Did you know that many home insurance policies have clauses regarding pets? It’s easy to overlook, but understanding the relationship between home insurance and pets is important to know your coverage. So, if you’re in Crystal Lake, IL, we at August Vincent Insurance Agency have some tips for you.
Property
If a pet damages your home, is that covered?
In most cases, no. In fact, damage from "animals" (including wild animals and pets) is a common exclusion from home insurance policies. Every policy is different, so you can see if such coverage might be available, but it is very uncommon. In most cases, pet-caused damage isn’t covered by insurance — whether it’s a home policy or anything else.
People
This is the primary purpose of home insurance as it relates to pets. If a pet causes harm to a person, there are medical bills and liability issues. Home policies can cover these instances, but they aren’t necessarily standard.
The classic example is a dog bite. If your pet dog bites a visitor, your home insurance could cover liability costs as long as it’s included in your policy. So, if you have pets and they pose any risk of harm to people, you can change your policy to ensure that they are included.
Keep in mind that pet liability will depend on the pet itself. You’ll be hard-pressed to get liability coverage for your pet cobra. Meanwhile, coverage for your labrador is probably easier to find, and your goldfish probably doesn’t need a policy in the first place.
Pets
Lastly, does home insurance protect your pets at all? The short answer is no. Home insurance mainly covers damage to the home itself and liability related to the house, with a few exceptions. Pets are not included in these categories.
Insurance for pets does exist, but it won’t be under home insurance policies. Instead, if you want coverage for a furry friend, you can try to bundle a separate policy to save some money.
Regardless, August Vincent Insurance Agency is here to help. If you have any questions, we’ll review policies for your property, pets, and anything else you care about in Crystal Lake, IL.
