I have a wood stove, will that be a problem?

A wood stove is a factor that could affect the overall cost of your plan, but the energy savings from this heat source might be enough of a benefit to outweigh this added cost. The most important aspect of a wood stove is proper maintenance and installation for ensured safety.

My children are at college, are they still covered?

Full time college students under the age of 24, and still a part of your household, will receive some forms of coverage in a dorm. Typically 10 percent of their limits.

What about Earthquakes?

Earthquake damage can be added but it is excluded from standard homeowner’s policies.

Should I include jewelry in my homeowners policy?

Your jewelry is covered in the event of a fire, but mysterious disappearance or theft has limits. Scheduling your jewelry will expand these limits. Oftentimes a jeweler might provide coverage, we are always happy to help you compare these options to get the best rates.

What about my car?

In the event of a house fire that damages your vehicle, your homeowners insurance will not replace your car. This will come from your auto insurance.

What about water damage?

Many insurance policies exclude water damage from water that backs up through plumbing, such as a failed sump pump. Floods and water seeping through a foundation are often not covered as well. Discussing the particulars of your home with our agents is the best way to get added coverage to make sure events such as these are protected. Flood insurance in particular is a separate policy provided by a government program and distributed through insurance carriers. Flood damage is the most costly home claim on average. 25% of flood losses occur in low risk flood zones.

Are deductibles required?

Yes. Homeowners forms usually have a deductible of $1,000.00. For wind and hail damages there can be other options such as $2,000.00 or $2,500.00 and some companies will make the deductible a percentage of your coverage such as 1% or 2%.

Replacement Cost vs. Market Value

Using the market value of your home to insure against damages can be financially devastating. Your replacement cost needs to be enough to rebuild your home, while also including expenses such as debris removal and site prep.

If I rent a car, do I need to purchase the rental coverage from the rental car company?

To be safe, yes you should purchase their offered insurance. Your personal auto policy will offer some coverage, but there could be gaps due to the contract requirements of the large rental car companies.  Speak with a Hummel agent to discuss the pros and cons before you travel.

For more information, check out this blog post - Top 10 Reasons to Purchase the Rental Car Damage Waiver.

Do I have enough liability coverage? 

People often ask, how much is too much? Generally, increasing liability is a major factor in determining your premium, meeting with an agent and discussing your major assets is the best way to get an analysis of what liability will be right for you.

Can I pay online?

People often ask, how much is too much? Generally, increasing liability is a major factor in determining your premium, meeting with an agent and discussing your major assets is the best way to get an analysis of what liability will be right for you.

To see if your carrier allows online payments, check here.

When do I add my 16-year-old driver?

Typically, when a child receives their license is the day we will add them to a policy. This is not standard with every carrier though. Once a child has received their permit, contact us and we will guide you through the process of adding a new, young driver.

Will my rates go up with a violation or accident?

Not all carriers handle violations in the same way. Typically, one minor violation will not result in a change, but at-fault accidents will mean some rate adjustment depending on several factors.

How much will a new car cost to insure?

If you are buying a new car, call us and will be happy to calculate the potential changes in premiums for your insurance with the addition of another vehicle.

When is my bill due?

Our staff is happy to answer any billing questions you might have. Call us today, and we will go over your billing schedule.

Can you lower my premium?

By confirming that you have your desired coverages and looking at other possible deductibles, there are ways we can lower premiums in some cases.

What will my deductible be?

Automobile deductibles range from none to $1,000.00. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium.

What does liability insurance cover?

The liability on your RV will cover damage to other vehicles, bodily injury to others, and any lawsuits arising from an accident. The amount of these costs that will be covered by your RV liability depends on the liability limits within your policy.

Does my RV coverage extend into Canada or Mexico?

Many policies do extend into Canada, but additional coverage may need to be purchased to meet requirements of Mexican law. Check with your agent before taking your RV out of the country.

Who should be listed as a driver?

Make a list of all drivers for your RV and add them all to the policy. Adding new drivers after purchasing a policy is easily done.

Is there a lay-up period since the vehicle is not used in the winter?

Some carriers will provide a lay-up period or discount, but others have built this downtime into their regular rates.

Do I need to insure my RV trailer or is that covered by my auto insurance?

Damage to your trailer is not covered by your auto policy unless you specifically add it. A separate specialized RV policy is also available for the physical damage of the RV trailer. Liability for an RV trailer will typically be extended from the insurance policy of the vehicle pulling the trailer.

Will my homeowners policy cover my personal property while I am on the road with my motorhome?

Homeowners policies have limits on coverage outside of your property and require a deductible to be paid first. Motor home insurance can provide comprehensive coverage for personal belongings, and claims won’t affect your home rates since it is a separate policy.

Is liability included in my homeowners policy for my ATV?

No, an ATV off premises would not be covered by your homeowners liability. It must be added to an auto policy or have its own special RV policy if you take it off your property.

Who needs a Personal Umbrella?

You do not need to be wealthy to be sued for millions. Juries determine damages based on the severity of an accident, not your ability to pay those damages. Do you own or drive a vehicle? Do you own or rent a home? Do you want to protect the assets and investments that you worked hard to accumulate? If you said yes to any of those, you need an umbrella. The truth is EVERYONE needs an umbrella.

What is a Personal Umbrella?

Your auto, homeowner, boat or recreational vehicle policies do have limits to the amount of coverage they provide. An Umbrella policy protects you against claims that exceed the coverage limits of those policies.

Why is it important to have a Personal Umbrella?

Unfortunately, accidents happen. Sometimes accidents can be severe. In these instances, you are vulnerable to legal action. Would your primary policies provide the coverage that you need? If the settlement is more than what your primary policies can pay, it is your responsibility to pay the rest of the settlement. You could be forced to sell your home, vehicles, liquidate personal investments or have your future wages garnished. This could be devastating to you and your family.

How much does it cost to add millions of dollars of coverage?

A personal umbrella is actually one of the best values in insurance today. You can obtain an additional $1 million of coverage for as low as $150 per year. That’s about $0.43 a day to protect you and your family!

If one of our employees uses their personal vehicle for something work related, and is involved in an accident, does our policy cover them? Does our policy cover us?

Your employee’s personal auto insurance policy should cover them personally. As a church or nonprofit, you need to make sure you have what’s called Hired/Non-Owned liability coverage endorsed to your policy. This covers your entity if you are also named in a lawsuit per it being your employee driving somewhere having to do with their employment with you.

What is a hold harmless agreement and when should we use one?

A hold harmless is an agreement between two parties that obligates one party to protect another against certain risks of legal liability. For example, you may have an outside group that requests to rent a room in your building every Wednesday evening for a Yoga class. As the building owner, you might ask them to sign a hold harmless agreement so that if someone injures themselves during that class, you have a layer of protection from being sued. You would also want to consider requiring the Yoga instructor to carry their own insurance and list you as an additional insured on that policy.

If there is a sexual misconduct allegation within our organization, does our policy cover legal defense for that accusation and/or a possible settlement to that person awarded by a court?

General liability policies typically do not include this type of coverage. Therefore, it is important to discuss adding a sexual misconduct specific endorsement to your policy.

Does our current general liability policy provide liability coverage for us if we serve wine at our annual fundraiser dinner?

Most commercial general liability policies include coverage for what’s referred to as “host liquor” liability. This would apply to policyholders that are not considered to be in the business of selling or serving alcohol. It would also be advisable to check with the city where the event is being held, along with the landlord who owns the building, in case they require you to have specific liquor liability coverage.

What is the difference between Claims Made vs. Occurrence?

The Occurrence form is still the top of the line for any type of professional liability policy. Not only does the Occurrence form avoid the tail issues associated with a Claims Made policy, it also provides liability limits that replicate each year. While a Claims Made policy has one limit (usually a $1,000,000/$3,000,000) that insures forwards and backwards to the retroactive date; the Occurrence form is similar to a homeowner’s policy in that each term has its own limit. In other words, you buy it every year, you pay for that protection, and it’s always there for you. Every Claims Made tail situation is different but the cost is always an inconvenience, to say the least. When the Occurrence form fits, it definitely allows maximum flexibility.

What does a large group consist of?

A large group may be a clinic, large employer, or simply a group of individual physicians coming together under a corporate entity. There truly is strength in numbers; and a large group of physicians with good loss history can realize discounts that are much higher than those available under an individual policy. Hummel Group works with large group programs and can answer any questions you may have.

Why do so few carriers write logging or lumber insurance policies?

Carriers don't understand the unique risks associated with these operations.  It's simply easier for them to decline writing policies than learning about the industry.

Why are workers' compensation rates for lumber/logging operations so much higher than other businesses?

Lumber and logging rank in the top 5 for the number and severity of workers' compensation injuries. These statistics drive the price of premiums up significantly.

Why are my existing rates so high for property and mobile equipment coverage?

The lumber and logging industry's greatest risk for loss in either of these two categories is fire. It's rare to have a "partial" fire loss. Fire claims are always more expensive for a carrier to settle.

Would an insurance company actually provide a policy to a logging operation that excludes "Lumber and Logging Operations"?

Yes. This is exactly the reason that lumber and logging businesses need to work carefully and closely with a knowledgeable agent. At Hummel Group, we are dedicated to helping those in the industry find gaps just like this to ensure they are covered.

Why can't my current agent find one carrier to handle all of my needs?

Most agents and brokers know very little about this industry, and so the carriers that do write policies for lumber and logging are not comfortable working with them. These specialty carriers prefer to work with agents that have the experience - like Hummel Group- and clientele to guarantee a smooth policy writing process.

If one of our employees uses their personal vehicle for something work related, and is involved in an accident, does our policy cover them? Does our policy cover us?

Your employee’s personal auto insurance policy should cover them personally. As a church or nonprofit, you need to make sure you have what’s called Hired/Non-Owned liability coverage endorsed to your policy. This covers your entity if you are also named in a lawsuit per it being your employee driving somewhere having to do with their employment with you.

Does our current general liability policy provide liability coverage for us if we serve wine at our annual fundraiser dinner?

Most commercial general liability policies include coverage for what’s referred to as “host liquor” liability. This would apply to policyholders that are not considered to be in the business of selling or serving alcohol. It would also be advisable to check with the city where the event is being held, along with the landlord who owns the building, in case they require you to have specific liquor liability coverage.

Where does my midway coverage go?

All 50 States, US Territories and Canada.

If my concession trailer was totaled, what would I get?

That depends on a variety of factors that includes how the concession trailer is insured. Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost Coverage are the options and we can help you determine what is available and which option makes the most sense for your mobile food business.

Insurance tries to pay the least amount if I have a claim, isn’t that true?

I apologize if you have had a bad claim experience or know someone who has. In insurance, there is no one size fits all policy, so it’s important to understand what options you have and how coverage will respond in the event of a loss. No insurance policy covers everything, so the focus should be what are your biggest exposures and how can the policy work for your business in the event of a loss - especially a catastrophic loss.

What should I consider when evaluating concession insurance coverage?

That’s a great question. Many factors should be considered and each business is unique. Here are a few items that will get you started:
    - What do you own and use in your business?
    - What liabilities do you have and what should you insure against?
    - What is required by State or Federal law?
    - What is your insurance budget?
    - What would hurt your business and what would put you out of business?

Insurance is a mystery to me, how do I navigate my options?

We tend not to like what we can’t control or don’t fully understand.  Insurance for most people is in the “don’t like” or “hate” category, in my opinion, because of the above reasons.  I would recommend finding an agent who understands your industry and can explain coverage in an understandable way.  You decide how to insure your business and you can’t make good decisions without good information.  Take the time to get good information and build a policy that is appropriate for your individual concession business.

Certificates of Insurance?

    - No additional charge for sending them out
    - We keep them on file and send them out automatically
    - Call us with new events or “lost certificates” and we’ll get them out as quick as we can
    - Designated person to process your certificate requests
    - Blanket additional insured included when required by written contract

What information do I need to get started?

I look forward to the opportunity to gather the details of your concession business and prepare an insurance proposal. The best way to get started is to review the details of your business over the phone or in person. Information I will need to prepare a proposal:

General Business Information
    - Federal Tax ID Number(s) and Official Business Name(s)
    - Details of Operations
    - DOT Number
Vehicle and Regular Driver Schedule
    - Year – Make – Model – Vehicle Identification Number – Cost New or Value
    - Trucks, Support Trailers, Concession Trailers, Bunkhouses/RVs
    - Name – Date of Birth – Driver’s License Number
Equipment Schedule
    - Year – Make – Model – Serial or VIN
    - Golf Cart, Generators, Tents, Stands, Inventory & Misc. Equipment
    - Workers Compensation
    - States - Payroll
30+ Minutes of your time to fill in additional detail
    - Review Specialty Coverages
    - Underwriting Information
    - Review of Current Program

How can we assist your employees?

We can help your employees with:
    - Medical Claims Questions
    - Prescription Drug Claims Questions
    - Help Finding a Network Provider
    - Assistance with Insurer Online Tools

When can I offer group health insurance to my employees?

Employers can start a new health insurance plan at any point throughout the year. 

Is there a minimum number of employees required before offering health coverage?

The minimum number of employees is typically two for a group plan but certain carriers have group options that allow down to one. Each carrier views this a bit differently and has its own set of stipulations. Hummel Group will look at your individual situation and determine what options are available to you.

What qualifies as an "eligible" employee?

Generally speaking, an employee must be full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week) to be eligible for health insurance and receive a W-2 tax document.

Does a 1099 employee count as an eligible employee?

1099 employees can be considered on a case-by-case basis.

My company has less than 50 employees, will I incur a penalty or fee if I don’t offer health insurance?

Employers with less than 50 full-time equivalents are not required to offer health insurance so, there is no penalty.

What is the average cost of health insurance for a business with 1-50 employees?

This varies widely and depends on several factors that are unique to you and your business.   Give us a call if you would like to discuss your benefits strategy or see quotes for your employer-sponsored plan.

Can I get VSP (Vision Service Plan) on an individual basis and not through a group plan?

Yes you can!  Give us a call or click here to set up an individual plan.

Can I buy any insurance to pay for my medical plan deductible?

No, but you can purchase some plans that will cover specific situations to put cash back in your pocket to help pay for your deductibles.

Does my group hospitalization cover dental or vision expenses?

No. Those need to be purchased separately on dental or vision plans which can be offered by an employer on a voluntary basis.

Does offering a voluntary benefits package help attract and retain your talent pool?

Absolutely!

What are the costs to me as an employer?

There is simply the time to administer the payroll deduction

What size businesses do you work with?

Whether your business consists of hundreds of employees in multiple locations or you're a single owner/employee operation, we have experience working with businesses just like yours and are happy to help. There's no cost for a consultation, so give us a call by clicking the scheduling link above.

Does my business have to be close to Hummel Group?

While we service many businesses located near our Berlin, Orrville, and Wooster locations and pride ourselves on a local touch, we will come to you! We currently service businesses that have operations and locations out of state, hours away, and down the street. Geography is not a limitation.

How much will this cost my business?

The initial consultation with us is always free. Because we work to match you and your businesses' needs to our wide range of expertise and service capabilities, we make sure to have flexible cost options that will fit your business. Schedule a 30 minute phone call by clicking above at your convenience to get the conversation started.