thirteen wrote:
Read your policy. It's funny my agent just told me he has no idea exactly what the coverage is on the thousand of types he sells. He said he doesn't read the policies. Frankly, he couldn't memorize all that anyway. One company could say they cover RV at home, then at camp but not hitched. Other policy could say it is covered in all scenarios. He gave me one, I read it, then I said it doesn't cover everything I want so he just got me a different company and that has what I want. It's unfortunate but you have to spend hours reading these things because they are all different. Then every year you get a renewal and it excludes some coverage you had the year prior but if you don't read it you don't know. Just happened to a friend that had $25 med pay coverage doubled to $50k if wearing seatbelt. Then renewal eliminated the doubling (and increased the premium). Car accident resulted in $55k in med bills and only $25k covered because he didn't read the renewal. And was only two months into renewal or would have had $50k covered of the bills and only been responsible for the last $5k.
Great advice to read the policies! America's strong judicial system is a major contributor to how a rag tag group of immigrants economically surpassed the world in just a couple hundred years. But it's a two edged sword. Clearly, one size doesn't fit all and some folks have more to loose than others. But, it's a shame when honest folks believe they are covered, when push come to shove in a major accident, they are not. You're example was simply medical expenses, but what about the $1.5 million liability claim and crazy punitive damage awards that juries are doling out these days!
I'm at the beginning of looking into this, but am somewhat relieved after a conversation with Blue Sky insurance in Florida, as recommended by a kind poster. Blue Sky sent me the actual application and policy forms, various endorsements, etc. so I can evaluate the USE that's being insured and any EXCEPTIONS that are not. These are legal contracts; very specific and as you say, subject to constant manipulation by carriers each year to improve their "yield - the money they make) on their risk pools. Nothing new here; they've been doing this since the early 1900s.
Here is an issue I'm researching on my own within the context of going FULL TIME. It has to do with additional liability, if any, for an insured breaching their own RV manufacturer's product warranties. If an insurance policy excepts (says it wont' cover) liability claims if those claims arose out of the insured's failure to follow proper operating procedures, or some such other vague legal ease statement, then does the insurance company (on a big $1 million liability claim where details MATTER) have to pay out IF the insured did in fact breach his/her manufacturer's warranty?
I say this because, in reading forums, it seems (and I may be completely wrong) that some fifth wheel manufacturer's warranties may be written specifically to EXCLUDE or EXCEPT coverage IF the insured uses the product "FULL TIME", as full time is defined in their warranties. I may be over reacting, but I'd hate a breach of warranty to used by an insurer as a means to avoid paying a claim. I downloaded a warranty from a manufacturer and will read it soon.
Still researching. Sorry for the long post.
