Water damage, fire, and theft are the primary situations that homeowners are usually concerned about, but home insurance may also cover several other incidents that you might not realize.

Here are six surprising things you might not know your homeowners insurance covers:

  1. Identity Theft.  If you have homeowners insurance, there’s a chance you may have insurance overage for that.  If so, there can be coverage for expenses related to identity recovery, lost wages, and other expenses for the identity-related loss. If it is not included on your homeowners policy, most insurance companies have an option to include it for all household members.  The endorsement is usually $25 or less for the year. 
  2. Your cell phone.  Some companies offer free replacement up to a certain value for cell phones.
  3. Sewer lines.  While it was not available until very recently, many insurance companies now offer sewer line coverage.  This offers coverage for your water/sewer pipes form the street to your home.  Typical claims can be $10k plus – or more in older homes.
  4. Family gravesite.  If severe weather conditions or vandalism damages your family tombstone, your homeowners insurance policy may provide coverage. 
  5. Items in storage.  Your policy may cover furniture, electronics, clothes, and other belongings – even if they’re damaged or stolen from a storage unit, hotel, or college dorm. 
  6. Your parents’ property if they’re living in an assisted living facility.  If your parents live in a long-term or assisted living facility and they are dependent on you for support, their personal belongings may be covered by your home insurance policy.

Some of the incidents mentioned above may not be covered by your homeowners insurance plan, as coverage differs by state, company, and the specific policy.  To better understand your coverage, give us a call at 724-575-7237.

One advantage of working with an insurance broker is that they’ll guide you to the coverage that would be most valuable to you.  A broker understands the differences in the policies they offer from various companies, and can match which one will fit best with your needs.