Veterans & Homeowners Beware

First, I want to say that if you are a Veteran, thank you for your service.

I am a member of American Legion Post 86 in Blaine and had the chance to enjoy the celebration at Post 7 in Bellingham near the airport for Veterans' Day.

Armistice Day, first celebrated on November 11, 1919, was to observe the one-year anniversary of the surrender of the Germans to the Allies ending the Great War on 11/11/1918. In 1926 a Congressional resolution officially made it Armistice Day. Twelve years later in 1938 it was declared a Federal Holiday. Then in 1954, US Representative Edward Reese from Kansas proposed the bill to change it to Veterans Day, which President Eisenhower signed — making November 11 Veterans Day ever since.

A little-known fact: the American Legion started to advocate for all Veterans immediately following the war in Paris, France in 1919, by veterans of World War One. History credits Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. for proposing such an organization to a group of representatives from the American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.). Congress chartered the American Legion on September 16, 1919. The American Legion later proved instrumental in the creation of the Veterans Administration in 1930 and was an ardent supporter of its inclusion to cabinet status when it became the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989. There are 1.6 million members worldwide celebrated at more than 12,000 posts.

If you ever want to see how this organization honors the veterans of all services — USMC, US Army, US Air Force, US Navy, US Coast Guard, the Space Force, and even the US Merchant Marines who proudly served during World War II — go to an American Legion near you.

A Cautionary Tale for Homeowners

We have had one too many customers wooed away by what appeared to be a lower premium on a home policy, only to be cancelled during the underwriting period. I just read that some of the top carriers are not going to accept secondary homes, vacation homes, or rental/landlord properties for the foreseeable future to reduce their exposure to non-primary residential housing.

We had one auto customer who wanted us to look at his local home after a large competitor had already promised him coverage, taken his money — and then cancelled him some 45 days later. The previous company had almost doubled his premium, so naturally this concerned customer shopped until a new carrier said they could help. The original carrier was $1,440 and was renewing at $2,500 annually. The company representative offered a premium of $1,590. He jumped at the savings.

Even though the company had all of his addresses and information, they later cancelled him and told him it was for a water claim — even though he had disclosed it. It turned out upon deeper investigation that the insured had owned a condo destroyed in a hurricane two to three years prior, recorded as a water loss. Despite the fact it had nothing to do with the Washington property, it was a second water claim attributed to the same insured within the last four years, and he was dropped.

I knew we could not write the policy for the same reason. I recommended calling the original provider back to see if they would consider reinstating at the $2,500 premium. To my surprise, the original insurer took them back.

Premium Increases — Proceed Cautiously

We have been fielding calls from several insureds regarding what can only be described as large increases to their premiums. Some have called us to discuss and gain understanding, while others may have jumped to what appeared to be substantial savings. Please proceed ever cautiously and consult with us if you feel our information is accurate and trustworthy.

The Washington Survey and Rating Board (WSRB) is a well-run, experienced institution that the insurance regulators of our great state rely on to correctly identify high-risk regions — perhaps temporarily underserved by resources that the fire service needs to maximize response time and fight a property-destroying fire.

If you are not sure what your profile is from WSRB, my office has a subscription to the service that will not only provide your Protection Code/Town Class, but also your flood risk according to FEMA and the Earthquake Rating and distance to the nearest fault line. We can provide your profile and would encourage you to get educated — in person, a Zoom call, or a phone session. We can explain what options you have to address your concerns and possibly lower costs while maximizing needed protection for your property.

Lesser-Known Facts

Transportation Expense (Rental Car): It is only good for 30 days and only for the amount you have purchased. Companies who insure the "other party" who may be responsible for damage to your car may or may not be required to provide rental car coverage if you do not have it on your own policy. This coverage is only available for a covered collision claim — not any other circumstance.

Waiting on Parts: If your repairs are waiting on parts that will be several weeks before they arrive, know that you still only have 30 days of coverage. Additional days will be an out-of-pocket expense for you.

Excessive Labor Costs: Getting your auto damages repaired when those repairs may contain excessive labor costs in the estimate may require a clear understanding and explanation by the claims adjuster. Some costs may be out of pocket beyond the deductible if the labor charge is not considered normal or acceptable.

Renting a Motorized Vehicle: If you rent any motorized vehicle other than an automobile, please do not assume your automobile policy is going to cover damages or liabilities that occurred during that rental. Check with us or the toll-free number before declining potential insurance from the vendor — it may be the only coverage available.