As college students and their parents begin planning for the new academic year, “check insurance” should be on their “to do” lists. For students who live in an on-campus dormitory, most of their personal possessions are covered under either their parents’ homeowners or renters insurance policy, although the issue gets more complicated if the student resides off-campus or owns a very expensive computer or sophisticated electronic equipment.
College students haul off to school a costly array of personal possessions. In addition to clothing, furniture and books, many also will bring expensive personal electronics and sports equipment.
And with the cost of tuition rising, the last thing students or their parents want to do is to have to pay to replace costly items due to theft, fire or another disaster.
Families are urged to create a “dorm inventory” — a detailed list of every item the student plans to bring to school, along with its estimated value. Having an up-to-date inventory will help determine how much insurance to purchase and will help get insurance claims settled faster in the event of theft, fire or other types of disaster.
Parents should contact their insurance agent or company representative to learn about all of the insurance options. Find out how much insurance coverage the student will have on his or her parents’ policy and if supplemental insurance is needed.
Some homeowners insurance policies may limit the amount of coverage for a college student’s off-premises belongings to 10 percent of the total amount of a policy’s coverage for personal possessions. Expensive computer and electronic equipment and items such as jewelry may also be subject to coverage limits under a standard homeowners policy. If the limits are too low, parents may consider buying a special personal property floater, or an endorsement, for these items. This will not only provide a higher amount of insurance, it will also provide broader coverage. Most floaters, for instance, also include additional coverage for “mysterious disappearance.”
There are also stand-alone insurance policies for computers and other electronics. Students and their parents may also want to consider purchasing a stand-alone policy specifically designed for students living away at college. This can be an economical way to provide additional insurance coverage for a variety of disasters.
Students who live off campus may not be covered by their parents’ homeowners policy and may need to purchase their own renters insurance. Parents should consult their insurance agent or company representative to see if their homeowners or renters policy extends to off-campus living situations.
For students going off to college, consider the following:
- Leave valuables at home if possible . While it may be necessary to take a computer or sports equipment to campus, other expensive items such as valuable jewelry or luxury watches should be left at home or kept in a local safety deposit box
- Engrave electronics . Engrave electronic items such as computers, televisions and portable devices with a name or other identifying information that can help police track the stolen articles.
- Always lock dorm room doors and carry the keys at all times, even if you leave briefly. And not just at night-most dorm thefts occur during the day. Insist that roommates do the same.
- Do not leave belongings unattended on campus. Whether in class, the library, the dining hall or other public areas, students should never leave unattended their backpacks, purses and laptops. These are the primary areas where property theft occurs.
Talk to your insurance agent about the student having a car on campus, or leaving it at home. Many insurers offer discounts for students who are living at a school that is at least 100 miles from home.
Source: Insurance Information Institute
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