By: Kristopher Speegle, Allstate Insurance
If you have an insurance policy, you’ve likely heard of premiums, deductibles, and limits. But do you know what each of these terms means? Each of these concepts helps determine how much you’ll pay for your insurance (homeowners, auto, boat or life, for instance) — as well as how much you may receive after a covered loss.
WHAT IS AN INSURANCE PREMIUM?
Insurance premium definition:
An insurance premium is an amount you pay to your insurer regularly to keep a policy in force. You may be able to pay premiums monthly, quarterly, every six months or annually, depending on your insurance company and your specific policy.
HOW IS AN INSURANCE PREMIUM CALCULATED?
Many factors may affect premium prices. Check out the following for more information.
Factors That May Affect Your Homeowners Insurance Premium
- Coverage limits you choose
- Deductible amounts
- Optional coverages you select
- Your home’s age and condition
- Your claims history
- Your credit rating
Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Factors That May Affect Your Car Insurance Premium
- Your age
- Your driving record
- Age of your car
- Types of coverage you choose
- Coverage limits you select
- Where you live and drive
- How much you drive
- Your credit score
Source: Insurance Information Institute (III)
Factors That May Affect Your Life Insurance Premium
- The amount of life insurance coverage you buy
- The type of life insurance policy you select
- Length of your policy
- Your age, health, and life expectancy
Source: III
We can answer coverage questions and help you find ways to protect what matters most.
WHAT IS AN INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE?
An insurance deductible is an amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance will help pay for a covered loss. Example, if you carry a $500 deductible and have $10,000 in damages after a fire in your home, you’ll likely pay $500 before your insurance covers the remaining $9,500. (The amount of coverage you have depends on the limits you choose.) Deductibles may be required for certain parts of or types of insurance policies but not for others, says the III.
In some cases, your insurance company may set deductibles for particular policies. In other cases, you may be able to choose your deductible. In general, the higher your deductible, the lower your ongoing premium will be. For example, if you choose a $1,000 deductible on your auto policy, you will likely pay less in premiums than you would for a policy with a $250 deductible.
Check your policy or contact your local agent to find out what deductibles may be in effect for your policies or to adjust the amount of your deductible if it’s allowed and appropriate for your needs.
WHAT IS AN INSURANCE LIMIT?
An insurance limit is the maximum amount of money an insurance company will pay you for a covered loss. You’ll typically find that the higher your coverage limit, the higher your premium may be. Limits often apply to different types of coverage within a policy. For example:
Homeowners insurance.
You’ll likely want to consider a number of factors when choosing your homeowner’s insurance coverage limits. These may include the amount it may cost to rebuild your home at current construction costs (dwelling coverage), the value of your belongings (personal property coverage) and the amount of liability coverage that may assist you in the event that you’re found legally responsible for a guest’s injuries or damage to someone else’s property.
Auto insurance.
Typical auto insurance policies include separate limits for different types of coverage, such as liability, uninsured/underinsured motorists, and medical payments. Your state may require specific minimum limits for certain coverages, according to the III. Your insurance agent can help you make sure you’re meeting any requirements or provide information to help you decide whether higher coverage limits make sense for you.
Read your policy or contact your insurance agent to learn about or make adjustments to your specific limits, premiums or deductibles.
ABOUT KRIS SPEEGLE:
Aloha, As an Allstate agent living in Hawaii for most my whole life, I know many local families. My knowledge and understanding of the people in this community help me provide the customer with an outstanding level of service. I love being an active member of our community with involvement in the Rotary of Hilo Bay (Board Member), Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and Big Island Referral Network. I look forward to helping families like yours protect the things that are important – your family, home, car, retirement, and more.
