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Is Commercial Insurance Just for Liability?

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It’s great that you’re running a business in Hershey, PA. It can be one of the best experiences of your life. While you’re doing everything you can to make the business succeed, you’re going to have to spend some time learning about insurance. Do you have commercial insurance? Do you only need it for liability? Options Insurance Agency has some fast and easy answers to your biggest questions.

The Short Answer Is No

There is a commercial policy for every type of coverage business can need. Commercial property insurance can be used to protect your location from damage and theft. Commercial auto insurance can help with repairs or replacement in the event of an auto accident. Worker’s compensation insurance is extremely important, and it is classified as a commercial policy. It certainly would not be considered liability insurance. It’s important to make sure you explore all of your insurance options when you’re running a business.

Liability Is Still Important

While commercial insurance can cover many situations that don’t involve liability, liability insurance is often one of the most important aspects of coverage for a business. A business can be liable for errors or omissions in contracts, personal injury, property damage, data, and plenty more. Liability coverage protects you from lawsuits related to these problems, so it is vital that your business has adequate protection.

The best way to ensure that you’re safe and ready to face all of these challenges is to deeply explore your options. The easiest way to do that is to have a conversation with your representative at Options Insurance Agency. They can get to know your business and your overall liabilities. They can also help you navigate the most common issues for businesses in Hershey, PA. When you’re done, you can have insurance that you trust to protect your business and free your efforts to run it to the best of your ability.

Understanding your Home Insurance Coverage Options

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Your home is one of your most valuable assets, and to protect it adequately, you need a home insurance policy. A home insurance policy is more than likely required by your bank or mortgage lender, but even if you do not owe on your house, you will want to protect it by obtaining this type of policy. You do not want to be caught in a predicament by not having a policy. For example, if you live in an area in which there have been no tornadoes for decades then you suddenly have one, and your house is lifted off its foundation, you will want to be covered by a homeowners’ insurance policy.

Home Insurance Coverage Options

Your House and Outbuildings

All home insurance policies cover your house and other buildings on your property, such as your garage, shed, and barns. Your policy should be designed to cover the value of your house and outbuildings so that if they are damaged by fire, natural disaster, or other horrible incidents, your home can be repaired or replaced. It will also cover your house and outbuildings if they are vandalized.

Your Belongings

Your home insurance policy will cover your belongings, such as your furniture, appliances, and clothing, if there is a fire, natural disaster, or some other incident. It will also cover items, such as your TV and computers, if your home is broken into and those items are stolen or vandalized.

Living Expenses and Liability

If you must relocate while your home is being rebuilt or repaired, your living expenses will be paid for or reimbursed, at least in part, by your homeowners’ insurance policy. Your coverage will also include liability, such as if someone who is visiting your home falls and is injured, it can cover their medical expenses.

To obtain the best policy for you and your situation, contact the home insurance agents at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA to assist you today!

Important things to know when shopping for auto insurance

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Before you hit the road in a new car, you need to make sure that your precious possession is protected. Therefore, one of the first things you need to do is to get auto insurance. However, there are certain things you should ponder before you start paying annual premiums to your insurance company.

Know Exactly What Your Policy Will Cover

While a standard policy covers accidental damage and theft, there are other things that your policy will not cover. Make sure that you know everything about your coverage before signing an agreement with an insurance company. 

Lying is Too Risky

Many car owners decide to provide an insurance company with made-up and false information about themselves, the vehicle, and driving history to save some money. However, it is too risky. If you get caught, you can face severe punishment. You can either face higher rates or be plunged out from the insurance plan at all. 

Certain Factors Have An Impact On Your Insurance Costs

Among those factors are your age, gender, and location. Suppose you are a young driver (25 years and younger), than you will pay more for your insurance than an older person. That is because younger drivers are more likely to get involved in car accidents and receive citations. The same goes for the gender – male drivers are statistically at a higher risk of getting into a car accident. 

Having proper auto insurance is the easiest and the best way to protect your vehicle. Moreover, it is also a requirement in Pennsylvania. Now, when you know some critical things about auto insurance, it is time to find the perfect coverage. Options Insurance Agency, serving Hershey, PA, is ready to help you to get the policy you need. Do not hesitate to contact our agency in Hershey, PA today to get all your questions answered.

Do You Need Commercial Insurance for Your Pennsylvania Business?

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Your business is not only a substantial financial investment. It’s a considerable investment of yourself, your time, and your passion. You will want to protect it in any way possible, which includes obtaining a commercial insurance policy. In Pennsylvania, there are specific laws that require commercial business insurance to keep you, your property, and your employees protected.

Pennsylvania law requires that all employees are covered by Worker’s Compensation insurance. This includes employees that are full-time, part-time, or seasonal. This policy will cover medical bills for any injuries or illnesses they sustain at work.

You must also have commercial auto insurance on all business-owned vehicles if your business is located in Pennsylvania. Commercial auto insurance requirements include having a policy for bodily injury liability with at least $15,000 worth of coverage per person or $30,000 per accident and property damage liability of $5,000 per accident. You can also add a policy of $5,000 for medical benefits.

A business owner’s insurance policy may be the best way to go since it covers general liability, such as customer injury or damage to a customer’s property due to a product or service you offer or while the person is visiting your business location. This policy also covers your building, equipment, and inventory from damage or loss from events, such as tornadoes, fires, hail storms, and vandalism. A business owner’s insurance policy also includes the required policies under Pennsylvania law. So, in other words, it’s everything you need all rolled into one policy.

To determine the best commercial policy for your Pennsylvania-based business, you will want to contact a trusted insurance agent who has the knowledge and experience it takes to provide you with the best options that are available to you and your beloved business.

In the Hershey, PA area, contact the trusted commercial business insurance agents at Options Insurance Agency for an appointment to discuss your options. Our team in Hershey, PA will be happy to get you started with a quote.

Will Home Insurance Cover Tree Removal?

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In Hershey, PA, when it comes to insurance and fallen trees, it can get a little tricky.

You’ll want to read your policy and call your agent to be sure, but it generally breaks down like this:

  • If the tree falls on an insured structure, like a fence, a shed, a dog house, or the home itself, you can file a claim and, assuming there are no other exclusions in play, your insurance company will pay for the removal, and any repairs.
  • If the tree simply falls on flat ground and doesn’t damage anything, you’ll have to pay for the removal yourself.

It is possible to buy an insurance policy that covers landscaping concerns, but most homeowners find this not to be worth the extra expense.

If you have a fallen tree that needs to be removed, you’ll generally want to follow this simple rule: Don’t do things you don’t know how to do.

The job may seem easy enough, chainsawing the tree into sections and then hauling it off in a truck, but if you don’t have any experience with chainsaws, this job can be incredibly dangerous. If you’re not a pro at tree removal, hire a pro.

Note that the tree may have caused some underground damage such as a broken pipe or a fractured septic tank, in which case you may be covered, so check the damages before you call your agent. In a classic good news/bad news scenario, you may find that you need more repairs than you thought, but that your insurer can possibly cover them.

If you’re shopping for home insurance in Hershey, PA, get in touch with Options Insurance Agency by visiting our office or by phone. Options Insurance Agency can connect you with the policy that you need.

Which lifestyle changes can impact my auto insurance policy?

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Some changes in life are inevitable, and they certainly won’t stop once you buy auto insurance. Getting married, moving into a new house, getting divorced, buying your dream car, relocating to Hershey, PA, or even getting involved in an accident, so much can change between the time of your auto insurance policy purchase and the date of renewal.

Why lifestyle changes?

While some of these lifestyle changes are only worth mentioning to your family and friends, it is vital to report significant lifestyle changes to your insurance provider to avoid huge penalties. Most lifestyle changes are likely to change your insurance premiums by either lowering or raising them. Different insurance companies, including Options Insurance Agency, have different ways of determining what a policyholder should pay. 

It is not a one-size-fits-all

Auto insurance is a requirement by law. That means that the government has regulated the rates to fit the budget of any average American. However, that does not mean that the price is the same for all of us. You may not know this, but your insurance premiums are highly affected by very many factors. Some of these factors are direct, while others are not. Some can also be controlled while others cannot. 

So, which of these lifestyle factors should you report to your auto insurance provider immediately after they happen? 

  • When you move out of your primary home and change your address
  • When you change how you use the vehicle, like turning it from a personal car to a commercial vehicle for a business like Uber
  • When multiple people have to drive the vehicle
  • When you hire or change the driver of the insured vehicle
  • When you need to remove or add vehicles in your policy
  • When transferring your title or selling the car
  • When your driver gets a license suspension

While there are no set regulations on what you should notify your insurer, knowing what to report and what not to, is a significant step in keeping your policy updated. To learn more about auto insurance, visit us Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA today!

Commercial Insurance Helps Businesses Recover Quickly When Disasters Strike

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When you established your business, you based it around a great new product or a service that would improve customers’ lives. Over time and with hard work, you developed your vision into reality. Now, it is time to protect it with commercial insurance. One way that commercial insurance protects your business is that it will allow it to recover quickly if a disaster strikes. Our agents at Options Insurance Agency, serving Hellertown and Hershey, PA, can help you get the coverage that your business needs.

To get the coverage that you need to protect your business during a disaster, your agent will recommend the combination of several policies. Property insurance covers any buildings that the company owns. Even further, it includes the contents of the premises, such as inventory, materials, and equipment. Liability protection protects the company should some be injured by its products or services or at an onsite location. To safeguard employees injured at work, there is a worker’s compensation policy. Additional coverage can be added if you need commercial auto insurance or professional liability coverage. To further protect your business from disasters, some owners invest in business continuity coverage. This provides financial protection if a business is temporarily unable to operate. Flood insurance is also available. 

Our team at Options Insurance Agency in the Hershey, PA area can recommend the types of commercial insurance that your business needs. They get to know your business so that they suggest the best coverage to protect your business financially. You’ve put your heart and soul into growing your business and bringing new ideas into the marketplace. Don’t let your business be at risk from disaster. There are many options to keep it growing even if a catastrophe strikes. Call or come by today to discover your options! 

How to choose a home insurance policy

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One of the most significant investments you will ever make in your lifetime is the one in your home. They say home is where the heart is, so you will need the right insurance coverage to protect it for many years to come, but how do you choose a home insurance policy?

First, you will want to get quotes from various insurance companies and speak with their agents to determine if discounts are available and the criteria needed for those. Many companies allow discounts for things like burglar alarms, storm shutter installation, smoke detectors, and water safety systems. Also, if you already have a policy with a company, for something like auto insurance, you may receive a discount for having multiple policies with one insurance company. You will need to assess the types of coverage offered along with limits and deductibles. Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA can help you with all of these issues.

When it comes to deductibles, you can choose how small or large a deductible you have when you and your insurance agent create your insurance policy. The deductible is important as this will be the amount you will have to pay out-of-pocket if a disaster or theft occurs at your home. The higher your deductible is, the less your insurance premiums will be, but it will mean shelling out more money before your insurance company pays out their portion.

You also need to consider the amount of insurance coverage you want to have on your home. There is a difference between the market value of your home and how much it would cost to replace your home in case of a disaster. This amount will include the cost it will take to repair your home or rebuild it.

Ultimately, when it comes to creating your home insurance policy, you need to work with your agent to build the perfect policy to protect your home. The home insurance policy experts at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA are ready to assist you with all of your home insurance needs.

Why carry comprehensive and collision insurance on your car

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In the state of Pennsylvania, drivers are required to carry liability insurance, but any insurance beyond that is optional. While it is vital to protect other drivers, who is going to protect you and your vehicle if you are the responsible driver in an accident or if you are the victim of a hit and run? The responsibility falls on you, and our agents at Options Insurance Agency in Hershey, PA are ready to sit down with you to discuss the auto insurance options available.

To protect yourself in the event of an accident where you are at fault, you need to carry collision insurance. Collision insurance has a deductible, but after that is met the insurance company will pay to repair or replace your damaged car up to the blue book value. If your vehicle has little value or you have a lot of money lying around, you may feel that you can pay for the damage yourself, and of course, that is fine, but for the average person, this is essential coverage. 

Comprehensive insurance is also known as non-collision coverage. It covers a lot of other things that can happen to your car that don’t include a collision with another vehicle. It covers some weather events, including floods, which no other type of insurance covers, and wind damage. It also covers your car from theft and vandalism. 

If you are looking for a new auto insurance policy or you are thinking about a change, why not give us a call at Options Insurance Agency. We serve the greater Hershey, PA area, and as an independent agency, we have lots of choices to offer you both in policy options and carriers. We are sure we can find one that is a good fit for you.

How the Businessowners Policy Can Protect Your Small Business

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If you have a small business in Hershey, PA or nearby, you know how important it is to protect your company from liability issues and more. This is entirely possible when you have a business owner’s policy (BOP). A quality insurance company like Options Insurance Agency can help you set this up.

How a BOP Protects Your Business

When you have a business, there’s always going to be a risk of liability. With a BOP, you’ll have coverage for your business’s financial and physical assets.

You’ll have protection for all of your property and liability risks rolled into one package. They are ideal for small and mid-sized businesses and provide you with broad coverage. It combines commercial property insurance with general liability insurance for your convenience. Sometimes, you can get Business Interruption Insurance included in this.

The most significant benefit of doing it this way (besides simplifying something that’s usually quite complex) is that you will save money over having to purchase each policy separately.

  • Property Damage: Your policy will cover any damages resulting from unexpected events at your property. This includes burst pipes that cause damage to your inventory.
  • Bodily Injury/Medical Expenses: Slip-and-falls are covered under this, as well as any other instances of customers or employees getting injured while on your business property or from conducting typical work tasks, not through their own fault.
  • Lost Income: Business Owners Insurance also will cover some lost income, like if you have to stop business operations for a while. This usually is for up to a period of 12 months. It covers things like rent payments, relocation to a temporary location, and employee payroll.

A few classes of individuals qualify for BOP. This includes suppliers, parties to a work contract, employees, and the business itself.

If you’d like to learn more about Business Owners Insurance, reach out to Options Insurance Agency, serving the greater Hershey, PA area.