<p>Naturally, we thought about his health insurance before S left for his first year, but a few threads here have alerted me to the need to recheck our other insurance coverage when a kid leaves home for the first time. We needed to purchase a computer endorsement to coverage accidental damage to his new laptop (spilled drinks, dropping, etc...). The warrenty doesn't cover this stuff. We checked our personal property coverage to make sure that in the event of fire or flooding or whatever in his dorm, that his personal property was covered under our homeowners policy-it is up to a certain dollar amount and subject to a big deductible. Our auto insurance premiums dropped significantly because he's now living more than 1,000 miles away and doesn't have a car. And a new musical instrument required getting a separate rider since it is probably the most expensive piece of personal property we own apart from the house and the cars.</p>
<p>I paid $60 last year for a little insurance policy that covered my son’s belongings at college. In general, I’m not inclined to carrying piles of insurance on everything, but that was a very good $60 to have spent. Within a matter of weeks he spilled something on his laptop and killed it dead. I am hoping he’s more careful with the new one now!</p>
<p>This may only apply to California…but just in case…some homeowner insurance companies in California will elect to not offer you continued coverage if you make a claim. To be on the safe side, and get around this potential problem, use renter insurance for your child. BTW…these same insurance companies will tell you they don’t do that…but I have had friends who had it happen to them!</p>
<p>I buy a policy through NSSI. It is for full replacement coverage and when a laptop screen was destroyed in an accident they paid in full and quickly. </p>
<p>Do NOT in any way EVER rely on your home coverage for stuff at school because any claims affect your rate and even your ability to get coverage for a minimum of 3 years.</p>
<p>Agree with APOL and Lergnom – Buying a separate insurance policy for your student’s belongings is a much better deal than relying on your homeowner’s policy to cover it – even without the potential problem of filing a claim that can affect future insurability. Student insurance is relatively cheap, has much lower deductibles, and covers things that your homeowner’s policy would not (for example, accidental damage).</p>
<p>My son’s very expensive laptop was severely damaged when it was stepped on. Fortunately, he had a policy with CSI (College Student Insurance) and they paid the $700 repair bill in less than a week after the claim was filed.</p>
<p>Also remember that many homeowner’s insurance policies doesn’t cover things like spilling coffee on one’s computer. CSI does.</p>