There are so many insurance companies out there to choose from. The decision on which one is best for you can be a daunting one. Each one claims to be the best. Each one claims to have your best interest at heart. But how can you really know for sure?
One of the best ways is to talk to your friends about who they have their insurance with, and how happy they are with their company. Of course, sometimes you will find that they don’t really know what company they are with, but rather which agent or agency they are with. That is probably because quite often, your agent is the most important part of your relationship with insurance. If your agent thinks of you as just a number, you have a problem. In the area of insurance, you need an advocate who cares about your needs.
The reputation of the company is just as important. There are a lot of good companies out there, but there are some that don’t do as good a job for you. Now, I don’t necessarily mean that they don’t pay claims like they should, although that can happen. I’m talking about companies or agents that don’t explain the coverages to you and make sure that you have what you need. If you find out that you don’t have the coverages that you need at the point of a claim, it is just too late.
Of course, the final responsibility on understanding your insurance, is yours. I know that can sound harsh, but you are the one signing the insurance contract. You need to ask enough questions to make sure you understand what your are buying. If your agent can’t explain the coverage to you, then maybe you don’t want to buy the policy. It is also important that you read your policy. At the time of a claim, if you thought you had coverage that you didn’t and you signed the contract, you are just out of options. You need to make sure.
Most agents try to do the best job for you, but if you don’t know what coverage you need, they don’t always either. Ask questions. Be sure you have an understanding of the policy you are buying. Check with friends to see who they have and if they are happy. And don’t be afraid to check with the Better Business Bureau to see how they rate. You are buying a product to protect you and your family in the event of a loss. Make sure you get what you need.
