for you. 

With recent government mandates requiring health insurance coverage, the choices can be overwhelming. Our agents are trained to know the latest insurance coverage options within Oklahoma so that you have the knowledge that you need at your fingertips to make your health insurance choices. Our online quote tool is not the only available way to get yourself the information you need. Call us or come in and sit down with an agent. We can explain the nuances of health coverage or skip over the parts you already understand. We’ll show you coverage options and make sure you understand the terms and policy details. There’s no need to remain confused about health insurance. FM Insurance, serving the Oklahoma City, OK area, is prepared with up-to-date insurance information and the experience to help you understand it all. When you want reliable health insurance coverage but don’t want to call several insurance providers and do all that research, trust FM Insurance to have the information ready for you. Call us today.

 

Identifying The Major Benefits Of Life Insurance For Fire Fighters

Posted on by agentinsure

The firefighters of Oklahoma City, OK deserve the kind of life insurance coverage that will protect their families in the case of an emergency. Some may think that their dangerous job makes it impossible for them to get insurance, but that is thankfully not the case. We at Freeland Insurance can help you better understand the major benefits of firefighter life insurance.

Plans Are Specific To The Job

When a company provides life insurance policies for firefighters, they typically offer policies that are specific for those who perform this job. Like with other life insurance policies, it will cover accidental death while the firefighter is on duty. This differs from other types of policies because other types may not cover these types of deaths.

The Benefits Of These Policies

Companies that provide life insurance policies to firefighters treat it like any other policy. They don’t discriminate against you due to your challenging job and are willing to work with you to find a policy that is affordable and comprehensive. In fact, you may be able to get better policies if you are in great shape.

Many insurance companies look at the history of your profession, accidents you may have suffered in the past, and hobbies to find a reliable policy. Once you get a policy, your family is protected in the case of your accidental death. For example, life insurance can help pay for your funeral and provide your family with the funds they need to get back on their feet if you pass.

Get Help Today

If you’re a firefighter who is looking for high-quality life insurance in Oklahoma City, OK, contact us at Freeland Insurance to learn more. We can help provide you with the guidance you need to choose the right policy for your needs.