Fish Tank insurance

kstallbe · 02/02/2008, 10:32 AM

I'm look into getting renter's insurance (very similar to homeowner's except for rental units). The proposed policy explicitly excludes coverage of "animals." I'm guessing pretty much everything in the tank would be considered a animal.

Has anybody had experience here? If so, what company did you buy the policy with? Has anybody bought separate coverage for their tanks? All comments/input welcome!

usmc121581 · 02/02/2008, 10:41 AM

I have evrthing in my house covered evan the tank and what is inside. I had asked about it before hand and they said its considered furniture.

seapug · 02/02/2008, 11:16 AM

There was a thread about this a while back that a few RC Member Insurance agents chimed in on. I'm not sure how renter's insurance works, but I would imagine it's similar to homeowner's insurance, if not worse. If you want to know for sure, contact your insurance company and ask them directly, then call another agency with the same company and ask them as a "second opinion" because you may get two different answers.

I spoke directly to my insurance agent about it and was told the same thing as usmc121581. If the tank cracks and flooded my house, the damage to the house, tank, and furniture would be covered, but not the contents of the tank itself. Insuring the inhabitants of the tank would require a special policy with a specialty insurance company, and would be very $$$.

Mike Murphy · 02/02/2008, 11:29 AM

Insurance contracts can vary somewhat from state to state but are basically pretty much the same ISO form for an HO3 or an HO4. Pets are normally not covered. The insured would be best advised as to finding their insurance policy and reading it. Specifically the definitions of covered personal property and any exclusions. Mortality coverage is normally obtained through an independent agent with ties to a broker that handles specialty lines. It can be expensive but much might depend on the value and the type of animal. Don't depend on your agent being knowledgable and accepting the answer because they do not always give correct information and can be wrong. That is why they have E & O coverage for their mistakes Ask them to show you the policy coverage of the contract that specifically deals with this or call the insurance carriers claims department and ask them. The claims people have to adhere to the actual insurance policy because it is a contract between the carrier and the insured which is filed with the state.

kstallbe · 02/03/2008, 09:50 AM

Thanks all. I appreciate it. I've been having a whole lot of fun talking to the insurance people. One of the biggest problems Im having is that they are unwilling to send me a copy of the proposed policy before I actually purchase it. Also, the one copy of a policy I did get said something totally different than what the rep on the phone had told me.

I'll keep plugging at it. Also, Mike, talking to the claims people sounds like a good idea. Ill try that direction.

Keith

02/02/2008, 10:32 AM	#1
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	Fish Tank insurance I'm look into getting renter's insurance (very similar to homeowner's except for rental units). The proposed policy explicitly excludes coverage of "animals." I'm guessing pretty much everything in the tank would be considered a animal. Has anybody had experience here? If so, what company did you buy the policy with? Has anybody bought separate coverage for their tanks? All comments/input welcome!

02/02/2008, 10:41 AM	#2
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I have evrthing in my house covered evan the tank and what is inside. I had asked about it before hand and they said its considered furniture. __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

02/02/2008, 11:16 AM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	There was a thread about this a while back that a few RC Member Insurance agents chimed in on. I'm not sure how renter's insurance works, but I would imagine it's similar to homeowner's insurance, if not worse. If you want to know for sure, contact your insurance company and ask them directly, then call another agency with the same company and ask them as a "second opinion" because you may get two different answers. I spoke directly to my insurance agent about it and was told the same thing as usmc121581. If the tank cracks and flooded my house, the damage to the house, tank, and furniture would be covered, but not the contents of the tank itself. Insuring the inhabitants of the tank would require a special policy with a specialty insurance company, and would be very $$$. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

02/02/2008, 11:29 AM	#4
Mike Murphy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Greencastle, Indiana Posts: 258	Insurance contracts can vary somewhat from state to state but are basically pretty much the same ISO form for an HO3 or an HO4. Pets are normally not covered. The insured would be best advised as to finding their insurance policy and reading it. Specifically the definitions of covered personal property and any exclusions. Mortality coverage is normally obtained through an independent agent with ties to a broker that handles specialty lines. It can be expensive but much might depend on the value and the type of animal. Don't depend on your agent being knowledgable and accepting the answer because they do not always give correct information and can be wrong. That is why they have E & O coverage for their mistakes Ask them to show you the policy coverage of the contract that specifically deals with this or call the insurance carriers claims department and ask them. The claims people have to adhere to the actual insurance policy because it is a contract between the carrier and the insured which is filed with the state.

02/03/2008, 09:50 AM	#5
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	Thanks all. I appreciate it. I've been having a whole lot of fun talking to the insurance people. One of the biggest problems Im having is that they are unwilling to send me a copy of the proposed policy before I actually purchase it. Also, the one copy of a policy I did get said something totally different than what the rep on the phone had told me. I'll keep plugging at it. Also, Mike, talking to the claims people sounds like a good idea. Ill try that direction. Keith