How to Protect Your Dwelling in Kansas

The Insurance Department in Kansas recommends a policy for any homeowner in order to provide protection from loss due to damage theft, vandalism or accidents. So intent is the state on making sure that residents are covered, they have instituted the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) program that may provide homeowners with access to a state-provided offering if they find themselves uninsurable through private means.

How to Buy the Right One

Buying a qualified policy in Kansas may be required by your mortgage lender in order to look after their investment. If you own your house outright, the choice is up to you as to whether you will carry coverage, but not having protection puts you at severe financial risk from a number of factors normally covered including:

• Your Physical Structures: Your house and any attached or detached garage as well as storage sheds on your property will be protected from fire, hail, windstorm and vandalism.
• Contents: Including your furniture, personal belongings and clothing inside any of your structures will be protected from damage or loss due to any of the conditions mentioned above.
• Additional Living Expenses: If you suffer some sort of disaster like a fire or storm damage that forces you from your dwelling, your plan can provide you with money for expenses such as lodging, food and spare clothing/toiletries, etc. while you are away from your house.
• Liability: This coverage will shelter you or your family members if you unintentionally injure someone else or causes damage to your property. This will also shelter you if your property damages someone else or their property, for example, if a tree on your property falls across a fence and lands on your neighbor's car.
• Medical Payments: This will pay for the medical bills of any non-family member who is damaged while on your property, such as a contractor. Please note an exception to this and the other plan types is for any employees that you may have working for you out of a home business. They will not be protected by your policy.

FAIR Requirements to Consider

For those rare situations when a resident is unable to find a company that will provide them with service at any cost, the state department has instituted the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) to offer coverage. Not everyone qualifies to be on this plan, there are some basic requirements that must be fulfilled by a homeowner:

• You must apply for and be declined coverage by a minimum of three providers before you can even apply to the FAIR Plan. When applying for policies, be sure to keep name, dates and information about your application and the response.
• Application to the plan can be made through any agent that normally sells policies.
• Your application and the property will be inspected by the FAIR Plan to determine if you are eligible.

You should receive quotes from several agencies when you are shopping for a plan in order to make sure that you get not only the best rates, but the offering that provides the best option for your house and your individual situation.