Recovering floods: Important tips for residents

Floods can be a nightmare for many homes particularly when it comes to damages. They disrupt, damage and isolate communities and households. If you live in a flood zone area, the chances are that you have been taught important flood management tips.

If you live around Saint Charles, MO, you can purchase flood insurance as early as possible to help you stay financially protected in case the worst happens.

At Nieroda Insurance Agency, we always recommend having home insurance, umbrella insurance, and flood insurance. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while managing and recovering from floods:

  • If you are not home, wait for the emergency services to announce whether the place is all clear before entering the affected zones.
  • If your home is affected, contact your insurance provider the earliest possible to help hasten the claim process. Do not enter the affected home until cleared by the authorities.
  • If the home is unlivable, take what you can with you and vacate till it is safe. Make sure your electricity and gas supplies are turned off, all taps are closed, and lights out  
  • Never use cigarette lighters, matches or any form of naked flame, and wear leather, or rubber gloves and shoes to protect your skin from the contaminated floodwater.
  • If you have pets,  find them and take them to a safe place. 
  • Encourage your family and loved ones or anyone who was present during the incident to talk it out with neighbors and friends.
  • Get and only rely on information provided by the authorities. 

We cannot always prevent the damage that floods can cause, but we can always manage to stay informed and be safe. For all your insurance needs contact Nieroda Insurance Agency serving Saint Charles, MO. 

 

What Factors Should You Consider When Deciding on Policy Limits for Condo Insurance?

One of the questions that we at Nieroda Insurance Agency, serving the greater Saint Charles, MO area are frequently asked by those who are looking to purchase condo insurance is how much coverage do I need, or how do I know if my policy limits are set high enough. When you are trying to decide on policy limits for condo insurance, there are two key factors that you need to carefully think about and consider. 

How Much it Would Cost to Rebuild the Interior of Your Condo

Many people think that their coverage level needs to be at least as high as what their condo would sell for. However, the value of the condo is not what insurance agents will look at if something happens, such as a fire. Insurance agents will look at how much it would cost to rebuild the interior of your condo exactly how you had it. Consider building costs, as well as the types of materials and finishes that you have in your condo. 

The Value of the Possessions That You Have Stored in Your Condo

The other factor that you need to consider when determining what your condo insurance limits should be set at is the value of the possessions you have in your condo. This includes furniture, clothes, electronics, kitchen goods, artwork, and jewelry. You want to ensure the coverage level is high enough to not only rebuild the interior of your condo but fully cover the loss of any items stored inside the condo as well. 

Are you looking to purchase a new condo insurance policy in the greater Saint Charles, MO area? Reach out to use at Nieroda Insurance Agency today. We can help you find the right plan and help you to determine how much coverage you need for your policy. Schedule an appointment with us to get started. 

Questions to ask when choosing health insurance

Health insurance is one of the most important coverages that you have. Choosing the best policy for your needs and finances is important. It is a fine balance between being covered and being able to afford the coverage. Some questions to ask when choosing health insurance are vital to getting the right fit. Nieroda Insurance Agency in Saint Charles, MO has staff who can help you to figure out which policy will be the best fit for your needs and your purse. Some of the questions you need to ask include:

  • What is the maximum out of pocket expense I will need to pay every year? 
  • Does my doctor take this insurance plan? 
  • What is the plan deductible?
  • Is the drug or drugs I take covered? 
  • What is the premium? 

The maximum out of pocket expense is the amount that you will need to pay before your policy provides you with 100% coverage. This can be anywhere from about $3000 for a great plan to the mandated maximum of $7900 for plans in the ACA. Your deductible and copays all count toward the maximum. 

Insurance plans have a list, many will be on their website, of the providers in their plan. If you are in doubt, call your doctor’s office to double-check. Going out of network can be very expensive depending on the plan. 

High deductible plans can be thousands of dollars that need to be paid before any services are paid. They are attractive since the premiums are usually low. 

Insurance companies have a drug list called a formulary which lists both branded and generic drugs and places them in tiers. The amount of copay and deductible that you must pay depends on the tier of the drug. 

The premium must be something that you can afford and still provide you with the coverage you need. Finding the right policy is something that the staff at Nieroda Insurance Agency in Saint Charles, MO can help you with. Check out their website or call their office for a no-obligation quote. 

 

 

What Protections Does Life Insurance Offer?

There are a lot of different ways to feel secure, and one of those is to have life insurance. At Nieroda Insurance Agency we work with people in the Saint Charles, MO area so they can get the insurance coverage they need and want. If you’re not sure what kind of coverage you really should have, or whether you need life insurance at all, talking to a trusted agent can make your choices clearer. Don’t hesitate to talk to us, so you can find the policy that’s right for you. Some life insurance policies provide more protection than others, and with that in mind, you’ll want to get the one that offers what you need.

All life insurance is designed to provide for a beneficiary when you pass away. But there are term and whole life options. In those two groups, there are also other subtleties that you’ll want to be aware of. Some policies can be used when you’re still living if you have a terminal illness. Others are able to be used as savings accounts. There are higher and lower coverage levels, and how much coverage you need will depend on a number of factors you’ll want to pay attention to. It’s very important that you understand the complexities of the policy, so you know what it does and doesn’t cover. Your agent can help.

If you’re in the Saint Charles, MO area, reach out to us at Nieroda Insurance Agency. We want to help you find the right policy for your needs, and we want to make sure you have peace of mind. With a life insurance policy that offers you the right protections, you’ll be confident that you’re providing properly for anyone you leave behind when you pass away. That gives you comfort in protecting your loved ones.

Do You Need Collision If You Have Comprehensive?

Although it isn’t required by law, you may be required by your finance company to carry both comprehensive and collision auto insurance. They are both insurance types that cover the costs of damages to your care but cover different causes. Know which types of damages each cover so you can get more complete coverage. 

Comprehensive vs. Collision Insurance

Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle that aren’t a result of a collision with another car or objects. This type of insurance will cover a wide variety of situations that cause damages to your vehicles such as animals and storm damage. In addition, this type of coverage can protect you from theft and fire risks. Collision insurance will cover you from hitting a stationary object or even damage to your car as a result of faulty roads and similar situations. 

Deciding Which Coverage Works For You

You may not be required to carry these types of coverage, but working with your insurance agent will give you a better picture of the level of protection you need to prevent losses. Outlining your needs and finding the policies that give you high-quality coverage should be the agent’s priority. If you want excellent customer service and a wide range of option for your auto insurance, call Nieroda Insurance Agency if you live in or around the Saint Charles, MO area. Their agents will help you discover what your individual needs are and help you obtain the right type of custom policy to protect you around the clock. 

Residents living near the Saint Charles MO area should call or stop by Nierod Insurance Agency to speak with an experienced agent to find out more about a personalized auto insurance plan. Get more out of your auto insurance with the help of their professional insurance agents. 

Benefits of Commercial Insurance in Saint Charles, MO

Owning a business is a very exciting opportunity and career option for many people. When you do own your own business, there are many things that you can do to help protect your company and also prepare it for the future. One of the best things that you can do would be to purchase a commercial insurance policy. For those that have a business in Saint Charles, MO area, there are a number of benefits that come with getting a commercial insurance policy.

Liability Risk Reduction

One of the main reasons why you should get a commercial insurance policy is because it can help to reduce your liability risk. When you have your own business, there is always a risk that you could be found liable if someone is hurt or injured through the use of your product or service. In these situations, the liability component of your commercial insurance policy will provide invaluable protection.

Protects Investment

As a commercial business owner or manager, you will need to make purchases and investments in capital equipment, inventory, and business assets. A commercial insurance policy will include a property protection policy component. This will ensure that you and your assets are covered if they happen to be damaged by a fire, weather, or vandalism. This can help to keep your business financially solvent in some bad situations. 

If you decide that commercial insurance is a good investment for your business, you should reach out to the Nieroda Insurance Agency to start the process. The team at the Nieroda Insurance Agency is skilled at helping Saint Charles, MO area business owners to find commercial insurance policies that work for their businesses. This can help to protect your company a number of different ways and also provide you with very valuable peace of mind.  

3 Good Reasons to Make a Home Inventory

If you own a home, it’s to your advantage to make an inventory of your personal goods for insurance purposes. A home inventory will enable you to keep track of your goods and verify their value so you can get properly reimbursed in the event of a claim. At Nieroda Insurance Agency, we encourage Saint Charles, MO homeowners to make a home inventory shortly after moving into their new home. Here’s why you should take the time to inventory your goods.

Document What You Own

A home inventory helps you document what you own and verify its value before you suffer loss. If a fire were to ravage your home and destroy most of your belongings, you’ll have proof of ownership and documented evidence in the form of photos, videos, receipts, appraisals, etc., of their value. This information can help streamline your insurance claim to get reimbursed for your loss. Without an inventory, you may forget important items or have trouble verifying the value of expensive goods, making it more difficult to recuperate their loss.

Confirm Insurance Coverage

A home inventory will give you a more accurate picture of the insurance coverage you need to protect your belongings. If you own costly goods, you want to make sure you have adequate coverage to replace them in the event of a total loss. Otherwise, you may have to pay for their replacement on your own.     

Facilitate Estate Planning

A home inventory can come in handy for estate planning. Having a list of your belongings will make it easier to make decisions on how to distribute your goods upon your demise.  

For tips on how to make a home inventory or information about quality home insurance coverage, contact an agent from Nieroda Insurance Agency in Saint Charles, MO.

Who needs to carry umbrella insurance

The simple answer to the question who needs to carry umbrella insurance would be anyone who owns a home or car and has any assets. In order to determine if umbrella insurance is right for you, a stop at the Nieroda Insurance Agency in Saint Charles, MO is in order. They can answer any questions that you may have about which insurance coverage is right for you.

An umbrella policy is additional liability insurance above and beyond what you may already have on your home or auto insurance. You may think that you have a small home or an inexpensive car and why would you want or need additional liability coverage. What you are protecting is not only your current assets but those assets that you may acquire in the future.

If legal action is brought against you, you may be required to not only pay a settlement to the person who brought the suit against you but you will also incur a lot of legal costs. Your home or auto insurance will cover you up to the limit that is on your policy but in the world that we live in, the settlement that may be won against you can go way beyond those limits.

This is where an umbrella policy will kick in. It will pay the amount about the auto or home insurance up to the limit that the umbrella policy has. This can be between one and five million, dollars. If you don’t have a way to pay the judgment against you, your future earnings can be garnished. It could take years to earn enough to pay such a judgment.

If you live in the Saint Charles, MO area, why not stop by the office of Nieroda Insurance Agency to discuss whether an umbrella policy is something you should consider.

What Is The Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage In Saint Charles, MO?

When you’re in Saint Charles, MO, it’s important to adhere to state minimums for auto insurance. If you are buying or leasing a vehicle, the lienholder may have a few requirements of their own, too.

The state of Missouri requires you to have liability insurance. This includes a $25,000 minimum for the physical injuries of one person and double that for the total bodily injury (or death) in an accident. Then, there needs to be another $10,00 for property damage per accident. All of this is for an accident caused by the person driving the insured vehicle.

At Nieroda Insurance Agency, we recommend seeking out more than the minimum auto insurance coverage. It can eliminate problems should you need to file a claim. Plus, it can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses if you are at fault for an accident.

You may want to have collision and comprehensive coverage so that you are protected against more scenarios. This would include colliding with a mailbox or getting hit in a parking lot without knowing who the other driver was. Anything can happen on and off the road, so it’s best to be covered.

If you have a lienholder, they may have specific coverage limit that you need to meet for liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Further, you may need to show them proof of insurance.

It’s important to have auto insurance that you can rely on. While you have no choice but to meet state minimums, you can choose to increase your coverage levels to higher amounts. You need to do what’s right for you and your budget, which is how an agent can help.

Contact us at Nieroda Insurance Agency today. One of our independent insurance agents can talk to you about the auto insurance minimums in Saint Charles, MO and make recommendations for other coverage.

 

When is umbrella insurance a necessity?

Having liability insurance is a great form of personal protection. Most people have liability insurance in place through their home and auto insurance policies. However, there are situations in which having more liability insurance is beneficial. One type of insurance that can provide you with additional liability insurance coverage is umbrella insurance. There are several situations in which having umbrella insurance is a practical necessity. 

You Don’t Have Base Insurance

The first situation in which you need to have umbrella insurance is when you do not have base insurance policies in place. If you do not have a home insurance policy in place, you likely have no personal liability insurance. If you do not have any liability insurance, it is important that you purchase an umbrella insurance policy to give you coverage. This is also the case if you have base insurance, but your liability coverage levels are too low for comfort.

Higher Risk of Lawsuits

Another situation in which you should consider getting umbrella insurance is if you have a higher risk of being sued for liability. If you are a public figure or high-net-worth individual, you may be more of a target for larger lawsuits. In these situations, one of the best ways to protect yourself from larger lawsuits is by having a full umbrella insurance policy in place. 

If you are shopping for umbrella insurance in the Saint Charles, MO area, you should speak with the team at Nieroda Insurance Agency to start your search. The professionals at Nieroda Insurance Agency excel at identifying when people are in need of additional liability insurance coverage. They can then help you get an umbrella insurance policy that meets your needs.