Calculating Renters Insurance Needs

Know Your Insurance Calculating Renters Insurance Needs

Unexpected events like theft, vandalism or fires can wreak havoc on your personal belongings and cost you a fortune. Renters insurance is an affordable way to protect your belongings from losses—losses that can be far more costly than you may expect. 

Let’s examine what renters insurance covers and how to calculate your policy needs. 

What Renters Insurance Covers

While policies can vary, most offer coverage for the following:

  • Personal property coverage: This helps cover the costs to repair or replace belongings that are damaged or stolen due to a loss covered under your policy. Furniture, electronics and clothing can all be covered under personal property coverage. Although landlords typically have a form of property insurance, their policy does not usually cover any personal property within your living space.
  • Additional living expenses: If the apartment or home you’re renting becomes uninhabitable, your renters insurance policy can pay for your relocation costs as well as anything considered an extra expense under the policy—such as laundry, meal or storage-related costs.
  • Personal liability coverage: If someone is injured or their personal items are damaged on your rented property due to negligence, personal liability coverage can help pay any medical bills or damages, up to your policy limit.

How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need?

In order to determine the amount of coverage you need for your renters policy, there are a few things you can do:

  • Create a home inventory checklist—Simply making this list can help you take note of what your possessions are worth and decide how much renters insurance you would like to purchase. This checklist may also become useful in the event that you have to file an insurance claim—all your possessions and their values are already laid out for you. 
  • Deciding on any additional coverage—Once you’ve determined how much your items are worth, you can now decide if you need additional coverage. It may be useful to increase your policy limits to cover your more valuable items or get a separate policy for certain items such as jewelry or artwork.
  • Pick the best deductible for you—A deductible is how much you pay before your insurer starts paying for a covered incident. A higher deductible plan means your payments will be cheaper, but you’ll have to pay more out of pocket in the event of a claim.
  • See if bundling options are available—Most insurers give discounts as an incentive for having more than one policy with them. Talk to your broker to see if bundling options are available to you.

Securing the Coverage That’s Right for You

Deciding on the amount of renters insurance coverage you need can be a bit tricky. But with the help of your insurance agent, it can make the decision a far easier process.


© 2019 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved. This Know Your Insurance document is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice.

Workers’ Compensation

The Basics

Workers’ compensation insurance benefits are available to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of a work-related incident. If one of your employees is injured on the job and is medically authorized to take time off from work, he or she will be reimbursed for lost wages and all of the medical expenses related to the treatment and rehabilitation.

What are the reporting procedures for injuries and illnesses?

If employees are injured, they should notify you immediately to file a report. This will initiate the process for receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

How are employees reimbursed?

Lost compensation is payable during the time period in which employees are authorized by their treating physicians. Benefits are paid weekly at a state-specific percentage rate of their average weekly wage, up to a maximum dollar amount. There is also a state-specified waiting period before benefits are available.

What is an independent medical exam (IME)?

An IME is an exam by a medical professional other than the physician who first examined an injured or ill employee. As the employer—and insurance carriers—you can request an IME to confirm an original diagnosis and treatment plan.

What happens if employees do not comply with recommended treatments?

Non-compliance with recommended medical treatments, therapy or return-to-work plans may jeopardize workers’ compensation benefits.

Tips for Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs

The most important thing is to convince your employees that maintaining a safe workplace is vital and will consequently reduce your insurance costs. Here are some other ways to control costs: 

  • Implement a return-to-work policy in which employees work modified duty until they are fully healthy to do their jobs.
  • Orient and train your employees on safe practices necessary for their job functions and tasks. 
  • Insist that employee claims are reported promptly. 
  • Investigate the cause of injuries and illnesses. 

Learn more about Workers’ Compensation or contact us at 800.662.2020.


Disclaimer: This brochure is provided for informational purposes only. The information provided herein is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should it be construed as advice regarding coverage. Eligibility for coverage is not guaranteed and all coverages are limited to the terms and conditions contained in the applicable policy. © 2009, 2013, 2016 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.