What Is Renters Insurance and What Does It Cover?

Renters insurance is very similar to home insurance, but its purpose is to fit the needs of people renting a property – an apartment, house, condo, or anything else. This type of insurance is an important type of financial protection for any renter. Green Family Insurance Inc., serving clients from Illinois, has prepared a list of things covered by standard renters insurance: 

  • Personal property coverage. Renters insurance covers all costs to replace your personal belongings if they were destroyed or stolen. Personal belongings may include electronics, furniture, clothing, jewelry, computer equipment, and appliances. It even covers the property that was not even in your home. For example, if your laptop was stolen while you are on vacation, it will be replaced by your renter’s insurance. 
  • Personal liability and medical expenses. If someone is injured in your rented condo, apartment, or house, your policy will cover medical bills costs. If an injured person decides to sue you, liability coverage will also pay for legal expenses. 
  • Loss-of-use coverage. If your rented property becomes uninhabitable for some reason, renters insurance will cover the costs of your temporary place to live. For example, if your apartment is damaged by fire and needs to be repaired, your renter’s insurance will pay for your stay in a hotel, as well as for your meals. This type of coverage will even pay for your gas if you have to drive more to work. 

Renters insurance is important to have if you rent a condo, apartment, house, or any other residential property type. If you are currently looking for a perfect policy and do not know where to start, Green Family Insurance Inc., serving clients in Illinois, is ready to help. Do not hesitate to give us a call to talk to one of our insurance agents, who will answer all of your questions. 

 

What is Umbrella Insurance?

You know you need auto insurance to stay legal on the roads in Illinois. And you already likely have homeowners insurance to cover you against the unknown. But do you have enough insurance to protect your family fully? Our team at Green Family Insurance Inc. is here to help you understand how umbrella insurance can give you the peace of mind you need. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Umbrella Insurance?

To put it simply, umbrella insurance is a special type of policy that extends above your existing auto and property insurance liability. This means that if you’re in a severe car accident that you’re responsible for, someone is injured at your home, or there’s another issue that spurs a liability lawsuit, you have the additional protection you need.

Why Is Umbrella Insurance Important?

In today’s society, filing a lawsuit is one of the first things people think to do when injured. If someone has a legitimate or even a false claim against you, it could end up having a huge impact on your financial wellness. With an umbrella policy, you can always ensure you have enough coverage if a situation arises.

Who Needs Umbrella Insurance?

The truth is that anyone who owns a home or has significant assets should consider umbrella insurance. But the need goes much further than that. Those who have businesses, are parents of teenage drivers, or have an extended amount of risk exposure should consider this policy type.

Illinois Umbrella Policies from Green Family Insurance Inc.

Purchasing an umbrella policy is simple. All you have to do is meet with your trusted insurance agency, review your current policies, and answer a few questions. Are you ready to ensure your family is fully protected with umbrella insurance in Illinois? Please contact our team at Green Family Insurance Inc. to schedule your appointment.

6 Important Flood Insurance Questions to Ask Your Agent

When you live in a flood-prone area, it’s often required by your home’s lender for you to have flood insurance. If you don’t have a lender, you don’t have to have the coverage, but it’s still an excellent idea to make sure you’re adequately protected from harm. If you’re in Illinois, Green Family Insurance Inc. is the company to contact to make sure you have the insurance policies that will give you the kind of protection you’re looking for.

Then you’ll have what you need to be safe and secure, and you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the area. Some of the biggest questions to ask about insurance to cover floods are:

  • What kind of insurance do you need beyond the standard homeowner’s policy?
  • Should you still get this insurance if you’re not in a flood-prone area?
  • Who should you contact if you want to review or make changes to your policy?
  • What should your agent know about your home or location?
  • Are there any extenuating circumstances or issues that won’t be covered by a flood policy?
  • Who should you reach out to if you have more questions to ask about flood policies?

When you’re in Illinois, and you need flood insurance, Green Family Insurance Inc. is the place to go. Contact us today, and let’s talk about the kind of policy and coverage level that would be right for your needs. There are many different choices to consider for basic insurance policies on your home, but flood policies don’t come with as many options. Still, you’ll likely have questions, and we want to help answer them. You can get the answers you’re looking for when you work with a strong company and dedicated agents like ours so that you can have a good policy and peace of mind.

Do I need condo insurance in Illinois?

If you are in Illinois, it would be very common for you to want to own your own home. A great type of property that you could purchase here is a condo. When you are a condo owner, as opposed to an owner of a single-family home, you will receive many homeownership benefits with fewer maintenance obligations. If you do purchase a condo, you need to assess your insurance needs carefully. You likely will need to have condo insurance coverage. 

Insurance is an Association Requirement

One reason that you will likely need to have condo insurance is that your condo association will require it. Anyone that lives in a condo association is going to have a variety of rules that they need to abide by. One important set of rules is to get condo insurance. The association bylaws will state the type and amount of coverage that you need to have. 

Insurance is a Lender Requirement

You will also need to have condo insurance because your lender could require it. When you want to purchase a condo in this state, you will probably take out a mortgage. Any mortgage lender will want to protect their collateral, and the best way to do this is by escrowing for your monthly condo insurance payments to ensure there are no coverage lapses.

As you are shopping for condo insurance in Illinois, you should call Green Family Insurance Inc. Picking a policy for your condo can seem like a big challenge as many choices need to be made. Fortunately, Green Family Insurance Inc. can make it much easier for you. The team here is able to help you assess all your options and build a policy that is right for you. 

A Look At Misconceptions About The Benefits Of Health Insurance

 Green Family Insurance Inc. assists people throughout Illinois by offering different types of insurance coverage. We strive to ensure that our clients find the insurance coverage they need.

Health Insurance

Health insurance allows you to enjoy a better quality of living. Health insurance covers your regularly scheduled trips to the doctor, as well as any medication that you have to take.  As you research different health policies, avoid some of these common misconceptions about health insurance.

Common Misconceptions

Health Insurance Isn’t Necessary If You’re Young

No matter what your age is, health insurance is an asset. If you’re young, health insurance helps cover you as you start to age. Your yearly check-up with your doctor works as a preventative measure to spot potential areas of concern before they become more serious.

Health Insurance Won’t Cover Me If I Smoke Or Drink Regularly

This is incorrect. Even if you smoke and drink regularly, you can still receive coverage.

I Can Rely On The Coverage Provided Through My Employer

While many employers provide health insurance, it is not a good idea to simply rely on your employer to provide coverage. It is much more beneficial to have your own policy as well to ensure that you are fully covered.

Your Policy Covers You No Matter Where You Are

As you research different policies, make sure that you find out whether your preferred physician is included in the network. In some cases, you may be able to visit a doctor outside of your network. Make sure that this subject is clearly defined in your policy before accepting it.

Green Family Insurance Inc. Can Help You

As an independent insurance agency, we are able to provide coverage to our clients in Illinois regardless of their needs. Stop by our office today.

Three advantages of term life insurance

Life insurance is an essential product to invest in to protect your family’s financial future. Green Family Insurance Inc. provides numerous life insurance options that allow Illinois families to meet their financial needs.

The following are three advantages to be aware of that you can enjoy by purchasing a term life insurance policy.

Term life insurance premiums are generally less expensive than whole life insurance premiums.

If you compare premiums for term life and a whole life policy, you will note that term life insurance premiums are typically more affordable.

That’s because term life insurance policies don’t accumulate value over time and only compensate you if you pass away unexpectedly during the policy term. This setup is typically ideal for young families who need a substantial death benefit in the case of an untimely death more than they need accumulated savings. 

Term life insurance policies offer flexibility.

Term life insurance typically offers more flexibility and options than whole life insurance. You can choose between varying death benefit amounts. You can also choose between different term lengths, depending on your unique needs.

Term life insurance policies are good for adapting to changing life insurance needs over time. 

Your life insurance needs are likely to change over time. They’ll vary due to factors like your dependents becoming financially independent or the value of your assets accumulating over time. 

Term life insurance is ideal for changing needs because these policies are typically temporary. You can choose a term that’s as short as one year in some cases. Then, you can reevaluate your needs after the term is up and select a different policy down the road. 

To learn more about term life insurance, get in touch with us at Green Family Insurance Inc. We’re here to assist you with your life insurance needs in Illinois. 

How can an Illinois auto insurance policy protect me?

The state of Illinois is one of the most populated states in the country. For most people that live in this state, owning a car is an excellent investment as it will help them to get around town efficiently. If you are going to purchase a car in this state, it would be a good idea to get an auto insurance policy. When you have auto insurance here, it will work to protect you in several different ways.

Provides Coverage for Vehicle

One of the advantages of getting auto insurance here is that it will provide you with coverage for your vehicle. A car is one of the most significant investments that someone will ever make. If you are going to purchase a vehicle here, you will want to ensure that it is fully covered by insurance. When you get a full collision and comprehensive auto insurance policy, you will know that you will have the support to repair or replace your vehicle if you incur a loss.

Gives Coverage for Liability

Another advantage of an auto insurance policy is that it will give you coverage for liability. Driving a car will always come with some risk. If you were to cause an accident when you are driving, you could be found liable. When this occurs, you are going to be responsible for any damages you cause. With an auto insurance policy, you will receive the liability coverage that you need to offset this risk.

Ultimately, everyone in Illinois would benefit from having auto insurance. Since there are complexities that come with picking a policy, you should contact Green Family Insurance Inc. when you start shopping for a policy. The insurance team at Green Family Insurance Inc. will help you better understand your options and ensure you receive proper coverage. 

What is Commercial Insurance?

Are you a small business owner? You may have heard of commercial insurance, which protects your business, its employees, and your organization’s physical assets. Various types of commercial insurance policies exist, including general liability, commercial vehicle, workers’ compensation, umbrella, and business property. Depending upon the size and type of the business, commercial vehicles, workers’ compensation, property, and general liability policies may be required in Illinois. Speak with an insurance agency, such as Green Family Insurance Inc. to determine your needs. 

Definitions & Policy Types

When you take out a commercial insurance policy, you’ll receive a certificate of insurance reflecting the amounts and types of coverages issued to your business. The certificate of insurance may list one or more of the following:

  • General Liability: Protects your business against hazards such as a client slipping and falling at your location.
  • Property: Protects against losses and damages to the organization’s physical property, such as buildings and equipment.
  • Commercial Vehicle: Similar to personal auto insurance, this type of policy protects fleet vehicles against damage and drivers against claims resulting from accidents. 
  • Workers’ Compensation: Protects the business against accidents sustained by employees while on the job. This can include medical payments for injuries and loss of wages. 
  • Umbrella: Protects against additional liability claims that might go above and beyond existing general liability limits. 

Certain types of businesses are considered at greater risk than others. Establishments that deal with alcohol, vehicles, and events are a few examples. Lower risk establishments may not need the same level of liability or property coverage. Small businesses without employees may also be exempt from taking out workers’ compensation policies. 

If you’re opening up a business in Illinois, check with a licensed insurance agent to see which policies are mandatory. Contact Green Family Insurance Inc. now. 

  

Is it time to upgrade your home insurance policy?

Home insurance renewal is often automatic, and the previous policy simply rolls over to a new term. Unfortunately, this process can leave you underinsured in the event of a covered incident. If you have owned your home for several years or more, it’s time for a complete policy review. The team at Green Family Insurance Inc. is here to guide residents in the state of Illinois. We can assist you with your annual policy review and help identify any gaps that there may be in your policy. Many clients are surprised by their need for a new policy or coverage levels.

Avoid Being Underinsured

Having a homeowner’s policy that doesn’t fully meet the needs of you and your family can cause many problems if you should experience loss or damage from a covered event. In most areas of Illinois, home values increase on a reasonably regular basis, and it’s important that your coverage keeps pace. Without adequate insurance, you can be the responsible party for the cost of repair or replacement if your home is damaged in a covered event. This situation is easy to prevent with a regular review of your home insurance policy. An increase in coverage may also be necessary if you have made significant improvements to your home, with projects such as putting in a new kitchen or updating the bathrooms in your house. Don’t let an inadequate policy cause you headaches down the road!

Is it time to review your home insurance policy for completeness? The team at Green Family Insurance Inc. serves the state of Illinois and is here to meet all of your home insurance needs. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment for a complete policy review. You’ll be glad you did!