Floods are responsible for property damage, human and livestock loss, landslides, erosion, and more. As a result, flood insurance is beneficial in many ways. Even areas that aren’t prone to flooding aren’t exempt from the possibility of a flood. This is why investing in flood insurance may be a good idea. Our Insurance & Financial Services Inc. team is committed to educating Baton Rouge, LA residents on the impact of floods and the benefits of flood insurance. 

What is Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance is designed to provide financial coverage for the repair or replacement due to damage and property loss resulting from flooding. Flood insurance typically covers your home, auto, appliances, structures on your property, electrical and plumbing damage, and more. Typically, an insurance representative will determine your risk factors for flooding based on your geographical location and its flood history. Topographical maps are commonly used to gauge your area’s susceptibility to flooding. 

It never floods where I live. Is flood insurance worth the cost if I don’t live in a flood zone?

Perhaps. Many floods occur in places considered at low risk for flooding. Moderate or low-risk areas aren’t exempt from the possibility of flooding. As a result, it may be a wise choice to invest in flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) reports that at least forty percent of all flood claims come from moderate or low-risk areas. If you are interested in learning more about flood insurance, call us. We’d be happy to answer your questions. 

Many people think umbrella insurance is pointless, but is it really? It depends on what you need. Some people do just fine with their auto and home policies, while others need extra insurance. Is umbrella insurance right for you? Let’s dive in and discuss umbrella insurance and whether it suits your needs.

Do you have any added liability risk factors?

If you have anything that adds risk to someone getting hurt on your property or due to your actions, then you might want to consider an umbrella policy. Some risk factors include the following:

• Teenage drivers
• A swimming pool
• A trampoline
• A dog
• Frequently having guests over

What is your net worth?

Someone with a high net worth would benefit more from umbrella insurance than someone just scraping by. Unfortunately, in this day and age, people like to sue. You automatically have a target on your back if you have a high net worth and many assets. They see that you have a lot of assets, and they will do whatever it takes to get some of that for themselves.

Do you own a business?

Someone who owns a business has a lot to lose if someone decides to sue them. If you own a business, you might benefit from umbrella insurance. An umbrella insurance policy will protect you from severe financial loss. Companies have a variety of expenses, and liability issues don’t need to be one of them. One lawsuit could put you out of business.

Contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc.

Contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA for a quote if you are considering an umbrella policy.

Flooding is a significant concern for Insurance & Financial Services Inc. customers living in Baton Rouge, LA. With the city near the Mississippi River and more active hurricane seasons, it is vital to be aware of your flood risk to protect yourself, your family, and your property. Learning about your flood risk is the first step toward finding an insurance solution that works for you. 

Determining Your Flood Risk 

Living in Louisiana means everyone is subject to flooding, but the risk varies. To assess your home’s level of vulnerability, check FEMA’s flood maps. When you enter your property’s address, the FEMA maps show designated zones noting potential danger from floods, regulations, and associated insurance requirements.

Is flood insurance mandatory?

Most of Baton Rouge is in moderate to high-risk zones on the FEMA maps. FEMA Flood Maps designate moderate- to low-risk flood areas. Moderate regions still have potential flooding but are at a lower risk than other zones. In moderate regions, flood insurance is highly recommended but not mandatory.

High-risk flood locations are subject to the highest chance of being flooded. Obtaining flood insurance is obligatory if you own property within such an area and your mortgage is federally backed. Sometimes the maps can be confusing, so call us if you have questions. One of our agents can walk you through the maps and help you make the best decision to protect your property. 

Understanding your flood risk is essential when protecting yourself against flooding in Baton Rouge, LA. So don’t wait; contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc today for more information about protecting yourself from floods!

One of the best things you can do for your health and your financial future is to carry health insurance. Insurance & Financial Services Inc. offers health insurance in Baton Rouge, LA. 

The following are three significant advantages to be aware of when it comes to having health insurance.

Health insurance helps you to get the medical treatments you need to stay healthy.

When you’re sick, medical treatments can be essential for your quality of life and survival. Unfortunately, needed medical treatment can also be costly.

With health insurance, you can get the costs of the medical treatment you need to be covered to continue to enjoy a healthy and happy life. 

Health insurance prevents the expenses that result from health problems from wiping out your savings.

Even if you have a lot of money saved up to cover medical costs, it’s still important to carry health insurance.

Without health insurance, you may find yourself having to pay out of pocket for health care costs. This makes it so that an illness can easily wipe out some or all of your savings. 

Health insurance can make it so that you’re less stressed about medical costs.

Naturally, consumers tend to be stressed when worried that health issues can create huge financial problems.

A health insurance policy can give a consumer more peace of mind and prevent stress about medical costs. 

Are you in the market for health insurance in Baton Rouge, LA?

We can help you at Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Contact us for a policy quote so you can find the best health insurance option. 

If you own a business in Baton Rouge, LA, investing in commercial insurance should be on your priority list. Commercial insurance protects your business against seen and unseen risks.

While commercial insurance is a worthy investment, you should know it doesn’t cover you against all events. Insurance & Financial Services Inc. highlights add-ons you should consider to fill in gaps in your standard commercial insurance.

Professional liability

Do you offer professional advice? You can face significant financial losses if accused of missed deadlines or negligence. Professional liability insurance cushions you when sued because of your professional services.

Flood Insurance

Most standard commercial insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. However, the good thing is that you can purchase stand-alone flood insurance to cover your business against flood damage. Flood insurance repairs or replaces your business premises and other assets when floods strike.

Earthquake insurance

Is your business located in an earthquake-prone area? You should invest in earthquake insurance because your typical commercial insurance doesn’t cover your business against earthquake damage. Earthquake insurance cushions your assets and covers debris removal and other services indicated in your policy.

General liability insurance

Although general liability insurance isn’t mandatory, all businesses should invest in this coverage. Taking your hard-earned business down the drain only takes one significant liability incident. Liability insurance protects your business when accused of bodily injury or property damage. Also, business liability insurance comes to your rescue when sued.

Protect your business with commercial insurance

Still unsure about the add-on you should consider for your commercial insurance policy? Don’t worry. We understand that you can’t know everything about commercial insurance. So, if you are in Baton Rouge, LA, or the surrounding area, please contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for more information.

People understand why homeowners’ insurance is needed. But how about renters? Most tenants think they don’t need insurance because their landlord’s insurance will cover them. But this is not correct. Let the Insurance & Financial Services Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA explain why this coverage is important.

The landlord’s insurance policy provides protection only for what the landlord owns. Items inside the building the tenant owns are excluded. This information is probably stated in the lease signed at the rental time.

Renter’s insurance is a necessity. It protects the renter and their property. As with other forms of insurance, the customer chooses the amount of coverage and their deductible, then pays a monthly premium based on these choices. The amount of coverage a renter chooses is determined by the value of their property.

Renter’s insurance covers theft, vandalism, fire, plumbing and electrical malfunctions, weather events, and other hazards. There are two things a renter’s policy will not cover. Earthquakes and flooding are not included in the coverage. Specific policies are needed to cover these events if you live in an area prone to either of these hazards.

Any renter that has a furry four-legged friend especially needs this protection. If you have a guest and your dog decides to bite, this coverage pays for any medical costs that may arise.

Also, remember that any hazard not explicitly listed in the policy will not be covered. For example, if the policy doesn’t list damage from faulty plumbing, there is no coverage for it.

If you are a Baton Rouge, LA renter, ensure you protect your belongings with renter’s insurance. The Insurance & Financial Services Inc. can provide you with a quote or answer any questions you may have. Contact our office today.

When you purchase insurance from Insurance & Financial Services Inc., you cover some aspect of your life in or around Baton Rouge, LA. It might cover your home, business, or automobile, but it includes liability insurance.

Your need for increased liability grows as you age. At that point, you need to add umbrella insurance to the policies you carry. Umbrella, a secondary type of insurance, offers added liability protection to a primary policy that already offers liability insurance coverage.

As you age, you build a nice nest egg for retirement. If you don’t add umbrella insurance to your primary policy, then when you retire, you put your entire savings in jeopardy.

Home insurance offers about 10 to 20 percent of the home’s value as liability coverage. If your home value equals $200,000 and your policy offers 10 percent of its coverage as liability, then you obtain coverage of $20,000. The liability pays for a guest’s medical bills if an accident occurs at your home.

Hospitals cost quite a bit, though. An overnight stay costs about $8,000, so if the guest needs more than one night’s stay or more than one person gets hurt, your liability costs exceed your home policy coverage.

If you carry umbrella insurance, as soon as your home policy pays out the last dollar, your umbrella policy kicks in and pays the rest. All costs come out of your pocket if you do not carry an umbrella policy. This includes any court settlement from the accident.

Since these policies cost just a few dollars per month, it makes good sense to purchase one. Contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. serving Baton Rouge, LA for help getting started with this crucial secondary insurance.

Do you have flood insurance? If not, you are putting your home investment in jeopardy. It’s worth knowing that flooding can occur anywhere in America and anytime. And the unfortunate thing is that your standard home insurance won’t cover flood damage. So, if you don’t have flood insurance in Baton Rouge, LA, please contact Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for affordable coverage.

Do all homeowners need flood insurance?

I have home insurance. I don’t live near a coastline. I have paid off my mortgage. Do I need flood insurance? Good question! You may have home insurance, but it won’t protect you when floods strike unless you have a flood insurance rider. Yes, you may not live near a flood zone, but floods can strike anywhere. Have you ever heard about flash floods? Anywhere it rains, it can flood.

Complying with your mortgage requirements shouldn’t be the only motivation to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance comes to your rescue any time floods strike. This way, you don’t have to start from scratch when floods ravage your beloved home.

Why every homeowner needs flood insurance

Now that we can agree every homeowner needs flood insurance, let’s look at the benefits of flood insurance. They include:

• Protects your home structure: Flood insurance covers damage to your home, meaning you don’t have to incur out-of-pocket costs when disasters strike.
• Protects your assets: Flood insurance safeguards the assets inside your home, ensuring you don’t start from scratch when floods occur.
• Gives you peace of mind: If you have invested in flood insurance, you don’t have to be edgy every time the weatherman forecasts an impending storm.

Ready to get started with flood insurance in Baton Rouge, LA? Please get in touch with Insurance & Financial Services Inc. for an affordable quote.

You will likely have to renew your health insurance every year, but if you have a grandfathered or transitional plan, you may not have to renew it until the plan expires. 

If you have a non-grandfathered plan, you will have to renew your policy every year and purchase a new one if you let your policy expire without buying another one. Check with Insurance & Financial Services Inc. about what you can do to ensure you are ready to renew your plan and purchase a new one if you let your policy expire. The firm serves in Baton Rouge, LA.

More About Health Insurance Renewal 

Health insurance policies are typically renewed once a year, and some companies offer the option to renew up to 60 days before the policy expires. You’ll likely be able to purchase a new plan with different coverage options during this time. 

If you don’t sign up for a policy, your plan will end, and you will no longer be covered. However, you can usually only purchase a new policy up to a certain amount of time before your current policy expires. You’ll need to renew yearly if you have a "conventional" plan." 

You’ll need to meet specific standards of the Affordable Care Act and be renewed according to these standards. The only way to keep a conventional plan is to keep it "conventional" — i.e., keep it the same as when you first bought it. Medicare has no annual enrollment period. You may sign up for Medicare when you turn 65. If you have Medicaid, yet another public health insurance program, you do not need to renew your coverage every year. 

Key Takeaways 

Depending on your provider’s terms and conditions, you may keep your provider’s insurance policy for up to 12 months. If you have a non-renewable policy, you can’t keep it beyond its original term. For a quote, you can visit or call Insurance & Financial Services Inc. in Baton Rouge, LA.