Home Insurance Tips

If you’re in the market for home insurance in Kingwood, TX, you may be wondering what discounts are available to you. There are a number of discounts that insurers offer, and it’s important to know about them before you purchase a policy. Here we discuss some of the most common discounts available on home insurance policies. We’ll also provide tips on how to qualify for these discounts.

Home Insurance: What You Need To Know

1. Multiple Policy 

One of the most common discounts available on home insurance policies is the multiple policy discount. If you have more than one type of insurance policy with the same insurer, you may be eligible for a discount on your premium.

For example, if you have both auto and home insurance with Boss Insurance Agency, you may qualify for a multiple policy discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have both auto and home insurance with the same insurer. You’ll also need to maintain both policies for a certain period of time, typically one year.

2. Safety Device 

Another common discount is the safety device discount. If you have certain safety devices installed in your home, you may be eligible for a discount on your premium. Some of the most common safety devices include smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and deadbolts. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have the required safety devices installed in your home. You’ll also need to maintain them in good working order.

3. Claims-Free 

If you have a home insurance policy that has no claims on it, you may be eligible for a discount. This discount is typically called the claims-free discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have a policy with no claims for a certain period of time, typically three years.

4. Loyalty 

If you’re a loyal customer of an insurer, you may be eligible for a discount. This discount is typically called the loyalty discount. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to have been a customer of the insurer for a certain period of time, typically five years.

Give Us A Call

There are a number of discounts available on home insurance policies. Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX can help you navigate through your insurance options. Contact us today to learn more.

How Can I Determine My Flood Risk?

If you live in the greater Kingwood, TX area, chances are that your property has a moderate to high flood risk. Boss Insurance Agency is here to help you navigate your flood insurance options. 

Flood Insurance: What You Need To Know

There are two main reasons you should get flood insurance in Texas: 

Floods are the number one natural disaster in Texas

Although “Flash Flood Alley,” which includes places like Austin, has a higher flooding potential than most parts of Texas, every area in the state, including Kingwood TX, is vulnerable to flooding and other natural disasters. 

Homeowners’ insurance in Texas doesn’t cover floods

Most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover floods, even those that take place due to natural disasters that are covered under their policies. For example, if your roof gets damaged in a hurricane, your insurance policy will likely pay for wind- or hail-related damages but not for water damage caused by flooding. 

Contact Us Today

As you can see, having flood insurance, especially if you live in the state of Texas, is extremely important. But if you’re considering purchasing flood insurance, you’ll need to determine your risk of flooding. Your flood risk is determined by the climate of your region as well as factors specific to the exact location of your property, e.g., low vs. high ground. 

Thanks to FEMA and the NFIP, there’s a wealth of resources available to help you evaluate the general risk of flooding in your area. To determine whether your property is in a flood plain, you can use the Legal Service Corporation (LSC) flood zone lookup. 

Although the NFIP issues most flood insurance policies, you can also purchase flood insurance through private agencies such as Boss Insurance Agency, which serves the Kingwood, TX area and other parts of Texas. For a free, no-obligation consultation and overview of our services, contact us at 832-955-7288 or email one of our agents. 

I’m young, healthy, and don’t have a family. Do I need heath insurance?

Health insurance has many benefits. Beyond the obvious benefit of providing direct access to healthcare, health insurance also makes healthcare more affordable. Regardless of your age, healthcare is important. Fortunately, there are a wide array of healthcare options available to most people. Our team at Boss Insurance Agency understands that navigating health insurance can be confusing. This is why we’re here to help our Kingwood, TX residents understand their health insurance options.

What are the Benefits of Health Insurance for Young Adults?

The first obvious benefit of health insurance for young people is affordability. Although young people tend to be healthy and may not utilize or need healthcare as much as older people, health insurance can greatly decrease the cost whenever they are in need of it. Also, health insurance can help young people manage their health via routine visits and access to a personal doctor or nurse practitioner. Many employers offer health insurance to their employees. This makes attaining health insurance easier for young people because they can acquire it through their employer. 

What Happens if a Young Person Doesn’t have Health Insurance?

Age is a non-factor when it comes to the need for access to quality healthcare, or healthcare period. Often, young people opt out of healthcare and will go without insurance for medical needs that may come up unexpectedly. As a result, emergency room visits are often used to cover their healthcare needs due to a lack of health insurance.

Contact Boss Insurance Agency Today

If you’re a young person that’s interested in learning more about the benefits of health insurance for young adults, give us a call in  Kingwood, TX. We’d be happy to discuss your options and help you come up with a solution that works for you.

Auto Insurance FAQs

Automobile insurance is a unique type of expense. It is probably one of the only expenses you pay that is required by law. Because of the heavy consequences associated with auto insurance, it is imperative that you make smart insurance choices. At Boss Insurance Agency, serving Kingwood, TX, we make it our business to help clients make good insurance moves. Keep reading to learn more. 

Auto Insurance FAQs

What Happens If I Don’t Have Auto Insurance?

If you allow your insurance to lapse, or if you do not carry insurance at all, you could face stiff legal consequences. In most states, you are required by law to carry a minimum of liability coverage. If you fail to do this, it could affect your ability to hold a license in your state. 

If you are in an accident when you do not have insurance, you will be held personally responsible for the damage to other vehicles involved and for medical expenses for the other drivers. You may even face more legal consequences if the other drivers choose to pursue legal action against you. 

What Does Auto Insurance Provide?

Auto insurance will provide money to pay for the cost of damage to other vehicles in the event of a car accident in which you are at fault. It can also provide money for medical bills for those other drivers. 

Auto insurance can also provide money for expenses incurred on your vehicle in an accident. If your vehicle is damaged another way, such as a hail storm, the policy will also pay for that. 

If you would like to learn more about auto insurance, or any of our other insurance services, please contact us at Boss Insurance Agency, serving Kingwood, TX and the surrounding areas. 

Whole Life Insurance vs Term Life Insurance In Texas

When you’re searching for life insurance in Kingwood, TX the two major types of life insurance you need to consider are term life insurance and whole life insurance. Here’s what you need to know about these types of life insurance policies and their benefits.

What Is Whole Life Insurance?

Whole life insurance is insurance that provides coverage for your entire life. The premium for whole life insurance will remain the same, but the premium for this insurance is higher than the premium for term life insurance. There is an investment component in whole life insurance policies known as "cash value". The cash value of this type of policy grows at a steady, guaranteed rate throughout the life of the policy. Over time, you can borrow money against this policy or surrender the policy for its cash value.

What Should You Consider When You Are Shopping for Whole Life Insurance?

When you are shopping for whole life insurance, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration:

  • How much money your family will need to maintain their current lifestyle if something were to happen to you
  • The amount of cash value each policy will accrue over time
  • Considering if you have a beneficiary who will require the security of the death benefit throughout your life

With whole life insurance, you will be able to receive annual dividends from your insurance companies, such as Boss Insurance Agency.

What Is Term Life Insurance?

Term life insurance is an insurance policy that provides a death benefit payment to the beneficiary if the policyholder passes away within the insurance policy term. The terms of this type of life insurance policy are 10, 20, or 30 years.

One of the benefits of term life insurance is that this type of insurance premium is inexpensive, making it easier to purchase more coverage at once. Like whole life insurance, the premium for term life insurance will remain the same throughout the policy term.

What Should You Consider When You Are Shopping for Term Life Insurance?

When you are shopping for term life insurance, consider these three factors:

  • The length of term that best fits your family’s needs
  • The amount your family would need to maintain their current lifestyle if you passed away
  • What you will do once your insurance policy expires

In Kingwood, TX, it is important to have a life insurance plan in place to cover funeral expenses and provide for your family when you pass away. At Boss Insurance Agency, we provide a variety of insurance policies. Contact us to learn about our insurance policies and how we can help you.

 

How Much Home Insurance Do I Need?

Whether you are buying your first home or your tenth, knowing how much homeowners insurance to purchase is always a challenge. Not having enough coverage may result in lower premiums, but it may not rebuild the entirety of your home in a disaster whereas too much coverage can result in higher premiums. Given that a home is likely the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, it is important to have a quality homeowners insurance policy that safeguards both your house and your belongings. Not only does a policy cover damage to your home from covered incidents, but also it offers liability protection from claims such as personal injuries and pet-related accidents.

Although homeowners insurance coverage can vary from one policy to the next, the most commonly covered perils include:

  • Lightning strikes
  • Riots or protests
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Falling objects
  • Explosions
  • Damage from a vehicle or aircraft
  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Windstorms and hail

Keep in mind that a homeowners insurance plan will not cover every peril with the most commonly excluded items being floods, earthquakes, and sewer backup. Separate policies can be purchased for these items.

If you have a mortgage, your lender will require that you carry homeowners insurance. When deciding how much coverage to purchase, you’ll want to have enough to rebuild your home, replace your belongings, cover injuries and damages that occur while on your property, and reimburse your living expenses should you be forced to live elsewhere, post covered incident. Dwelling coverage is the type of insurance that helps pay to repair or rebuild your home and any structures such as garage, porch, or patio that are damaged by a covered incident. You’ll want your dwelling coverage to equal your home’s replacement cost. A reputable insurance agency like Boss Insurance Agency in Kingwood, TX can work with you and an appraiser to determine the right amount of insurance that you need. 

Homeowners Need To Know About Flood Insurance

Most homeowners know they need home insurance in place in order to protect the investment they have made in their house, but few realize how flood insurance can impact their home protection. At Boss Insurance Agency, serving Kingwood, TX, we make it our goal to provide the best insurance information for our clients so that they can make the best insurance choices. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about flood insurance. 

Is Home Insurance Enough?

It is important for homeowners to realize that most home insurance policies do not provide flood insurance. You should note that flooding within your home because of a problem with plumbing or a malfunctioning appliance is not the same as flooding that results from a natural disaster. Most home insurance policies do not provide coverage for flooding of this nature. 

Why Is Flood Insurance Not Included?

The risk of flooding varies greatly from one region to another in the United States. This makes it difficult for insurance underwriters to create policies that suit many homeowners. Each individual homeowner will need to have their property evaluated by an insurance professional in order to create a flood insurance policy. 

What Should Homeowners Do?

If you want to add flood insurance to your home owner’s policy, you will need to sit down with an insurance representative. This professional will be able to help you better understand how you can add this important type of coverage to your existing policy. 

If you would like to learn more about flood insurance or any of our other insurance products, please contact us at Boss Insurance Agency serving Kingwood, TX, and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to answer your insurance questions. 

Why You Need Health Insurance

At Boss Insurance Agency, we work with many people who believe that they don’t need health insurance. These individuals end up experiencing real issues in Kingwood, TX that affect their overall well-being. Here are a few reasons why you should seriously consider health insurance.

Reasons Why You Need Health Insurance

If you still don’t think that you need health insurance, we have news for you: everybody does. Even if you’re young and in relatively good health, insurance can protect you in many surprising ways. Here are three reasons why you will need this type of policy in your life:

  • Accidents Can Happen – You never know when you’re going to experience an accident or suffer from worsened health that impacts you. Health insurance protects you and minimizes danger.
  • Health Bills are High – American health treatments are among the best in the world and the most expensive. Health insurance keeps you financially strong and minimizes your financial issues.
  • Aging is Not Easy – Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to need more health protection as they age. Thankfully, health insurance can pay for these bills and keep you safe and healthy.

Try to seek out a health insurance policy that fits into your financial situation, including one that you can easily afford. You also need to make sure that you talk with an insurance broker about other elements, such as your deductibles, copayments, and any other factors that may affect you.

Keep Yourself Safe

If you need health insurance in Kingwood, TX, and want to work with a team you can trust, please contact us at Boss Insurance Agency right away to learn more. Our team of professionals will work with you to understand what is happening and ensure that you get protected in any way possible.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Stolen Property?

You woke up to a smashed window in your car and missing items. Does auto insurance cover your losses? It depends. Before we look at the scenarios, let’s review two critical factors of these claims. 

1 – Is it installed or part of the vehicle? Auto insurance only covers damage or loss to the insured vehicle. That means if the item is loose, like a portable device or a laptop bag, you’ll want to file the claim with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
2 – Do you have enough comprehensive coverage? Vandalism and theft fall into comprehensive coverage. If you do not have any, or your deductible is too high to be of use, your coverage may be insufficient. 

Stolen Radio
Installed? Then it is covered under comprehensive. If your radio is a portable device, file with your homeowner’s or renter’s policy.

It’s important to note that if you have installed expensive aftermarket stereo parts, let your agent know and ensure your coverage is sufficient to protect your investment. 

Keyed Paint, Slashed Tires, and Vandalism

Covered, however, you might encounter betterment in this claim, particularly for tires. Insurance is legally obligated to bring your car back to the state it was in just before the accident and not beyond – what they call betterment. So, for example, they will replace a damaged tire with a new tire but subtract an estimated cost based on the existing wear and tear on the tread. 

Broken Windows

Smash and grab is a common tactic of thieves, and broken or damaged windows are covered under a comprehensive claim. Similarly, if the thieves broke into your steering column or damaged your door lock, those would be paid for with a comprehensive claim. 

Laptops, Bags, Purses, and Loose Items

Stolen items that are NOT connected physically to your car are not covered under your auto policy at all. File a claim with your homeowner’s or renter’s policy to get coverage for them. Better yet, avoid leaving tempting valuables in the car. 

To make sure you have all the coverage you need in Kingwood, TX, call or stop by Boss Insurance Agency today. We can help you navigate your policy and make sure you are adequately protected. 

ABCs of Life Insurance

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your dependents if you weren’t there? It would be difficult, but life insurance would help them manage their financial obligations. Unfortunately, most people think that they don’t need life insurance — but they are wrong. Others think that life insurance is for the old and those with chronic illnesses — they are wrong, too.

Given that life insurance is one of the most misunderstood topics, Boss Insurance Agency of Kingwood, TX has taken time to dissect life insurance to its basics. Here is what you need to know about life insurance.

Types of life insurance

There are different types of life insurance policies, but they are broadly categorized into two, namely:

  • Term life insurance: This coverage protects for a limited period. It could be 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. Most people start with this policy because it’s the most straightforward and affordable policy.
  • Whole life insurance: This coverage is for a lifetime and has other subcategories. Your beneficiaries get death benefits when you pass on. However, you can still benefit from this coverage when you are alive. It accumulates a cash value that you can borrow against or supplement your retirement income. 

Who needs life insurance?

Life insurance isn’t about dependents only — other categories of people need it too. You need life insurance if:

  • You have debts
  • Own a business
  • Want to live an inheritance
  • Love peace of mind
  • Want to finance your final expenses

The best time to buy life insurance is now

Don’t wait to buy life insurance when you are old and weary — it will be expensive and won’t accumulate as many benefits. The best time to purchase life insurance is today — and if you are young, it’s even better because the premiums are more affordable.

Buy life insurance in Kingwood, TX

Would you like to buy life insurance to protect what matters most? Why don’t you get in touch with Boss Insurance Agency? We will choose for you a life insurance plan that suits your budget and other needs.