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Special Coverages

If you hire household help, make sure to get the appropriate insurance coverage.

Contracting With An Outside Firm

If you need a nurse, physical therapist, cook or other professional to work in your home, you may decide to contract with a business that provides these types of workers.

Determine if the person is your employee or the employee of the firm you hired. In most cases, the worker will be the 'employee' of the organization.

Ask the firm for a copy of its certificates of insurance. This provides documentation that the firm provides workers compensation insurance for its employees. If the firm also offers health and disability insurance, you can feel comfortable that any worker injured on your property will receive medical treatment.

If you're a new graduate, you may need to think about the things your parents used to take care of that will now be your responsibility. Insurance for cars and personal possessions are two new worries that you must assume as you enter the real world.

Often referred to as wedding insurance, special event insurance can be used to cover a 50th anniversary party, a bar mitzvah, a graduation party, or any special occasion you might be planning. Special event insurance is designed to provide financial protection if you have to cancel or postpone a gathering due to adverse weather and natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Students who live in dorms usually have their belongings covered under their parents' homeowners policy. There may be coverage limits for computers, televisions and stereos. Students should consult their parents' insurance professional to guarantee that this electronic gear is fully covered.

A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study found that 8.3 million Americans were the victims of identity theft in 2005, and the number is rising. In at least half of the incidents, thieves obtained goods or services worth $500 or less; however in 10 percent of cases, thieves got at least $6,000 worth of goods or services.

When deciding on the best way to protect your home and belongings from unthinkable disasters, it is best to have all the facts in front of you. In the insurance world there is a wide variety of options for a homeowner. Deciding which types of insurance policies are right for you can be a daunting task, particularly when it comes to your home. One of the most frightening prospects for a homeowner is losing their home to fire. Fires claim houses every day throughout the country leaving their owners having to start over with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Insurance can be a saving grace following a house fire. The right type of insurance can provide you with hope in a very dark time. Choosing the best type of insurance to protect you in the event of a fire in your home is vital.

Before leaving on vacation, make sure you have adequate insurance. Vacations can sometimes cost thousands of dollars so it is important to have the proper insurance protection in case the cruise or tour operator goes bankrupt or you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other unforeseen events.

The same financial consequences as those covered in auto insurance policies: damage to vehicle or property, theft, vandalism, injury to the insured or other people, personal liability, and/or accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers.

Personal watercraft are not generally covered by homeowners or auto insurance, and where they are, the coverage limits can be fairly low. You may need to purchase a specifically designed policy in order to insure these vessels. The personal watercraft policy typically covers the following.