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Have Insurance Questions?  We Have Answers For You

At Huff Insurance we hear insurance questions every day from clients, future clients, friends and family. This blog contains a list of the most commonly asked insurance questions with links to their respective blogs and web pages for the answers.

We know insurance can be confusing. There are event times that we get questions and have to research to find the answers. Huff Insurance decided to compile this list of the most commonly asked insurance questions.  Each one of the questions has a link to the applicable blog or web page on our site which answers the question.

If you cannot find the answer to your insurance question on this blog, try typing it in the search box at the top of this page. Our pages on your topic will show in the search results. If your question still is not on our website, please let me know.  I will personally make sure to get it added. You can submit your question using the form on this blog.

General Insurance Questions:

What is an insurance deductible?
What is a coinsurance penalty?
Can two insurance policies be exactly the same?
Why do insurance rates go up every year?
Should you shop your insurance every year?
What is your total cost of insurance?
How can you reduce your insurance costs?

Auto Insurance Questions:

How are auto insurance rates calculated?
What do all of the policy limits numbers mean on your declarations page?
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
How many uninsured drivers are on the roadways?
Do you need to buy the rental car insurance from the rental company?
Are there policy perks for auto insurance?
What is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) coverage on a car insurance policy?
What is GAP or Loan/Lease coverage on an auto insurance policy?

Home Insurance Questions:

Does a trampoline affect your home insurance?
Is a home based business covered on a homeowners insurance policy?
Are you belongings in a storage unit covered on your homeowners insurance policy?
Are there policy perks for home insurance?
What is ordinance and law insurance and do you need it on your home insurance?

Condo Insurance Questions:

What is so tricky about insurance a condo?

Renters Insurance Questions:

What is renter’s insurance?
Do roommates need to have their own renter’s insurance?
Do college roommates need their own renter’s insurance?
How much renters insurance do you need?

Flood Insurance Questions:

Do you really need flood insurance?

Umbrella Insurance Questions:

Do you need a personal umbrella insurance policy?
Do you have everything covered on your personal umbrella insurance policy?
How can a personal umbrella insurance policy help you?

Business Insurance Questions:

Does your business need Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)?
What is pay as you go workers comp insurance?
Will general liability apply if an employee gets hurt on the job? 
Is a drone covered on you business insurance policy?

Contact Huff Insurance:

Huff Insurance is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency.   If you have any questions that we have not addressed, please fill out the form on this page to submit your question.

Are you worried about a grilling accident this summer?

According to the National Fire Safety Association, there are about 10,600 home grilling fires each year.  And 4,900, almost half, of the fires result in damage to a structure or a home.  These fires cause an estimated $135 million in direct property damage.  So do you think grilling safety is important?  Here ae some grilling safety tips.

I am sure most of the grillers involved in these grilling accidents thought that they were a safe griller.  We all tend to think that these accidents cannot happen to us.  But they can and they do.

GRILLING SAFETY TIPS FOR ALL GRILLS

• Your grill should be on a level surface away from anything that could be ignited by the flames (bushes, fences, etc.)
• Use long utensils and dress appropriately.
• NEVER use a grill indoors – Seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised that indoor grill fires do happen.
• Keep your grill clean and well-maintained. Check parts regularly and clean grates after each use.
• Never leave a hot grill unattended or let children play near it.

CHARCOAL GRILLING SAFETY TIPS

• Do not add lighter fluid directly on coals, and never use gasoline or kerosene.
• To dispose of coals, allow the ashes to cool for at least 48 hours before disposal in a non-combustible container. If you cannot wait 48 hours, carefully place coals individually in a can of sand or bucket of water.

GAS GRILLING SAFETY TIPS

• Check grill hoses for leaks each year- apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If you have a leak, and it will not stop after the grill and gas is turned off, call the fire department. Even if the leak stops when the grill and gas are turned off, have your grill serviced by a professional.
• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
• Do not keep a filled propane tank in a hot car or trunk. When getting containers refilled, make that your last stop before going home.
• Store propane tanks in an upright position, and never indoors.

Source: Kingsford.com

Huff Insurance

Huff insurance is a trusted choice independent insurance agent located in Pasadena MD.  If you love to grill,  keep these grilling safety tips at top of mind.  If there is a mishap, you need to make sure you have the best home insurance for you and your family.

HAPPY GRILLING! 

Why does my personal umbrella insurance company need to know about everything I own?

We are asked this regularly.  The purpose of personal umbrella insurance is to provide additional limits of liability above your other insurance policies.

The personal umbrella insurance can provide an extra layer of protection for the following insurance policies:

• Auto Insurance
• Home Insurance
• Renters Insurance
• Condo Insurance
• RV Insurance
• Motorcycle Insurance
• Boat Insurance
• ATV Insurance
• Many other personal insurance policies

The umbrella insurance rates are based on the number of vehicles, residences, rental properties, boats and motorcycles, etc.   The carrier could deny the umbrella coverage if these risks are not listed on the personal umbrella insurance policy.

What if I have policies with other carriers.  Does that affect my umbrella policy?

It depends.  Some personal umbrella insurance carriers require that they write all of the underlying policies that are protected by the umbrella.  This way they underwrite every risk that they are insuring on the umbrella insurance policy.

Other insurance carriers require that a minimum limit of liability coverage be maintained.  They will ask for a copy of the underlying policy at each renewal.

It is extremely important that you let your insurance agent know if you have insurance policies with other companies.  Not telling them can result in a big financial loss for you and your family in the form of an uncovered claim.

What if I forget to tell my umbrella policy agent about another insurance policy?

If you have an insurance policy with another agent or company and forget to inform your umbrella insurance company, it will create a major gap in your insurance plan.

Because the personal umbrella insurance company does not know about the other policy, they can, and most like will, deny a claim for that non disclosed policy.

If you have an insurance policy with another company, it is imperative that you tell your umbrella insurance agent or company.

What happens if I have something and I just don’t want to cover it under my umbrella insurance?

Let’s think about this.  You have an umbrella because you agree that you have assets to protect.  Would you want to lose everything you have worked for because of a claim on something you decided not to add to the umbrella?

If you believe in having a personal umbrella insurance policy, then you should understand, accidents do not call ahead for an appointment.  And the claim that you need your umbrella protection could come from anywhere.

Why would you not want to pay another $10-20 a year per additional risk on your umbrella insurance and have it fully protect you?

What if I do not have the minimum coverage amounts required to have the personal umbrella insurance? 

The reason that umbrella policies are so inexpensive compared to the limits of coverage that they provide is because they require that you have a certain amount of coverage on the underlying policies that is sufficient to cover the majority of the smaller claims.    The umbrella is there for catastrophic claims.

If you have less than the required lmits on the underlying insurance policies, you will be creating an expensive gap for your insurance plan.

Claim example:

Your $1,000,000 personal umbrella insurance policy that requires a $250,000 underlying liability limit.

You decide to reduce your auto insurance limits from $250,000 to $100,000 to save some money.

There’s an auto accident and you are getting sued for $400,000.

You have a million dollar umbrella policy, so you are fully covered right?  WRONG!

Here’s how the payments will be made in this scenario:

• Auto insurance will pay $100,000
• You will be responsible for $150,000.  This gets you to the $250,000 underlying limits requirement of the personal umbrella insurance policy.
• Umbrella insurance will pay $150,00

The personal umbrella insurance in this case is  designed to pay for claims that are over $250,000.   In this case, by reducing your auto insurance limits, you created a $150,000 insurance gap that you are responsible for.  So in order to save a few dollars up front, you exposed yourself to $150,000.  So are you really saving money at this point?  The total cost of insurance includes the premiums paid, deductibles assumed and the cost of uncovered losses.

How do you avoid issues with your umbrella policy?

The best way is to have all of your insurance policies with the same agency.  This way,  your agent can confirm that you carry the required minimum liability insurance coverage.   They can also make sure that all of the exposures are listed on your personal umbrella insurance policy.

Having your insurance helter skelter all over the place can cause dangerous gaps in your personal insurance plan.  And it makes it harder for you to keep track of.

Also, an annual review with your insurance broker will make sure that you have the best insurance plan for your family.   As your lifestyle changes so do your insurance needs.

Contact Huff Insurance Today!

Huff Insurance is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agent.  Our experienced team can make sure that you get the best insurance protection plan for your family.  Fill out the form on this page or give us a call today at 410-647-1111!

How can a coinsurance penalty affect your insurance coverage?

In the insurance world, certain property insurance policies have a coinsurance clause.  This clause can impose a coinsurance penalty if it is not met.  Most business insurance policies include the coinsurance clause. The clause stipulates what percentage of the total value of your property must be insured to be fully reimbursed for a loss, even a partial loss.  Most claims that we see are actually partial losses.  The coinsurance clause is meant to stop someone from grossly under insuring a property in order to save money on insurance premiums.

How does coinsurance work? 

The most common coinsurance clause states that the property needs to be insured for at least 80% of the value in order to avoid the coinsurance penalty.

For example:

You have a building valued at $1,000,000 but only want to insure it for $600,000.   You may think that since you do not have a mortgage, $600,000 is enough insurance for you to have.

Now let’s go through a claim scenario 

Claim Scenario For A Partial Loss (Most common type of loss):

You have a building fire which results in $400,000 in damages.   You may be thinking that it is OK, since the $600,000 you will get the $400,000 since it was still under the total building insurance amount.

But, you failed to realize that there is a 80% coinsurance penalty clause in your property insurance policy.  This means that the insurance company was requiring you to insure your building for at least $800,000 to avoid the coinsurance penalty.  You failed to meet that requirement.

You may still be thinking that you paid for $600,000 in coverage, so they will pay you the $400,000 right?  That would not be a correct assumption.  Your claim payout will be reduced by the percentage of coverage that your building was under insured for.

In this case, the company needed to have $800,000 in property insurance coverage to meet the coinsurance clause.  You decided to only pay for $600,000 in insurance coverage.  So you only had 75% of the required building insurance coverage.  Therefore, the claim payout after factoring in the coinsurance penalty, will be 75% of the amount that would have been paid out for the loss.  So in this case, the payout after factoring in the coinsurance penalty, will be $300,000 ($400,000 x 75%).

So, under insuring your building to save a few hundred dollars on your insurance premium just cost you $100,000 in a reduced claim payout.  An uncovered loss is something to factor in when you calculate your total cost of insurance.

Coinsurance Clause For Other Types Of Business Property Insurance:

Coinsurance is not only for building insurance coverage like in the example above.  There are coinsurance penalty clauses for businesses that carry an inventory to sell as well.

Some examples are as follows:

•  Auto dealer vehicle inventory 
• Convenience store inventory
• Clothing shop inventory
• Cigar shop inventory
• Etc.

Contact Huff Insurance Today

Fill out the form here or give us a call at 410-647-1111.  One of our experienced representatives will work with you to make sure you have the best business insurance in place for your needs.  We will work with you to try to avoid any coverage issues that may trigger the coinsurance penalty in your policies.

What does an insurance deductible on an insurance policy mean?

We all see the insurance deductibles on our home insurance or auto insurance policies.  But do you know what the insurance deductible means for you?

Definition of Insurance Deductible

Simply put, the insurance deductible is the amount of money that you will pay out of pocket if you make a claim on your insurance policy.

For example: You have a $500 collision deductible on your auto insurance.  You get into an accident where you strike a guard rail.  When the insurance adjuster inspects your vehicle, they conclude that there is $2,500 in damages.  The insurance company will pay $2,000 and you would be responsible for $500 as your deductible.

Why are deductibles necessary?

Insurance is meant to protect against major financial loss.  An insurance policy is not designed to pay for small claims or losses.  So a deductible is put in place to act as a self retention limit so the smaller claims are not handled by the insurance companies.  It acts as a way for the policy holder to have “skin in the game” and share the cost of a claim.

The higher your deductible, the more skin you have in the game.  Because of this, the insurance premiums paid for a higher deductible are less than the premiums paid for a lower deductible.

Because the deductible amount affects the amount you pay for insurance, you have to be diligent when shopping for the best insurance plan for your family.  Some insurance companies and agents make promises to save you money on your premiums if you switch to them.  But sometimes, their policies will contain a much higher deductible in order to deliver on the promised savings.  Doing this can make your total cost of insurance much higher in the long run.

What are the best deductible amounts?

The best deductible amounts will vary from person to person.

Some questions to ask yourself when deciding on the deductible amounts are:

• How much risk are you willing to assume in the event of a claim? If your risk tolerance is high, you may be willing to take on a higher deductible than someone with a lower risk tolerance.
• Do you have enough money saved up to cover the cost of the deductible? Think about this one hard.  If you are in an accident, do you have enough money in the bank to cover your car insurance deductible?  If you do not, the body shop may not release your car to you until you pay them your deductible.  You do not want to be in a position to no be able to pay for your car repairs.
• Is the premium savings for the higher deductible worth the potential cost of the higher deductible?  If increasing your deductible by $1,000 only saves you $50 per year, is it worth it?  If it saves you $500 per year, is it worth it?  For a $50 per year savings, it may not be. But for $500 per year, it definitely could be.

Common deductible levels

The insurance world likes to work off of standards.  So there are the so called standard deductible amounts that most insurance companies make available to their customers.

Auto Insurance Deductibles

• Comprehensive Coverage (Other Than Collision Coverage) Deductibles:  The comp deductibles are usually available in the following levels:  $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500 and $2,000.  Most companies also offer a separate reduced glass deductible to go along with the comprehensive coverage.  Some go as far as offering “full” glass coverage.  This means, that even though you may choose a $500 comprehensive deductible, if the comp claim is a glass only claim, you will have no deductible to pay to repair or replace the glass for your car.  All of the other comprehensive claims would be subject to the regular chosen deductible.
• Collision Coverage Deductibles: Collision deductible amounts are available in similar amounts to the comprehensive coverage.  $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500.  Some go higher, but most lenders will not allow a deductible higher than $2,500.
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Deductible:  In Maryland and some other states, there is a deductible for uninsured motorist property damage coverage.  The amount is set by the Maryland legislature and is currently set at $250.  So if your car is damaged by an uninsured driver, including by a hit and run driver, you will have to pay a $250 deductible to have it repaired under the uninsured motorist coverage.  For uninsured motorist to apply, you will also have to file a police report for the claim.   The deductible and police report are put in place to help combat insurance fraud and filing of false claims.

Home Insurance Deductibles

For most homeowners insurance policies, one deductible is selected.  The most common deductible for home insurance policies currently is $1,000.  There may be some home insurance policies that still have a $250 or $500 deductible.  These are usually older policies that have been in force for over 5 years.  Most insurance companies will not go below $1,000 for a home insurance deductible when writing a new policy.

The home insurance deductible can also be available with the following options:

• $1,000
• $1,500
• $2,500
• $5,000
• 1% of Coverage A
• 3% of Coverage A
• 5% of Coverage A

If you have enough money to cover the deductible, you may choose to go with the higher deductible.  One thing to remember is that the deductible applies to each claim that you may have and is not an annual deductible.  So if you have more than on claim, the deductible will apply every time.  That can add up and eat into any potential savings that you may have had with the higher deductible.

Something to note is that the percentage deductibles are calculated by using the coverage A limit on the policy.  Some people get confused and think that the percentage deductible is calculated based on the amount of the claim or loss sustained.  For example, if you have coverage A at $500,000 with a 5% deductible,  your deductible amount would be $25,000.  So if you suffered a claim on your home for $50,000, you would be responsible for $25,000 and the company would pay the other $25,000.

So some companies or agents may try to sell you on these percentage deductibles by stating that you would not file a small claim, so why not increase the deductible to save money.  But a percentage deductible can greatly increase your total cost of insurance.

What is a named storm, hurricane or wind/hale deductible?

I stated earlier, that there is usually only one deductible on a home insurance policy.  There are companies that do have a second type of deductible that they add  to their policies.  They can add a named storm deductible or a wind/hale deductible.

These deductibles are usually higher than the normal deductible chosen on the home insurance policy.  For example, you can have a $1,000 deductible with a 2% wind/hale deductible.

This type of deductible would be triggered by the event in which it applies.  So in the above example, a fire would be subject to the $1,000 deductible.  But if there was a severe wind and or hail storm, the deductible for that claim would be 2% of the coverage A value on the policy.

When shopping your insurance, this is another area that you need to pay attention to.  Having these special deductibles can make a home insurance policy look less expensive.  But it can also increase your total cost of insurance if a storm blows through your neighborhood.   You want to know what your deductibles are before you have to worry about replacing your roof or siding after a storm.

Contact Huff Insurance Today

Huff Insurance works with our clients to get the best insurance plan for their needs.  This includes talking about coverage and deductible options.  This is done to make sure that your insurance plan is the best one for your needs.

What can you do to help with biker safety?

Why is biker safety important?  With more than 8 million motorcycles on America’s roads and an accident rate way above that of four-wheeled vehicles — riders are 37 times more vulnerable than car travelers.  One way or another motorbikes and bikers are always in the news.

We know motorcycling is a potentially high-risk activity.  The fact is that many of those risks arise because other road users don’t give motorcycles and their riders the attention they deserve.

That’s the thinking behind Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which happens in May every year. It’s marked by a plea to drivers of all other vehicles and all road users to “share the road” with motorcyclists and to be extra-alert to help keep riders safe.

Of course, motorcyclists themselves also have a key role to play in having regard for each other and for motorists.

“Throughout spring and summer the number of motorcyclists on the road will increase. It is important for both motorists and motorcyclists to be aware of one another,” says David Teater, National Safety Council (NSC) senior director of Transportation Initiatives. “To better defend themselves, motorcyclists should follow the rules of the roadway and wear protective gear, including a Department of Transportation compliant helmet.”

Ready to play your part in motorcycle safety?

Whether you’re a car driver or motorcyclist, here are 6 biker safety suggestions from the NSC:

• Allow more distance following a motorcycle than you would for a car.
• At an intersection where you plan to turn left, be especially alert for motorcycles coming from either direction. They’re easy to overlook.
• Never try to share one lane between a car and a motorcycle.
• Motorcyclists should avoid riding in bad weather.
• Both car drivers and motorcyclists should be aware of a driver’s mirror blind spot when, for a few seconds, the bike cannot be seen.     This is especially important when changing lanes.
• Always use turn signals — for every turn or lane change. That goes for drivers and motorcyclists alike.

Do you have the best motorcycle insurance?

Riding a motorcycle is consider a high risk activity.  Especially with the all of the aggressive and distracted driving on today’s roadways.

So as a biker, you need to make sure you have the best motorcycle insurance plan in place before you start riding.  Then keep biker safety in mind as you ride.

Most riders think that they can have lower liability insurance limits on their bike.  The thinking is that they cannot cause enough damage to justify a $250,000/$500,000 liability limit.

What they do not think about, is the protection for themselves that they get with that $250,000/$500,000 limit.  This protection is in the form of the uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage.

Statistics show that 14% of accidents are caused by uninsured motorists.  Check out my blog titled There Are How Many Uninsured Drivers Around Me?  This blog goes into more detail on the uninsured driver subject.

Bikers know that if they are involved in an accident, it will usually be the other driver’s fault.  This is why we publicize about biker safety when the weather warms up.

So do you want to take the chance that the other driver has insurance to cover your financial losses?  Or that they have enough insurance to cover you injuries and lost wages?

You can protect yourself by having the higher uninsured / underinsured motorists limits on your motorcycle insurance policy.

Contact Huff Insurance Today

Our experienced team at Huff Insurance can make sure the you have the best motorcycle insurance plan in place for your needs.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent. We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

 

Pool Safety Tips – Don’t Let A Tragic Accident Drown Your Finances

According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 14. Everyday about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. You should take extra precaution to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone you know.  We will go over some pool safety tips to keep in mind.

Pools are designed to be fun for your friends and family.  So please take a look at the following pool safety tips to keep the fun going.

Pool safety tips for swimmers, parents, and supervisors:

• Teach your children what to do in case of an emergency.
• Provide competent supervision.  Don’t be under the influence while watching children swim.  You’ll have slower reaction times.
• Always remind babysitters of pool safety and your pool rules.
• Don’t use a floatation device as a substitute for adult supervision.  Floatation devices may not be able to save children.
• Never swim alone.  Even though children and adults know how to swim, they still may have an accident.
• Walk, don’t run, around the pool.
• Never rough house around the pool.  Someone could slip and get seriously injured.
• Don’t chew gum or eat while you swim.  You may choke.
• Keep a phone near the pool in case an emergency happens
• Be careful swimming with animals.  Dogs tend to “grab” things and may pull you under.

Safety tips for pool owners:

• Cover all sharp edges around and in the pool
• Replace worn out non-slip material
• Enclose pool with a fence
• Keep life saving devices near the pool
• Maintain watch over everyone in and around the pool
• Make sure the walkways are well lit and clear of any objects someone may trip on
• Remove toys from the pool when finished swimming so children don’t try to retrieve them when unsupervised
• Remove ladders from an above ground pool when finished swimming
• Keep pool the clean.
• Always remember to reapply sunscreen and never drink and swim.
• Most importantly stay safe and have fun.

Review you insurance protection plan

Having a pool increases the chances of someone getting hurt on your property.  Because of the increased risk, you should review your insurance protection plan before you open your pool.

You should carry the maximum liability insurance coverage on your homeowners insurance policy.  Most home insurance companies will go up to $500,000 for liability limits.

We also recommend getting an umbrella insurance policy for an extra layer of liability insurance protection for the pool.  You should have at least a $2,000,000 umbrella limit.  We recommend increasing it as much as you can afford.

Think about what the lawsuit will look like if someone tragically drowns in your pool.   We hear the news stories every year.  Families are enjoying their time at the pool, and then tragically, they discover that a child or other family member has drowned.

You want to make sure you have the best insurance plan in place.  You can never predict when a tragic accident will happen.  But you can prepare for the worst case scenario.

Are you looking for the best insurance agent in Maryland?

What does it mean to be the best insurance agent in Maryland?

The criteria for the best insurance agent or insurance broker can vary from person to person.

What you feel is best may not be the same as what someone else may feel is best.

Some criteria to look for in the best insurance agent or insurance broker in Maryland:

• Local insurance agent that supports the community
• Access to high quality insurance companies
• Ability to provide affordable and customized options to fit your specific insurance protection needs
• Personal service – not a faceless 800 number on online only interactions
• Online service options – ability to self-service when wanted or needed
• Multiple options for communication

Local Insurance Agents That Support The Community

The big online insurance companies simply do not sponsor local events or provide the community support like the local insurance agents.

You may see them sponsor the professional sports teams, but do they sponsor the local youth sports teams? Do they support or help out in local fundraisers?

Most of the time, the cartoon character companies will not be found supporting our local events.

But the best local insurance agents in Maryland, like Huff Insurance, supports our local community and organizations. Check out our Community Support Page.

Pictured here is the trophy table at Huff Insurance. Each year, we are proud to sponsor several youth sports teams in the area.

The best insurance agents have access to high quality insurance companies

The best insurance agents will be able to have insurance options to fir your needs. As a Trusted Choice™ Independent Insurance Agent, Huff Insurance can provide those options.

Huff Insurance is contracted to do business with some of the top insurance companies in the country. You can see most of them on our page titled Companies We Represent.

Huff Insurance hand-picked the insurance companies that we represent. We feel that the best insurance agencies need to represent the best insurance companies.

Ability to provide affordable and customized options to fit your specific insurance protection needs

Shouldn’t the best insurance agents in Maryland be able to provide you with options?

Huff Insurance is an insurance broker representing multiple companies. Because of this, we can usually find the best insurance solutions for your specific needs. Essentially, we are your one stop shop for most of your insurance needs.

As an independent insurance agent, we are not locked down to one insurance company. We can find the best options for your needs.

Some of our online competitors simply offer to save you money. The dangerous part of that is that they are often cutting your insurance coverage to keep their promise of saving money. Although they may be able to save you a few dollars up front, it can cost you thousands of dollars should you have an uncovered claim. The best insurance agents in Maryland will not put you at risk just to save a few dollars.

So when shopping, you need to keep the Total Cost of Insurance in mind, not just the annual premium.

Personal service

With today’s technology, it seems that personal service levels are low or even non-existent with some insurance companies.

How long does it take to get to a live person when you call your insurance company? After several voice prompts or number pressing, you may finally get through to a live person. But where is that person located?

Many times, that person is in another state or even in another country. If that is the case, how confident can you be that they know what the best insurance plan is for your family here in Maryland? Would the best insurance agent in Maryland have you calling overseas for your insurance needs?

Huff Insurance has been based in Pasadena, Maryland since our inception in 1960. We know the insurance needs of our Maryland customers. We will get to know you and your family and design a plan with you and for you.

Online service options

It’s 2024, so we understand that there are times that you may want to access your information online or via a mobile app. We have those options available for you. If you visit our Huff Portal Page, you can see that we have both an online portal option and a mobile app option available for our clients.

There are several things you can do on our portal 24/7

• Access your auto ID cards to print or save to your phone
• Request to add/delete/or change a vehicle on your policy
• Request a change to any other insurance policy
• Report a claim with the ability to upload photos of the claim site and damage
• Access to your insurance company website to make payments
• For business insurance clients, you can issue or re issue certificates of insurance
• Etc.

The best insurance agents in Maryland have the technology for multiple options of communication

Again, we realize it is 2024 and the old ways of communication are not always the best way for you. The best insurance agents in Maryland will communicate with you via your preferred method.

Huff Insurance can communicate with you in the following ways:

• Telephone – During business hours, you will always get a liver person answering the phone.
• Secure Email
• Docusign – for secure signing of insurance documents
• Snail Mail (Not preferred with today’s mail delays)
• Text
• Video Call
• Online Call
• In Person

One method you will not see on our list is fax. About 5 years ago, we retired our fax machine to the basement, where it sits next to our pagers, flip phones, and typewriters.

But as you can see, we are able to meet with you however you like.

If you like to do business in person, we also offer that option. We do require an appointment so we can make sure someone will be available to give you their undivided attention. You can use our Appointment Link to schedule in person or virtual appointments.

We can also do business completely virtually or via phone.  With the use of e-signatures through Docusign, you do not have to come in person to get an insurance policy. Nor do you have to wait on the mail to receive the applications and mail them back.  Heck, that could take a month these days….

We find that most of our clients like having the options.  Some like the ease of doing business virtually and e-signature, but they also like having the option to come in and talk to someone if they have a question or if things get complicated.

The best insurance agents in Maryland provide you with choices

Choices are important when it comes to protecting your family with the best insurance plans available. Communication choices are also important.

Huff Insurance provides both of these choices for you and your family.

Contact Huff Insurance Today

Huff Insurance is here to help with your insurance needs, using the communication method that is best for you.