As the water began to drain from New Orleans in 2005, we learned that most of the homeowners in New Orleans did not have flood insurance, since they were supposedly in “low risk” areas. The over 60% of homeowners will need to depend upon their own savings, and limited federal assistance, to rebuild New Orleans – at an uncalculated cost for homeowners and taxpayers.

Could that level of disaster, especially that level of uninsured disaster, happen in California? Less than 15% of California homeowners currently carry earthquake insurance, due to its high cost, the “can’t happen to me or my house” factor, and mortgage providers not requiring coverage. The next big quake will result in billions of uninsured damage – but is earthquake insurance really worth the high cost?

How Did We Get Here?

The state of California requires that all homeowner’s insurance providers to at least offer earthquake insurance (albeit, at a high cost). Until 1994, it was widely available – but the high damage costs of the Northridge earthquake resulted in 97% of homeowner’s insurance providers pulling out of the state the California. In response, the California Earthquake Authority was formed by the California legislator to provide earthquake insurance.

What Is the California Earthquake Authority, and How Does It Work?

The California Earthquake Authority provides two-thirds of the earthquake policies in California, sold through their member providers, like Allstate and State Farm. A homeowner purchases the policy through their regular insurance agent, but the policy is actually a CEA policy.

The CEA currently has about $7.2 billion to pay claims, which it states is enough to pay foreseeable damages (Loma Prieta in 1989 had $6 billion in total damages). If the damage claims are more than $7.2 billion, then each claim would be paid a prorated portion of their losses – unlike a regular insurance company, which promises to pay the actual damages under the insurance policy. The state of California cannot help pay the claims out of general funds.

The policies also have a high deductible – usually 15% of the value of the dwelling. In other words, your home must be damaged more than 15% of its value before the insurance starts paying. So, this insurance is not for cracks in the driveway – it is for significant structural damage to your home. The policy also pays for limited contents (starting at $5K) and loss of use (starting at $1500).

Why Is Earthquake Insurance So Expensive?

Insurance policy premiums are calculated based on probabilities – the probability that a house like yours in a neighborhood like yours will catch fire, or a driver like you will have an accident. With data from millions of homes, these probabilities can be calculated with reasonable accuracy. But, no one can reliably predict the probability that there will be an earthquake strong enough to damage your home.

And, as you can imagine, damages from an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, are widespread, over potentially thousands of square miles – instead of one or a few dozen homes, as in a fire. As such, the insurer would have to pay either zero claims, or billions of dollars of claims – too much variance to reasonably plan for or price accurately.

Are We Really At Risk Here in San Jose?

According to the USGS, there is a 62% probability that there will be an earthquake of 6.7 or greater (like the Northridge quake) in the Bay Area in the next 30 years. In my zip code (San Jose 95126), USGS calculates a 80% chance of a 6.0 earthquake and a 20% chance of a 7.0, in the next 30 years. Whether you consider that to be a high risk depends on your risk tolerance for earthquakes – I consider that a high risk of a moderate earthquake and a somewhat low risk of a terrible earthquake, over the next 30 years.

But like any issue involving real estate – it is all local. Where your home is actually located significantly affects your risk – bedrock, reclaimed land from the bay, soil type, nearby streams, actual distance from the epicenter – all can affect potential damage.

But of course, many earthquakes occur where the USGS was not even aware of a fault line – and we never know when or where it will happen, until it happens.

Should I Obtain Earthquake Insurance?

Factors to Consider:

Could you afford to pay for the rebuilding your home from your own savings & investments? Can you afford to pay the high cost of insurance, indefinitely? Could make payments on your current mortgage and on a new loan to rebuild? Can you mitigate your potential losses by bolting your roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation, for example? What is your tolerance for the risk of an earthquake? What is the risks of your current home construction (type, age, foundation)? What are the risks of your specific location (soil type, distance to known faults)?
Are the Costs Worth It?

Let’s assume that you have a home that would cost $250K to rebuild, you will own the home for the next 30 years, and your earthquake premiums are $1200 per year. Over the next 30 years, that would be a total of $36,000 in premiums (assuming your premiums do not increase, to simplify calculations).

Instead of purchasing insurance, you invest the premiums in a diversified mutual fund. With an 8% annual return, you would have $135,000 (pre-tax) in year 30.* But of course, you only have that total in year 30, not in year one – meaning that if the earthquake happens tomorrow, you don’t have the money.

The deductible is another big turn off for many homeowners. The insurance pays only for large structural damage, not broken dishes or cracked driveways – meaning that it is less likely you will use it. However, be aware that you will not need to come up with the cash for the deductible – you may either opt to not undertake those repair or rebuilding costs, or you can apply for an SBA loan to pay for the deductible (assuming a federal disaster area is declared).

Why Not Just Get Federal Aid, or “Walk Away” and Let the Bank Have the Property?

The federal government would probably provide access to SBA loans, if the area is declared a federal disaster area (no small business required). However, the $200K maximum SBA loan may not be enough to rebuild your home – and, it is a loan that you need to pay back (in addition to your current mortgage).

If you have refinanced your mortgage, you have a recourse mortgage – which means that not only can the bank foreclose on the property in case of non-payment, the bank can also come after your personal assets and future income in case of non-payment. So you cannot just walk away, especially if you have a good income and some personal assets. The bank may help out by deferring payments for a few months, but you still must pay back the loan.

Last Thoughts

We have earthquake insurance on our home. Our home was not yet built in the 1906 earthquake (so who knows if it would stand), it is 75+ years old and is not bolted to the foundation, and we have a refinanced mortgage. For my family, the insurance premiums are worth peace of mind in case of a major earthquake disaster. That’s exactly what insurance is for – the “you never know.”

*calculations ignore inflation

As a Houston, Texas Farmers insurance agent I frequently get questions about flood insurance. Here are eight reasons to consider getting flood insurance:

1) Your homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover flood damage. One of the main reasons people get homeowners insurance is for protection against a loss from fire. In Texas you are far more likely to have flood damage than fire damage. Flood insurance is valuable coverage for one of your most important assets.

2) Everyone lives in a flood zone. (According to the FEMA website.) In other words there is no such thing as a home that can not be flooded.

3) Even an inch or two of water can cause very costly damage to your property.

4) Federal disaster assistance is normally a loan that you must pay back with interest. This is not a good substitute for insurance.

5) It is easy to get flood insurance. You can get a quote and order a policy on the internet or by phone. This often takes less than 15 minutes.

6) In the event of a flood disaster it is far better to be one of the people with flood coverage!

7) With this insurance your family will have less to worry about when a big storm is in the news.

Flood insurance is generally inexpensive. Listed below is a chart for consumers that qualify for the preferred residential program:

Contents Only

$8,000 $61 per year

$20,000 $116 per year

$40,000 $146 per year

$60,000 $166 per year

$80,000 $181 per year

Home and Contents Combination

Building-Contents-Cost

$20,000 $8,000 $112 per year

$50,000 $20,000 $180 per year

$100,000 $40,000 $233 per year

$150,000 $60,000 $264 per year

$200,000 $100,000 $317 per year

Not everyone will qualify for the preferred rates. If you would like to get flood coverage consult with a good insurance company and get details and a quote. Customers in Texas can get more information at my Texas flood insurance site. Or you are welcome to call my office at 281-537-2700.

Whether you are a physician, dentist, attorney or other white-collar worker, protecting your future earnings and quality of life is important. Disability Income insurance is the most commonly used form of income protection for white-collar professionals. Although some consumers have made, and will continue to make, the mistake of purchasing Disability insurance based on price, it is especially important that young professionals look to the provisions used in their Disability Income contract rather than just pricing.

The financial stability and security of an insurance company has always been important. After all, people purchase insurance policies in good faith, believing that the insurance carrier will be capable of paying a claim when it is needed. However, in the days of the financial crisis and credit freeze, it has become even more important for consumers to be aware of the guarantees that an insurance policy truly provides.

When looking into Disability insurance, young consumers should be aware of the renewability provision that they purchase. The two key terms you want in a Disability Income contract are Non-cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable. This means that your policy cannot be changed by the insurance carrier, under any condition, so long as the premiums continue to be paid on time. This is the only way of guaranteeing that you do not experience an unexpected price increase in the future.

Consumers purchase Disability Income insurance to protect their future ability to work and earn an income to provide for themselves, provide for their family, and maintain a certain quality of life. Many people purchase their Disability policy thinking that they will never use it and that it will only be needed until their mid 50s. The reality is however, that a person’s 50s are sometimes the years they most depend on their income. These are typically the years where children are in college and not always working. A 54-year old parent, paying college tuition, a mortgage and saving for retirement is likely to depend more on their paycheck than a 26-year old working and living at home.

Having a Non-cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable Disability insurance policy can prevent an adult who greatly depends on their income from having to drop his/her Disability insurance because of an increase in premium, when the protection is still very much needed. Although most of the major insurance carriers selling Disability insurance have never increased their premiums in the past, smaller carriers and many association programs have.

If you are taking the time and spending the money to buy a Disability Insurance policy to protect your income and future, be sure to do it carefully and cover as many potential problems as possible. Find an experienced agent who can truly help you understand the many provisions and benefits available in today’s market.

A basic understanding of the underwriting process of an insurance company may be invaluable in finding a low cost health insurance plan. The underwriting determines the possibility of provision and the cost of covers under consideration.

The multifaceted procedure of underwriting differs for individual health insurance and family or group health insurance. While evaluating the cost of an individual health insurance, the underwriter keeps in mind any risk that the insurance company might be exposed to by providing the policy. The estimation of the risk depends on the age of the individual, their lifestyle, their health status and their previous ailments and other medical history. However, while insuring a group, the underwriter will not separately judge each individual but will consider the previous hazards of the company through providing insurance to similar groups. Hence, more often than not, a low cost health insurance plan is a group scheme, and individual insurance policies are more expensive. Moreover, the current state of health of the individual and their previous instances of ill health will determine whether their premiums should be subject to any exclusion or any further additions.

In case that circumstances force you to opt for individual health insurance, then your first step should be to understand the application process and what benefits you can derive thereof, in terms of underwriting.

All insurance application forms will need you to furnish certain basic information regarding your health and lifestyle. There will be questions like whether you smoke or consume alcohol, whether you exercise and at what frequency, and also if any member of your family has in the past suffered from any major illness. This is the part over which you have some control. Surely you understand that your mode of life will affect the cost of your health insurance. Hence, in order to have a healthier life as well as safeguarding it with an insurance policy, you will do well to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Try to give up smoking and any alcohol addiction from which you ma suffer, and consider starting a regular exercise regimen. If your application form reflects that you have a higher expectancy of life, then the risks involved for the company in insuring you will also be lower. Hence, the price of your coverage will also subside.

Understanding the process by which the insurance companies determine the rate of their policies will certainly help you in finding a low cost health insurance plan.

As the human civilization has developed over a long period of time, rapid advancement has made the life of an average human being very busy. As opposed to ancient times when every individual was taken care of by the local authorities, with the expansion of states and territories every man has to think for himself. In this day and age, when every person is stuck in the rigorous routine to earn a living for his family, one does not find the time or the finance to get a health insurance plan.

Group health insurance policies are preferred by many as the volume of risk is lesser as compared to an individual health insurance plan. Most employers give the facility of health insurance to their employees and also to their families. There are also many establishments and organizations that offer insurance facilities to their members at a discount. Many credit card companies also have good insurance plans for their customers. By becoming a member of a local health club or any such organization, you can grab the opportunity to secure the future of your family at an affordable cost.

For individuals, a feasible individual health insurance plan is available through several health insurance companies that offer different features suiting different classes of the society. But before getting an insurance policy it is always advisable to consult your lawyer and a financial expert in order to completely understand the different terms and conditions imposed by the insurance company. Taking the opinions of the existing policy holders of an insurance company will also help you take the best decision for your future.

Lack of affordability is a major obstacle in acquiring a good insurance policy as many delay this issue because it might disturb their budget. But what people fail to realize is that if a health breakdown is faced, then the health expenses will be far greater not to mention the physical and mental agony faced by the victim. Whether you are an individual or have a family, getting a good health insurance plan as quickly as possible should be your top most priority.

For those individuals and families that simply cannot afford a health insurance plan from a regular insurance company, governments and state authorities have started several health plans. All the necessary particulars and information should be taken from the local state insurance department. After scrutinizing your documents to test your eligibility, you may get a state sponsored health insurance program. But it is of utmost importance that all the necessary documents should be filed within the specified time period and all the procedure must be followed carefully.

By making proper surveys and collecting information from several sources, all the options should be analyzed and compared. Bringing in friends and relatives while making an important decision for your family’s future will also help as they will help you see the other side of the picture. Although, time must be spent for consideration before purchasing an insurance plan, you must take the initiative yourself otherwise you may end up delaying it for good.