Michigan residents urged to review insurance policies amid winter emergency preparedness

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, or DIFS, is urging Michiganders to review their auto, home, and renters insurance policies ahead of possible winter emergencies.

DIFS also urges residents to ensure they fully understand their coverage and have a plan to pay policy deductibles in the event of an emergency.

Coverages to consider for vehicle owners include:

• Collision Coverage provides coverage for damage to your vehicle while driving, should your vehicle collide with another vehicle or object, like a tree or utility pole, from loss of traction due to ice and snow.
• Comprehensive Coverage provides coverage for non-collision incidents where damage is still sustained. Examples include damage from falling tree limbs, hitting a deer, hail, or vandalism.
• Property Protection is one of the three mandatory coverages required to drive legally in Michigan. It provides coverage for damage unintentionally caused to another person’s property, such as sliding off the road or damaging someone’s mailbox.

Insurance policies for homeowners usually cover damages resulting from sudden events like burst pipes, ice dams, wind damage, or snow and ice causing collapses. Coverage for power outages, however, may only apply if the outage resulted from a covered event.

Tips for homeowners include:

• Homeowners should consider these following steps to prevent winter damage:
• Keep your home heated to at least 65 degrees to prevent frozen pipes. If you’re travelling, have someone check your home to catch any burst pipes as soon as possible.
• Keep gutters clean to prevent ice dams, which occur when melting ice refreezes under roof shingles.
• Remove any dead or rotting trees to prevent branch breakage under the weight of snow or ice.

More information can be found on the DIFS website here.