Do I need contents or structural flood coverage?

Do I need contents or structural flood coverage?

Whether you own or rent a home in a high-risk flood area in or near Escanaba, MI, you need flood insurance to protect yourself. The coverage comes from Luft Insurance Agency, but the type of coverage – contents or structural – differs if you own the home or rent it.

For A Homeowner

If you own your home and use it as your primary residence, you need both structural and contents insurance.  Structural insurance protects your building and the property, including fences, docks, etc. Contents insurance covers all of the items inside your home, including your clothes, stereo, TV, furniture, computer, etc.

For a Landlord

If you own your home and use it as a rental property, you need structural insurance. You would only need contents coverage, too, if you furnished the house. Structural insurance means you insure your building.

For a Renter

If you rent a home, apartment, or condo, your insurance policy should cover the contents. The building owner takes care of the structural insurance. You only need to worry about your furnishings and clothing, plus electronics. A contents-only policy covers this.
All of the flood insurance comes from our local office, but it gets backing from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This means that the US government guarantees coverage, protecting you from loss even in such catastrophic events as the flooding that occurred in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Regardless of the scale of the flood and the damage caused, your insurance will cover it.

Contact Luft Insurance Agency serving Escanaba, MI today to learn more about flood insurance and how it can protect your home investment and belongings. Let us help you keep your home investment safer.

What Should You Know About Medicare Supplements And PDP Insurance?

Medicare Supplement plans (known as Medigap) are insurance plans that are sold by private insurance companies and designed to fill the gaps that Original Medicare does not cover. Usually, it pays for such remaining health care costs as deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and others. 

PDP (prescription drug plans) insurance helps reduce prescription costs in exchange for a monthly payment. Luft Insurance Agency serving clients in Escanaba, MI prepared a list of things you should know about these two types of insurance:

What Should You Know About Medicare Supplement Plans?

  • These policies cover only one person. If both you and your spouse want to have a Medicate Supplement Plan, you have to purchase two separate policies. 
  • There is a monthly payment that you have to pay to a private insurance company. You have to pay it in addition to the premium you pay to Medicare (part B premium) that you pay every month. 
  • You can buy a Medicare Supplement Plan from any registered and certified insurance company in your state. 
  • There are certain things that Medigap plans will not cover, including hearing aids, private-duty nursing, eyeglasses, dental or vision care, and long-term care. 
  • In order to qualify for Medicare Supplement Plans, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. 

If you have any questions about Medicare Supplement Plans or you want to purchase one of them, Luft Insurance Agency serving clients in Escanaba, MI, and other surrounding towns is ready to help. Our experienced insurance agents will answer your questions and help you get the insurance plan you need. Feel free to check our website or give us a call. 

Can I Share Renters Insurance with My Roommates?

Renting an apartment in Escanaba, MI, with a roommate has many advantages, including sharing rental expenses. However, there is one expense you cannot share with your roommate — the renter’s insurance. Unfortunately, if not related, each roommate must purchase their renter’s insurance policy. If unsure if you need separate renters insurance policies, call the experts at Luft Insurance Agency. 

Does My Renters Insurance cover my Roommate? 

Essentially, a roommate is not covered by your renter’s insurance policy because your policy does not include that risk. Renters insurance is based on a long list of factors designed to price the cost for an individual. The only possible exceptions are when the roommate is a sibling, adult child, or significant other. 

Do All Roommates in Our Apartment Need Renters Insurance? 

Each person should have their renter’s insurance policy when living with roommates. Having individual policies is necessary because if only one person had the policy and the other roommate caused a fire, the one with the policy would file a claim. The claim could affect the cost of future policies and may open the policyholder up for being held liable for the fire. 

Can’t We Save Money With Only One Policy?

The biggest argument for roommates to only have one renter’s insurance policy is it helps save money. However, the savings are small, and it is not worth the risk the policyholder carries. Additionally, when filing a claim, the policyholder should not attempt to claim property that is not theirs. For example, suppose there is only one policyholder. In that case, it means, if someone breaks into the apartment and takes all the computers, the policyholder should not claim the loss of their roommate’s computer. Most insurance companies consider this fraud. 

Roommates need to learn the ins and outs of renters insurance to ensure they have the protection they need for their Escanaba, MI residence. Get the security and peace of mind you need when renting by calling Luft Insurance Agency for renters insurance options. 

What You Should Know About RV Insurance

RVs are one of the best ways to combine travel and accommodations. RV ownership allows you the freedom to explore our great country always knowing you have a comfortable place to rest for the night. Sufficient insurance coverage is vital to your long-term enjoyment of RV life. At Luft Insurance Agency serving Escanaba, MI, we can help you find the insurance products you need for your RV. 

Is Auto Insurance Enough?

There is a huge misconception that auto insurance and RV insurance are the same. They are not. Although in some states you can legally operate an RV with an auto insurance policy, it is important for you to understand that an auto policy is very different from an RV policy. 

If you plan to travel extensively in your RV, or if you plan to live in your RV, an auto policy will not be sufficient protection for you and your family. 

What Does RV Insurance Cover?

RV insurance does carry a lot of the same coverage as an auto policy, but there are also some important differences. In general, an RV policy will provide the following coverage.

  • Collision coverage- If the RV is in an accident, this type of coverage can help pay for your RV to be repaired or even replaced. 
  • Liability coverage- If someone is injured in your RV or in an accident caused by your RV, you could be held liable for their medical bills and even for legal fees. Liability coverage will help pay for these expenses. 
  • Property damage- This type of coverage is not usually found on a regular auto policy. If you are traveling or living in your RV, you will have personal property along with you. If this personal property is damaged or lost due to fire, natural disaster, accident, or burglary, the insurance policy will reimburse you for the value of your items. 

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at Luft Insurance Agency, serving Escanaba, MI. 

Boat safety maintenance tips for boaters in Escanaba, MI

Many boaters in Escanaba, MI, enjoy different water activities, but very few know the importance of maintaining a boat. About 50% of emergency assistance calls Luft Insurance Agency receives every year are mostly related to break-downs, fuel or battery problems. Like any other automobile, boats require frequent tune-ups to keep them in tip-top condition. Poorly maintained vessels result in many problems at sea, which can be disastrous. Here are a few safety maintenance tips to ensure that your watercraft is safe to use in the water.

Clean your boat frequently

Cleaning your boat is the cheapest and easiest way to keep your vessel in good condition. Cleaning removes saltwater that eventually builds up after some time. It can be corrosive to your boat and other equipment if not removed immediately. Thoroughly cleaning your boat also increases the boat’s lifespan as it will look new for a very long time. Remember boat insurance companies also check maintenance to determine your premium costs.

Service your engine every year

If you use your boat every day, it would even be better if you serviced the engine more than once per year. There is always a surge in Escanaba, MI, when everyone books for engine service for their boats just before summer kicks in.  Always keep your ear close to your engine for any unfamiliar sounds or vibrations as they are the first sign everything is not well.

Check your battery as often as you can

Your boat’s battery can be a headache if not checked as often as possible. Flat batteries are a common problem for most boaters in Michigan, especially older batteries. Most old batteries will typically take longer to charge, but they may not hold a charge for long.

Don’t forget to buy ample boat insurance in case things don’t go right. Contact Luft Insurance Agency for all your boat insurance needs and any other information you would want about other policies. Feel free to call or visit our offices in Michigan.

What types of auto policies are there?

Luft Insurance Agency serving Escanaba, MI wants you to understand auto insurance’s versatility and customizable nature. You can choose to purchase just that state minimum liability and property damage levels, but that provides only protection for the other drivers on the road.

  • Your liability policy pays for the medical bills of the other individuals harmed in the accident if you caused it.
  • Your property damage policy pays for the damage you cause to another individual’s vehicle or other property, such as their home or fence, etc.
  • You can add comprehensive coverage to pay for damage to your own vehicle caused by anything that is not a collision. That includes hail damage, falling branches, fire, wind damage, etc.
  • You can also add collision coverage to pay for damage to your own vehicle caused by any collision. Whether you hit another car or a deer runs out in front of you, this policy covers the repairs to your vehicle.
  • Add Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to provide medical coverage for yourself and your passengers when you cause an accident when involved in a single-vehicle accident, or the driver who is at fault does not have insurance.
  • You can also add roadside assistance to auto insurance that pays for your tow truck or tire change, regardless of your location.

Contact Luft Insurance Agency serving Escanaba, MI today to learn about the many types of auto insurance policies you can purchase. You can include any or all of the policy types in your state minimum insurance. We can help you customize a policy to meet your exact needs and help you amend it when your needs change.

Options for Medicare Supplements and PDP Insurance in Michigan

If you want to learn more about Medicare supplements, as well as PDP (prescription drug plan) insurance, there are a few places that you can go to in Escanaba, MI. One is Luft Insurance Agency.

If you qualify for Medicare, you might be a little bit confused about what your options are. This is why it is a good idea to get some guidance regarding coverage. Original Medicare includes Part A, which is hospital insurance, and Part B, medical insurance. Part D involves the coverage of prescription drugs and is given to individuals by private insurance companies. Part D is classified under the category of supplemental insurance, and it can be on a person’s plan as an addition to original Medicare. An individual on this plan will be able to choose from a variety of drug plans, each with its own list of covered prescriptions.

There are other types of Medicare supplemental insurance as well. For example, you can choose Plan C, also known as the Medicare Advantage plan. Private insurance companies offer it, and there are many benefits to having it. The Medicare Advantage plan will combine the benefits of Parts A and B of Medicare, and often Part D. You can get all of this as one health plan, and you might even get additional benefits as well, including vision and dental coverage.

Essentially, you should get whatever options will cover you the best and require you to spend the least money, given your set of medical needs.

If you are interested in learning more about Medicare supplemental insurance and PDP, you should feel free to contact the professionals at Luft Insurance Agency. They will be able to answer any questions you might have about this type of insurance and give you guidance about what plan you might want to choose.

Will Renters Insurance Cover Outdoor Items?

Having good insurance coverage matters, and for a renter, that means finding a policy that will cover what’s important. Making sure a renters insurance policy protects valuable items is one of the biggest reasons for having it. If you’re in the Escanaba, MI area, Luft Insurance Agency may be able to help. Renting comes with certain types of rights and responsibilities, which means taking care of the items you bring with you to your rental property. Outdoor items might be part of that, and these items need coverage just like indoor items do.

Fortunately for renters, their insurance policies will generally cover outdoor items. This is because these items are personal property, just like indoor items, and a renters policy is designed to protect the personal items of the person renting. The policy isn’t going to protect the structure or anything attached to it, as those things are the responsibility of the person who owns the property. As a renter, it’s unnecessary to cover the building, fixtures, appliances, or outdoor structures like sheds or garages. For a renter who brings outdoor patio furniture, children’s toys, and other types of items, though, a rental policy can keep them protected.

For anyone who’s renting in the Escanaba, MI area, a renters insurance policy from Luft Insurance Agency can be the right choice for a good level of protection. By reaching out to us today, you can get the information you want and need about specific coverage issues. You don’t have to settle for a policy you’re not sure about when you work with our knowledgeable agents to find out about coverage for your outdoor items. We’re here to help and make sure you’re getting everything needed to make an informed decision about your insurance coverage needs.

Types of RV insurance policies.

Owning a camper, a coach, travel trailer, or any form of recreational vehicle in Escanaba, MI is a large investment venture that demands a lot of time and finance into making it feel like home. RVs are an exciting brand of motorized vehicles and dwellings and come with their unique risks. The ultimate way to safeguard all aspects of your recreation vehicle is through securing the right RV insurance policy in Michigan.

Not sure which coverage options are perfect for your recreational vehicle? Please turn to the Luft Insurance Agency experts to learn more about how every RV owner has their own unique individual coverage needs. At Luft Insurance Agency, you can secure spectacular coverage options for the following types of RV trailers:

  • Travel Trailers.
  • Pick up Campers.
  • Park Models.
  • Animal or Sport Utility Trailers.
  • Fifth Wheels.

RVs meant for personal or recreational use can be insured for up to 250 days per annum. Acquiring a salient coverage that you need depends on many factors, including:

  • Traveling destination of your RV. 
  • Time spent in your RV.
  • Whether your RV is towed or self-propelled.

Types of RV Insurance Policies.

  • Medical payments’ coverage: It caters to medical bills for you or others boarding your RV who get injured after an accident regardless of who is deemed liable.
  • Comprehensive coverage: This is a non-collision coverage and will protect your RV from damages caused by perils such as theft, vandalism, and hailstorm.
  • Emergency expense/towing coverage: This form of policy caters to breakdown, towing fees, and other prevailing costs.
  • Uninsured or Underinsured motorist coverage: It protects you if you get injuries caused by another party who does not have adequate insurance or he/she is entirely uninsured.
  • Collision coverage: It protects your recreational vehicle if it gets damaged in an accident through collision with a post, fence, boulder, or another RV vehicle.
  • Liability coverage: It offers coverage if you cause property damage or bodily injury to a third party using your RV. It also covers you against lawsuits placed against you by third parties.

Interested in learning more about what great RV insurance entails? If so, do not hesitate to call us or visit our Luft Insurance Agency offices in Escanaba, MI. Our dedicated team is eager to help you with all your RV coverage needs.

Get Your Boat Insurance Ready for Warmer Weather

A boat can be a lot of fun during the warm summer months. But even when the weather’s cold, that boat needs proper care and protection to keep it running right and ready to go. That includes good boat insurance for adequate protection. At Luft Insurance Agency, we can help all our Escanaba, MI area customers get the quality boat coverage they need and want. If you have a policy now and have questions about it, or if you need a policy for a boat you’re buying, we’re here to help you get the coverage you want, need, and deserve.

When you have a boat, you might consider just insuring it in the summer when you’re using it. But it’s a good idea to have it insured all year round. There are still issues that could happen when the boat’s parked in your yard on a trailer, sitting in a dry dock, or being stored somewhere else. You don’t want damage or theft to stop you from enjoying your boat when the weather gets warm and nice again, so now is the time to make the changes you want for the future. That may include a tune-up of your boat’s insurance policy.

If you’re in the Escanaba, MI area, reach out to us at Luft Insurance Agency today, and let’s talk about your boat insurance needs. We can help you adjust your policy so you’ll be ready for all the fun and adventure warmer weather will bring. You’ll also have plenty of peace of mind when you’re covered throughout the year. Then you can worry less about your boat and spend more time just enjoying being out on the water. With the right insurance protection, your boat will be ready to go when the weather says it’s time to get outdoors again.