Are you looking for church insurance and you are wondering what things you need to think about? Below is some information on church insurance – 6 crucial things to check that will be very helpful to you as you look around.
1. Choosing a church insurance provider
- First, do your research to find out which companies provide church insurance. Once you find out who the top providers are, look at the products they have, and what they cover under each product. Check if the items that you would like to be covered fall under their products, e.g. travel, liability, property, and health.
- You can also find out if the company will be willing to offer your church educational materials and training to protect against risky events along with the package you may want to take up.
- Lastly, check out the costs of the products that the different companies are offering, and see which product offers value for money.
2. Choose a good insurance agent
- Another thing to consider when thinking about church insurance is whether you want to deal with the company directly or with an insurance agent. A qualified, trustworthy, and competent agent will be able to guide you through the whole process. He or she will be able to help you decide on the proper coverage and the most suitable insurance package for your church after doing a thorough analysis of your church’s needs.
- As you look around for an agent, ensure that he or she is a specialist in church insurance and can pinpoint the risks that the church faces and what kind of coverage you need.
- Once you decide on an agent and go through the process, maintain the relationship so that he or she can stay on top of things and make sure your church is always properly covered.
3. Customer Service
- Another item among the 6 crucial things to check is whether the insurance provider or the agent will provide you with good customer service. Will either of them be there for you when losses occur and you need some kind of compensation? Will you feel that they have your church’s best interests at heart?
- Your insurance provider or agent should also be able to make sure that your church’s insurance coverage caters for all the areas of concern. They should also know when property appraisals are required, and organize them regularly so that your church is not at risk.
4. Financial Rating of the Insurance Provider
- If you decide to go with a church insurance provider, make sure that you check what the provider’s financial rating looks like. Check the ratings of the providers you are looking at and see if they rank among the top.
- If your chosen provider has a good rating, it means that this provider has the financial strength to pay any future obligations to you in case there is any damage to your church. If the rating is not good, however, you can be sure that if your church ever makes a claim, it will be a while before you get a payout.
5. Coverage Areas
- When thinking about church insurance, another of the 6 crucial things to check is the coverage areas. What is your insurance agent or provider offering you? Below are a few areas that you may want to ask about as you meet with your provider.
- Property Coverage – This should protect the buildings and everything inside them against damages that may arise from natural disasters, accidents, power surges, fire, etc.
- Workers Compensation – This covers all medical expenses for work-related injuries and compensates the employees during the recovery period when they are away from work. It also pays benefits if the employee passes on due to work-related injuries.
- Liability Insurance – This covers claims and lawsuits that are brought against the church, and provides financial protection and resources needed to pay for judgments or settlements.
- Commercial Auto – If your church transports staff or church members from time to time, you will need this coverage. It also protects against damage or loss of any of your vehicles that are used for church-related activities and pays medical expenses for any injuries incurred by individuals inside the church vehicle.
6. Cost
- Lastly, you will need to take into account the factors that may influence how high or low your premiums will be. These are:
- Claims history – If your church has a clean claims report from previous insurance covers, you will not pay as much as if you have made claims in the past.
- Coverage needs – Every church has its own needs, and these influence how high or low the premium will be.
- Church location – If your church is in an area deemed to be fairly safe, your premiums may not be as high as if it is in an area viewed as dangerous, risky, or crime-prone.
This information on church insurance and the 6 crucial things to check will point you in the right direction when looking for church insurance. Good luck!