Common Misconceptions About Life Insurance: What Meridian Residents Should Know

If you’ve considered getting life insurance in Meridian, ID, but have allowed misconceptions to deter you, Idaho Select Insurance wants to clarify some of the common misconceptions.

Misconception #1: It’s Only Necessary for Older People

This is one of the most common misconceptions, and it’s heartbreaking when younger people experience loss and have insufficient coverage (or none at all).

Life insurance protects you against the worst-case scenario – you lose a loved one. Accidents happen daily, and you don’t want to be left with all the expenses if the unthinkable happens.

Policies are available for people of all ages.

Misconception #2: It Only Covers Funeral Costs

While life insurance can be used to cover funeral costs, it’s possible to get policies that are worth $1 million or even more. This allows you to cover all sorts of the expenses once a family member passes away. You can ensure that a mortgage is paid off, kids get their college tuition covered, and so much more.

It’s all the more reason to talk about the necessary coverage with an experienced insurance agent.

Misconception #3: It’s Too Expensive

The reality is that life insurance may be a lot more affordable than you think. It’s based on such things as age, gender, and health. The younger you are when you seek coverage, the cheaper a policy can be – and free quotes are available.

Discuss Life Insurance with Professional Agents Today

Whether you want to discuss more life insurance misconceptions or are ready to discuss a customized policy for you and your family, we’re here to help. Contact us at Idaho Select Insurance today. One of our agents can answer your questions, guide you through the many insurance options, and ensure you have the coverage you need when it’s needed the most.

The dangers of self insurance

At Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID, we’ve been receiving more inquiries from homeowners about self-insuring their homes. As home prices and home insurance rates rise, some may consider self-insurance as an option. Here’s what you should know.

Homeowners Insurance May Be Required

If you have a loan or mortgage on your home, self-insurance is likely not an option. Your lender will probably require you to carry home insurance. If you fail to maintain it, they can force-place insurance on your home, which is costly and not in your best interest.

When Your Home is Mortgage-Free

If you don’t have a loan or mortgage on your property, you may no longer be required to carry home insurance. While this may seem liberating, it can also be risky.

You Will Absorb Any Losses from Damages

If you choose to self-insure, you are entirely responsible for any damage your property sustains. This can be substantial in the event of a devastating fire or stale. If you’re not financially prepared to absorb such a loss, it can lead to financial ruin.

Risks of Liability Claims

While you can put a number on the financial value of a home, there are no limits to the potential liability you may face from an accident injury liability claim. This adds to your risk of self-insuring.

You Have Options

There are alternatives to going without insurance or completely self-insuring. To limit costs, consider minimizing your insurance coverage. Think about lowering your coverage or raising your deductibles before opting for self-insurance. The risks may not be worth it.

Contact Us

If you don’t have a mortgage and want minimal home insurance, contact us at Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID. We also review your current policy and ensure you are in compliance with your lender. We can provide basic coverage, which is preferable to losing self-insurance. Contact Idaho Select Insurance today.

The Impact of Vehicle Modifications on Auto Insurance Policies

Customizing your vehicle can be an exciting way to personalize it. Modifications can transform your car into something unique, whether it’s a flashy new paint job, upgraded tires, or a powerful engine boost. However, before you make any changes, it’s important to understand how vehicle modifications can affect your auto insurance policy. At Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID, we’re here to help you navigate the impact of these changes on your coverage.

Modifications Can Increase Your Premium

Insurance companies view vehicle modifications as changes that could increase the value of your car or alter its performance. For example, installing a turbocharger or upgrading your suspension can make your vehicle more powerful but also make it riskier to insure. A higher risk typically means a higher premium. Even cosmetic changes, like custom rims or body kits, can raise your rates because they increase the cost of repairs in the event of an accident.

Some Modifications May Void Your Policy

Certain modifications could even result in the cancellation of your policy if they violate your insurer’s terms. For instance, significant performance enhancements that make your vehicle less safe or illegal in certain areas might not be covered. It is always a good idea to contact your insurance provider before making any major changes to your vehicle.

Coverage for Modifications

If you’ve invested time and money into upgrading your car, you’ll want to protect your modifications. Some insurance companies offer additional coverage options for customized vehicles, so your policy should include your modifications.

Contact Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID, today for expert advice on how vehicle modifications affect auto insurance. We’ll help you find the right coverage to protect your car and investment.

How Umbrella Insurance Can Help

Cover Your Assets in Meridian, ID with Umbrella Insurance

Protecting your assets is a good financial move today, as it was in the past. When an event occurs that requires your insurance policy to pay, you want to know you have enough coverage. However, this is not always the case.

Benefits of Umbrella Insurance

You may wonder if umbrella insurance is necessary if you have homeowners’ insurance and your vehicles are insured. Umbrella insurance steps in when your policy’s limits are reached. You are on your own if you do not have additional insurance protection. To avoid this financial dilemma, umbrella insurance can help with the costs of claims covered under the policy, such as your vehicle, home, or boat coverage.

Umbrella insurance is helpful in many situations, such as providing bodily injury liability to cover liability claims and medical bills. These may result from a guest falling while visiting your home, an auto accident where you are the person at fault, someone being injured while in your yard, or your dog injuring someone.

If you own rental property, umbrella insurance protects you against liability claims against you as the landlord. A claim for damages could result from someone losing their footing and falling due to a damaged or cracked sidewalk on the rental property.

Other areas where umbrella insurance provides coverage include libel, slander, malicious prosecution, mental anguish, false imprisonment, and false arrest.

Contact Our Company

Understanding insurance and the available options to help you be financially secure in case of an accident or damage, our team at Idaho Select Insurance will guide you through the maze of information. We are here to answer your questions and help make it easy to feel safe and secure with the right insurance coverage.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Home-Based Businesses?

Online businesses and small side hustles have become increasingly common in today’s digital age. Many people are looking for ways to earn extra income. However, you are technically running a business when you operate a side hustle or engage in side work from home. As a renter and a business owner, you might wonder if your renter’s insurance policy would cover business-related incidents since they occur on your property. This article will explore what renters insurance covers and how you can get a policy for your belongings or your business with the help of Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Home-Based Businesses?

Suppose you operate a business from an apartment or a home you rent, either as a sole proprietor or another business owner. In that case, it’s important to understand that renters insurance is designed to protect the contents of your rental and regular liability. It does not cover liability related to your business or any other issues that your business might encounter. If you want to ensure that your business is covered along with your property, you will need to purchase commercial insurance. This will ensure that your sole proprietorship, LLC, or other business structure is protected in the event of liability or damages.

Find Renters Insurance and More at Idaho Select Insurance

Finding the right insurance can be challenging, so it’s beneficial to have someone on the inside who can simplify the process. The team at is beneficial Idaho Select Insurance in Meridian, ID, makes it easy to compare quotes to find the right coverage for your needs. Compare quotes with us today!

The Importance of Accessory Coverage in Motorcycle Insurance

When insuring a motorcycle around Meridian, ID, most riders focus on coverage for the bike itself, but accessories and custom parts can also represent a significant financial investment. From saddlebags and upgraded exhaust systems to custom paint jobs and safety gear, these enhancements often aren’t fully covered by a standard motorcycle insurance policy. Accessory coverage is essential to protect these valuable additions in the event of damage, theft, or an accident.

Understanding Accessory Coverage

Accessory coverage provides protection for non-standard parts and gear that are added to your motorcycle after purchase. This includes items like custom handlebars, aftermarket seats, windshields, chrome accessories, and even safety gear such as helmets and riding jackets. In many cases, the standard motorcycle insurance policy only covers factory-installed parts, leaving custom upgrades vulnerable. Accessory coverage allows you to repair or replace these items without significant out-of-pocket expenses.

The Importance of Accessory Coverage

Motorcycle accessories can be expensive, and replacing or repairing custom parts can quickly add up in the event of an accident. Without accessory coverage, you might only be reimbursed for the bike’s original parts, leaving you responsible for the full cost of restoring your motorcycle to its pre-accident condition. Additionally, items like saddlebags and gear can be damaged or stolen, and accessory coverage ensures you aren’t left without compensation. Riders who enjoy upgrading their bikes or rely on specific gear for long trips should consider this additional coverage. It not only provides peace of mind but also helps ensure that your bike—and everything that makes it unique—can be restored if something goes wrong.

Contact Idaho Select Insurance for More Information

Idaho Select Insurance is here to provide the best explanations for answering your insurance questions as we serve Meridian, ID and surrounding cities. Call today.

Knowing the Exclusions in Flood Insurance Compared to the Other Types of Insurance

Flood insurance for the Meridian, ID location is essential for protecting your property against water damage from natural disasters like hurricanes or heavy rain. However, like other types of insurance, flood insurance comes with exclusions—specific situations and damages it does not cover. Knowing these exclusions is crucial to ensure you have the right coverage and avoid unexpected costs.

Key Flood Insurance Exclusions

Flood insurance, offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), covers direct damage caused by flooding. However, it does not cover all types of water damage. One common exclusion is sewage backups. It will only handle these types of situations when flooding causes the incident. Similarly, moisture or mold damage that occurs gradually due to neglect or poor maintenance is usually not covered.

Another important exclusion is damage to landscaping, patios, and outdoor structures like pools or decks. Flood insurance typically focuses on the building’s structure and its essential systems, such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, as well as some personal belongings, but it will not cover damage to areas outside the home.

Comparing Exclusions with Other Types of Insurance

Unlike homeowners or renters insurance, which often includes some coverage for water damage (such as from burst pipes or leaks), flood insurance is much more specific in areas that it covers. Homeowners insurance generally does not cover flooding at all, requiring a separate flood insurance policy. Conversely, other types of insurance may cover damage from weather events like wind or hail, but they won’t cover rising water due to floods.

Idaho Select Insurance For Better Understanding of Insurance

Idaho Select Insurance offers all of the information you need to get insurance. Our agency serves the locations in and near Meridian, ID. Call today.

Securing Your Boat with Idaho Insurance when Traveling

If you’re planning on hitting the road with your boat on a vacation, you’ll want to make sure you do all you can to secure it. Below are the best tactics to put in place so that your boat is protected when traveling to and from your destination. 

1. Strap it Down

Even if you have one of the best and strongest boat trailers available, you still need to ensure you’re strapping your boat down to it. Traveling over long highways can hit bumps, and poor road conditions can cause your boat to bounce. If the boat isn’t secure with heavy straps, it could bounce off the trailer and be damaged. 

2. Cover Your Boat

Before you apply the final straps to your boat, you’ll want to put a cover on the boat first. This keeps debris and environmental elements from damaging the windshield and interior of the boat. A heavy-duty cover will protect the boat’s shell, even if you travel under low-lying trees along the highway. Once you park your boat trailer, you can leave the cover on it when you aren’t using it for additional protection until you head home. 

3. Make Sure Your Trailer is Locked

While you have your boat in a trailer while traveling, you want to keep it secure so it can’t be stolen at night. Lock the trailer and hitch so that a vehicle can’t be hooked to the trailer and carry the boat off. It’s also a good practice to set an alarm on the boat so that if there is movement or someone attempts to start the boat, you’re notified right away. 

If you’re in the Meridian, ID area and need boat insurance, contact our team at Idaho Select Insurance today for more information. 

Increasing Life Insurance Once You Have a Child

Almost every parent will attest to how life changes after having a child. Adding a child to your family alters your sense of responsibility and priorities and brings about various practical considerations. For instance, a child has to be clothed, fed, protected, and educated. Consequently, having a child often triggers parents to consider life insurance.

At Idaho Select Insurance, we are here to support new parents in Meridian, ID. We can help you customize a life insurance plan that protects your newfound family now and in the future.

Replace Lost Income

Besides covering the insured’s final expenses, life insurance’s primary purpose is to replace potential lost income from a family breadwinner. Therefore, young parents should plan for income replacement in the event of an unthinkable situation.

Provide for a Child’s Care

As a parent, you want to ensure that basic childcare and protection needs are met. Life insurance can be instrumental in accomplishing this goal.

Future Education

Parents with foresight and financial resources may desire to establish provisions for their children’s future educational expenses. Given the significant cost of college, starting planning in advance is critical.

How Much is Enough?

If you’re a new parent wondering how much life insurance is enough, we’re here to help. We can guide you in planning for both immediate and future funding.

Get a Quote Today

If you’re a new parent in Meridian, ID, and are considering life insurance, we invite you to contact us at Idaho Select Insurance. We can address any questions you have and show you various options to meet your life insurance objectives.

Insurance Assessments – Pursue the Protection You Need and Deserve

Being uninsured or underinsured can cause financial stress if an injury or theft occurs on your property. Insurance assessments can benefit you. Learn about insurance assessments. Then, decide which items you want to add to your current home insurance policy.

Assessments

Assessments can be used to determine the condition of items you own. They can also help you decide if an upgrade needs to be done on your property.

For example, you may notice worn building materials during a standard assessment. If your home was constructed a long time ago, you may ultimately decide to have structural materials replaced. By doing so, you can ward off future problems. 

Conducting An Assessment

Each assessment should be conducted indoors and outdoors. A home should be inspected for signs of damage and its layout examined. This step can be used to identify potential risks that could cause an injury.

An assessment will also uncover safety issues that could threaten the residents of a home. If an assessment is to be conducted by a licensed insurance inspector, the inspector will furnish a report when the assessment is complete.

This report will highlight the assessment’s outcome. If any issues are discovered during the actual assessment, the property owner will be notified.

Contact Idaho Select Insurance

Use an assessment to your advantage. At the end of each one, determine how much insurance protection you need. Use the results of the assessment to make improvements to your property. Contact one of our agents who serve Meridian, ID for more information. An insurance agent who represents Idaho Select Insurance will assist you.