Insurance Over Texas

430 Hwy 6 S. #102
Houston, TX 77079

About Insurance Over Texas

What Does Health Insurance Really Cover?

There are plenty of reasons to live in Houston, TX. One of these reasons is access to world-class health services. Unfortunately, world-class health care is expensive, so you want to make sure you have reliable insurance. While comparing policies, it’s easy to get lost in the murky details. Let’s take a minute to demystify some of that murkiness. Insurance Over Texas has put together this quick list of benefits that will and won’t be covered by most insurance policies.

10 Essential Benefits

The ACA mandates certain levels of minimum coverage, regardless of state. While the applications of this coverage will vary by your policy, you can expect at least some coverage in these ten areas:

  • Outpatient services (you didn’t have to be admitted to the hospital)
  • Emergency services
  • Hospitalization
  • Maternity care
  • Mental health and substance abuse services
  • Prescription Drugs (though not all varieties will always be covered)
  • Rehabilitation
  • Lab Services
  • Preventative services
  • Pediatric services

By federal law, health insurance has to address all ten of these benefits. That doesn’t mean that the coverage will be identical across policies. Deductibles and premiums will still vary even though these ten benefits are universal.

What Isn’t Covered

It’s hard to make broad statements about coverage because there is so much variety, but these services are rarely covered by insurance:

  • Alternative medicine (like acupuncture)
  • Cosmetic surgery
  • Geriatric care (although there are alternatives to help with this)
  • Dental and Vision (unless you get specific policies for these benefits)
  • Weight loss treatment
  • Some medications

You might notice that medication appears on both lists. Some amount of prescription drug coverage is required by law, but insurers have a lot of room in how they distribute those benefits. You might only be covered for generic medications as opposed to brand names, for instance.

If you want a complete view of how your policy works, it helps to talk to an expert. Your Insurance Over Texas agent can go over the details with you to make sure there is no mystery or uncertainty. Remove the doubt so you can have less stress in your life in Houston, TX.

What you can do when your car is totalled

When your car has been in an accident, the insurance company may declare it a total loss and offer you the fair market value of the vehicle. In Texas, state law requires the insurance company to call it a total loss if the repairs are the same or more than the vehicle’s value. Insurance over Texas, located in Houston, TX, can help you get the insurance you need and will work with you if you have an accident in your vehicle.

The fair market value is based on a formula of many items, like the value of similar cars, the condition of your vehicle and such things. That will be all the insurance company will pay you for, and if you owe more than that on the car, you will still have to pay that debt off out of pocket. There is gap insurance to cover that if you owe more than the car is worth and umbrella insurance to extend your limits.

If you do not agree with the fair market value the insurance company offers, you can get your own estimate at your own expense. Gather comparison prices and go to the insurance company and talk about it.

In getting the fair market value, you are selling the insurance company your car in essence. If you want to keep the car, you may do so, but it is a little complicated.  Let your insurance company know you want to keep the car, and if it has not been auctioned, you can keep it. If it has been sent to auction, you may be able to buy it there. The insurance company will subtract the car’s salvage value and pay you the remainder of the car’s fair market value, minus your deductible. For all your insurance needs, visit in person or give us a call at Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX.

 

3 Commercial Insurance Mistakes That Put Your Business At Risk

As a Houston, TX business owner, one of the most damaging and costly mistakes is not protecting your business and assets with the right kind and amount of commercial insurance coverage. Thinking that you understand the ins and outs of business insurance, you may decide not to work with an experienced Insurance Over Texas agent and won’t be getting a correct picture of your business risks and needs, and fail to purchase adequate coverage. Unfortunately, making the following mistakes can not only cost you more money, but you could also end up losing your business. 

Buying Inadequate Coverage

Many businesses don’t actually purchase enough insurance to cover their potential losses. Purchasing inadequate commercial insurance coverage is only slightly better than no a policy at all. Many business owners realize their mistake when it’s too late and are forced to pay for attorney fees and legal settlements out of pocket.

Carrying Low Deductibles

Carrying a low deductible on your commercial insurance policy may seem like a better decision because it offers more protection, but it may not actually be the best decision for your business. You can lower your costs while still protecting yourself by increasing the deductible on your insurance policies. A high deductible reduces your overall operating costs while still providing protection from the types of losses that could put your business at risk.

Not Buying Business Income Coverage 

Commercial business income coverage, also known as business interruption insurance, will provide financial support in the event that something occurs that interrupts your ability to conduct business and make money. Going without business income coverage can endanger your company just as much as going without property or liability coverage. For example, if your business experiences a fire that damages or destroys all your merchandise, forcing you to close your doors for weeks, your business owner’s property insurance will cover the lost merchandise, but if you don’t have business income coverage, you’ll have no way to recover your lost income during the time you are shuttered.  

The best way to ensure you have the coverage and protection you need for your Houston, TX business is to work with a qualified insurance professional at Insurance Over Texas. We can assess your specific needs and then help you find the best insurance package to meet them. Contact our offices for a quote.

3 Types Of Damage Not Covered By Home Insurance

As a homeowner, you buy home insurance for your peace of mind (and also, because it’s usually a mortgage requirement.) But did you know that not all of the damage your Houston, TX home may sustain is covered by your policy? No matter what your individual Insurance Over Texas policy stipulates, here are three types of damage that are never covered by standard home insurance.

Specific Natural Disasters

Texas is plagued by hurricanes and other severe natural events from time to time. Still, if your home sustains damage from a natural event, the repairs can’t be reimbursed if you only hold a standard home insurance policy. Here are the types of natural disasters that can’t be covered:

  • floods
  • ground shifts resulting from earthquakes
  • damage sustained from strong winds and hurricanes

If you have flood insurance or hurricane insurance, your home is protected. Those are separate policies from the one most homeowners buy.

Lack Of Maintenance

If you neglect your home or allow it to fall into disrepair, you cannot be reimbursed by insurance. Normal wear and tear are not covered by most Houston, TX policies; home insurance is meant to protect your home from sudden occurrences and emergencies. Likewise, if you choose not to make repairs to your home when signs of wear become visible, you void your home insurance policy.

Bug And Rodent Infestations

While your home insurance is useful in covering most unfortunate circumstances, it will not cover vermin infestations. If your home is overcome by roaches or mice, you have to pay out of pocket to exterminate them.

Getting rid of bedbugs can be exceptionally costly, since you may have to replace a portion of your belongings in order to ensure that the bugs won’t return after they are chemically killed off. Bed bug eggs may remain in certain fabric belongings which may need to be thrown away. Even the replacement of these belongings cannot be covered by your homeowner’s policy, however

Are you ready to consult an Insurance Over Texas agent about your new homeowner’s policy? Visit our offices or contact us online to ask some questions or find the policy that fits your needs best.

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