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Insurance Over Texas

430 Hwy 6 S. #102
Houston, TX 77079

About Insurance Over Texas

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Can you add Medicare supplemental plans after signup?

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You may or may not have known about the recent massive changes to Medicare supplemental insurance. Medicare has become a bit more complex than its traditional four parts, and Insurance Over Texas wants to help Houston, TX residents better understand the added complexities. The government still provides you with Part A for free, but you now have nine supplemental choices instead of three and a seven-month period in which to choose from them.

When is the seven-month period?

For three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, and the three months after your 65th birthday, you get to peruse Medicare plans. You automatically get Part A, hospitalization coverage, when you turn 65 as long as you register for it. Part A comes gratis from the US government.

You can easily add to Part A during the seven months surrounding your 65th birthday. You can choose from Parts B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Ignore the missing letters. It’s a government thing.

At a minimum, most individuals choose Part B, medical insurance, to add to their free A.

Some people add Part C, which you can choose to contain prescription drug coverage or not.

You can also add Part D to A, which includes prescription drug coverage.

What about the other parts?

Choosing F, G, K, L, M, and N provides you with a Medigap plan combining various levels of Parts A, B, C, and D. Some states offer specialized Medigap plans.

If you think you want a Medigap plan, you’ll have a six-month shopping period. Unless you experience a special qualifying issue or have a guaranteed issue, you can’t change your Medigap after choosing it.

You can compare two Medigap plans side-by-side, although you will need to pay the premium for both in that comparison month.

As you near your 65th birthday, contact Insurance Over Texas serving the Houston, TX metropolitan area. We’ll help you choose and add the supplemental plans that make the most sense for you to supplement your Medicare coverage.

Things That Renters Insurance Does Not Cover

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Most people know that they need renters insurance to protect their belongings in case of fire, theft, or other disasters. However, there are a few things that many renters are surprised to learn are not covered by their insurance policy. Here are five of the most common exclusions from renters insurance coverage.

1. Flooding

Many people assume that since their belongings are indoors, they will be safe from water damage in a flood. However, flooding is not typically covered by renters insurance. If you live in an area prone to floods, you may want to purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

2. Pest Damage

Unfortunately, most renters’ insurance policies will not cover any type of damage that pests may cause. This includes things like rodents chewing through your walls or termites damaging your personal belongings. If you have a problem with pests, you will likely need to contact a pest control company to resolve the issue.

3. Earthquake Damage

Many renters mistakenly believe that their renter’s insurance will cover damage caused by an earthquake. However, most policies exclude this type of coverage. If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you may want to consider buying a separate earthquake insurance policy.

4. Damage to the Structure of the Home

Your renter’s insurance policy will not cover any damage to the physical structure of the home or apartment that you are renting. This includes water damage to the walls or ceiling or structural damage caused by a fire. If you cause any damage to the property, you will be responsible for repairing it or paying for the repairs.

5. Deliberate Damage

Your renter’s insurance will not cover the repairs if you intentionally damage your property. This includes things like vandalism or recklessly damaging your belongings. If you cause deliberate damage, you will be responsible for paying for the repairs yourself.

Get Renters Insurance in Houston, TX

If you’re looking for renters coverage, Insurance Over Texas has got you covered. We offer a wide range of renters insurance policies to protect your belongings from fire, theft, and other disasters. Contact us today to get a free quote.

Why flood insurance is so important

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Insurance Over Texas is here for the greater Houston, TX area residents. If you wonder if flood insurance is right and necessary for you, we can help answer your questions. There are several ways that flood protection can benefit homeowners in our area. Give us a call or stop by to find out more!

Importance of flood insurance

There are many different reasons to carry flood insurance, even if it isn’t required of you. Insurance companies treat water damage in several different ways, depending on how the damage was caused.

For instance, if you have a pipe burst or a similar plumbing problem that creates damage in your home, your homeowner’s policy will likely cover it. However, if you experience water damage caused by a flood, it is unlikely that such damage would be covered under your home insurance policy.

Because of this, it is vital to give flood insurance a closer look. Flood damage can be substantial and very cumbersome, and expensive to repair. If you want to make sure that you are protected in the event of a flood, you will need a separate policy for that purpose.

Of course, not every area needs flood insurance, so it may not be appropriate for your home and your needs. Find out today if flood insurance is something that can benefit you.

Find out if flood insurance is right for you.

Houston, TX area homeowners can rely on Insurance Over Texas. If you want to ensure that your home has all of the protection it needs, we are here to help! Give us a call today or come by our office to learn more about the many benefits of flood insurance.

What Does Condo Insurance Cover?

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Like home insurance, condo insurance is purchased by anyone who owns a condominium and helps pay for damages to you, your unit, and your belongings. Typically, condo insurance consists of the following four main components:

  • Personal Liability Coverage: If a third party is injured while visiting your condominium and you are legally deemed to be at fault, this coverage will pay for the medical expenses and legal fees associated with the accident.
  • Guest Medical Coverage: If you are not at fault, but someone is injured while at your unit, guest medical coverage can be used to pay for their medical expenses.
  • Building Property Protection: With a condo, you are only responsible for damage to the walls of your unit and the interior. This type of coverage pays for repairs to the walls and interior, such as fixtures, doors, etc.
  • Personal Property Coverage: If your furniture, electronics, or other personal belongings are damaged in a covered incident, then personal property coverage will help you repair or replace the items.

In addition to your condo insurance policy, your condo association will also have an insurance policy that helps pay for repairs and covers damages to the common areas of the building. Your monthly, quarterly, or yearly condo fees will help defray the cost of this policy from the condo association. 

Whether you are a first-time condo owner or shopping for a new condo insurance policy, the team at Insurance Over Texas is ready to help. We’ll walk you through the various components of condo insurance policies and help you make informed decisions. When you are prepared to obtain more information, give us a call or stop by our conveniently located office in Houston, TX.

How Health Insurance Can Save You Money

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When most people in Houston, TX are shopping for health insurance, they mainly think about the cost of the premium. They may also consider the full cost of the plan, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. However, it is just as important to consider the value that health insurance provides. If you have questions, feel free to contact Insurance Over Texas to learn more.

Discount Rates

Health insurance providers directly negotiate costs with hospitals and health care providers. Then, the rates are included in the health care plan. Some plans will only negotiate rates for in-network medical care providers, while others will offer negotiated rates for out-of-network providers. All health insurance plans provide coverage for emergency services regardless of whether the care received was from an in-network provider.

The amount charged by health care providers is typically higher than the negotiated rates. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits that will include a breakdown of the costs, including:

  • The amount the provider usually charges
  • The negotiated cost
  • How much was paid by your insurance policy
  • The amount that you owe that was not covered

Cost Sharing

Health insurance plans feature an out-of-pocket maximum and an annual deductible. The deductible is the amount that must be paid before the insurance company takes over the responsibility for the costs. Once the out-of-pocket maximum is reached, the insurance company will pay the remainder of the medical expenses.

Preventative Care Coverage

Health insurance plans offer complete coverage for preventative care. When doctors can identify a health problem in the early stages, they can begin treatment to prevent the progression of the problem. This will save you a lot of money by avoiding expensive treatment bills for preventable issues.

To find out more ways health insurance can save you money in Houston, TX, contact the experts at Insurance Over Texas today. Give us a call today.

Can auto insurance protect my Houston car?

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In the Houston, TX area, having a vehicle is a necessity for a lot of people. Due to the size of the city, having a vehicle will be needed to get around efficiently. If you are looking to get a vehicle in this region, it is important that you also have the right insurance for it. Your auto insurance plan in this area of Texas will be able to protect your car in various ways. 

Cover Against Theft

If you are a car owner in this state, you likely will rely on it heavily to get around the town. One very frustrating experience can be if your car is stolen. If you have a car that is stolen and you do not have proper insurance, you will need to replace the car by purchasing a new one. With comprehensive insurance, you will get the support you need to replace your car. 

Cover Against Accident Damage

People that choose to buy a car will want to be safe when on the road. However, accidents can happen and even a minor collision can lead to major repair bills. To ensure that you are able to make these repairs, you will need to carry auto insurance. If you have a plan with collision coverage, it will offer the protection you need to make these repairs. 

There are clearly many important reasons to have an auto insurance plan when you are in the Houston, TX area. If you are looking for any type of insurance support in this area for your car, you should speak with Insurance Over Texas. There are a lot of choices that come when picking this insurance. The team with Insurance Over Texas will help you assess your options and build the right plan that will meet your needs. 

3 Areas Covered by Flood Insurance

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What is flood insurance? Flood insurance is what it sounds like: An insurance plan to cover you when floods strike. You may be aware of flood insurance, but do you understand the areas covered by flood insurance? If not, Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX shares the areas that flood insurance covers you.

Building protection

Perhaps, this is the most common reason why most people purchase flood insurance. Whether flood insurance is from National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private carriers, it protects your building when floods strike. Typical flood insurance covers your dwelling in the following areas:

  • Your home foundation
  • Electrical and plumbing system
  • Permanently installed carpets
  • Window blinds
  • Detached garages
  • Walls
  • Permanently installed cabinets and bookcases

Since putting up your home has called for heavy investment, don’t let what you have worked so hard be brought down by floods. Instead, purchase flood insurance.

Assets protection

When you purchase flood insurance, there is an option to include contents coverage, which covers the below:

  • Washers and dryers
  • Personal items like clothing, furniture, and electronics
  • Portable microwaves
  • Carpets that aren’t permanently installed

When purchasing flood insurance, please pay attention to what it covers and excludes. For instance, typical flood insurance covers high-value items to a certain amount. Generally, standard flood insurance covers art and fur for a maximum of $2,500. However, you can increase this limit by purchasing a “rider.”

Compliance

No Texas law requires you to purchase flood insurance, but you may need this coverage if a federal-regulated lender finances your home. That said, your mortgage lender may insist you purchase flood insurance if you live in a flood-risk area.

Buy flood insurance in Houston, TX today!

When floods strike, most homeowners are shocked when they discover that their typical home insurance doesn’t cover them from flood damage.  Luckily, you don’t have to wait for floods to occur to find out that your home insurance is insufficient. Instead, contact Insurance Over Texas for an affordable flood insurance policy.

3 legal issues you must understand before buying a condo

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If it’s your first time buying a condo, you may be shocked at all the various factors and legal issues to consider. Condo ownership and living in a condo can be challenging, so be sure it’s the right decision for you beforehand. Insurance Over Texas serving Houston, TX provides condo insurance to protect against issues like theft, fire damage, vandalism, and other issues. Getting this coverage is vital to ensure that, just in case anything happens, you won’t have to pay for the losses out-of-pocket.

Legal Issues When Buying A Condo

Condominiums are considered a form of community living plan whereby you claim ownership of a certain percentage of the whole property together with other owners. As such, there are some legal issues you need to understand. Buying a condominium is more involving than a single-family home because you need to worry about the specific unit and the condo project as a whole.

Ownership

A condominium is a multifamily residential situation whereby every unit is owned privately by different people. The condo association owns common places like the walkways and parking lot, and the condo and unit owners both take responsibility for these common areas’ expenses.

Contract contingencies

When buying a condo, it’s advisable to review the contract and add some contingencies. This allows you to analyze the condo bylaws, restrictions, balance sheets, and budget. It’ll ensure you have a way out of the purchasing agreement if you opt for it.

Association fee

In most states, you are required to pay a condo association fee in addition to the mortgage payment made every month. It’s important to ask about these fees and their scheduling to accommodate them better in your budget.

When you buy a condo, you get ownership of your unit, but the common areas have joint ownership. It’s important to factor in all the legal issues involved when buying a condo, and Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX can help with that. You will need an insurance representative to help with the Condo owner’s protection coverage for personal property and premises liability. 

Understanding managed care and how it affects your health insurance

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Most healthcare plans these days are managed care. Managed care is not as well understood as it should be and its effects on your health insurance are even less understood. In order to make sure that you get the right health insurance coverage, you need to know what you are choosing. At Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX, we have more than 30 years of experience providing the residents of the greater Houston area with personalized insurance services. 

Managed care is a type of healthcare that allows the carrier to manage the care of the members. There is not just one type of managed care, but the basic principle is the same in all of them. Your healthcare is limited to a network of providers. How limited again is determined by exactly which type of managed care. You may need to have a primary care physician who will manage your care and they will provide the referral to other care that you may need. 

The main types of managed care are HMO, PPO and POS. 

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization) are the most restricted type of managed care. They only pay for visits within the network and require that you have a primary care physician who manages the rest of your care. 

PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization)  are less restrictive and you are allowed to get services outside of the network but you will pay more for that service. 

POS (Point of Service) plans are not quite as flexible as a PPO but not as restricted as an HMO. You will need to have a primary care physician but you are allowed to pay more to go outside the network. 

When you are ready to make your health insurance decision, Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX is here to give you the assistance you need. 

Auto insurance add-ons you may want to consider

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Everything’s bigger in Texas and when you hit the roads, so are your risks. Having the right auto insurance makes all the difference. You can drive with confidence that you are covered no matter what happens. With more than 30 years of experience, Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX is family-owned and operated. As an independent insurance agency, we are able to offer you more choices, and our complete loyalty. We work for our customers, not one insurance carrier.

Roadside assistance

If you have a breakdown when you are out on the road, it can be very disturbing. Being able to call to get the car towed or to get the flat tire fixed gives you peace of mind. You may already have this type of coverage through the auto club. The cost of roadside assistance from your auto insurance company is a fraction of the cost of the auto club. If you are looking for a way to save a little money, getting roadside assistance helps. 

Gap coverage

When you buy a new car, you often have an auto loan. Everyone knows that as soon as you drive your new car off the lot, it loses value. If you buy a car and then it gets totaled in 3 months, chances are very good that you will not get the amount that you owe from the insurance company. Gap coverage will cover the gap between what you get, minus the deductible, and what you owe on your car loan.

Rental reimbursement coverage

When you have an accident and your car is damaged, you need to have a rental to drive until yours is fixed or you buy a new one. Rental reimbursement coverage will provide you with a car for a predetermined number of days. 

Contact Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX for all your auto insurance needs. 

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