Do I Need a Separate Earthquake Insurance Policy?

Earthquakes are among the most dangerous natural disasters in the world, often wreaking havoc on thousands of U.S. homeowners, including many along the Pacific coast. Fortunately, the dedicated team at American West Insurance Agency Inc. makes it an integral part of their mission to help homeowners in and around Seattle, WA understand earthquake insurance and retain appropriate coverage.

What Is Earthquake Insurance?

As its name suggests, this type of coverage is specifically tailored toward the needs of property owners who may suffer losses arising from earthquakes. Such seismic events can have devastating consequences, but in the wake of these natural disasters, earthquake insurance can offer financial assistance.

Specifically, earthquake insurance may help manage the following expenses and losses:

• Building repairs—If an insured structure, such as your home, is damaged or destroyed by an earthquake, your coverage can help pay for repair or rebuild costs.

• Personal property losses—Your insurance may also cover your belongings, including furniture, electronics and appliances damaged by, or lost to, shifting earth.

• Temporary living costs—If an earthquake levels your home and leaves it uninhabitable, your insurance may fund alternative accommodations and other expenses while you conduct repairs.

How Can I Get Coverage?

You should first understand that earthquakes are typically excluded from standard home insurance policies. As such, you’ll need to know how to tackle this coverage gap and secure alternative coverage. Consider the following ways you might address this task:

• Standalone policies—Earthquake insurance may be available as its own policy, potentially allowing you to retain critical financial protection specifically for such incidents.

• Endorsements—You might also be able to add coverage for earthquakes to homeowners and renters insurance policies, which typically exclude such disasters.

Learn More

While earthquake insurance is not typically required in Washington, homeowners in Seattle, WA may still want to prioritize coverage to limit possible out-of-pocket losses. Contact American West Insurance Agency Inc. today to discuss your options and find the right standalone policy or endorsement.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.