Can Lifestyle Changes Affect your Auto Insurance Coverage?

Changes in your lifestyle can have an effect on your health, finances, relationships, and auto insurance coverage. Lifestyle changes like marriage, divorce or retirement can affect the cost and coverage of your policy. If you’ve recently gone through some lifestyle changes, talk to your Stonewall Grace Insurance agent to see if you should update your policy. Here are just a few ways lifestyle changes can alter your auto insurance coverage.

Marriage

If you’ve recently gotten married, you may qualify for a discount on your auto insurance coverage. Many insurers reduce insurance rates to married couples. If both of you have good driving records, you can save money on auto insurance by adding your spouse to your policy. This could help offset the cost of increasing coverage if your spouse needs additional protection.

If your spouse has his or her own car, you can get discounted auto insurance via a multi-car policy. If one of you owns a home in Buena Vista VA, you can bundle your home and auto insurance to save on auto insurance costs.

Divorce

On the flip side, divorce could cost you more in auto insurance costs as you would lose both your married and multi-car discounts.

Retirement

Retirement may make you eligible for reduced auto insurance rates due to driving less often and needing less coverage. The less you drive, the lower your risk of having an accident. If you’re a safe driver, you may also qualify for a senior discount on your policy. Some companies give new retirees a break on costs as well. If you complete a defensive driving course (now that you have the time), you could get another reduction on insurance costs.

To learn more about auto insurance options and costs, contact Stonewall Grace Insurance in Buena Vista, VA.  

What is Senior Market Insurance?

Insurance can be difficult to traverse at any age but especially in later years. For those that are of the senior age group, senior market insurance is a subset of typical insurance that is geared specifically toward this age group. For those that live in the Buena Vista, VA area, the agents with Stonewall Grace Insurance can help you to find the right insurance for you no matter your age.

Put as simply as possible, senior market insurance are those insurance coverages that are geared toward what one would typically classify as a senior. This means special insurance coverages that are geared toward those that are around the age of 65 or older. This type of insurance may be special health insurance coverages, life insurance, and more that are all specifically tailored toward older individuals. This type of coverage may have lower deductibles, may tailor to specialists, and more.

For those that are considered seniors, these coverages may also cost less and may even work with things like Medicare and Medicaid dependent on what coverages you have already. This type of coverage is fantastic for those older individuals that may need more coverage but that may not have the ability to use normal coverages. If you are a senior, this type of policy is going to be great for those that do need different coverage than typical policies or that may need something that is going to work with their current Medicare coverages. For those that live in the Buena Vista, VA area and need a bit more help understanding this type of insurance, the agents with Stonewall Grace Insurance can help you to understand and find the coverage that is going to work best for you and for your specific insurance needs and coverages.

Life and disability insurance when you are first starting out

When you begin your first job out of college or trade school, marry, and start a family, the last thing you are likely to think about is dying or suffering a permanent disability that might prevent you from working. But, as Stonewall Grace Insurance, serving Buena Vista, VA notes, death and injury can happen to everyone, even the young and the vigorous, as well as the old and infirm.

A life and disability insurance policy will provide, if nothing else, peace of mind that if something does happen to you, your family will be taken care of. Your not being around or being unable to work, with the attendant medical bills a disability implies, will result in a lot of financial obligations. If you have bought a house, the payout from insurance policy will help with the mortgage. Your children’s education can be taken care of. Of course, your final expenses, including the cost of a funeral and settling any debts, such as a car note or credit card balance, can be dealt with as well.

No one likes to think about death or injury at a young age, which means that younger people often do not even think about life and disability insurance until they are older. Sadly, your younger years are the perfect time to get such a policy. Your premiums are likely to be much lower than if you wait until you are middle-aged or even elderly.

For more information on the life and disability insurance and how such an investment may be suitable for you, feel free to contact Stonewall Grace Insurance serving Buena Vista.

When Is Commercial Auto Insurance Necessary?

Commercial auto insurance in Buena Vista, VA is a policy that is designed for vehicles used for business purposes. Depending on the business, you could need higher liability insurance or additional coverage add-ons to be fully protected. Personal drivers don’t have many of the same car insurance concerns that business do, so they need a different policy.

Businesses will usually have higher liability issues and need higher liability insurance requirements, since businesses will deal with work equipment, employees, and passengers. You need a commercial insurance policy if you are using a vehicle to transport people or goods for a fee, or if you are using your vehicle to perform a service.

A commercial auto insurance policy will generally cover many of the same major things that private individuals purchase, but it will usually have higher limits. There are more add-ons as well that are suited for commercial driving. Coverage will include employees, the business, and equipment. An agent at Stonewall Grace Insurance can help you determine how much coverage you need.

You must meet the state’s liability insurance requirements and these coverage limits may be higher than for regular vehicles. If you don’t own the vehicles you are using for commercial purposes, then you may also have to have collision and comprehensive coverage, which could be required by your lender. There are also other types of insurance to consider. Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage will help protect you if you are involved in an accident with a person who doesn’t have enough insurance or no insurance at all. Personal effects insurance can provide coverage if your or an employee’s personal belongings are stolen. This coverage is usually only up to a certain amount. Emergency roadside insurance can help if you are stranded on the side of the road and can include tire changes, fuel delivery, and battery services.

Contact Stonewall Grace Insurance, serving Buena Vista, VA, to get a quote on commercial auto insurance. 

 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Fires?

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover a variety of mishaps that can happen to a home such as wind or hail damage and lightning strikes to name a few. But does it cover electrical fires? In some cases, yes, it will while it won’t in others. Electrical fires have multiple causes and they have to be investigated to find out the cause and if it’s covered by the policy. If the cause is something that isn’t covered by the policy, a homeowner winds up paying out of their own pocket to repair the damage, if possible.

The methods used for wiring homes has changed greatly over the decades along with materials. Not every home has been upgraded properly through the years, resulting in a home that has wiring that’s out of code. One type of wiring setup known as knob and tube may or may not be covered by a policy. The risks of an electrical fire from this type of setup are well-known and the wiring should have been replaced at some point. However, because this kind of wiring was in common use up until the 1950’s, many homes still have it in their walls simply because there was never a need to replace it. 

Aluminum wiring rose in popularity as the drawbacks to the knob and tube wiring became apparent. It weighs less than copper while transmitting the same amount of electricity, making it an attractive alternative. However, connections in older aluminum wiring systems are known to corrode and cause a fire if not caught in time. A homeowners policy may exclude this type of wiring from coverage as well.

Contact Stonewall Grace Insurance to find out about getting a policy that covers electrical fires and other unusual situations. The agency serves the Buena Vista, VA, area and can help homeowners who have older wiring systems find a policy to suit their needs. 

3 Tips for Purchasing Renters Insurance in Buena Vista, VA

There’s no question that Buena Vista, VA is a great place to live, work and play. If you are living here and renting a house or property, you need to take steps to protect it. One of the best ways to do this is by purchasing renters insurance with the help of Stonewall Grace Insurance.

Believe it or not, this process doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. Keep reading to find some helpful tips about buying renters insurance.

Compare Quotes

One of the first things you should do when purchasing renters insurance is to compare quotes. Take some time to get quotes from several different insurance companies and then compare them line by line to see which one offers the most value. This will pay off and help you make the most of the money you spend on the policy.

Bundle

Another important tip to help ensure you get the best renters insurance policy is to bundle your other policies. For example, do you already have car insurance or life insurance with another company? If so, see if they can give you a discount by adding your renter’s policy, too. In many cases, this can help you save a significant amount of money on all of your premiums.

Use a Reputable Agent

One of the best things you can do when buying renters insurance is to use the services of a reputable agent. They will be able to review your needs and ensure you get the policy that best suits you. In the long run, this will help you get the coverage you need for a price you can afford.

If you are ready to purchase renter’s insurance in Buena Vista, VA, contact Stonewall Grace Insurance. They can help you get a policy that meets your needs.

Do I Need Comprehensive Coverage?

Your car is a very important asset and may be a necessity in order for you to get to and from work and other places you need to be. When you are looking for insurance on your car, you will likely find that Buena Vista, VA car owners are only required by law to carry liability insurance. While a basic liability insurance policy is all that is required by law, it often does not provide enough coverage. Instead, you may need to get comprehensive coverage. 

Required By Lender or Lessor

If you have purchased the vehicle using a loan, or are leasing the vehicle, you will undoubtedly need to have a full comprehensive insurance policy. Lenders and lessors will want to make sure that their collateral is properly protected. The comprehensive policy will provide you with protection against theft, vandalism, and a variety of other issues. 

Big Investment 

Another reason why you will need to have a fully comprehensive policy is that it is a big investment when you buy a car. Next to the home that you buy, your car is the biggest purchase an investment that you will ever make. Due to this, you will want to make sure that you have it properly protected. Getting a full collision and comprehensive policy will ensure that you have the necessary insurance coverage that you need to protect your vehicle.

When you are looking for an insurance policy in the Buena Vista, VA area, you should speak with the Stonewall Grace Insurance company. When meeting with the team at Stonewall Grace Insurance, you will receive feedback and support to fully understand your insurance needs. This will help to ensure that you are able to pick a policy that will give you enough protection and peace of mind. 

 

Do You Really Need Renters Insurance?

So you have decided that it is time to rent your own place in Buena Vista, VA? Have you thought about how you are going to protect all of your belongings? One big mistake that a lot of renters make is that they think that the home insurance that the owner of the property has will offer them some type of protection. This could not be further from the truth and is exactly why here at Stonewall Grace Insurance, we always recommend that renters get their own insurance. 

You can do this by getting renters insurance. This type of insurance is designed to actually protect the renter and everything that is kept in the property by the renter. The insurance that the owner has will not offer any coverage except for the structure so it is up to you to get coverage for your personal items. The great thing about this type of insurance is that it is relatively inexpensive so if you can afford to rent a property then you can afford to get renters insurance. The last thing you want to do is not have protection for everything that you own as well as no protection if there is any damage to the property. 

If you are renting a home or even an apartment, you need to have renters insurance. Some property owners will even make it a requirement for living there. Be sure to reach out to us here at Stonewall Grace Insurance, serving Buena Vista, VA, to get started on your quote today. We will make sure you have the proper amount of coverage based on the items that you own that will be in the property and will even work to make sure you get the lowest possible price. 

A typical home insurance claims process.

Home insurance claim process can be one cumbersome process especially if you do not have the knowledge about it. Understanding the established procedures that insurance companies follow during the claim process gives you a better chance to recover your money in a practical time frame.

A typical home insurance claims process includes:

Report of claim
After assessing the cost of damage to your home and property and getting an estimate of the cost of repairs and replacements, then it’s time to submit your claim either online or directly to your agent to claim for the services.

Assignment
On receipt of your claim, the insurance company assigns a claims professional to your claim. The assigned agent will be responsible for navigating the required processes.

Initial contact
Tasked with the responsibility of assisting you with the claim process, the claims professional will get in touch with you to get to know about your loss and discuss your insurance coverage. He’ll then outline how the company plans to handle your claim. At this point, it is important to take note of the advice that the agent will offer you on ways to prevent more damage.

Evaluation
After getting to know your loss and discussing your insurance coverage, the claims professional will investigate your claim, assembling facts, reviewing and estimating the damage. If need be, he/she can also consult witnesses.

Resolution
When the claims officer is done with the evaluation, the insurance company will make a verdict concerning your claim. For simpler claims, you can get paid the estimated amount of repairs after the first inspection but in more complicated claims the payment process may take longer.

Closing the claim
This is the last process of a typical claim process after the claim is resolved by the insurance company.
At Stonewall Grace Insurance in Buena Vista, VA, our professional claims officers will endeavor to expedite any insurance claims filed by our clients. Feel free to contact us for a smooth process.

Facts about senior health insurance plans

Senior health insurance policies are specifically tailored to meet an individual’s current and future health needs. It is therefore important to review your current health plan so that in the later years of your life, all your health needs will be taken care of without any financial burden. Taking a senior cover that best suits you is thus a beneficial aspect.

Choosing an affordable and reliable health insurance for seniors can be overwhelming; nevertheless, there are a number of factors to consider before you make an informed decision as elaborated by Buena Vista, VA, Stonewall grace insurance:

  • The cover offers private health insurance

When a person grows old, he/she becomes prone to a wider range of health problems which means you are more likely to be in need of medical treatment. Having a private health insurance saves you the cost and hustle of traveling in search of treatment.

In addition, most basic health insurance covers do not provide the option of choosing a specific specialist or the comprehensive level of unique cover you may need as a senior like spinal or cardiac procedures.

With private health cover for seniors, you are also able to skip the long waiting lists and with the option of preventative treatment, you can maintain your quality of life through making use of the available preventative therapies which are helpful to keep you in good shape for a longer period of time.

  • Coverage options

A senior health insurance policy has more value than the basic health insurance since it covers all the common health conditions that affect seniors plus extra covers depending on your specific needs for example; occupational therapy to help you cope with daily tasks.

As an affordable provider with a wide range of plans to compare, choose and buy from, Buena Vista, VA, Stonewall grace insurance guarantees a great policy for you.