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Find The Answers You Need For Customer Service questions, please call: 800-295-8016 For payment information for all other policies including flood: click here. To make a one-time electronic payment or enroll in recurring electronic payment processing for your Homeowners or Dwelling Fire policy: click here. Before you begin, please be sure to have your policy invoice available. How UPC Insurance Can Help As your ONE source of protection that bridges the gap between success and security, UPC Insurance offers a selection of customizable products designed to protect both your property and your assets. The list below is merely an outline of our basic products, but with the assistance of your trained neighborhood independent agent for UPC Insurance, you will find the right product and the right options to meet your unique protection needs. • Homeowner Coverage
Responsive, Stable and Innovative In good times and bad, you can count on UPC's network of professional agents to deliver excellent service and stay in touch with your needs by recommending the right protection for you and your family.
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Before a Flood What would you do if your property were flooded? Are you prepared? Even if you feel you live in a community with a low risk of flooding, remember that anywhere it rains, it can flood. Just because you haven't experienced a flood in the past, doesn't mean you won't in the future. Flood risk isn't just based on history; it's also based on a number of factors including rainfall , topography, flood-control measures, river-flow and tidal-surge data, and changes due to new construction and development. Flood-hazard maps have been created to show the flood risk for your community, which helps determine the type offlood insurance coverage you will need since standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding. The lower the degree of risk, the lower the flood insurance premium. In addition to having flood insurance, knowing following flood hazard terms will help you recognize and prepare for a flood. To prepare for a flood, you should:
TYPE OF FLOOD MAP CHANGES WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY Low- or moderate-risk zone (B, C, X) changing to a high-risk zone (e.g. AE, VE) or Change in Base Flood Elevation Grandfathering Offers Savings· The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has “grandfather” rules to recognize policyholders who have either built in compliance with the flood map or who maintain continuous coverage. These rules allow such policyholders to benefit in the rating for that building. · Grandfathering is available for new purchasers as well as existing customers. · Always use the new map if it will provide a more favorable premium (lower rate). · Your building has been designated in a high-risk area for flooding. · You will be required to purchase a flood policy if you carry a mortgage from a federally regulated lender. · If you don’t carry a mortgage, you should protect your home with flood insurance. National statistics show that you are 3 times more likely to have damage by a flood than by fire. · Purchasing before the map revision allows you to save on insurance. Loyal Customers Can Keep Existing Zone (Pre- & Post- FIRM) · Customers, who buy a policy before maps are adopted and maintain coverage, can retain the lower-risk zone rate. · Eligible customers can purchase a PRP now. It will renew to an X zone rated standard policy. · Have a policy: maintain continuous coverage. · A policy can be assigned to future property owner. · Buy now to save later. · Renew to stay protected and save money. Show Compliance With a Previous FIRM for Lower Costs (Post- FIRM only) · To keep existing zones when the structure was built: Get a copy of FIRM effective at time of construction or a compliance letter from community official. · To keep existing BFE when the structure was built: Get Elev. Cert, and copy of FIRM effective at time of construction; or compliance letter from the community official. · Lower cost options: show building was built in compliance at time of construction. · Makes you eligible for a lower rate, keeps costs DOWN. High-risk zone (e.g. AE, VE) changing to a low- or moderate-risk zone (X, shaded X) Conversion Offers Savings · Write a Preferred Risk Policy (PRP). · Use existing policy’s current effective date, and use closest coverage limit or next highest options if no exact match. · Submit PRP application, and insured signed conversion form. · Your risk is reduced, not removed! · Eligible for low-cost, Preferred Risk Policy · Stay protected and get money back once maps are adopted. · No gaps in coverage; no additional money up front. · 20-25% of all flood claims occur in low- or moderate-risk areas. No Change Review of Current Coverage Ensures Protection· Do they have flood insurance? · If so, is the building limit up-to-date? · Contents coverage provided and limit up-to-date? · Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage due to floods. · Floods happen anytime, anywhere. · Your home is a major investment—protect it. Something to share; the National & State Do Not Call List: 888-383-1222 National Do Not Call List 866-231-2255 State Do Not Call List 888-567-8688 Credit Card Do Not Call List Just call to get on the listing. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Hurricane season began June 1. It's not too late to insure against loss. 1. Get Insured Pronto Going without insurance isn't an option―it's insanity! Policies usually require 30 days to activate, and with the hurricane season upon us, the sooner you get coverage, the better. Another reason to pick up the phone today: Insurance providers won't write a new policy if a named storm is active in your area. 2. Find an Agent You Trust Identifying good coverage at affordable rates can seem daunting. An agent you trust can help. Don't just ask friends: Seek recommendations from local professionals (such as your attorney or accountant), who are well-versed in liability issues and familiar with respected agents in your community. 3. Forget About Bargains Due to the severity of storms in the past two years and the damage they've caused, insurance companies have had to settle greater numbers of customer claims. Unfortunately, increased operating costs are inevitably passed along to you. 4. Know Your Options Don't fret if you learn that private insurance companies are canceling some policies in your area. There may be a state-backed "insurer of last resort" where you live. Examples include Florida's Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Austin-based Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and South Carolina's Wind and Hail Underwriting Association. That's the good news. The bad news is that the cost of this insurance can be astronomical. Check your state's Web site (see statelocalgov.net) or ask your agent about individual state plans. 5. Review Your Policy Unless you've read your policy, there's no way to know what coverage you can count on. Does your policy provide a stipend for living expenses should you lose the use of your home? Find out now so you can set aside funds or upgrade your policy as required. 6. Buy the Coverage You Need Coastal homes need more (and different) coverage than most homeowners' policies provide. While your policy will typically cover damage or loss of personal possessions due to fire, theft, and other calamities, you'll most likely need a separate wind policy if your home could be damaged by hurricane winds. 7. Maximize Flood Protection If there's even the slightest chance that your home might flood, purchase the maximum amount of flood insurance without fail. The National Flood Insurance Program―the federal government is the only entity offering this type of coverage―allows you to purchase up to $250,000 in flood insurance for buildings and an additional $100,000 in coverage for personal property. Talk to your agent or visit floodsmart.gov to find out more. 8. Study Your Deductibles If your policy has a 2 percent hurricane deductible (applied to the total value of your home), make sure to set aside those funds as soon as possible. Keep in mind that you may have to incur this expense more than once if your home is hit by multiple storms. 9. Stay Current on Premiums Nothing is more disheartening than having your coverage lapse because you forgot to pay your premium. Mark your calendar, arrange for direct deposit, or leave a note on the refrigerator. Just don't forget. 10. Store Papers Safely Never file insurance policies or other irreplaceable documents (property surveys, titles, tax returns) in a vulnerable home or office. Leave them in a safety deposit box or place in a water- and fireproof safe hidden in a masonry wall or anchored to your basement floor. Text by Ramsey Prather |
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