Understanding An Insurance Declaration Page

If you have questions about your insurance policy, do you know where to look? The most relevant and important information can be found on your insurance declaration page. In this article, we’ll explain what an insurance declaration page is, what information it includes and how you can access your page.

What is an insurance declaration page?

An insurance declaration page is the first page of your insurance policy document and includes key information about your insurance policy. Every type of insurance policy you have—car, home, life, etc.—comes with a declaration page. On your declaration page, you’ll find the basic information that will help you file a claim, such as your coverage limits and deductible.

What are the parts of an insurance declaration page?

Your declaration page, also called the DEC page, is essentially a single source of information for details related to your insurance policy. Insurance documentation can be difficult for the average person to understand, so the DEC page makes it easy to access the most important information quickly and easily.

Depending on your policy, your insurance declaration page might actually be several pages long. However, it will always be included at the front of your insurance documents. Here is the information that can typically be found on a DEC page:

The policy number: You’ll need your insurance policy number to file a claim or make a payment.
Policy start and end date: This section includes the start and end date of your policy.
Contact information for the policyholder: If you’re the main policyholder, your name and address will be listed here.
Premium: You can find your insurance premium listed near the top of the DEC page.
Named insureds on the policy: If you have named insureds on the policy, like a relative or parent who lives with you, their names will be included here.
Other named insureds: If you have a mortgage on your home or a car loan, those lenders will be listed on your DEC page as another named insured.
Insurance provider information: The name of your insurance company, its address and contact details will be found in this section. If you work with an agent, you’ll find their direct information here.
How to report a claim: This section includes some basic information on filing a claim. It should say who you need to contact, what information you need to provide and the timeframe for filing a claim after a loss occurs.
Property details: In this section, the insured property information will be listed. For a home, it will be the property’s address. For a vehicle, it will include the make, model and year of the car.
Coverages: This section includes the types of coverage you have under your policy.
The type of policy: If you have homeowners insurance, this section will show the type of policy you have (for example HO-3 or HO-5). For car insurance, this section will say if you have personal auto insurance, motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, etc.
Coverage limits: In this section, you’ll find your coverage limits for every type of coverage you have. It’s important to review this information before filing a claim.
Deductible: Your DEC page will include your policy deductible, as well as individual deductibles for certain types of coverage.
Endorsements: If you’ve added endorsements to your policy, you’ll find them listed with the coverage limits and deductible, if applicable.
Discounts: If you are claiming any discounts, like policy bundling, they will be listed here with the savings amount.

Your insurance declaration page includes a wealth of information. However, most DEC pages are very user friendly, so it’s easy to find the information you’re looking for. If you have questions about the information listed on your declaration page, contact your insurance provider.

Why would one get a declaration page?

The main reason why someone would get their declaration page is to review their policy information. There are a few situations when that is helpful. For instance, if you need to file a claim, the information on your DEC page can help you understand the process, who to contact and what will be covered.

Or, maybe you are thinking about switching providers to get a better rate. In that case, you could review your DEC page to see what your current premium is, how much coverage you have and what discounts have been applied. That way you have an easy point of comparison when you’re shopping around for other policies.

How can I get a declaration page?

When you purchase an insurance policy, you’re given a number of documents, which will include a declaration page. You might be given hard copies of the documents or receive them electronically. If you’ve lost track of the policy paperwork, don’t worry. Contact your insurance company to ask for a copy of the DEC page. If you have an online account with your insurance provider, you might be able to download the declaration page from your computer.

What should I do once I have my declaration page?

Once you have a copy of your insurance declaration page, it’s important to review it for accuracy. Make sure that the information is correct, like your name and address, as well as the rate, coverage types and discounts.

If there’s a mistake on your DEC page, contact your insurance provider to have the information updated as soon as possible. Keep a copy of your DEC page on hand so it’s easy to access if you need to file a claim or have a question about your policy.

Why is the insurance declaration page important?

The insurance declaration page is important because it contains relevant information about your insurance policy. If you’re confused about what your policy does and doesn’t cover, it can be found on your DEC page. If you’re not sure who to contact to file a claim, the information will be listed on the declaration page. It’s an easily accessible point of reference that can help you better understand your policy.

Do I have to QA my declaration page against my coverage?

Yes, it’s always a good idea to cross-reference your declaration page with your coverage. Your DEC page should include an accurate list of your coverages, their limits and the deductibles for each. Each time you renew your policy or make a change to your coverage, check the DEC page to ensure the information has been updated accurately.

Insurance declaration page simplified:

An insurance declaration page contains important information about your policy
It provides an overview of your coverage, deductible, rate, endorsements, discounts, property details and much more
You can get a copy of your DEC page from your insurance provider, or online if you have access to digital records
Once you get a copy of the declaration page, review it for accuracy and keep a copy on hand in case you need to file a claim

The post Understanding An Insurance Declaration Page appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Contributer : The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/2Ab3cVN