Monday, April 1, 2013

The ABC's of Personal Lines Insurance





Personal lines insurance refers to the many different policies designed to protect individuals and families. It is a term meant to distinguish personal policies from business, or commercial lines policies. A line of insurance means a certain category of insurance policies. Personal lines insurance agents typically offer car, home, health and life insurance to individuals and families. It is important to purchase the correct type of policy to have the proper protection and avoid claim exclusions.
Car Insurance
o    Personal car insurance protects vehicles used for personal use, including driving to and from work. If a vehicle is used for business purposes, such as for making deliveries or hauling construction material on work sites, then it requires a business auto policy.
Home Insurance
o    Personal home insurance is intended to protect a house that is used as a primary or secondary residence of the owners. Rental properties should be covered by business properties. Also, if you are running a business out of your house, that business should have business insurance or an additional business endorsement on your home insurance policy. Business ventures are typically excluded on personal lines insurance unless specifically endorsed.
Life Insurance
o    Life insurance is a contract between an individual and an insurance company that pays a specified amount if the individual passes away during the set policy term. Personal life insurance is intended to help pay off debts, supplement lost income and fund an inheritance when and individual passes away.
Health and Disability Insurance
o    Individual health and disability insurance is bought by an individual to help pay for their medical costs and supplement lost income if he gets injured or sick. Group health and disability insurance is purchased by a company or large purchasing group to cover the individuals in that group. Health insurance pays for medical costs and disability insurance pays for lost income by becoming sick or injured.
Miscellaneous Personal Insurance
o    Other lines of personal insurance include boat, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile and multiple other types of personal insurance policies. The key to understanding if a policy is a personal insurance policy is how the object being insured is used. If it is for personal use, then it should be insured by a personal line of insurance. If you use something for business purposes then you should purchase a business insurance policy or speak with your insurance agent to find the correct policy or endorsement. If you purchase the incorrect type of policy then you might be exposed to exclusions and gaps in coverage.

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