Insurance Claim, Deductible and Coverage Guides
Plain-language guides on claim math, deductibles, replacement cost, coinsurance, claims history reports, inventories, umbrella basics and year-end reviews.
Should You File a Car Insurance Claim? The Math and the Caveats
See how to weigh a car repair estimate against your deductible, possible premium effects and policy rules, with hypothetical numbers and questions to ask.
Should You File a Homeowners Insurance Claim?
Learn what to compare before a homeowners claim: repair estimates, deductible type, hidden damage, policy notice rules and how claims history may be used.
How Insurance Deductibles Work
Understand flat and percentage deductibles on auto and home policies, how they apply per claim, where to find yours and how wind or flood deductibles differ.
Is Raising Your Deductible Worth It?
Weigh annual premium savings against a higher deductible using break-even years, a break-even claim probability and an emergency fund check with examples.
Replacement Cost vs Actual Cash Value
Compare replacement cost and actual cash value for a home and its contents, how depreciation changes a payout and what to check in your own policy.
Coinsurance and Underinsurance: How a Shortfall Can Cost You
Learn how underinsurance happens, how a coinsurance-style shortfall can reduce a payout, and what rebuild cost, inflation guard and endorsements may add.
Claims History Reports (CLUE) and Your Premium
See what a claims history report is, how to request your LexisNexis Consumer Disclosure, how to dispute errors and what an adverse action letter allows.
Renters Insurance and Your Contents Inventory
Build a home contents inventory step by step, compare ACV and RCV coverage on belongings, spot special limits and size a personal property limit.
Umbrella and Liability Insurance Basics
Learn how liability coverage and umbrella policies fit together, what underlying limits are often required and why deductibles generally do not apply.
Year-End Insurance Review Checklist
Use a year-end checklist to gather declarations pages, compare deductibles with savings, update your inventory and check dwelling limit and flood coverage.