Amica Home Insurance Review 2023 – Pas Trusted News

About Amica home insurance

Amica operates as the oldest mutual insurer of vehicles in the U.S., having first opened its doors in 1907. Nearly 120 years later, Amica provides a wide spectrum of insurance products in all 50 states.

Amica home insurance rates

Source: Quadrant Information Services.

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Amica home insurance coverages

Amica’s standard home insurance policy, Standard Choice, covers six key areas of coverage.

• Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or replace your house up to policy limits when damaged by a covered issue, such as a fire. You should have enough dwelling coverage to rebuild your house, based on current labor and materials estimates, to its former size and quality level.
• Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild structures unattached to your house, including gazebos, sheds and garages, if they are damaged by a covered problem.
• Personal property coverage: Reimburses you for your personal items such as electronics, clothing and furniture if stolen or damaged by a covered problem, after factoring in the depreciated value. If you want to be reimbursed at current prices for your belongings, consider upgrading to replacement cost coverage. Amica offers this coverage upgrade.
• Loss of use: Reimburses costs related to housing, meals, laundry and other approved expenses if your house becomes uninhabitable due to a covered problem and you need to temporarily relocate.
• Liability insurance: If you are responsible for damage to another person’s property or for their injury — like if your dog bites someone at the park — liability coverage can pay for their medical expenses and property repair bills. It also covers your legal defense fees and settlements if you’re sued over the matter. Liability coverage typically ranges between $100,000 to $300,000, but Amica also offers umbrella insurance to increase this coverage limit.
• Medical payments to others: If a guest is injured, medical payments to others coverage can pay for their more minor medical expenses — typically up to $5,000 — regardless of who was at fault for their injury.

Additional home insurance coverages offered

Amica also offers the Platinum Choice policy, which offers the same standard home insurance coverages with enhanced options and upgrades.

• Dwelling replacement cost coverage: Pays an additional 30% towards repair or replacement costs if your claim exceeds your original dwelling coverage limits, which can happen if a storm or natural disaster increases labor and construction costs.
• Personal property replacement coverage: Pays to fully replace any personal property if damaged by a covered loss anywhere in the world, rather than using actual cost value. It also covers damage to your property from any issue, unless excluded.
• Valuable items extended coverage: Provides more coverage than standard home insurance for lost or stolen high-value items such as jewelry, art and furs.
• Special computer coverage: Provides more coverage than standard home insurance for phones, laptops, TVs and smart devices for damage due to power surges, water and heat warping.
• Liability and medical payments coverage: Pays up to $500,000 toward personal liability claims and $5,000 toward medical payments for others.
• Water and sewer backup coverage: Pays for water damages caused by sewer backups or sump pump overflows, which is excluded from standard home insurance coverage.
• Business property coverage: Covers up to $5,000 for business property at home and up to $2,000 outside of the home, which is typically limited or excluded from standard home insurance coverage.
• Credit card coverage: Reimburses up to $5,000 if your credit cards are fraudulently used or stolen.
• Loss assessment plan: If you live in a gated community, have a homeowners association organization or live in a condo building or co-op, this pays for your portion of out-of-pocket repair expenses to shared areas — like a shared community pool or lobby — that aren’t covered by the HOA master policy.

Amica also sells umbrella insurance, which offers more liability coverage — sold in increments of $1 million — after you’ve exhausted your liability coverage in your home and/or auto insurance policies.

What does Amica home insurance cover?

With standard home insurance, the main structure of your house is protected against all issues unless it’s explicitly excluded on the policy. Common exclusions include floods, earth movement and drainage backups, although you may be able to take out optional policies to cover repairs due to these problems.

Your personal belongings are covered if damaged by one of the 16 named problems, or perils, listed in the policy, including:

• Fire and lightning.
• Windstorm and hail.
• Explosions.
• Riot or civil commotion.
• Damage caused by aircraft (not your own).
• Damage caused by vehicles (not your own).
• Smoke.
• Vandalism or malicious mischief.
• Theft and home break-in.
• Volcanic eruption.
• Falling objects.
• Weight of snow, sleet or ice.
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam.
• Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking or burning.
• Freezing.
• Sudden and accidental damage from electrical current.

What doesn’t Amica home insurance cover?

No home insurance policy protects against every issue, and Amica’s home insurance is no different. The company’s home insurance policies exclude coverage for several types of problems. Some of these include:

• Flooding: Even if you don’t live in a floodplain, damage from heavy rains, overflowing rivers or failing dams are not covered in your standard home insurance policy. You may be able to purchase a separate flood insurance policy with Amica through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Earth movement: Earthquakes, mudslides, sinkholes and landslides aren’t covered by home insurance. Amica offers earthquake insurance in California through the California Earthquake Authority.
• Water backups: If your sump pump or drain overflows or sewage water comes through your pipes, standard home insurance won’t cover repairs. Amica’s Platinum Choice policy does cover water backups.
• Neglect: Failing to keep up with general maintenance can result in costly repairs. These won’t be covered if deemed to be an issue of neglect. For example, if you don’t properly maintain your pipes and one bursts, causing water damage, you must pay for this out of pocket. Or if pests or animals infest your house, you also typically won’t be covered.

Amica home insurance discounts

Amica customers can take advantage of several home insurance discounts, although policy discounts may vary depending on your location.

• Loyalty: After two years of using Amica, you may qualify for this discount.
• Multi-policy: If you bundle your home insurance and auto insurance, or another policy, you may get a discount with Amica.
• Claim-free: Go without a claim for at least three years and you may see lower rates.
• AutoPay: Setting up automatic payment deductions can help you take advantage of this discount.
• E-discount: Receive your bills and policy documents online and you may qualify for a discount.
• Alarm systems: If your house contains fire alarms, burglar alarms or a sprinkler system, you may qualify for lower costs.
• New/remodeled home: New homes, or those recently and substantially remodeled, may help you pay a lower rate.
• Automatic detection devices: Automated water and gas leak systems or temperature monitors can qualify your house for insurance savings.

How to get Amica home insurance

Amica provides three different options for getting a home insurance quote. If you prefer the ease of online access, start a quote from the Amica website. If chatting to a professional works better, call the company at 800-242-6422 and talk through options.

Lastly, if face-to-face meetings work best, find an agent in your area and set up an appointment.

How to file a claim with Amica

Amica provides an online claims portal to help make the process easier. When filing a claim, carefully review your policy and efficiently provide all required information. Common steps when filing a home insurance claim include the following.

• Immediately file a police report for theft or vandalism.
• Notify Amica that you are making a home insurance claim.
• Take photos of any damage and make temporary repairs if possible to prevent further damage.
• Fill out all claim forms sent by Amica carefully and fully, either online or over the phone.
• Reference your home inventory of damaged or destroyed items when submitting the claim.
• Work with Amica to arrange for an insurance adjuster to visit.
• Keep receipts for housing, food and other covered expenses if you need to file a loss of use claim.