What insurance does my child need for college?

Preparing for college is nerve-wracking whether your child is headed to University of Iowa or UCLA. There are plenty of worries that come to mind as a parent, from roommates, to food, to whether or not your child will remember how to do laundry. The list goes on.

Unfortunately, we have one more thing to add to your list and it is pretty important that you don’t forget it: insurance! It’s often unclear what your insurance covers when it comes to your grown, college-aged children. So here are some important things to consider before sending your child off to college.

Insurance checklist for your college-bound child:

• Insure your computer, musical instrument, expensive jewelry and any other expensive items your child plans to take with them.
• Have your child make a list of nearly everything they plan to bring. Having a list of all your child’s important items will help keep track of them and will make filing a claim easier if something is stolen.
• If your child isn’t bringing a car to school let your insurance agent know, you may qualify for a resident student discounted rate on your insurance. On the other hand, if you child does bring your car, make sure to discuss rules about letting others drive. Any claim made under your insurance, regardless of whether your child was driving or not, will cause an increase in your insurance rate.

Preparing for college with the right insurance

Help your child prepare for college by protecting them and yourself financially with the right insurance. After all, there are already too many things to worry and think about with a child away at school, don’t add bad insurance coverage to your list. The only way to know if you have the right coverage is to do your research and ask questions.

Talk to your insurance agent to see if there are any other policies you may want to consider adding to your coverage or if there are any discounts you can take advantage of.