Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A good choice can save you money on insurance

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When you purchase insurance, deciding which deductible is right for you is one of the many decisions you’ll need to make. Doing some homework on the subject can save Northwest Arkansas residents money in the long run.

Most insurance policies are written subject to a policy deductible. The deductible is the amount you have to pay towards the covered loss before your insurance company’s payment kicks in.

Auto insurance policies normally have separate deductible­s for collision and comprehens­ive losses (the latter includes wind, hail, or theft losses). Those deductible­s are typically a flat dollar amount, ranging from $100 up to $1000 or more.

In some cases you can choose a policy with no deductible at all.

For the most part, the days of $50 and $100 deductible­s are long gone. This is in large part due to inflation and the higher cost of property, including automobile­s. Costs are now as much as ten times higher than when those deductible­s were first available. Choosing a Deductible

Usually, if you select a larger deductible, your insurance rate will be lower, and vice versa. Make sure to consider your circumstan­ces when selecting a deductible amount. Should you end up facing a high-dollar loss, you should be able to afford the deductible.

The main reason you purchase insurance protection is to protect you and your family from the financial hardship that can result from a major loss. If you are willing to self-insure the small losses and pay for a small part of the larger ones, the savings in your premium could be significan­t. If you invest in the proper maintenanc­e of your property, you even may avoid many of the smaller losses that tend to happen. Make that your first level of insurance coverage and your savings will be even greater.

For more informatio­n, contact any of the following area Shelter Insurance® agents: Scott Comiskey, of Bella Vista, (479) 855-7774; Jamie Carter, of Bentonvill­e, (479) 845-3657; Matt Hillis, of Bentonvill­e, (479) 273-7793; Chris Taylor, of Gravette, (479) 787-5421; Keri Earwood, of Rogers, (479) 899-6391; Sean Garrison, of Rogers, (479) 621-0555.

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