Author: AgentInsure

Why Renters Insurance is a Must

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Although renters insurance is technically only needed if required by your landlord or building, regardless of whether you are renting a single-family home or an apartment you should strongly consider purchasing a policy. Designed only to be used in extreme circumstances, you’ll be thankful for having the coverage when the worst happens. Many renters have the common misconception that your landlord’s insurance will cover your personal belongings; however, this is simply not true. A landlord’s homeowners insurance will cover their property to include the home’s structure and any other buildings on the ground, but it will not cover your personal items like furniture or electronics. 

Not only does renters insurance cover your personal belongings to your policy’s limits, but also it includes personal liability protection which covers medical bills, lost wages, and legal bills associated with a third party being injured while at your rental. Additional coverages include medical protection and loss of use if your resident becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event like a flood or natural disaster. 

While any renter would benefit from renters insurance, you’ll want to make sure you have coverage if you own a pet or have expensive belongings that may be difficult to replace. If you are local to Myrtle Beach, SC or the surrounding area and have questions about renters insurance or want to purchase a policy, the team at Benefit Insurance Services is ready to help with any of your insurance needs. Give Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach SC a call and we’ll be happy to schedule an appointment to learn more about our insurance offerings and how we can help you. 

South Carolina Health Insurance: How to Buy Health Insurance After You Graduate

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Graduation is an exciting moment in life, but for so many adults, the day after begins to be filled with dread. What’s next? One thing you will worry about is how to cover your health insurance. There are options for you.

At Benefit Insurance Services, we want Myrtle Beach, SC graduates to be prepared for this life change when it comes to their health care. You can stay on your parent’s policy if you have been doing that, or you can seek health care options. 

A job with benefits can help as well, of course, but that doesn’t always happen right away. We can help.

Short-Term Health Insurance

Short-term health insurance is one option for health care that can provide coverage for you when you are undergoing a change in your existing coverage. This insurance will help you to fill the gaps in any coverage you had with your parents or a previous policy, and one with a new employer.

You will always have a waiting period with a new job before health care benefits will begin for you. Short term health insurance can bridge the gap between one policy and another while you are looking for work. 

You can get short-term health insurance for as long as 364 days now, and that includes options to renew for as long as three years in many cases. If you have just started work but need something before you can access that health care, you can purchase a three or six-month health care insurance policy. 

Get a Quote

When you have just graduated, the thrill of your new life after all your hard work is the prevailing feeling. When you have life’s details such as health care worked out, you will feel more relaxed about the next chapter. At Benefit Insurance Services, we can help Myrtle Beach, SC graduates find the relief of health care. Call us for a quote today.

Business Interruption Insurance Overview

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Benefit Insurance Services is an independent agency. We serve the Myrtle Beach, SC community. We have relationships with multiple carriers throughout South Carolina. This allows us to offer our clients a wide array of policies. We want to help our clients protect their most valuable assets.

Business Interruption Insurance Overview

Commercial insurance protects you against the perils of operating a business. The Myrtle Beach, SC economy relies on the success of small businesses. Having a strong commercial insurance plan can give you an advantage over the competition. Commercial insurance policies cover your business if your equipment is damaged or stolen. You are also protected if one of your customers is injured while they are visiting your business.

You can add business interruption insurance to your commercial insurance policy. Imagine a scenario when an accidental fire starts and your business suffers significant damage. Inclement weather frequently comes through South Carolina. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario when a tropical storm passes through the area and tears the roof off of your building. Business interruption insurance protects you in those situations. You are covered if your business has to shut down for an extended period of time, or you’ll have to relocate temporarily to continue operating your business.

Keep in mind that there is a waiting period before your coverage starts. Generally, the waiting period is 2 to 3 days. The type of policy you need depends on the industry that you are working in and the number of employees that you have. Business interruption coverage can prevent you from losing everything if an emergency occurs.

Benefit Insurance Services Will Help You Protect Your Investment

Visit our website to learn more information about commercial insurance.

Top 5 Things You Should Consider When Purchasing Home Insurance

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Buying a home in Myrtle Beach, SC, is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. And since homeownership calls for your blood, sweat and tears, you need to invest in home insurance from Benefit Insurance Services to protect your prized asset.

But are you conversant with what to look out for when buying home insurance? Whether a start-up or a seasoned homeowner, below are the things to consider when shopping for a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Types of coverages

Typically, home insurance has dwelling, liability, loss of use and contents coverage. Before drawing your check, beware of the different coverages, what they cover, and decide the ones that suit your needs.

Home insurance exclusions

Home insurance doesn’t cover you against all risks — it has exclusions and exceptions. You must be conversant with what isn’t covered by home insurance so that you can buy add-ons to boost your policy. Talk to your insurance agent and read your policy document to understand what is and isn’t covered by your coverage.

Understand the claim process

Be sure you understand the claim process. What is required to make the process smooth? Of course, you would want a straightforward claim process if a loss occurs so that you can be compensated the soonest possible to repair your home.

Understand replacement value and market value

What value would your insurer compensate you if a covered peril destroys your home? There are two options — replacement value is the amount it would take to rebuild your home to its original state. Market value is the amount your home would fetch in the market, and it usually includes the land. 

Think twice about add-ons

Your typical insurance excludes damage from perils like floods, earthquakes, sewer backup, and so on. However, you can purchase add-ons or floaters to boost your insurance policy.  

Learn more about home insurance!

Would you like to get more insights into home insurance? Please get in touch with Benefit Insurance Services for more information. Also, you can visit Myrtle Beach, SC to chat with one of our agents.

The Importance of Auto Insurance

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In most states, all drivers are required to have at least a liability auto insurance policy in place to legally drive on public highways, streets, and other roadways. South Carolina is no exception to this rule and requires motorists to have a minimum amount of liability insurance to cover bodily injury and property damage. This is important auto insurance to have in place since it protects you from having to pay the costs out-of-pocket if you cause an accident to happen and people or property are damaged.

It is also required under South Carolina law that each driver also has underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage in place. This will protect you and your vehicle if you are involved in an accident with someone who either has no insurance at all or very little. The staff at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC know and understand the importance of auto insurance and make it their priority to ensure that you and your vehicle are properly protected.

Other Insurance Coverage Available

There are tons add other options when it comes to auto insurance and one of the main ones that people enjoy having in place is comprehensive coverage. This coverage will help you repair your car if it is damaged due to vandalism, a vehicle fire, or even a natural disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane.

Many people also enjoy having collision insurance because you never know when you’re going to back your vehicle into some sort of object or hit a parked car and this insurance will help cover any damage that is caused by any sort of collision that you have while driving your vehicle.

No matter which coverage options you choose, it is best to have an auto insurance agent who has experience and knowledge to assist you and making the best choices for you in your situation, the insurance agents at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC are ready to assist you. Call today for an auto insurance quote and to set up an appointment to start your policy.

What Common Exclusions Should You Consider for a Motorcycle Insurance Policy?

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Motorcycle insurance is critical when riding around the Myrtle Beach, SC area or anywhere else in the United States. Motorcycle insurance helps you protect yourself as well as others. It also allows you protection with your bike. Think about how easy it is to steal a motorcycle in comparison to an automobile. When buying motorcycle insurance, though, what are some common exclusions to be aware of?

Common Exclusions to Remember

When shopping for motorcycle insurance, think about some of the common exclusions you will run into. The most common exclusions have to do with racing on the motorcycle. in the event, you are in an accident during a race, or a speed test, you will not get coverage.  

You also want to look at whether or not you are excluding other riders on your motorcycle. Look at your motorcycle insurance policy to determine if you have liability coverage for other riders or not. It is a common exclusion, not every policy wraps in.

Some policies may restrict how many miles you can drive over a 24-hour period. In the event, your bike is in an accident or is stolen, what was the cause? The loss may see an exclusion if it was due to poor maintenance of the bike. if the bike was stolen because you left the key inside the ignition, you also may see an exclusion kick in.

Conclusion

When shopping for motorcycle insurance in Myrtle Beach, SC, you need to be aware of all options on the table. Know the common exclusions and what you are shopping for exactly. If you want more information on motorcycle insurance, reach out to the team at Benefit Insurance Services today.

What Does Condo Insurance Cover?

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Owning your own condo is a great experience and it is your home so you will want to protect it properly. One way you can do that is by purchasing condo insurance and the staff at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC can help you to determine the proper coverage. What does condo insurance cover?

In South Carolina, when you purchase a unit in a condominium, it is the condominium association that must have insurance on the structures in the complex in which your condo is located but there are no rules governing how much insurance they need for each unit or what it should cover. To be on the safe side, it is better to have your own condo insurance policy to ensure that your precious home is fully protection in the event of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or a tornado. You can also have coverage that will cover your condo as well as your belongings, including your furniture, appliances, clothing, and other personal items, in the event that a fire occurs in your condo. This will also cover your things and your unit if it is broken into and items are stolen.

Keep in mind that condo insurance only covers property damage and liability within the inside area of your condo.

Be sure to go over your condo insurance policy that is in place by the condo association with an experienced and trusted insurance agent before you purchase condo insurance. This will ensure you are not paying for coverage on your condo that is already in place.

When it comes to the policies your condo association may have in place, and ones that you can also choose from, there are three types of coverage options. You can opt for an all-inclusive policy that will protect your condo inside and out. This will include things you have installed, additions that have been added, and fixtures that are already in place inside your condo.

Special entity insurance will cover the structure of your condo and fixtures. This type of policy will not cover things you have had installed or fixtures though.

Bare walls in and wall studs in insurance will only cover the structure of your condo but nothing on the inside that is installed.

To figure out what type of condo insurance will be best for you and your situation, contact the trusted condo insurance agents at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC today!

Reasons Why Flood Insurance is so Important

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If you own a home in Myrtle Beach, SC you may want to consider purchasing flood insurance. Unfortunately, every property can be vulnerable to flooding, especially when you live on the coast. However, most home insurance policies do not protect your home against damages caused by flooding. Here are a few reasons why flood coverage is so important.

Floods are the Most Common Natural Disaster

Most properties fall under flood zones. Flooding can occur from severe storms, heavy rain, broken damns, and more, so it is best to be covered in case of a catastrophe.

Low Risk Flood Areas

Twenty percent of all flood claims come from low to moderate risk flood areas. Mother nature is unpredictable, and you never know when a storm can cause a flash flood.

You are More Likely to Experience a Flood Than a Fire

According to The National Flood Insurance Program managed by FEMA, you are almost 30 times more likely to experience damages from a flood than a fire during a 30-year mortgage agreement.

Storms are not the only Cause of Flooding

Other natural disasters like mudslides, high tide, and ice melts can cause severe floods and water damage. In addition, damaged drainage systems and new land development can cause unforeseen flooding.

Small Amounts of Water Can Cause a lot of Damage

Just one inch of water can cause major issues and property damage such as rotting wood, mold, bacteria growth, structural issues, and more. Flood insurance will help protect your home from both large and small-scale disasters.

If you live in Myrtle Beach, SC, and are looking for more information on the importance of flood insurance, reach out to the offices of Benefit Insurance Services.

How Does Renters’ Insurance Work?

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Renters’ insurance is an important type of coverage that everyone who rents their home should have. It provides several types of protection, and it’s generally an inexpensive insurance type to get. If you rent, and you need insurance, call us right away at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC to talk with an agent. 

Protect Your Possessions

One of the ways that renters’ insurance protects you is to cover your belongings. This coverage can help you if your items were to be destroyed or damaged in a number of scenarios from disasters to accidents. Without this type of coverage, you would simply have to go on with nothing if your things were to be destroyed. But with this coverage, you can get a payment to help with the replacement of all of your things. 

Get Liability Coverage

When you have someone over to your home, you don’t want to have to worry the whole time that they will have an accident that you will be liable for. However, that remains a danger that can happen. If you have renters’ insurance, part of that coverage is covering your liability in just this type of situation. This can save you from lawsuits and even wage garnishments that can be ordered if you are liable for someone’s accident or illness that occur in your rental. 

Livable Home

If your rental were to suffer from a major accident, disaster or other occurrence that leaves it uninhabitable, it can be hard to afford to leave while the repairs are being made. However, with renters’ insurance, the policy can pay for you to move somewhere else and to live there during the repairs. This allows you to keep living in an inhabitable home.

Get Your Renters’ Policy

If you’re interested in one of these policies, call us at Benefit Insurance Services in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Telemedicine: What it is and Why it’s Great

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Have you ever wished that doctors still made house calls in Myrtle Beach, SC? Well, the days of house calls might be long gone, but telemedicine is the next best option! The team at Benefit Insurance Services want you to know that you have plenty of options for meeting your health care needs and telemedicine is just one of these tools that can be invaluable to you and your family.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is meeting and communicating with your physician through electronic means. This can include:

  • Telephone or video appointments and/or consultations
  • Talking to your physician by using email
  • Talking to or having a consultation with your doctor through a chat app (such as online over a website or on your mobile phone)

What are the Benefits of Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a fast, easy and convenient way to access medical care. There are many benefits to using Telemedicine, such as:

  • Financial Savings: Using telemedicine means spending less time commuting to appointments, which saves on items such as gas, childcare or lost time at work. There have also been research studies completed which found that people who use telemedicine are less likely to end up in the hospital, which can be extremely expensive.
  • Access to Care: Telemedicine makes it easy for anyone and everyone, including those with transportation difficulties, the disabled and elderly.
  • Convenience: Telemedicine is extremely convenient! Patients can get care from their own homes, which can solve a number of reasons why patients might put off getting care.
  • Slowing Infection Spread: Telemedicine reduces the risk of being in close quarters with others who might pass along infections.

Get all your questions about telemedicine answered by calling the professionals at Benefit Insurance Services serving Myrtle Beach, SC today!