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Special Add On Coverage For Pets In Home Insurance Policies
2010-09-27
Many households include pets among their family members and feel their family is incomplete without at least one animal. Rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs are usually caged and do not pose a threat to the public at large. Even though cats usually roam free, they are not known to attack people or inflict a lot of damage if they do bite or claw. Dogs, on the other hand, are capable of wounding a guest or passerby. Americans love their dogs, with 63 percent of households owning at least one dog. These renters and homeowners should be sure their dogs are covered on their homeowners or renters insurance policies. It is important to request add-on coverage for dogs when getting home insurance quotes.
In 2005, there were $317.2 million in insurance claims resulting from dog bites, according to the Center for Disease Control. It is no wonder that some insurance companies will charge higher premiums for households that include dogs. Many homeowners and renters insurance policies provide coverage for medical bills arising from dog bites if the dog has been disclosed to them. The worst thing homeowners or renters can do is avoid listing the animal on the application or not disclose the pet to the agent. If their pet does bite someone resulting in a claim, it will not be paid. On top of now being personally responsible for the damages, they may also find the insurance company is cancelling their policy. Insurance companies frown on policyholders lying to them or omitting details when purchasing coverage.
In most cases, add-on coverage is not expensive. One way to insure that the insurance company looks favorably on your dog is to prove responsible dog ownership. Minimizing the risk of a dog bite is not only smart for insurance purposes, it is best for all concerned. Having a fenced yard, especially a stockade fence reduces the risk of the dog getting loose or someone wandering into the dog's territory uninvited.
Some breeds of dogs are blacklisted or are more expensive for add-on coverage. These breeds are in this predicament because either they are more prone to bite than other breeds or they have a powerful bite. If the state or county has banned a breed, the insurance company cannot insure it even with add-on coverage. The breeds that can raise red flags are Akitas, Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Malamutes, American Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards, Siberian Huskies and wolf hybrids. It is important to be truthful about the breed you own, even if it is one of these breeds when requesting home insurance quotes. There may be coverage available but at a higher price.