We’ve all seen the comedy sketches where something really bad happens to someone like a giant tree falling through the roof during a storm, destroying their home, only for the insurance agent to say, “Sorry, your policy excludes coverage for ‘acts of God…’”
This scenario could happen to any of us in reality, but that’s exactly what insurance should cover! Let’s examine what’s really going on regarding the ambiguities of these so-called ‘acts of God’ circumstances.
We’ll dispel some of the myths surrounding Acts of God exclusions and get you informed.
First, let’s define which events could be classified as acts of God or acts of nature. Here are a few common examples:
Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t understand why theft or riots are considered acts of God. God wouldn’t steal or riot from anyone! I do understand why people would classify floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters under acts of God. Nevertheless, those are some of the examples.
Contrary to popular belief, most insurance policies actually DO cover acts of God. Be sure to check with your independent insurance agent to see what your specific policy states. Depending on where you live, you may be able to purchase disaster-specific policies like flood insurance or earthquake insurance.
Otherwise, you could use liability insurance or collision coverage to protect yourself against certain situations like your neighbor’s dog running out into the street, causing you to wreck your car. I’m sure your agent has several crazy stories about under-insured people who were disadvantaged when bad luck showed up.
However, if you live on an earthquake fault line or tornado alley, you may have to pony up some extra cash for coverage through a separate policy. Your agent can tell you if you qualify for protection under your regular policy or if an upgrade is needed.
If you haven’t done so recently, take a moment to review your policy with your insurance agent. I know that fine print is super difficult to trudge through, so let your agent guide and consult you through the process. Share your concerns and listen to his or her recommendations for you. It only takes one event to ruin your property or severely impact your life.
