In this article written by Gina M. Scott from InsWeb.com, learn about how you can ensure your family is prepared to go back to school this year.
It’s back-to-school time, and while you’re probably thinking more about homework than home insurance, the new school year is a great time to review your insurance needs. A child’s new grade level, driver’s license, or move to a college dorm could mean new insurance needs for your family. Keep your children safe in the new school year— review your car, home and health insurance coverage this fall.
Car Insurance
Will your teen be getting her driver’s license this year? Teen drivers can be costly to insure, but there are ways you can save on teen car insurance. See if your car insurance provider offers a good student discount. Your teen will usually have to maintain a grade-point average of B or better to get the discount, so make her hit the books. Many car insurance providers also have driver safety discounts. If your teen takes a safety course she may qualify for reduced car insurance rates, so check with your provider. Your current provider may not have the best teen car insurance rates so save money and compare car insurance quotes by contacting your agent.
Home Insurance
If your teen is heading away to college, she is most likely bringing quite a bit of stuff with her—laptop, stereo, TV, bike, other electronics, etc. If your child will be staying in the college dorms her belongings are most likely covered by your home insurance policy. There are usually limits on how much is covered away from the home, so talk to your home insurance provider about exactly what and how much is covered by your home insurance policy. The cost of insuring your college-bound child’s possessions could be too expensive with your current provider, so make sure you check around and compare home insurance rates to save money.
Health Insurance
As children head back into classrooms, so will their germs. Colds, flu, ear infections—kids catch all sorts of things once the school year starts. The best thing for parents to do is keep their kids as healthy as possible, and make sure they are covered with a good health insurance policy. Health insurance can be affordable for you and your kids. You could raise your deductible to save on monthly premiums, or consider adding your children to your employer-sponsored health care.
If you have a college-bound child, you have a couple of health insurance options. Older children are usually allowed to stay on parents’ health insurance policies if they are full-time students, but check with your provider to make sure. There is also the option of college health insurance. Many colleges and universities have their own on-campus health care, and it may be more affordable for your child to take advantage of campus health care.
Back-to-school is more than a jump back into learning, it is the perfect time to review your car, home, and health insurance needs. Take a few minutes to compare car, home, and health care insurance quotes and see how much you could save.