Flooding is a significant concern for Insurance & Financial Services Inc. customers living in Baton Rouge, LA. With the city near the Mississippi River and more active hurricane seasons, it is vital to be aware of your flood risk to protect yourself, your family, and your property. Learning about your flood risk is the first step toward finding an insurance solution that works for you. 

Determining Your Flood Risk 

Living in Louisiana means everyone is subject to flooding, but the risk varies. To assess your home’s level of vulnerability, check FEMA’s flood maps. When you enter your property’s address, the FEMA maps show designated zones noting potential danger from floods, regulations, and associated insurance requirements.

Is flood insurance mandatory?

Most of Baton Rouge is in moderate to high-risk zones on the FEMA maps. FEMA Flood Maps designate moderate- to low-risk flood areas. Moderate regions still have potential flooding but are at a lower risk than other zones. In moderate regions, flood insurance is highly recommended but not mandatory.

High-risk flood locations are subject to the highest chance of being flooded. Obtaining flood insurance is obligatory if you own property within such an area and your mortgage is federally backed. Sometimes the maps can be confusing, so call us if you have questions. One of our agents can walk you through the maps and help you make the best decision to protect your property. 

Understanding your flood risk is essential when protecting yourself against flooding in Baton Rouge, LA. So don’t wait; contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc today for more information about protecting yourself from floods!

One of the best things you can do for your health and your financial future is to carry health insurance. Insurance & Financial Services Inc. offers health insurance in Baton Rouge, LA. 

The following are three significant advantages to be aware of when it comes to having health insurance.

Health insurance helps you to get the medical treatments you need to stay healthy.

When you’re sick, medical treatments can be essential for your quality of life and survival. Unfortunately, needed medical treatment can also be costly.

With health insurance, you can get the costs of the medical treatment you need to be covered to continue to enjoy a healthy and happy life. 

Health insurance prevents the expenses that result from health problems from wiping out your savings.

Even if you have a lot of money saved up to cover medical costs, it’s still important to carry health insurance.

Without health insurance, you may find yourself having to pay out of pocket for health care costs. This makes it so that an illness can easily wipe out some or all of your savings. 

Health insurance can make it so that you’re less stressed about medical costs.

Naturally, consumers tend to be stressed when worried that health issues can create huge financial problems.

A health insurance policy can give a consumer more peace of mind and prevent stress about medical costs. 

Are you in the market for health insurance in Baton Rouge, LA?

We can help you at Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Contact us for a policy quote so you can find the best health insurance option. 

If you own a business in Baton Rouge, LA, investing in commercial insurance should be on your priority list. Commercial insurance protects your business against seen and unseen risks.

While commercial insurance is a worthy investment, you should know it doesn’t cover you against all events. Insurance & Financial Services Inc. highlights add-ons you should consider to fill in gaps in your standard commercial insurance.

Professional liability

Do you offer professional advice? You can face significant financial losses if accused of missed deadlines or negligence. Professional liability insurance cushions you when sued because of your professional services.

Flood Insurance

Most standard commercial insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. However, the good thing is that you can purchase stand-alone flood insurance to cover your business against flood damage. Flood insurance repairs or replaces your business premises and other assets when floods strike.

Earthquake insurance

Is your business located in an earthquake-prone area? You should invest in earthquake insurance because your typical commercial insurance doesn’t cover your business against earthquake damage. Earthquake insurance cushions your assets and covers debris removal and other services indicated in your policy.

General liability insurance

Although general liability insurance isn’t mandatory, all businesses should invest in this coverage. Taking your hard-earned business down the drain only takes one significant liability incident. Liability insurance protects your business when accused of bodily injury or property damage. Also, business liability insurance comes to your rescue when sued.

Protect your business with commercial insurance

Still unsure about the add-on you should consider for your commercial insurance policy? Don’t worry. We understand that you can’t know everything about commercial insurance. So, if you are in Baton Rouge, LA, or the surrounding area, please contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for more information.

People understand why homeowners’ insurance is needed. But how about renters? Most tenants think they don’t need insurance because their landlord’s insurance will cover them. But this is not correct. Let the Insurance & Financial Services Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA explain why this coverage is important.

The landlord’s insurance policy provides protection only for what the landlord owns. Items inside the building the tenant owns are excluded. This information is probably stated in the lease signed at the rental time.

Renter’s insurance is a necessity. It protects the renter and their property. As with other forms of insurance, the customer chooses the amount of coverage and their deductible, then pays a monthly premium based on these choices. The amount of coverage a renter chooses is determined by the value of their property.

Renter’s insurance covers theft, vandalism, fire, plumbing and electrical malfunctions, weather events, and other hazards. There are two things a renter’s policy will not cover. Earthquakes and flooding are not included in the coverage. Specific policies are needed to cover these events if you live in an area prone to either of these hazards.

Any renter that has a furry four-legged friend especially needs this protection. If you have a guest and your dog decides to bite, this coverage pays for any medical costs that may arise.

Also, remember that any hazard not explicitly listed in the policy will not be covered. For example, if the policy doesn’t list damage from faulty plumbing, there is no coverage for it.

If you are a Baton Rouge, LA renter, ensure you protect your belongings with renter’s insurance. The Insurance & Financial Services Inc. can provide you with a quote or answer any questions you may have. Contact our office today.

When you purchase insurance from Insurance & Financial Services Inc., you cover some aspect of your life in or around Baton Rouge, LA. It might cover your home, business, or automobile, but it includes liability insurance.

Your need for increased liability grows as you age. At that point, you need to add umbrella insurance to the policies you carry. Umbrella, a secondary type of insurance, offers added liability protection to a primary policy that already offers liability insurance coverage.

As you age, you build a nice nest egg for retirement. If you don’t add umbrella insurance to your primary policy, then when you retire, you put your entire savings in jeopardy.

Home insurance offers about 10 to 20 percent of the home’s value as liability coverage. If your home value equals $200,000 and your policy offers 10 percent of its coverage as liability, then you obtain coverage of $20,000. The liability pays for a guest’s medical bills if an accident occurs at your home.

Hospitals cost quite a bit, though. An overnight stay costs about $8,000, so if the guest needs more than one night’s stay or more than one person gets hurt, your liability costs exceed your home policy coverage.

If you carry umbrella insurance, as soon as your home policy pays out the last dollar, your umbrella policy kicks in and pays the rest. All costs come out of your pocket if you do not carry an umbrella policy. This includes any court settlement from the accident.

Since these policies cost just a few dollars per month, it makes good sense to purchase one. Contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. serving Baton Rouge, LA for help getting started with this crucial secondary insurance.

Do you have flood insurance? If not, you are putting your home investment in jeopardy. It’s worth knowing that flooding can occur anywhere in America and anytime. And the unfortunate thing is that your standard home insurance won’t cover flood damage. So, if you don’t have flood insurance in Baton Rouge, LA, please contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for affordable coverage.

Do all homeowners need flood insurance?

I have home insurance. I don’t live near a coastline. I have paid off my mortgage. Do I need flood insurance? Good question! You may have home insurance, but it won’t protect you when floods strike unless you have a flood insurance rider. Yes, you may not live near a flood zone, but floods can strike anywhere. Have you ever heard about flash floods? Anywhere it rains, it can flood.

Complying with your mortgage requirements shouldn’t be the only motivation to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance comes to your rescue any time floods strike. This way, you don’t have to start from scratch when floods ravage your beloved home.

Why every homeowner needs flood insurance

Now that we can agree every homeowner needs flood insurance, let’s look at the benefits of flood insurance. They include:

• Protects your home structure: Flood insurance covers damage to your home, meaning you don’t have to incur out-of-pocket costs when disasters strike.
• Protects your assets: Flood insurance safeguards the assets inside your home, ensuring you don’t start from scratch when floods occur.
• Gives you peace of mind: If you have invested in flood insurance, you don’t have to be edgy every time the weatherman forecasts an impending storm.

Ready to get started with flood insurance in Baton Rouge, LA? Please get in touch with Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for an affordable quote.

You will likely have to renew your health insurance every year, but if you have a grandfathered or transitional plan, you may not have to renew it until the plan expires. 

If you have a non-grandfathered plan, you will have to renew your policy every year and purchase a new one if you let your policy expire without buying another one. Check with Insurance & Financial Services Inc. about what you can do to ensure you are ready to renew your plan and purchase a new one if you let your policy expire. The firm serves in Baton Rouge, LA.

More About Health Insurance Renewal 

Health insurance policies are typically renewed once a year, and some companies offer the option to renew up to 60 days before the policy expires. You’ll likely be able to purchase a new plan with different coverage options during this time. 

If you don’t sign up for a policy, your plan will end, and you will no longer be covered. However, you can usually only purchase a new policy up to a certain amount of time before your current policy expires. You’ll need to renew yearly if you have a "conventional" plan." 

You’ll need to meet specific standards of the Affordable Care Act and be renewed according to these standards. The only way to keep a conventional plan is to keep it "conventional" — i.e., keep it the same as when you first bought it. Medicare has no annual enrollment period. You may sign up for Medicare when you turn 65. If you have Medicaid, yet another public health insurance program, you do not need to renew your coverage every year. 

Key Takeaways 

Depending on your provider’s terms and conditions, you may keep your provider’s insurance policy for up to 12 months. If you have a non-renewable policy, you can’t keep it beyond its original term. For a quote, you can visit or call Insurance & Financial Services Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA.

Renters insurance is one of those things that you know you need but may not fully understand. And that’s okay! In this blog post, we’ll answer the top 5 questions people have about renters insurance so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s right for you. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Do I need renters insurance?

If you’re renting an apartment, condo, or house, chances are your landlord requires you to have renters insurance. It protects your belongings in the event of a fire, theft, or another covered disaster. It also provides liability coverage if someone is injured while on your property.

2. How much does renters insurance cost?

Renters’ insurance is relatively affordable, with the average policy costing about $15 per month. However, the amount you’ll pay will depend on the value of your belongings and the amount of coverage you need.

3. What does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance typically covers your personal belongings in the event of a fire, theft, or other covered disasters. It also provides liability coverage if someone is injured while on your property. Some policies also cover additional living expenses if you need to relocate due to a covered disaster temporarily.

4. Does renters insurance cover my electronics?

Yes, most renters’ insurance policies will cover your electronics in a covered disaster. Some policies may limit how much they’ll pay for each item, while others provide replacement cost coverage. Be sure to read through your policy thoroughly to know precisely what is and isn’t covered.

5. How do I file a claim?

If you need to file a renters insurance claim, the first thing you’ll need to do is contact your insurance company. They will then send an adjuster to assess the damage and determine how much you’ll be reimbursed. Be sure to keep all receipts and documentation of your belongings to report their value to your insurance company accurately.

Now that you know the answers to the top 5 questions people ask about renters insurance, you can decide whether or not it’s right for you. We recommend speaking with an Insurance & Financial Services Inc. agent in Baton Rouge, LA, if you’re still unsure. We can help you find the right policy to meet your needs and budget.

 

What’s the best way to get the most out of an insurance policy? You guessed it right — knowing the basics of that particular coverage. So, when you want to invest in umbrella insurance, there are several facts you need to know about it to ensure you don’t get a raw deal. And if you don’t know where to start, Insurance & Financial Services Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA is ready to walk you through the umbrella insurance process.

Here are four facts you need to know about umbrella insurance.

Umbrella insurance is suitable for almost everyone

One of the most common myths about umbrella insurance is that it’s for the super-rich only. This statement is half true. While umbrella insurance protects the assets of high-net-worth individuals, you don’t have to have reached the million-dollar mark to invest in umbrella insurance.

Given the litigious nature of our society, umbrella insurance is suitable for anyone who earns a livelihood. This way, you ensure that the assets you have worked so hard to accumulate are protected when expensive lawsuits knock on your doors.

It gives you broader coverage.

Umbrella insurance gives you higher coverage as well as broader coverage. This means that umbrella insurance covers you against liabilities not covered by conventional liability coverages.

Umbrella insurance isn’t a stand-alone coverage.

Yes, you will never get umbrella insurance on its own. This insurance rides on other liability coverages, such as car, boat, renters, or home insurance.

It’s super affordable.

Umbrella insurance being an expensive insurance policy is one of the popular myths you will hear. But guess what? Umbrella insurance is super-affordable, given that it takes over after the underlying coverage has been exhausted.

Get umbrella insurance today.

Would you like to boost your conventional liability coverage with umbrella insurance? If you are in Baton Rouge, LA, or the surrounding area, don’t look beyond Insurance & Financial Services Inc.

If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding or simply want to be prepared for the unexpected, flood insurance may be something to consider. However, this form of insurance isn’t available everywhere. Our team at Insurance & Financial Services Inc. is happy to answer any questions about flood insurance for Baton Rouge, LA residents.

What is Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance is coverage designed to replace or compensate you for damage to your home or personal belongings as a result of a flood. A flood is defined as an overflow of water on land that is usually dry. Flood insurance provides coverage for people who may experience a flood and incur damage to their homes and belongings as a result. 

How do I know if I’m Eligible for Flood Insurance?
In order to participate in the flood insurance program, you must reside in an area where flood insurance is offered. This is typically referred to as an area where the National Flood Insurance Program or NFIP is offered. The National Flood Insurance program provides different forms of flood insurance in areas where flood insurance is offered. Flood insurance is available to property owners, renters, and businesses, where available. Call one of our agents today to discuss flood insurance eligibility. 

If you reside in an area that doesn’t offer flood insurance, your community can use floodplain management criteria that match the flood risk data presented by FEMA. If you have questions about flood insurance and how you can obtain it, give us a call. Our team at Insurance & Financial Services Inc. is standing by to answer questions and help Baton Rouge, LA residents get the coverage they need.