Here at The Insurance Outfit, we get these questions from our Chester, NJ clients: Do I need umbrella insurance? What does it cover? If you would like to understand more, please stick on as we navigate the ins and outs of umbrella insurance.

What is umbrella insurance?

Umbrella insurance is the extra liability protection designed to protect you from significant claims exceeding your current insurance plans. It takes over when your auto, boat, or home insurance limits are exhausted.

Most people assume that umbrella insurance is for the wealthy. While that statement is partly true, umbrella insurance is apt for anyone earning a livelihood. To that end, you should buy umbrella insurance for the below reasons. 

Claims can be expensive 

If you own a pet, boat, or vehicle, you are taking many risks if you are carrying inadequate insurance. Assume you are involved in a significant car accident, and you are at fault. Yes, you might have the minimum state-required liability coverage, but it isn’t enough to cover the arising property damage and medical costs liabilities. What’s next? If you don’t have umbrella insurance, you may find your assets and future earnings on the line. 

You could be sued

Unlike your typical liability coverages, umbrella insurance protects you against claims of libel, slander, and false arrest. 

You interact with people

Are you or your family member in the online space? With the growing popularity of social media, a post or a tweet can land you in a legal disaster. When faced with legal suits of defamation or slander, the cost of defense alone can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Add the settlement costs, and you can see how legal suits can ruin your life if you don’t have umbrella insurance.

It’s affordable

Unlike popular misconceptions, umbrella insurance is surprisingly affordable. You don’t believe it? Talk to us, and see how affordable umbrella insurance can be.

Would you like to purchase umbrella insurance? Give us a call today at The Insurance Outfit in Chester, NJ. Our team will help protect you and your loved ones at an affordable price.

Health insurance renewal time is one of the most stressful times of the year. Whether it is your first time choosing or you are a seasoned veteran, you know your healthcare for the coming years rests on a decision you are going to make. Before you make this crucial decision, there are three questions you should ask your agent so you won’t spend a year regretting your choice. In Chester, NJ The Insurance Outfit are dedicated to providing personalized service to all of their customers. 

Is my doctor in your network?

Every insurance company has a network. These are providers who have a contract with the insurance carrier to provide certain services at agreed-upon prices. That is how your insurance can tell you what it will cost you to for example visit your primary care physician. Not every doctor takes every type of insurance. There can be many reasons for not participating in a particular network but if you have a doctor you love, you must make sure he is in the network for any health insurance you are considering. 

Are my prescriptions in your formulary?

The formulary is the listing of the drugs that are covered by an insurance policy. It lists alphabetically and places them in tiers. The different tiers have different copays. If you have prescriptions you need, it is important they not only be in the formulary but be affordable.

What is the policy deductible?

The policy deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your policy coverage kicks in. High deductible policies are the most affordable but if you need coverage, you may have to wait quite a while to meet the deductible. 

At The Insurance Outfit in Chester, NJ, we are an independent agency and if you are looking for health insurance, we are here to help you make the right choice.  

You can obtain long-term care insurance if you have a pre-existing condition, but you may need to shop around for an underwriter, says The Insurance Outfit. What situations make it tougher to obtain coverage?

Typically, if you have an issue with any of the six essential activities of daily living, you will find it tough to obtain LTC insurance. The six activities include:

• Bathing
• Continence
• Dressing
• Eating
• Toileting
• Transferring

LTC coverage pays for in-home care in Chester, NJ to assist with these items and most insurance companies do not want to extend coverage for items with which you already need help. If you use a walker, have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or certain cancers. You could also get declined if you participate in two lifestyle choices that combined increase your chance of developing a chronic condition. For example, a smoker who also overeats and has a weight problem who has diabetes would probably receive a declination for coverage. Simply having a diagnosis of diabetes does not mean getting declined. The individual’s lifestyle and disease management contribute to their acceptance or declination.

You should meet with your insurance agent to discuss your situation. They can determine which underwriter would most likely insure you. You should start with the most likely company since other companies will often refuse you once one company declines you.

A pre-existing condition can affect your premiums. A diabetic may pay a more expensive premium than an individual with no diseases. The insurance company’s underwriter calculates each potential premium based upon risk. A healthy person presents less risk than an individual who already has a diagnosis of a chronic condition.

Contact The Insurance Outfit serving Chester, NJ to learn more about long-term care insurance. Let us help you obtain the coverage you need.

Life insurance is less expensive when you are young and healthy than it is later in life. If possible it is best to get whole life at this point in your life. Term life could possibly run out of term just when you need it and when you are older and it costs more. But even if you do get insurance when you are young, you can’t just sit back and never think about it again. You need to review it and decide whether it is adequate for where you are in life. At The Insurance Outfit in Chester, NJ, we believe every client deserves to have a dedicated professional they can count on. 

When you change employment

Many people have life insurance as a benefit of their employment. Hopefully, it isn’t the only life insurance you have but it can supplement your own nicely. If you have used this insurance as an excuse not to purchase more of your own, it is time when you change employers to consider what you want to do. You may be able to keep your current policy by taking over the payment for it and it may or may not be worth doing so. 

When you purchase a home

Part of the value of life insurance is to pay any debt you may have at the time of your death. If you have a mortgage, you should have enough life insurance to pay it off so you don’t leave your loved ones with the stress of trying to figure out what to do about it. 

When you get married

Having a spouse and perhaps an eventual family changes your need for life insurance. This is the perfect time to sit down with your independent agent and discuss the amount of coverage you should have. 

Contact The Insurance Outfit in Chester, NJ for all your insurance needs. 

Living in Chester, NJ provides you access to some of the finest jewelry designers in nearby New York City and Atlantic City. The Insurance Outfit wants you to know about jewelry insurance, a complement to coverage that may appear in small amounts in your homeowners’ or renter’s policy. You can insure your engagement ring, wedding ring, and other pieces of fine jewelry against damage and loss. You can also ensure a piece of jewelry from its inception.

Bespoke jewelry has become popular and much more common than it was just two decades ago. Now, accessible to those earning a middle-class income, many people purchase loose stones and hire a jewelry designer to craft a custom piece.

You can insure your jewelry from the moment you purchase the loose stones. This ensures that if damaged during the jewelry-making process or lost or stolen you get reimbursed for the diamond or other gemstone.

You can purchase a policy of this type for the short term, such as the period before your wedding, or for the long-term, such as until you no longer own the piece of jewelry. The premiums for jewelry insure are typically small, but provide peace of mind.

Ask your insurance agent about getting a jewelry policy. You can easily add coverage to these policies, for instance, opening the policy when you purchase the loose stones, then adding coverage once the ring gets finished, and increasing coverage when you purchase the wedding rings. You might add coverage later when you purchase anniversary jewelry such as earrings or a necklace.

Call or visit The Insurance Outfit serving Chester, NJ to obtain a jewelry policy to cover your bespoke jewelry from the moment of the purchase of your loose gemstones.

When you are in the Chester, NJ area, you are going to have access to a lot of open parks and trails that can keep you active and allow you to enjoy the outdoors. When you are going to live in this area and want to be able to enjoy the area as much as possible, it would be a good idea to get an ATV. If you do get an ATV, you should also consider your insurance needs for the asset. There are several situations when someone should get ATV insurance for it.

When Wanting Liability Protection

A common situation when someone should get ATV insurance is when they want liability coverage. If you are going to operate an ATV, you will always run the risk of being at fault during a collision. If this occurs, you will need to cover all damages. With proper insurance, you can receive insurance to offset this risk.

When Taking Out Financing 

Some may choose to finance their ATV with a loan. If this is the case for you and your situation, you will have to understand your insurance needs. In many cases, you will have to take out an insurance policy that will fully protect your ATV until the loan is paid off. 

As you start shopping for an ATV insurance policy in this Chester, NJ area, you should make sure that you get proper guidance and support. The team at The Insurance Outfit can help you pick a policy that will give you the right coverage. If you do call The Insurance Outfit, you will get to learn more about this unique form of coverage. This will help to ensure that you can choose a policy that will allow you to remain covered at all times.

Once you purchase your RV insurance from The Insurance Outfit, you might think you are done and your RV has all the protection in needs in and around Chester, NJ. You do need to make time annually for coverage reviews or policy updates. 

You also need to review your coverage when you have remodeled or renovated your RV or replaced its appliances. When you review it, do so with your insurance agent. You need to update your policy to cover the renovations. Significant engine or bodywork also provides a reason to update coverage.

Without this update, you only have your existing coverage. That means if you incurred damage during an accident or from a named peril, you would only get a payout that reflected the original value of the RV. This could be at actual cash value or agreed-upon value. By undergoing the insurance review, you can update the amount of your coverage so you do not lose the money you invested in upgrading your RV.

The additional coverage will increase your monthly premium, but it also ensures you would be able to replace the RV with one just as nice. Your updated appliances do not usually count as personal property in an RV policy. Personal property refers to your luggage,  laptop, tablet, camera, etc. Personal property refers to the things you bring with you on a trip not already installed in the RV.

Whether you are considering renovating your RV or you already did, contact The Insurance Outfit for a policy review. We serve the Chester, NJ area with knowledgeable insurance agents who can help you protect your investment.

The Insurance Outfit serves the Chester, NJ community, as well as the surrounding areas by providing residents with the insurance coverage they need to meet life’s challenges. We want to simplify the process of searching for insurance for our clients. As an independent insurance agency, we work closely with multiple carriers on the East Coast.

Wedding Insurance

Planning a wedding should be one of the most exciting times in your life. Wedding insurance is another asset to help ensure that your big day runs as smoothly as possible. The policy covers you if unforeseen circumstances cause you to cancel the event. Accidents or miscommunication can occur at any moment. Perhaps there is an issue with the wedding gown or tuxedo and you have to postpone things. Maybe the place in Chester, NJ where you planned to have the wedding reception is experiencing difficulties. Wedding insurance provides comfort as you deal with unforeseen circumstances.

Liability coverage is another part of the policy. As your wedding will likely be a fairly large gathering, liability insurance is important. While the risks are minimal, there are still some risks involved whenever a lot of people gather in one place. Liability coverage protects you if someone gets injured while attending your wedding or if you or someone else damages or vandalizes the building that is hosting your wedding. Liability coverage is especially important if you plan to serve alcohol at your wedding. You will also be covered if your wedding gifts are stolen or vandalized.

Also, keep in mind that once you decide to cancel the wedding, the policy will acknowledge this as your final decision. You will be covered if you plan to change your mind in a day or two. Think carefully before making a decision.

The Insurance Outfit Will Help You Prepare For Your Big Day

Visit our website today to learn more information about wedding insurance.