Resources on Home Owners Insurance

Home Owner Insurance

Home Insurance

Home insurance, or homeowners insurance, is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections which can include losses occurring to one's home, its contents, loss of its use (additional living expenses), loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for accidents that may happen at the home.

The cost of homeowners insurance often depends on what it would cost to replace the house and which additional riders—additional items to be insured—are attached to the policy. The insurance policy itself is a lengthy contract, and names what will and what will not be paid in the case of various events. Typically, claims due to earthquakes, floods, "Acts of God", or war (whose definition typically includes a nuclear explosion from any source) are excluded. Special insurance can be purchased for these possibilities, including flood insurance and earthquake insurance.

The home insurance policy is usually a term contract—a contract that is in effect for a fixed period of time. The payment the insured makes to the insurer is called the premium. The insured must pay the insurer the premium each term. Most insurers charge a lower premium if it appears less likely the home will be damaged or destroyed: for example, if the house is situated next to a fire station, or if the house is equipped with fire sprinklers and fire alarms. Perpetual insurance, which is type of home insurance without a fixed term, can also be obtained in certain areas.

Excerpt from "Home insurance." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 May 2006, 07:37 UTC. 15 May 2006, 12:35 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_insurance

Insurance Controversies

Insurance insulates too much
By creating a "security blanket" for its insureds, an insurance company may inadvertently find that its insureds may not be as risk-averse as they should be (since the insured assumes the risk belongs to the insurer). This problem is known to the insurance industry as moral hazard. To reduce their own financial exposure, insurance companies have contractual clauses that mitigate their obligation to provide coverage if the insured engages in some kind of behavior that grossly magnifies their risk of loss or liability.

For example, life insurance providers may require higher premiums or deny coverage to people who work hazardous occupations or engage in dangerous sports. Liability insurance providers do not provide coverage for liability arising from intentional torts committed by the insured. Even if a provider was irrational enough to try to provide such coverage, it is against the public policy of most countries to allow such insurance to exist, and thus it is usually illegal.

Complexity of insurance policy contracts
Insurance policies can be complex and some policyholders may not understand all the fees, regulation and coverages included in a policy. As a result, people could buy policies at unfavorable terms. In response to these issues, governments often make detailed regulations that set down minimum standards for policies and govern how they may be advertised and sold.

Many individuals purchase policies through an insurance broker. The broker can counsel the policyholder on which coverage to purchase and limitations of the policy. A broker generally holds contracts with many insurers which allows the broker to "shop" the market for the best rates and coverage possible.

People may also purchase policies through a "producer" (a seller of insurance). Unlike a broker, who represents the policyholder, a producer represents the insurance company from whom the policyholder buys. A producer can represent more than one company. In the United States, these people are known as "resident producers" in the states where they are licensed. In some states (such as Michigan), insurance brokers are not allowed to operate because the cheapest rates may not be in the best interest of the policyholder.

Excerpt from "Insurance." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Oct 2006, 00:35 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 27 Oct 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Insurance&oldid=83955548