Relaxing in a hot tub after a long day at work can be extremely soothing. These luxurious tubs and jacuzzis are a great addition to any home for a little rest and relaxation. But, before you go out and buy one, you will want to ask your agent, does homeowners insurance cover a hot tub?
Hot tubs, like pools, increase the risk of a property. This is because the risk of accidental drownings and other injuries increases. With this in mind, most insurance companies will cover a hot tub, but it may cost you more for your insurance premium in the long run.
Protecting yourself and your home from the unexpected is very important. Keep reading to learn more about hot tub insurance and how it will affect your homeowners insurance policy.
- Most standard home insurance policies will cover a hot tub in some manner.
- Medical payments and personal liability coverages will cover any injuries caused by a hot tub.
- In some cases, insurance companies will consider hot tubs to be part of insurance personal property coverage C.
What coverage encompasses your hot tub
When it comes to a hot tub, insurance can be tricky. This is because, depending on the peril or issue at hand, different sections of your homeowners policy will kick in to provide the coverage. Below are some examples of what each portion of an insurance policy may cover.
Other structures coverage B
Some insurance companies may consider your hot tub as part of your other structures coverage. This is often due to the fact that most jacuzzis and hot tubs are attached to a porch or deck in some manner, which is also considered as an “other structure” for insurance purposes. If you have a standard HO-3 policy the other structures are covered on an open peril basis, which means they are covered from damage caused by any peril except for the exclusions mentioned in your policy.
Your other structure limits are different than your overall homeowner’s standard policy. Typically, these limits will equal around 10% of your dwelling’s total insured value. So, if you have a home that has $400,000 worth of dwelling coverage, then your other structures limit would be $40,000 if your policy allows for 10%.
Each policy differs when it outlines its limitations, so it is important to review it carefully to understand the amount of coverage you’d receive if something were to happen to your hot tub and insurance covered it in this manner.
Personal liability coverage E
If someone were to hurt themselves on your property while using your hot tub, your personal liability coverage E would often cover this claim. Your insurer would pay out the medical and legal fees if any were to arise due to the injury or claim.
Some states have a mandatory minimum for liability insurance. Additionally, some insurance agencies will often recommend a higher amount of coverage to ensure that even the most tragic events are covered in full.
Personal Property Coverage C
In some cases, a hot tub will not be connected to your home in any way. It may present as a self-contained backyard unit. This means it may be covered under coverage C, also known as your personal property coverage. If you have a standard HO-3 policy, personal property is only covered from damage caused by 16 named perils.
When your hot tub is considered to be covered under personal property coverage, it will be looked at as a high-valued item that you own. If it were to be ruined and a claim was to be submitted, it would fall under the limitations of your personal property coverage.
For example, if you estimated that you had $75,000 worth of furniture, tech, and other personal belongings when you created the policy, your maximum, allowance is set at that $75,000 threshold. This means in the event of a total loss, you would receive a maximum of $75,000 to cover the replacement of all belongings inside of your home and on your property that is part of this coverage.
If you do not think this is enough money to cover such expenses, consider increasing the amount of personal property coverage you have listed on your policy by calling your insurance agency and requesting the change.
Relax, your jacuzzi is covered
Most insurance provideres cover your hot tub in one way or another. In order to understand your coverage, be sure to talk to your agent. Otherwise, sit back, relax, and enjoy the peace your new hot tub brings you.
