Commercial Insurance: Excess Liability vs. Umbrella Coverage

Today’s litigious environment has increased the importance of supplemental liability insurance. Should a business face an injury, property damage or defamation lawsuit, supplemental liability might be needed to cover the potentially expensive lawyer fees, court fees and settlement. There are two types of commercial liability insurance that businesses can get: excess liability coverage and umbrella coverage. Here’s a breakdown of these two different commercial insurance options.

What Is Excess Liability Insurance?

Excess liability insurance provides additional coverage for a specific underlying policy, such as general liability, commercial auto, or employee practices liability policy. The additional coverage only applies to the one policy that’s being supplemented, and it adopts the terms, conditions and exclusions of that policy.

This option is good if you have one liability policy that you’d like more coverage for. It’s more basic and limited in some ways, but could be a lower-cost option if that’s all your business needs.

What Is Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance can extend the limits of multiple policies, and may also cover claims not included in your primary policies. The supplemental policy comes with its own terms, conditions and exclusions. Sometimes the different terms make it possible to fill in gaps that underlying policies have.

This option is good if your business needs broad supplemental liability coverage. We at Cross Creek Insurance see many businesses in Hope Mills, NC choose umbrella over excess liability. After all, many different types of incidents could lead to an expensive lawsuit.

Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between excess liability and umbrella insurance depends on your business’s risks. While many businesses in Hope Mills, NC choose umbrella coverage, it’s possible that excess liability is better for your particular business. To get help evaluating each of these options, contact us at Cross Creek Insurance.

Do My Children Need Life Insurance?

Acquiring life insurance for children is not for everyone but can be a good investment in your child’s future, depending on your circumstances. The discussion below reviews the primary pros and cons, though having a conversation with your insurance agent is best before deciding. If you are considering life insurance for yourself or family members, the Cross Creek Insurance team in Hope Mills, NC, can guide you through the process.

Benefits of Life Insurance for Children

Buying life insurance for children has benefits that vary by family and child. Among the reasons it may be wise to acquire life insurance for your children are:

Low Cost

Children’s life insurance is relatively inexpensive. You can lock in low rates when they are young.

Insurability

Children or families with certain medical histories benefit from buying life insurance that may not be available based on their future medical status.

Cash Value

Children’s life insurance comes as whole-life policies, allowing them to build cash value.

Final Expenses

In the unlikely event of a child’s death, the policy can pay for money for the funeral arrangements.

Drawbacks of Life Insurance for Children

Long-Term Commitment

Life insurance is a long-term financial commitment, so you need confidence that your budget will handle the payments.

Low Rate of Return

Life insurance is a low-return investment. Ensuring that you and other breadwinners and caregivers have adequate life insurance is more important for most families.

Coverage Limits

Most life insurance policies for children are limited to $100,000 in value.

Working with Cross Creek Insurance

If you live in the Hope Mills, NC, area, the Cross Creek Insurance team will design an insurance plan that meets your needs. Call (910) 423-2900 or stop in today to ensure your family has the insurance protection it needs.