Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to be your trusted insurance advisor every step of the way. Oftentimes, that means answering a few questions about the products we offer and how to select the ideal coverage. We’ve answered some of the more common ones below, but feel free to call or email us should you have questions that aren’t covered here.
- General Questions
- Auto Insurance Questions
- Home Insurance Questions
- Umbrella Insurance Questions
- Identity Theft Insurance Questions
General Questions
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Who is Members Insurance Advisors?
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As a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Community Credit Union, Members Insurance Advisors is a separate entity from Delta Community. While some of our customers do bank with the credit union, it's not a requirement for becoming a Members Insurance Advisors customer.
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Are all of your policies with one company, or do they come from separate insurance providers?
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We offer policies from multiple "A" rated carriers. However, in many instances, an insurance company will offer multi-policy discounts for customers who wish to bundle multiple services with the same company. Your insurance agent will look into all possible options to get you the best quote for your coverage needs.
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Which carriers do you work with? Can you go to other carriers for a quote?
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At Members Insurance Advisors, we shop multiple "A" rated carriers to get a quote for the coverage you need. Because we are independent agents, we aren’t restricted to a specific carrier and are free to find you the best available price for the coverage you need, regardless of carrier. You can view a list of the companies we work with on our carriers page.
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Do I need existing coverage in order to get a quote from Members Insurance Advisors?
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We highly recommend maintaining coverage, because a lapse in your policy can have a negative impact on your quote. Give us a call for more information.
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What do I need to have when changing my coverage?
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Most coverage changes are straightforward, but some require extra documentation.
- Adding a new person or vehicle: Provide a copy of the driver's license or registration for the added individual, or a bill of sale for new vehicles.
- Dropping a person: It's not always necessary, but proof of new coverage may be requested for anyone you remove from your policy.
- Cancelling a policy: If you need to cancel your coverage, proof of new coverage is preferred and it may be required to show the date when your new coverage began.
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What is my insurance score and why does it matter?
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Your insurance score is a rating that represents the likelihood of you filing an insurance claim while you have coverage with a particular provider. Your score will impact the premiums you pay for coverage—the better your score (the lower the likelihood of you filing claims while covered), the lower your premiums.
This isn’t the same as your credit rating, but your insurance score is based largely on your overall credit rating. Historically, there is a connection between credit rating and the amount of insurance claims someone will file. You can improve your score by paying bills in a timely manner and reducing debt. Filing few to no insurance claims over a period of time will also help improve your score.
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Why can't I visit a local branch to meet with an Insurance Advisor?
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Our advisors are located at the Peachtree City (Wisdom Road) Branch for in-person appointments. Members Insurance Advisors makes it convenient to do business electronically and over the phone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us via phone or email at any time. You’ll receive the same care and attention from our team as you would if you were dropping by in person.
Auto Insurance Questions
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How much insurance do I need?
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Most states require you to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, but in the event of an accident, these minimums may not be enough to sufficiently pay for damages. Members Insurance Advisors recommends higher coverage than the minimum limits. The main factor in determining coverage is the value of your assets. You'll also want to consider factors such as how and when you drive and what type of vehicle you own.
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What details will I need to consider when purchasing an auto policy?
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You’ll make choices in three main categories, depending on what you need and want for the following:
- Coverages
- Limits
- Deductibles
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What are the main coverages offered by an auto policy?
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Common types of auto insurance coverages are liability, collision, medical and uninsured/underinsured motorist. You can find brief explanations of these coverage types on our Auto Insurance page.
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What is a "limit of liability"?
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This is the most your policy will pay out for a particular type of coverage. Often, you’ll see limits expressed as two numbers (such as $100,000/$300,000). This is a “split limit”—the first number is the amount the policy will pay out for bodily injury per person, and the second is the total amount the policy would pay out for bodily injury of all people involved in the accident. If a third number is included, that often refers to limits on property damage per accident. Members Insurance Advisors can walk you through the various limits.
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What is a deductible, and how do I determine an amount that makes sense for me?
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Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. Make sure you choose an amount that you’re comfortable with paying out-of-pocket in the event of an accident. A higher deductible will often lower your premium. Your Members Insurance Advisors agent will provide you with more information.
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Do I qualify for any auto insurance discounts?
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Members Insurance Advisors will be able to determine which discounts apply.
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Does the type of car I drive impact my rates?
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The car you drive can have a large impact on your premium. Insurance rates are determined by looking at the loss history for a specific vehicle type—such as how often it’s stolen and how costly it is to repair in the event of an accident.
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Who all should be listed on my policy?
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All drivers in your household who have the knowledge and ability to operate a vehicle need to be listed on your auto policy. This is because everyone in your household with these qualifications has reasonable access to your cars and therefore could find themselves behind the wheel at some point. Also, you may need to add members of your family who do not live in your household—for example, if another family member co-signed on your car loan or is listed on your registration.
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Why did my premium change?
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Most people know that accidents and tickets can increase premiums, but other factors contribute to your rates as well. The costs of various goods and services—such as medical costs to treat injuries, auto repair costs, costs to adjust claims and inflation—can all impact the price of auto insurance.
Any changes you make to your policy or coverage will affect your rate as well. These include adding or removing a driver, buying a new car, moving to a new location and changing how you use your car.
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What should I do if I'm involved in an accident?
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When possible, gather names, addresses and contact information of everyone involved, as well as types of vehicles, license plate numbers and policy information for all drivers. Examine and, if possible, take photos of any damage to your vehicle and others, as well as any property damage that may have occurred. Don't discuss the accident with anyone other than the present police officer and your claims adjuster and never admit fault.
Home Insurance Questions
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What types of coverage are usually included in a home insurance policy?
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Common types of home insurance coverages are dwelling coverage, other structures, personal property, loss of use and liability. You can find brief explanations of these coverage types on our Homeowners & Flood Insurance page.
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How much home insurance should I buy?
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Your coverage limit should start with dwelling coverage. Members Insurance Advisors will help you determine how much coverage you should purchase to protect your home's replacement value and belongings.
Other limits are figured as a percentage of your dwelling limit and are determined based on the amount of initial coverage you select. Your agent will be able to help you navigate the best coverage amounts based on your needs.
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How can I determine the cost to rebuild?
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The cost to rebuild is based on a number of factors, and can often be higher than the potential selling price of your home, depending on the price of building materials and value of real estate. Key factors that impact the cost to rebuild are:
- Square footage
- Style of home
- Exterior construction
- Type of garage
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- Special features like fireplaces and skylights
- Any additions or enhancements
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What will it cost to replace my belongings?
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Losing your personal belongings is both distressing and financially devastating. Your home insurance policy covers the loss of these items, subject to the policy limits and conditions. Many people underestimate the cost of replacing their belongings, so be sure to consider new items you purchase each year.
You should consider getting a current appraisal for items like jewelry because the value of precious metals and gemstones is constantly changing. Having a recent appraisal helps with the reimbursement process if covered items are lost or stolen. Members Insurance Advisors can help you determine the best way to price your belongings.
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When should I consider adding to my coverage?
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Contact Members Insurance Advisors when anything significant changes about your home or its contents. There are several reasons you’d want to reevaluate your current policy, such as building onto your home, finishing your basement, starting a business from your home, making a major purchase or buying additional properties.
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What is a deductible, and how do I choose one?
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Your deductible is your out-of-pocket expense before your policy will pay for any damages. Make sure you choose an amount that you’re comfortable with paying out of pocket in the event of a loss. A higher deductible will often lower your premium. Members Insurance Advisors will be able to provide you with more information.
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What are my deductible options?
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For many home policies, there are two common types of deductibles.
- Flat: a fixed dollar amount
- Percent: a percentage based on the amount of dwelling coverage. As your dwelling coverage increases, so will your deductible.
Umbrella Insurance Questions
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What is umbrella coverage, and why do I need it?
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An umbrella policy can provide you with additional insurance coverage on top of existing home and auto policies. This coverage goes into effect when you reach the liability limits on other policies and can be extremely beneficial in the event of a major accident or loss. You can find more information on our Umbrella Insurance page.
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What can be covered under umbrella insurance?
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Your umbrella policy covers costs associated with bodily injury, property damage and even legal fees. If you accidentally injure someone or damage their property, your umbrella policy can help cover those damages in addition to the financial burden incurred from a potential lawsuit.
Identity Theft Insurance Questions
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What losses are covered under my ID theft policy?
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Your policy will reimburse you for expenses and legal costs, minus any deductibles, that result from the following:
- Fraud or embezzlement
- Theft of property related to your personal information and accounts
- Forgery
- Data breach resulting from a compromise of information from a financial institution
- Stolen identity event arising out of the use of the internet
- Unauthorized electronic funds transfer
- Costs incurred because you’ve had to refile applications that have been rejected solely because the lender received incorrect information
- Costs for notarizing affidavits, long distance calls, travel and postage related to reporting an identity theft event
- Costs for contesting the accuracy or completeness of information in a credit report
- Payment for reasonable expenses incurred as a result of recovery from an identity theft event
- Lost base wages that would have been earned had you not taken time off to report and amend an identity theft event
- Child or elderly care costs that would not otherwise have been incurred
- Covered legal costs, up to $125 per hour
- Limits and exclusions apply. See policy for complete coverage details
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What won't be covered under my policy?
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The following losses are not covered under your ID theft policy:
- Loss due to fraudulent, dishonest or criminal acts by yourself or anyone acting in concert with you, or an immediate family member
- Loss resulting directly or indirectly from errors or omissions occurring in the input of data to any computer system and/or processing of any data within a computer system
- Loss resulting directly or indirectly from the voluntary surrendering of any access device, in whole or in part, to any person or entity
- Loss resulting from any unintentional clerical error in the transfer from or debit of any account that’s initiated by a financial institution or any employee thereof
- Loss in connection with any pre-authorized transfer from any account to or for the benefit of a financial institution, or to any other account of yours
- Loss arising out of business pursuits
- Loss of valuable papers, documents, jewelry, silverware and other personal property including the philatelic value of stamps and the numismatic value of coins not in circulation
- Property damage, bodily injury or personal injury
- Losses incurred from financial performance of any investment of financial product
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What's the procedure for filing a claim?
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As soon as you suspect identity theft may have occurred, you should immediately notify the appropriate authorities and your bank or affected institution. You’ll need a copy of the police report when filing your claim.
Within 60 days of the discovery, you must file detailed proof of loss, duly sworn to, with Members Insurance Advisors. You’ll also need to cooperate with any legal proceedings that take place as the result of the identity theft event. Don’t make any payments or incur any expenses related to your ID theft event without discussing how it could affect your policy. Keep detailed records of all losses, in case we need to examine your records in order to assist with your claim.
For full details on filing a claim, contact your Members Insurance Advisor.