Unexpected Insurance Perks

Electronic Data Restoration
Chubb is among the insurers who would pay to restore lost personal information on a computer that’s destroyed by a covered loss, such as a hurricane or even a computer virus. Coverage is usually limited to $5,000 and you’d have to pay a deductible first.

Forged Checks and Funny Money
Allstate and State Farm are two of the many homeowners insurers who will reimburse you if someone forges one of your checks or gives you counterfeit money.

Theft from Car
You might think your car insurance would cover you if someone broke in and stole all your holiday presents from your car. Probably not. Car insurance usually only protects the car itself, not your
belongings in it. However, homeowners insurance can cover theft from cars.

Spoiled Food from Power Outage
Chubb is one homeowners insurer who will cover you up to $5,000 if you lose power for a long time and the steaks in your freezer go bad.

Fallen Trees
Many homeowners insurance policies will pay to remove trees that are knocked down by wind, even if it didn’t land on your house.

Tombstones Damaged

Many standard homeowners policies would cover damage to a tombstone, as long as the damage was caused by a covered event. For instance, if wind from a hurricane knocked down the tombstone, the repair would be covered. But if it was damaged by a flood, and you did not have flood insurance, it would not be covered, said Dick Ludke, a spokesman for State Farm.


Claims Pitfalls
• Keep in mind that if you make too many claims on your homeowners or car insurance policies, the insurer may respond by raising your premium or even dropping you when the policy comes up for renewal.

• Touch base with your insurer. It’s often wise to double check with your agent or insurer when you experience a loss, to make sure you are covered and to make sure you are following the company’s recommendations in dealing with the loss.

• Insurers do not send out blank checks. They expect to see receipts, so always hang on to your paperwork.