A new school year often means new routines, new expenses, and for some students, a new place to live. Before the semester begins, take a few minutes to review your insurance coverage.
Driving More This Semester?
Will you be commuting to campus, heading home on weekends, or taking longer trips out of state? Ensure your current auto insurance still reflects your new driving habits, mileage, drivers, and state requirements.
Check your car’s battery output, windshield wiper blades, and tire pressure and condition to ensure smooth travels. Schedule any overdue maintenance like oil changes, brakes, and filters. Confirm that your roadside assistance is active and that the driver knows how to request help.
Moving Into a New Space?
If you’re resting your head in a new dorm, apartment, rental home or shared housing understand what’s covered if your belongings are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
Check whether your homeowner’s policy extends coverage to your belongings while you’re away. Many policies cover a dependent student’s property in a dorm, but usually only up to a percentage of your total coverage for personal property, and often not at all for off-campus apartments. Understand what’s covered if your belongings are stolen, damaged, or destroyed.
Studying Away from Home?
Before the semester starts, check which urgent care and provider options are in your health insurance network where you’ll be living and know what to do if you need medical care away from your usual providers. This is especially important if you’ll be attending school out-of-state. Save health and auto insurance information with a list of emergency contacts in an easily accessible place with backup photographs on your phone.
Any Other Life Changes?
A new semester is great reason to review beneficiaries, financial goals, and other insurance decisions that may no longer reflect your current circumstances. Changes like a new address, car, or job may come with additional opportunities to save on your policies. If you’ve been meaning to make changes but find yourself too busy, consider a local agent that works with multiple carriers on your behalf.
Start School with Confidence
A new school year brings opportunity and excitement. Make the transition easy by reviewing your insurance. Spending 15 minutes with an insurance expert now can help prevent unexpected surprises down the road. You can then focus on classes, work, activities, and everything else that comes with a busy semester.
Make sure you are covered with our free printable Back-to-School Checklist.
