Insurance for Cameras

[bbailey]

I have a Personal Articles policy from State Farm that is seperate from my renters insurance. I think I pay about $80 for about $4,000 worth of coverage. Non-business use.

[Roadrnr]

Jerry pretty much hit it on the head with his info. However, be careful about the amounts. Most insurance companies will only insure for what you bought it for, thats why they want a receipt of sale or an appraisal. For the floater, you can't just state that you bought a camera for $X, it has to have documentation to back it up.

The floater is a all-risk floater with zero deductible, so yes, you are basically buying your deductible down plus gaining more coverage for that specific equipment. I work for a Farmers Agency and the coverage is usually about $1.75/$100 in coverage.

[jwesley]

I too, am looking for insurance, and my understanding is, while the insurance is pretty cheap, it's not a good idea to insure your photo equipment with your homeowner's or rental insurance company. I also am told . . . do not let the afore mentioned companies THINK you are doing anything professionally or they will not pay on your losses. And THINK can be construed from the type of equipment you own . . . depending on the agency's opinion. In the professional vein, even one photo exchanged for a gratituity of any kind, can be construed as professional when it comes to paying/not paying a claim. And, I further understand, photographing a wedding, even gratis, for a friend or relative, can, by the insurance companies that do your homeowners, etc., can be twisted into professional work.

Don't know exactly how true any of the above is (specific names involved were State Farm in particular, Alstate, and Farmers) but it's sure got me leary about insuring my hard spent money with my homeowners insurance (State Farm).

Any comments on this information, pro or con, would be appreciated - as at present I'm considering joining one of several photography organizations and getting insurance through them, which is a good bit more expensive in the short term - but in the long term (hopefully never) would it be?

Jimmy

[boxofrocks]

Hill & Usher. They write policies with The Hartford.

Pro photographer policies.

[brad]

Another vote for Hill & Usher .. love 'em.

[adirty1]

hill and usher... If your looking to cover your gear at replacement cost and out of country than Hill and Usher are the only way to go. No receipts just SS numbers.. I have the Professional coverage that covers everything from 20k of computers to the room it's stored in at the house and the lose of income and shipping something to a client. You name it. If your getting back into photography and trying to make money than from what I understand your home owner will not cover it. even with a rider....

out off country is not cheap. I pay almost a 1k and deductable is about a grande. if you get just the US coverage than your looking at 500 with no deductable or maybe even less...

[Roadrnr]

The Farmers floater on your home insurance covers your equipment, regardless of use. I have several clients that use thier photo equipment in thier business and its insured on the home insurance policy NOT a business policy. Granted, these are folks that do not have a stuido outside of thier home. I can tell you that if the equipment is listed on a floater, its on an all risk basis. That means its covered, unless there is a specific exclusion for it. I know for a fact that the Farmers one does not specifically exclude loss if used in business on the floater.

[jloyphoto]

I just signed on with Tom C. Pickard & Co. They cover everything I need and then some.

http://www.groupinsure.com

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by adirty1

hill and usher... Iif you get just the US coverage than your looking at 500 with no deductable or maybe even less...

No deductable? You may want to double check that--They increased the deductable on all photo policies with the Hartford from $250 to $500. At least that's what they told me.

If you're right, then hook a brotha up! Lemme know how you got that!

[adirty1]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

No deductable? You may want to double check that--They increased the deductable on all photo policies with the Hartford from $250 to $500. At least that's what they told me.

If you're right, then hook a brotha up! Lemme know how you got that!

if you just had your gear covered in country there was or should i say used to be no deductable. I believe it was with firemans fund...or Travelers. It was what all the sports shooters where using to cover thier gear. my deductable is 1000. but i have the out of country protection. which i just might be dropping after the new year. I have a wedding that is coming up next year in Italy but I have a feeling that I wont get it. something will probably go wrong with that wedding and I won't get to go...

[Nikolai]

Anyone have experience with USAA on this? I'm going to call them tonight or tommorow and see what they say.