Just one claim can have a big impact.
By Kimberly Lankford
In a recent column about high deductibles on homeowners insurance, you wrote that making homeowners claims can boost rates. How big a difference can it make?
In most states, making just one claim on homeowners insurance can have a surprisingly big impact. A study by InsuranceQuotes.com found that making one claim over a 12-month period led to a 9% premium increase, on average. The results vary by state, ranging from more than 20%, on average, in Minnesota and Connecticut to no increase at all in Texas, where insurers are not allowed to increase premiums in response to the first claim.
The practice of rate-hiking is one reason that it’s smart to raise your deductible. Boosting it from $500 to $1,000 can lower your premium by up to 20% and make you less likely to file small claims that could result in a rate hike. For each state’s average increases, see the “home” section of InsuranceQuotes.com.
© 2014 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Here are some related links on the NEA Member Benefits website:
- NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program: http://www.neamb.com/insurance/nea-auto-home-insurance.htm
- Do You Have the Right Homeowners Insurance Coverage?: http://www.neamb.com/insurance/homeowner-insurance.htm
- 12 Ways to Save on Your Homeowner’s Insurance: http://www.neamb.com/insurance/save-on-homeowners-insurance.htm