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Home or Farm Insurance - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of damages that you agree you will be responsible for if you have a claim.
Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company, it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.
Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company, it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.
Why do I have a deductible?
Deductibles serve several functions. Shifting the cost of small claims to the person buying the insurance
(insured) enables the insurance company to reduce premiums. Small dollar claims often cost more to adjust
and settle than the claim itself. The cost of insurance would be much higher if there were no deductibles.
The higher the deductible, the lower your premium cost.
Do I have a deductible on my home or farm policy?
Yes, property coverages have deductibles. Several options, including split wind/hail deductibles and
reducing deductibles, are available. Please check your policy declaration page or
contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent
to see if you have a deductible and how much it is.
What is a reducing deductible?
With this option, your deductibles reduce by 100 for each annual loss free period. Assume you purchase a
$1000 deductible with the reducing option. At the end of the first year, if loss free, you earn a $100
credit that would be applied toward your deductible in the event of a claim. If you remain loss free for
5 consecutive years, the credit would accumulate to $500. If a claim then occurs, your deductible would be
$1000 - $500 = $500.
What is a split wind/hail deductible? For example, 500/1000.
With this option, the deductible amount depends of the cause of loss for the claim. In the event, of a
wind, hail or tornado event, the second of the two deductibles listed applies. The first number is the
amount of the deductible for claims from other causes covered by the policy. Missouri is heavily impacted
with weather events each year. Application of a higher deductible for claims caused by these weather events
helps keep insurance premiums lower.
Is there a discount for having both my auto and home coverage insured with Farm Bureau?
Yes, the total account discount is available on automobile insurance. This credit is applied at each renewal
to your auto policy if you maintain both your property and auto coverages with us. For property coverage such
as home or farm, a multiline discount is available on
Elite policies. This credit applies at
each renewal if you maintain your auto, home or farm, and life insurance with us. If you are not receiving
this discount, consider the savings of insuring with us.
Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent for details.
What do I do if I experience a theft loss?
- Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
- Notify credit card or fund transfer card company in case of loss of a credit card
- Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)
What do I do if I have fire, smoke, water, or storm damage to my home?
- Protect your property and belongings from further damage
- Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
- Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
- Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)
What do I do if I have vandalism or other property damage to my home?
- Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
- Protect your property and belongings from further damage
- Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
- Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
- Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)
What kind of insurance can I purchase from Farm Bureau Insurance?
Farm Bureau Insurance can write your automobiles, home, farm, motorcycles, motorhomes, boats, mobilehomes,
farm trucks, life insurance, health insurance and more. We can assist with retirement planning and estate
planning as well. Contact a Farm Bureau agent for details.
How can I control the cost of my home or farm insurance?
- Choose higher deductibles
- Examine your coverages
- Explore available discounts
How do insurance companies determine how much I pay for home or farm insurance?
Premiums are based on many factors including but not limited to
- Property value
- Fire protection
- Condition of property
- Construction characteristics of property such as roof, heating, siding, etc.
- Claims history
What discounts does Farm Bureau offer on home or farm?
- New home or renovation discount
- Protective systems discount
- Multi-Line discount
- And more