subject: Insurance: How To Decide Whether To Obtain A Policy [print this page] If you are not sure whether you need insurance to protect one of your assets, you should consider a few points before making a decision. It may turn out that it is absolutely essential, or you may find that you would not benefit much from coverage. Consider a few ways to tell whether you should buy a policy.
The first thing is to consider whether you could replace the item easily if you lost it. For example, if you have a nice television that you paid good money for, you should think about whether you could buy another one tomorrow if it was stolen or broken. Of course, the same goes for larger items, such as cars, houses, and major appliances. If you could not afford to buy the item again at any time, then it makes sense to pay a small portion of the cost monthly in case you need to replace it fast. This way, you are guaranteed to get a similar item without spending the original amount, giving you peace of mind.
You should also consider if you would even benefit from compensation due to insurance coverage. This may be the case when your most prized possessions do not have high monetary value. For instance, family heirlooms that are not worth much monetarily clearly cannot be replaced with a check from your provider. In this case, it does not usually make sense to insure them because you would not be able to buy them again anyway. Of course, you could purchase a similar item, but it would not mean as much to you, so it does not usually make sense to make monthly payments on premiums for such belongings. However, if something has a high value due to being an antique, and you were thinking of selling it eventually since it does not mean much to you personally, then it makes sense to insure it. This is because you will at least get a portion of its value, which is nice if you were depending on the money you would get from selling it.
Another point to think about is that sometimes insurance is a requirement, which will clearly make an impact on your decision. For instance, renters' coverage may be required before you move into a rental property, as this will make sure your belongings are covered in case you get robbed. This may be required by property owners who do not want to be sued after tenants cause an accident or get robbed. They may also be worried about you being able to pay your rent after being robbed, as you might not be able to if you are not compensated for the loss of expensive items or cash in your house or apartment.
If you are not sure whether you would benefit from insurance, you should consider these factors before acquiring a policy. If you still cannot decide, consider collecting some price quotes to make sure you can afford to get coverage before you commit to a plan.
by: Abigail Aaronson
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