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FAQs:

Health: In addition of Blue Cross, we are an Authorized Agent for several other leading Medical and Health Plan carriers, so you can also depend on us for all of your Individual and Group Healthcare needs.

Life: Buying life insurance is unlike any other purchase. When you pay premiums, you are buying future financial security for your family. The following are some tips provided by the American Council of Life Insurance in cooperation with the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Information Center.

Why do I need life insurance?

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide protection in the event of death. Most people buy life insurance to replace income that would be lost with the death of a wage earner. The life insurance proceeds provide beneficiaries with immediate access to cash, allowing them to maintain their current lifestyle without the burden of significant debt. Another important feature of life insurance is that the death benefit goes directly to named beneficiaries, bypassing the probate process, and is free of federal income tax.

Life insurance can also be used as part of a comprehensive plan to help address a variety of long-term needs during your lifetime. These include:

Supplementing income.
Reducing the amount of your taxable estate through charitable gifts.
Start a business or buy a second home.

How much do I need?

Before buying life insurance, you should discuss your personal situation with an insurance professional. Together you can determine how much life insurance protection is needed. Some factors to consider include:

Final expenses, such as medical bills, burial costs and estate taxes.
Outstanding debts, such as mortgage payoff and other loans.
Future college expenses for children.
Ongoing needs, such as monthly expenses, daycare costs, etc.

A general rule of thumb is to buy life insurance that equals five to seven times your gross annual income.

What is term insurance?

There are two basic types of life insurance: term and permanent insurance. Term insurance offers protection only for a specific period of time. The death benefit is paid only if the insured dies during the term. Premiums can remain level for a period of time, or can increase throughout the period. Most term policies can be renewed at the end of a specific period or be converted to permanent coverage.

We want to purchase a life insurance policy to protect our kids, but our budget is really limited right now. What can we do?

Purchasing a life insurance policy can be more affordable than you think. Farmers New World Life offers Level Term policies that can be purchased for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day. See our Products and Services page for details, or call us today at (510) 797-6888 to set an appointment for a Life Insurance consultation.

I am a Engineer. Does Farmers offer any type of occupational discount for insurance?

Yes, Farmers Insurance does have an Affinity program which offers up to 15% discount off Auto Insurance for being in a eligible occupational group. To learn more, please visit our Products and Services page for a listing of eligible occupations.

Personal umbrella: Here are some important points regarding your liability insurance. Please click here to view information regarding personal umbrella.

Why do I need Personal Umbrella Insurance?

The average size of liability suits has increases dramatically. The following are a few examples of accidents in which a personal umbrella policy would be needed.

One evening while on the way home, a driver does not see a stop sign and broadsides a city bus. Several of the occupants are injured. Resulting in an extremely large lawsuit.
A family dog becomes very touchy and bites a child. Although the child is not seriously injured physically, there are some resulting psychological problems. The dog's owner is sued for a substantial sum.
A man on vacation rents a boat. He runs in a water-skier, severely injuring the skier's legs. A large lawsuit ensues.
A homeowner is responsible for a fire that sweeps through his condominium complex, resulting in several lawsuits.

If any of these happen to you, there's us a good chance your liability insurance limits would not be adequate. You could be sued for all your possess, and most of your future earnings.

Isn't my basic liability insurance enough?

It may be, but those substantial financial resources usually need more liability insurance to adequately protect their assets. You could be sued for an amount far more exceeding your standard liability coverage. If you have a personal umbrella policy, the additional layer of protection would cover you for larger losses (to the extent of policy limits).

I am covered for the maximum limits with Farmers Insurance for my Home and Automobiles. For added security, what can I do to increase the limits of my policies?

Farmers Insurance can offer you a Personal Umbrella policy that will provide you with additional coverage after your underlying policy limits have been exhausted. You can purchase Personal Umbrella insurance in increments of $1,000,000. If you have extensive assets, Personal Umbrella insurance is something that you shouldn't be without.

How much can I lose through a liability suit?

Just read you newspaper to see how high the awards can be in liability lawsuits. A lot depends on the individual case, of course. But with a personal umbrella policy, you can better protect your assets (including future earnings) from a financially devastating lawsuit.

Are there any other advantages?

If you are sued, even if the verdict is in your favor, your legal fees may be extremely high. If you have a personal umbrella policy, you won't need to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for legal fees.

Your personal umbrella also provides coverage outside the U.S. and Canada.
When you rent a boat, an umbrella policy can insure your activities. We can explain all of the various coverage in more detail.

Why have a personal agent?

Your Farmers agent will provide you with a variety of personal added benefits most other insurance companies will not be able to. Please download a brochure on Why you should have a personal agent?

Reporting an Auto Claim

A step-by-step guide on how to report an Auto Claim

1. Stop - render aid. Stop profuse bleeding, if possible. Avoid moving an injured person - it may seriously complicate the injury. Call a doctor or ambulance.

2. Warn other drivers to prevent further damage. Set flares. Signal with a flashlight at night.

3. Notify the police. Many times a passing driver or bystander will do this for you.

4. Gather the facts. Be sure to get the names of witnesses, as well as other pertinent information.

5. Be careful what you say. Don't admit responsibility. Investigation may show you were not responsible.

6. Report to proper authorities. Each state has its own requirements for such reports. Check the laws for your state and comply.

7. Notify Farmers immediately. Contact Farmers at Help Point hotline at 1-800-435-7764.

8. Glass repair or replacement claims. Call our offices for coverage and recommended local shops

For additional insurance questions, please click on one of the links below:

Home Insurance
Auto Insurance
Life Insurance
Business Insurance
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