Back to School

Can you believe that it is back to school time already? Usually this is the time of year where our
college age students are packing up and getting ready to head back to college. For some that is
across town, for others, it is across the state and even across the country.

There is usually excitement in the air surrounding a back to school move. For some, it is a new
beginning, for others, it is a chance to get back to hanging out with friends and enjoying those
near carefree days of the college lifestyle.

However this year is different. For many of us, our children have not been in a school or on
campus since mid-March due to COVID. Because of this, there will be new challenges and
uncertainty each of our children and families are going to have to face going back to campus.

Will my child be safe? What precautions is each school taking? Will my child have to do some or
all of their classes remotely? Some schools are doing remote only classes for the first semester.
Others are phasing in on-campus activities and will be bringing back students at different times.
Still others schools will be fully open and require or students to wear masks in public places. It’s
enough to make anyone’s head spin.

With all of that going on, it is easy to overlook other questions each family should be addressing
if they are sending their child back to school. One of those questions is: What is the best way to
protect my child’s belongings while they are away at school?

Even with the threat of COVID, those of us with college students still have to make sure a plan
is in place to protect their clothes, gaming counsels, computers, phones, bikes, and other
possessions from events that could damage or destroy their belongings while they are away
from home.

Our friends at Armed Forces Insurance are dedicated to helping military family in all situations,
including helping you and your child protect their belongings from damage due to fire, theft,
storms and other unfortunate incidents that can occur in life.

There are two basic options to consider when it comes to insuring your child when they are off
at school. Below is a breakdown of those options.

1. Current home insurance policy – Many home insurance policies will cover your child’s
   belongings as long as they are under the age of 24 and are enrolled in school full time. It
   does not cost anything extra. There will be limitations as most policies will limit the total
   dollar amount of coverage for your child’s belongings to 10% of your total personal
   property coverage. Also, any loss that your child experiences (fire, theft, water damage,
   etc.) will be subject to your home insurance deductible. For most homeowner policies, this deductible is generally between $1,000 and $2,500 dollars but can be more depending on the claim and the policy language. Another potential negative to covering your child with your home insurance policy is that any loss turned in against your home insurance could result in your home insurance premiums increasing at your policy renewal date.
2. Separate renter insurance policy – Your other option instead of using your homeowner
   insurance policy is to setup a separate renter insurance policy for your child. This policy
   would cost a little more but it would allow you to be able to specify how much coverage
   your child would need. The deductible options are often lower than your home insurance
   policy as they generally range between $250 and $500. The other advantage to a
   separate renter insurance policy is that your home insurance policy would not be
   affected if your child has to make a claim due to a covered loss. The claim would go
   against the separate renter insurance policy and not potentially negatively affect your
   home insurance
3. Special Coverage – There are also some special coverages you may consider
   for certain possessions your child takes to school. One of which is the proper
   coverage for their computer. Some homeowner and renter policies offer a special
   electronics coverage endorsement that can help to better protect your child’s
   computer. Theft and having your child’s computer or electronics fall off a desk
   and break is one of the most common claims that occur to college age students.
   Some policies may provide extra coverage for computer and laptops. Ask your
   agent if your home or renter policy has extra protection against lost, stolen or
   broken electronics.

Returning back to school can be an exciting and anxious time for children of all ages.
Mix in the fears of how COVID-19 and that anxiety can be a lot worse. By starting to
prepare now, you can help ensure your child has a smooth transition back to being a full
time student.

Those are just a few back to school tips from Armed Forces Insurance. For more tips on
this and other topics, head over to Armed Forces Insurance – Resources and Tools
page.

As a military family, you need insurance that matches your needs and protects what you value
most. You deserve an insurance company that is committed to serving you. MilHousing Network
is proud to partner with Armed Forces Insurance to bring military families reliable homeowner’s
insurance options when buying a home. Contact them today at 800-313-1936 or visit
www.afi.org/milhousing to learn how they can support your unique military lifestyle.