p.2 #1 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
Join NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association). It'll cost you $100/yr for membership but one of the huge benes is that they offer is a great all-risk insurance plan (which probably would include hanging upside down above a shark tank ) NANPA is a decent organization too, and there are a bunch of other benefits of joining too...
p.2 #2 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
USAA insures my gear on a separate valuable articles policy, which also includes jewelry and our musical instruments. All told, the policy is covering about 16,000 worth of stuff and costs me about $175 a year, but has zero deductible and covers any loss (so if I drop my camera bag in a river, I'm covered).
We've only claimed on it once, when my wife's diamond from her engagement ring got knocked out and lost when she was out one evening. USAA is awesome, though...we had the full amount of the replacement in our account within one day of sending the estimate to them, and our rates didn't go up at all.
p.2 #4 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
fcobb wrote:
State Farm hmeowners, Covers actual replacement cost, no deductable.
don't most of their homeowners policies have deductibles though and maybe they raise home owner rates and it's better to keep it to a separate personal articles policy for most? i don't really know just vaguely educated speculation
i know some of their agents have started trying to force it to go on homeowners or pushing homeowners, that lone makes me think it's not the way to go
p.2 #5 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
fcobb........ What said isnt totally true.....I have mine through State Farm as well....after two years of coverage....I asked the magic question about "full value or replacement value".......was told that they repair or replace for up to "insured" value.
So I immediately bumped my coverage to current replacement costs !!
My friend dropped his 500mm lens, it broke in two....he only got what he first insured for....
I totally agree...State farms price and coverage is tops.....but you need to keep your coverage numbers current.
p.2 #6 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
goosemang wrote:
my homeowners covers it in case of theft/fire and the like, but not in case of damage due to mechanical failure or, for instance,, dropping it. that's what I'm concerned about. plus there's a $1k deductible under my homeowners, so that's not ideal either.
I'm willing to pay a for a policy that covers all these bases/has a more reasonable deductible
Insurance companies do not provide coverage for "mechanical failure." That is what a warranty covers. Just like your auto policy - it does not cover breakdowns etc., a warranty does.
Insurance companies cover risks of loss - flood, fire, theft, loss... You might be able to buy some kind of "warranty" policy, but do not expect your insurer to cover the failure of the camera to operate as intended.
p.2 #7 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
skibum5 wrote:
don't most of their homeowners policies have deductibles though and maybe they raise home owner rates and it's better to keep it to a separate personal articles policy for most? i don't really know just vaguely educated speculation
i know some of their agents have started trying to force it to go on homeowners or pushing homeowners, that lone makes me think it's not the way to go
Both people in the insurance industry and others who have made claims on their homeowner's policies will advise you not to rely on your homeowner's policy for insuring things like camera equipment. Not only can a claim raise your rates, but it can also cause you to risk your continued ability to be insured. I know that, with my homeowner's policy, I went for probably 30 years with no claims. Then, I made a claim for some storm damage, and the claim was for only about $300 above the deductible Then, about a year later, lightning took out my well pump, and I made a claim for for about $2000. Shortly thereafter, I got what I am sure was a computer-generated letter from the insurance company that essentially said that, if I wanted to maintain my insurance, I better not make any more claims in the foreseeable future. Considering the fact that I had probably paid them $25,000 in premiums during the previous 30 years, I was not pleased to get their letter; however, that reinforced the notion that I would not want to risk the insurance coverage on my home by making a claim for a few hundred or a few thousand dollars for a camera equipment related loss.
I have had a separate personal articles policy for my photography equipment for quite a few years. I believe the premium was originally about $13 per $1000 insured, but it has gone up a bit in the last couple of years. For the one claim that I did make, I received payment without any difficulty.
p.2 #8 · Insurance for non-commercial photographers
uz2work wrote:
Both people in the insurance industry and others who have made claims on their homeowner's policies will advise you not to rely on your homeowner's policy for insuring things like camera equipment. Not only can a claim raise your rates, but it can also cause you to risk your continued ability to be insured. I know that, with my homeowner's policy, I went for probably 30 years with no claims. Then, I made a claim for some storm damage, and the claim was for only about $300 above the deductible Then, about a year later, lightning took out my well pump, and I made a claim for for about $2000. Shortly thereafter, I got what I am sure was a computer-generated letter from the insurance company that essentially said that, if I wanted to maintain my insurance, I better not make any more claims in the foreseeable future. Considering the fact that I had probably paid them $25,000 in premiums during the previous 30 years, I was not pleased to get their letter; however, that reinforced the notion that I would not want to risk the insurance coverage on my home by making a claim for a few hundred or a few thousand dollars for a camera equipment related loss.
I have had a separate personal articles policy for my photography equipment for quite a few years. I believe the premium was originally about $13 per $1000 insured, but it has gone up a bit in the last couple of years. For the one claim that I did make, I received payment without any difficulty.
) NANPA is a decent organization too, and there are a bunch of other benefits of joining too...