Home insurance surprises

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

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

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

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

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.

Hosting Guests for the Summer? Make Sure You Have Adequate Insurance Coverage

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the health and welfare of visitors on your property. For this reason, it’s wise to review your home insurance coverage before hosting guests for the summer. With adequate liability insurance coverage from Freeland Insurance, Oklahoma City, OK, you can protect yourself against any eventuality that may arise. Here are a few ways liability insurance can protect your interests.

Accidents

Liability insurance covers medical expenses for accidents your guests may have while on your property. Poor lighting, an uneven walkway or clutter on your stairs could cause a guest to trip and fall, making you liable for injuries that may result. Liability coverage protects you from having to pay medical bills out of pocket.

Food

When guests visit your home, you are responsible for health issues that may arise due to meals served on your property. Keeping menus simple and using fresh and healthy ingredients could help prevent health problems. You should also be aware of any food allergies your guests may have to avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital. Although you’re protected by liability coverage, you should do what you can to avoid a food-related liability claim.  

Alcohol

If you’re hosting a party, encourage guests to drink responsibly as you could be liable for their actions if they overdrink at your event. Serving alcohol to minors (those under 21 years of age) could result in legal action against you. If you’re not sure if your insurance covers liability for serving alcohol, talk to your Freeland Insurance agent. Your policy may have an alcohol exclusion you’re unaware of.

Home insurance protection from Freeland Insurance, Oklahoma City, OK, takes the worry out of hosting summer events so you can enjoy the company of family and friends to the full. 

Are You Required to Have Commercial Business Insurance?

If you own a small business or are looking into opening one, you may be trying to learn more about commercial business insurance. One of the questions that FM Insurance, serving the greater Oklahoma City, OK area, is asked is whether you are required to have or carry commercial business insurance. Unfortunately, the answer to this is not a straight yes or no. You may be, or you may not be. Here is some more information about this.

There are a few individuals who are required to carry business insurance. If you use vehicles for your business, you are likely required to obtain commercial auto insurance. If you own the building in which you do business out of, and it is not used primarily as your place of residence, you are likely required to obtain commercial property or building insurance. If you have taken out a business loan to start or fund your business, the lender may require you to obtain a commercial business insurance policy to protect their investment or stake in your business. And in some cities and counties, there are laws that state you must have a minimum commercial business insurance policy to obtain a business license in that city or county. If any of these apply to you, you are required to obtain a policy. If any of them are not applicable to you, you may not legally be required to obtain a policy.

While having business insurance may or may not be required, it is always strongly recommended that you obtain a policy to protect the investment you have made in your business. To learn more about commercial business insurance or to obtain quotes today, contact FM Insurance, serving the greater Oklahoma City, OK area.

Do You Know What to Do If You Are on the Road During a Weather Emergency?

People generally plan to be at home or in a safe location during extreme weather conditions. However, sometimes it is not possible for a variety of reasons. If you find yourself on the road during a weather emergency, we at FM Insurance want you to have the peace of mind of knowing the steps to take to increase your safety in any event.

Steps to Take if You are on Road in Weather Emergency

  • Remain calm. This is key, in many situations clear thinking can be the difference between life and death. It can be harder than it sounds but reminds you often to stay calm and think out your options.
  • Keep your car stocked with supplies such at drinking water, meal bars, a first aid kit, and even an extra cell phone for emergency calls.
  • There is no one answer as to whether you should pull over or drive out of the weather, you must make this choice at the time but remember to never drive through standing water and if you do choose to pull over do so slowly and turn on your flashers.
  • Follow instructions that any law or emergency personal gives. Even if your house is just a few miles away or whatever valid reasons you have for not listening, you may not have all the information.
  • If you see a tornado, it is recommended that you duck and cover inside your car after parking it in a low area such as a ditch. Do not leave your car and remember that an overpass is not a shelter to seek out.

Contact us at FM Insurance if you are in Oklahoma City, OK and the surrounding areas for great rates and fast quotes.

The Best auto insurance for teenage drivers

Oklahoma City, OK is a city that requires most of the residents to have cars if they want to get around, which means that all of these drivers will need some form of auto insurance. Ideally, policies should be set up with a local broker like FM Insurance, who serve the Oklahoma City area. And some of the most important drivers to insure are the newest ones, the teenage drivers, who are more prone to having accidents than anyone else. Below are the best auto insurance policies for teenage drivers in a place like Oklahoma City, OK.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

Liability insurance covers other people who are involved in an accident or other people’s property when the accident has been deemed the fault of the teenaged driver. Which means that this type of policy is definitely needed since teenagers are usually at fault. While it’s only required to have a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage, the more you have will protect the teenager and you from having to go out of pocket to cover expenses or even having to pay for a possible future lawsuit.

COLLISION INSURANCE

Collision policies for a teenager will be a higher premium for sure, but will add an extra layer of insurance protection that you will be glad you have. It will fix damage to your own vehicles that may be the teenagers fault, as well as protect them from medical issues that may arise from an accident. If you can afford it for your teenager’s insurance policy, this is an excellent addition for the safety and security of them and their vehicle.

PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION

You want to keep your teenager safe on the road, as well as others who may be injured in the event of an accident. So having personal injury protection on their policy is a good idea, to ensure all medical costs would be covered in the event of an accident.

What Home Insurance Companies Don’t Tell You

Home insurance companies don’t always tell you everything you need to know. If this means that as you look for home insurance in Oklahoma City, OK, you need to do your due diligence. It will allow you to get the insurance policy that will give you peace of mind throughout the year.

Basic Policies Don’t Include Everything

Every home insurance policy will cover protection to the home, your belongings, and liability. However, a basic policy may not cover the full extent of your belongings, such as if you have expensive artwork or art collector of something. At FM Insurance, our insurance agents will take the time to learn more about you and your home in order to build a more customized policy so that it does include everything needed to provide financial protection.

Not All Claims are Accepted

When you file a claim with the insurance company, is not automatically accepted. Often, research will be done in order to determine whether everything happened the way you said it happen or it additionally, if you don’t have the coverage within your policy, you would be financially responsible for everything.

Deductibles Vary

Just as with every other type of insurance, you will have to pay a deductible before the insurance company pays anything. Deductibles can vary from policy to policy. This is why it’s important to know what yours is so that if you need to file a claim, you know how much you will have to pay out-of-pocket.

There are plenty of things you should ask when you are seeking home insurance in Oklahoma City, OK. The more you know, the easier it will be to develop a better home insurance policy. If insurance companies aren’t disclosing everything, it is within your right to ask questions and learn more about what is being offered to you. Contact FM Insurance today to learn more about home insurance policies.