Do I Need Home Insurance?

Although there is no law requiring homeowners to carry insurance, purchasing a house is likely to be the largest investment anyone makes so having coverage is a no-brainer. While it is true that homeowners insurance is not required by law, if you are purchasing a home with a mortgage then it is highly likely that the mortgage company will require you to have insurance before financing the purchase.

When shopping for homeowners insurance, you’ll want a policy that covers rebuilding or repairing your house and other structures on your property like a shed or garage, after a covered loss. In addition, look for a policy that helps pay to replace your belongings if they are damaged in a covered loss, lodging if you are displaced due to a fire, natural disaster, or other incident and legal bills if a visitor or tradesperson is injured while at your home. Generally, a homeowners policy does not cover earthquakes or floods and you may be required to purchase additional insurance policies if you are in an area prone to one of those natural disasters.

Begin looking for homeowners insurance once you have signed the contract to purchase a home. Waiting till this point will likely allow you about a month to find the right insurance company and have a policy in place. At San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ we specialize in homeowners insurance and can assist in customizing a policy that meets your needs.

Whether you are buying your first home or moving to Chandler, AZ for retirement, San Marcos Insurance Group wants to help. Give us a call today or stop by our conveniently located office to schedule an initial conversation with one of our talented insurance professionals. 

What Does Collision Auto Insurance Really Cover in Alabama

When you have a car in Arizona, you will carry the minimum requirements for auto insurance which is your bodily injury liability and your property liability. You may also be considering collision auto insurance. 

At San Marcos Insurance Group, we want Chandler, AZ residents to be covered in auto insurance as thoroughly as possible. Collision insurance is a good idea. We can help you to get the best coverage for your needs.

Learn more about what collision insurance covers here.

What Collision Insurance Covers

When you have a vehicle and are in an accident, collision insurance will cover the cost to replace or repair your vehicle if it is damaged. If you have a deductible on your policy, you will pay that amount first when you file a claim.

A deductible is the amount that you agree to pay to the insurance company before they will cover your damages. This is an amount set at the time you purchase your coverage.

After that, your collision insurance typically does cover the rest.

This coverage can be used when you collide with another car, an object, or are even in a single-car accident where you are the only vehicle. 

You can file a claim for the damages to your vehicle, and for your medical costs as well. 

If there is another party that is liable for the accident, they will cover some of these costs as well. Your insurance company will work with you to determine how much you will be responsible for and cover your damages accordingly.

Get a Quote

You may think you don’t need collision insurance, but you might think of it when it is too late. Get it before then. At San Marcos Insurance Group, we want Chandler, AZ drivers to be protected on the roads. Call us for a quote to update your Arizona auto insurance policy today.

When Should You Change Your Health Coverage?

Your health coverage plan makes a huge difference in your ability to care for yourself. At some point, you may find yourself in a position where you need to change your health coverage. This can be a confusing time, but answers are available.

San Marcos Insurance Group, which serves Chandler, AZ, can help you find health coverage if you think it is time to change your healthcare policy. These are some of the reasons why you might need a new health insurance policy.

You’ve Aged Out of Your Parent’s Plan

The law allows many adults to remain on their parent’s health insurance plans until they turn 27 years old. After your birthday, you should look for new coverage for yourself.

Somebody on Your Plan Has Died

If you have a plan covering the family but somebody passes away, you can remove him or her from your insurance plan. This can be an emotional process, but it can save money on your premium.

You’ve Welcomed a New Child

Whether you gave birth this year or you adopted a child, you need to add this child to your insurance plan. An insurance professional can help you do this the correct way to ensure your child is completely covered.

You Moved to a New State

When you move to a new state, you need to change your insurance plan. You can enroll in a new plan even when the marketplace is closed if you’ve moved from one state to another.

Get the Right Health Coverage For Your Needs

San Marcos Insurance Group provides coverage in Chandler, AZ, helping you find the right insurance. If you need a new healthcare policy, contact the office to learn more.

Is Commercial Insurance all About Liability Protection?

If you own a business in Chandler, AZ, you can’t avoid business liabilities. For this reason, you must buy general liability insurance from San Marcos Insurance Group. Liabilities form a significant component of risks facing a business. Think of advertising injury, property damage, bodily injury, and so on — indeed, the ubiquitous nature of liabilities means businesses must cushion themselves with commercial insurance.

But is commercial insurance all about liabilities? Definitely not. Commercial insurance is broad and covers other facets of your business. Below are additional areas covered by commercial insurance.

Property protection

Your business owns assets, right? If you don’t have a building, you have properties like inventories, computers, furniture, fixtures, and so on. And because accumulating these assets has taken time and resources, you need to protect your assets with commercial property insurance. This way, you don’t have to start from level zero when perils like fire, theft, and hail devour your assets.

Employee protection

Workers’ comp insurance protects your employees from illnesses and work-related injuries. Besides, this coverage covers your employees’ partial loss of income if they can’t resume work due to their injury or sickness.

Online protection

Do you store sensitive customer data? Does your business have an online presence? If yes, you need cyber insurance to safeguard your business against malicious online activities. This coverage covers notification costs, negotiation costs, legal charges, and other cybercrime-related costs.

Whether you own a traditional, online, or home-based business, commercial insurance is the safety net you turn to when the unthinkable happens. While it covers your business against liabilities, it offers much more protection beyond liabilities.

Get commercial insurance today!

Would you like to own a business that will stand the test of time? If yes, then you need to consider commercial insurance. If you are in Chandler, AZ and its environs, please get in touch with San Marcos Insurance Group for an affordable business insurance quote.

How Home Insurance Protects You

When you own a home, owning home insurance is a must. A good policy can protect you from a wide range of risks that houses face. There are several different types of home coverage that are included in one home insurance policy. If you need a policy for your home, give us a call at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ.

Covering Your Home

Part of a home insurance policy is protection for the house. It protects against many different disasters and accidents that can happen to houses and cause them damage. If you don’t have this policy, you would have to come up with all of the money to repair or rebuild by yourself. This policy will pay for damage that is caused by a covered occurrence. Being without this coverage can be too expensive to afford if the worst should happen.

Covering Your Possessions

Another part of a home policy is the coverage for all of the possessions that are located inside the house. These possessions may not look like a huge expense, but when everything is added up together, it may rival the value of your house. If a covered incident like an accident happened and ruined your possessions, your policy could pay for you to replace them or to get needed repairs. 

Covering Your Liability

One part of your home policy is dedicated to your possible liability for accidents and other incidents. If someone were in your house and had an accident, you could be considered liable for the resulting medical bills and other expenses. This coverage protects you from lawsuits that could be filed against you after an accident like this. It’s smart to never be without this coverage. 

Get Home Insurance

To get your home policy, call us at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ.

How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need?

Auto insurance is crucial in protecting your asset, giving you liability protection, and paying for medical expenses following an accident. While auto insurance is a necessity, do you know how much auto insurance you should buy? Determining the amount of auto insurance you need can be challenging, but San Marcos Insurance Group of Chandler, AZ will help you determine the amount of car insurance adequate for you.

Meet your state requirements

The minimum amount of car insurance you should hold is the one required by your state. For instance, Arizona requires drivers to purchase property damage liability (PDL) coverage of $15,000 and bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person. Of course, these amounts differ from state to state – so be sure to check your state’s requirements to avoid non-compliance penalties.

How much liability insurance should I have?

While meeting the state minimum requirements is excellent, most motorists consider higher limits because accidents will likely cost more than the state-required coverages. We usually recommend our clients purchase liability coverage of above 100/300/100. This plan should cover you adequately, given the rising healthcare costs and that vehicle repair costs can quickly stack up.

If you own significant assets, we advise you to opt for umbrella insurance to protect your belongings when you cause a severe accident.

How much collision and comprehensive coverage do I need?

Ideally, you should cover your vehicle with the assumption of a worst-case scenario. If your car were totaled today, is your auto insurance adequate to replace your vehicle? Of course, as you ponder about this, you need to consider deductibles – the higher your deductible, the lower your premiums. 

With this in mind, purchase physical damage coverages that you are comfortable with, putting deductibles in mind. 

Learn more about car insurance

Still unsure about how much auto insurance you need? No problem. Would you please not hesitate to contact San Marcos Insurance Group for more information? Better yet, you can pop in our Chandler, AZ offices to chat with one of our agents. 

What are the benefits of having health insurance in Chandler?

People that live in the Chandler, AZ area are going to want to ensure they continue to have access to quality healthcare. One way that you can ensure you will have access to the care that you need when you need it is by getting health insurance. Several benefits, in particular, come when you get a quality health insurance plan here. 

Access to Affordable Care

A key advantage of having health insurance here is that you can gain access to affordable care. Being able to see a doctor, receive medication, and have procedures done when necessary continues to be very important. One way that you can ensure you are able to get access to this care without spending way too much money is by having health insurance. A proper insurance plan will help to drastically limit your costs in some cases and ensure you have access to healthcare providers. 

Ensure Compliance

You should also get a health insurance plan to ensure you are in compliance with any requirements you may have. For the past several years, all people have been required to carry health insurance. Those that do not have this coverage will be in legal violation and could incur penalties. Evidence of coverage typically needs to be provided at the end of the year when taxes are filed. 

You should always have proper health insurance in place when you are in the Chandler, AZ area. If you are looking to build a health insurance plan here, you should call San Marcos Insurance Group. There are a lot of choices that you need to make when building health insurance. The San Marcos Insurance Group team can offer the insight you need to understand your options and then build a health insurance policy that is ideal for your situation. 

Types of liability coverages to consider for your business

Starting and running any business in Chandler, AZ involves taking major risks, which is why you may want to focus on different insurance policies to protect it. At  San Marcos Insurance Group, we recommend having adequate liability to protect your clients and workers. So, if it’s your first time buying insurance for your business, here are the top 3 liability coverages to consider.

General liability insurance

Often known as business liability, general liability helps cover against claims from other people due to property damage or injuries. It also protects you against reputational harm and lawsuits that could result from late deliveries, poor quality products or services, as well as errors made by your workers.

Professional liability insurance

Professional liability insurance was first designed for people offering professional services,  such as attorneys, carpenters, engineers, accountants, realtors, and insurance agents. However, today any business person in Chandler AZ can get this policy to protect what they do as it protects the end product or the service offered if found faulty. For instance, if you sell a hair product that ends up damaging your clients’ hair, the policy can help pay for legal fees if you’re sued.

Employer liability

Employer liability is a critical component of workers’ compensation that helps pay for additional legal fees if your worker sues you for injuries beyond workers’ compensation. For instance, if one of your chefs gets injured when cooking, workers’ compensation will help pay for their injuries and replace their lost income. However, suppose the chef decided to sue you for not providing protective clothing. In that case, employer liability can help cover the legal fees.

Your business needs liability insurance. Don’t wait till it has grown to buy a commercial policy. It might be too late. If you have any questions or have trouble choosing your ideal liability coverage, feel free to speak to an agent at San Marcos Insurance Group, and they will be happy to help.

Do I Need Home Insurance in Arizona?

Your home in Chandler, AZ is an instrumental part of you and your loved one’s lives. Owning a home is an exciting experience, but most residents, unluckily, haven’t thought much about home insurance. Many homeowners regard home insurance as an option, but it should be an ultimate necessity in reality. Home insurance will not only leave you stress-free but saves you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run when unexpected perils strike. If you are willing to discuss your option for a home insurance plan, please liaise with San Marcos Insurance Group serving Chandler, AZ and its environs. We will help you design the right home insurance policy to protect your expensive asset.

Is home insurance mandatory in Arizona?

Home insurance isn’t mandatory in Arizona if you don’t have a mortgage for your dwelling serving as your lenders’ collateral. However, it’s wise to consider if you can afford to pay for the cost of repair or replace your home if covered calamities destroy it. With that being said, here are the benefits of buying home insurance:

Coverage for your home contents

Home insurance safeguards your personal property like electronic appliances, furniture and clothing if damaged by a covered peril like fire or storm. You can be reimbursed fully or partially, depending on your specific policy.

Provides liability protection

 Liability protection coverage shields you against probable lawsuits arising from bodily injury and property damage you and your family members propagate to other parties. It caters to medical expenses resulting from injuries sustained by your guests while on your property or elsewhere.

Protect your home 

Imagine if your house was ravaged by fire or hurricane, suffering immense losses? If you procure coverage for your dwelling, it will cater to repairing or reestablishing your house if it is ravaged by a covered event like hail and lightning, among others.

Provides additional living expenses coverage

 Suppose your house becomes uninhabitable due to destruction from fire, storm, or other covered incertitudes. In that case, your additional living expense coverage pays for the additional expenses such as hotel bills if you are residing elsewhere temporarily.

Contact San Marcos Insurance Group today for comprehensive information about obtaining spectacular home insurance in Chandler, AZ and how it works. We can assist you in making an informed decision and customizing a policy suiting your needs and budget.

7 Auto Insurance Phrases You Should Know

Your auto insurance policy can be confusing when you start to read through it. Often terms are used and you may have heard them before, but you are not quite clear on what they mean. You can gain a lot of knowledge by discussing the details of your policy with a qualified insurance agent.

Understanding the key terms in your policy will help you get the most out of your insurance. The agents at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ are experienced professionals that know the key terms to help our clients understand the ins and outs of their auto insurance policies

Key Auto Insurance Terms

There are many auto insurance terms and some are not crucial to understand. Here are some common key terms that are used in policies often.

  • Premium – This term is heard a lot and simply means the amount paid to an insurance company so they will pay claims for your specific coverage.
  • Collision coverage – If your vehicle is damaged after hitting another car or object, collision is the part of the policy that protects you.
  • Bodily injury liability – This is what covers you if you are the cause of an accident where affected parties are killed or injured.
  • No-fault insurance – Regardless of if you caused an accident or not, no-fault covers medical expenses.
  • Personal injury – Protection in case of injury if you are in an accident.
  • Deductible – Out of pocket money spent before your insurance company covers the remainder of a claim.
  • Uninsured motorist – If another driver hits you and they don’t have insurance, this type of coverage protects you.

Professional Insurance Agents in Chandler, AZ

Contact us at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ to speak with one of our agents about your auto insurance needs. We are happy to help you understand the terms of your insurance coverage, so you know exactly what is in your policy.