Insurance for college students not always clear
The crunch of a computer screen underfoot is a scary sound for any college student.
As students return to campus, parents often send them off with expensive equipment in tow, like a video camera or musical instrument. And like the ubiquitous computer, these items aren’t always left to the responsibility of the owner; with roommates, beverages and sometimes the mixture of the two, the possibilities for a clumsy crash may give parents pause before handing over expensive accessories.
A student’s living situation at college can affect a lot when it comes to insuring personal items, according to agents with State Farm Insurance.
“If a student is living at home, or at least still claiming residence at home, the homeowner’s policy should cover damages,” spokesman Dave Phillips said. “And on-campus housing is covered under the tuition language and their parents’ policy.”
If living off-campus, the student may consider renter’s insurance.
“You’re looking at, typically, $12 a month for up to $30,000 in property coverage. That’s fire, theft, hail and those types of situations … we had a client last year redeem thousands because an overhead pipe burst in their community house.”
Dorm room hijinks may put a student out of thousands if a person does not have a parent or guardian with homeowner’s insurance. A personal articles policy extends beyond loss or theft.
“An articles policy can be written with a zero deductible with about 40 dollars a year for a computer. It’s about $2.20 per 100 dollars of value,” said Donna Morosco, an agent in Upper St. Clair and Peters Township.
Morosco, whose daughter is in her second year of college, advises returning students to consult with parents on items they think they should have protection on if they’ll be living in new areas or off-campus. “Mysterious loss and accidental damage or destruction, even by the owner, is covered under a personal articles policy,” she said.