Ensure Peace of Mind With Wedding and Special Event Coverage

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. The wedding or huge event that you’ve been planning for months is almost here and one of these disastrous scenarios strikes:

•  The venue goes out of business for no obvious reason and you have to find another location
•   A key member of the day (event emcee or keynote speaker, bridesmaid, usher, or bride’s escort) gets sick or injured and cannot participate so you must postpone the event
•    An important piece of equipment gets lost or stolen.

Unthinkable events can happen that are completely out of our control, but wedding and special event insurance can help you recover some of your losses, not to mention your peace of mind. The average one-day insurance policy for a wedding or special event usually costs between $155 and $550, depending on how much coverage you want.  Policies include liability protection to cover any property damage or bodily injuries to attendees. They can also be customized to add extra coverage. For example, a wedding policy might include protection in the event of a cancellation (i.e., the venue unexpectedly closes its doors or one of your vendors backs out), postponement, and the loss of or damage to rings, photos, gifts, attire, or the cake/food. (This means those “nonrefundable” deposits are covered.)

You may not want to add another expense to your already-extensive event budget, but even if you try to plan for every possible pitfall, something could happen that is beyond your control. Rather than haggle with vendors or lose sleep over trying to find another venue that’s large enough to fit your guest list, you can rest a little easier knowing you can still have a wonderful event even after a major mishap.

Did you ever purchase wedding or special event insurance? Do you have any event horror stories where this coverage would’ve been helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

Auto Insurance and Rental Cars: What You Need to Know

You may need a rental car while you’re on vacation or to use while your car is in the shop.  Renting a car is a fairly easy process, but you may not be sure if your car insurance policy would cover a rental.  Most of them do, but be sure to review your policy before you get to the rental counter.

Be aware that if someone will be driving your car while you’re away, such as an adult child, in the event that both of you are in accidents, your policy will cover your car.  You can also add a rental reimbursement to your existing policy which will prevent the rental company from suing you for loss of use and your insurance carrier will fix the rental. You can add the rental reimbursement for the amount of time you’ll be renting the car and remove it when you get back.

There are also rental insurance policies available, but be advised that most cost an additional $15-25 per day besides the expense of renting the car itself.  This is a good idea if the following applies to you:

·         Your existing policy doesn’t have comprehensive and collision coverage. Maybe you opted out when you purchased your policy. If that’s the case, you may want to purchase at least some additional coverage, as the consequences for damaging a rental can be severe.

·         You don’t have a car.  Many people who live in major cities find that owning a car is more of a nuisance than a benefit and rely on public transportation to get from place to place. Or maybe you are without a car for another reason. If you plan to rent a car on your next trip out of town, then you must buy the rental insurance.

·         You’re relying on your credit card. Some credit card companies offer a limited amount of coverage; review your documents to see just what’s included. Some may not cover third party liability claims or only offer secondary coverage rather than primary.

·         You’re traveling abroad. Most policies don’t cover you outside of the United States (or Canada in some instances), so you may want to have at least some coverage.

Do you usually purchase rental car insurance? What has been your experience? Please let us know in the comments below!

Forgetting Something? How Travel Insurance Can Lessen Your Stress

Traveling can be stressful. Besides packing and putting together itineraries, you have to worry about getting from place to place in an unfamiliar setting. Worse yet, unforeseen circumstances—illness, injury, death in the family, or another unplanned event—can happen at any time while you’re gone, forcing you to cut your getaway short.  Rather than accept the risk and hope for the best, you may want to purchase travel insurance while you’re away.

There are different levels of coverage available depending on where you’re going, how long you will be gone, and whether you have any preexisting medical conditions.  Travel insurance offers two main benefits:

Trip cancellation or interruption expenses.

You’re packed and ready to go, and:

A.      Right before you’re supposed to leave, you or someone you’re traveling with breaks a bone and can barely get out of bed.

B.      A family member you’re not traveling with gets ill or injured and you decide to cancel your trip and take care of them.

C.      A relative passes away while you’re gone and you must fly home early to attend the funeral. 

Any of these scenarios can happen to anyone, and if you have a travel policy, it will help you with any costs related to cancelled reservations, many of which are often nonrefundable and can come with steep penalties.   

Medical treatment coverage.

If you’re traveling internationally, your health insurance policy may not be applicable (review it thoroughly before you leave). If you’re traveling domestically, a travel policy can serve as secondary coverage if you already have health insurance. If you or someone you’re traveling with gets seriously ill and needs to be returned home (called “repatriation”) by specialized transport, your policy can help with those costs, as well.

Other benefits of travel policies include reimbursement costs for travel delays, lost or damaged luggage or other personal property.  The policy can include you and those you’re traveling with, so everyone in your party will have the same levels of coverage.

Traveling is supposed to be a fun, eye-opening experience for making lasting memories with your loved ones. Don’t let an emergency cut that experience short.

Do you purchase travel insurance? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Splash Safely in the Pool This Summer

Summer is the time for pool parties, barbecues, and picnics.  Spending time poolside is a great way to relax with friends and family, or just enjoy some alone time and soak up some sun on a lazy afternoon.  But they can also be dangerous. According to the American Red Cross (ARC)’s website, 200 children drown in backyard swimming pools each year.  If you have a pool, make sure you and your guests follow these basic rules to keep everyone safe:

Install a fence. Whether it’s basic chain link or something more elaborate, you should have a 4-foot high fence around the whole perimeter of the pool area. Ideally the gate should be self-closing and self-latching, and the lock should be well out of the reach of little ones.  If you live in a rural or wooded area, a secure fence will also keep out any unwanted animal visitors. The pool should be covered whenever it’s not being used.

Supervise all swimmers. If you are entertaining guests or cannot give your full attention to swimmers, designate a responsible person to supervise everyone in the pool at all times.  Never let anyone swim alone. Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets, stay in the shallower end, or remain with an adult or strong swimmer the whole time they’re in the water.  

Keep pool chemicals out of reach. It’s important to keep the pool water clean and clear. Murky water increases the risk of earaches, rashes, or other conditions. Check chemical levels regularly and adjust as needed. Be sure to keep chemicals away from children, preferably in a locked cabinet or other storage area.

Set safety rules. Make up a clear list of safety rules that everyone must follow, such as no running, diving, or swimming alone, and stick to them.

Know how to respond to an emergency.  Will you know what to do if the unthinkable does happen?  First, make sure everyone in your household can swim. Take water safety, first aid, and CPR courses through the Red Cross and have the proper safety equipment on the premises so you can respond quickly in a crisis.

Are there any other tips you’d add? Post them in the comments below!