<p>I've noticed that one of the colleges recommends personal property insurance for dorm rooms. Does anybody do this? My insurance company didn't really understand this and started talking about renters insurance, which I am not sure is the same thing. They also said that our homeowners policy might cover loss, but that our rates could go up if we put in a claim. Besides a laptop and clothes, and maybe under $1000 of sports equipment (of an unusual sort) would be it. Worth it or not?</p>
<p>Yes – though it depends on the kid. There are numerous discussion threads about this - use the thread search function.</p>
<p>We have dorm insurance - we insure up to $3000 with $25 deductible for under $100. I view it as catastrophic insurance for computers, stereos, other expensive items. It is a lot less expensive to purchase a dorm insurance policy than to pay replacement costs or have your homeowner’s premiums increase. </p>
<p>We didn’t need insurance with my S1, who is a cautious ‘by the rules’ kind of guy. S2 is a different story. In freshman year, S2 lost a 6-mo old MacBook Pro (graduation present) due to ‘liquid damage.’ The AppleCare warranty did not cover liquid damage but dorm insurance covered the full replacement value. He had computer #2 for 3 weeks when someone stepped on it & cracked the screen. CSI covered $750 in repairs. This year, in sophomore year a pipe burst in a bathroom over S2’s dorm room - there were thousands of $$$ damage to the entire dorm. My point is: stuff happens.</p>
<p>A pipe burst over my dorm room during winter break. I was lucky, but the water poured all over my roommate’s stuff. That was when we both learned of the existence of renter’s insurance, too late!</p>
<p>Our homeowner’s insurance covers S in the dorm except we had to add a rider for his laptop. Some people buy separate laptop policies.</p>
<p>Not everyone’s parents will have insurance coverage that includes children away from home therefore colleges will offer it. Likewise for health insurance. I would use the family homeowner’s policy if possible. You can always change things later.</p>
<p>My homeowner’s insurance covered it when my daughter’s laptop was stolen from her dorm room (less the deductible, of course).</p>
<p>We called our homeowners and decided that since the deductible was high–it was best to get the insurance for our students stuff.</p>
<p>It is pretty cheap to cover it all…We figured a big loss could be if a backpack with a laptop, phone, MP3 player and some books goes missing…the student insurance required tracking software be put on the laptop.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t suggest a student take expensive jewelry to school. </p>
<p>If your student has an expensive wardrobe --that would be $$ to replace if there is flooding…then maybe consider that?</p>
<p>We are looking into it, though are not sure how it will affect fraternity housing. We have considered a rider for particular items such as computer. Also looking at saving money on auto insurance if DS doesn’t take car with him. Not sure it will work, but others on CC have mentioned it.</p>
<p>We get insurance for our S through CSI. Has favorable ratings and was cheap enough. Although he is insured for some things (not all) through our homeowners, CSI covers our homeowners has a high deductable and was not as comprehensive as CSI.<br>
[CSI</a> College Student Insurance - Instant Quote](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]CSI”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/)</p>
<p>There are other companies out there that sell dorm insurance also.</p>
<p>^ CSI is reasonable and will cover them for a full year, including summer out of school, anywhere in the world. We had a very positive claim experience with CSI (iPhone stolen out of hand on public bus–warn your kids that opportunity crimes of mobile devices are a huge problem everywhere).</p>
<p>You insure your home. You should insure any other place you live. Some insurance companies add it to homeowners insurance. Some have it separate as renters insurance. Do you want to replace a laptop and clothes, and maybe under $1000 of sports equipment on your own? No. Insure it all.</p>
<p>A few freshman lost a tv, wii, and a few other things when their floor flooded due to a pipe busting.</p>
<p>Another vote here in favor of CSI. The policy is very inexpensive; it costs us just $90 per year for $3000 worth of coverage, with a $25 deductible. </p>
<p>Although our homeowners’ insurance also provides coverage, it has $1000 deductible so we figured we would probably never use it because most of our son’s belongings – other than his laptop – are worth less than that. Also, we would be hesitant to put in a claim on our homeowner’s policy because that would likely trigger an increase in our premium next year.</p>
<p>But best of all, CSI covers you for ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE – something not covered by our homeowner’s policy. Someone stepped on my son’s laptop and broke the screen. State Farm would have said “tough luck” to us, but CSI paid the claim without hesitation.</p>
<p>We have CSI too. DS has not used it to date, but like others, I would rather make a claim on it than on our homeowner’s policy. We will be renewing it in the Fall.</p>
<p>A rider seems worthwhile. Especially since freshmen like to jump on top of dorm furniture and replacing one squashed laptop can cost over 2k.</p>
<p>Both CSI and NSSI are great and have been discussed here a lot. It is very reasonable for the amount of coverage you get and the deductible is very low. </p>
<p>And as worried_mom said, it covers accidents too. No matter what happens, lost, stolen, dropped, washed out to sea when the tide came in while they were in the water… yup that happened, no problem. It is very inexpensive piece of mind and you don’t have to involve claims on your homeowners which could put your policy at risk if you make a claim.</p>
<p>We haven’t bought it, but it’s worth considering as long as it covers musical instruments.</p>
<p>Our homeowner’s insurance covers their things while away at college. We did schedule out their computer equipment on a rider because the coverage was better and no deductible if we did that.</p>
<p>We got CSI to cover D starting with freshman year. It’s terrific; far better than using homeowners’ insurance. Had no problem getting reimbursed when someone knocked over her laptop. As careful as your kids may be, they ARE living with other people, and stuff happens. CSI covers everything. I think the only non-insurable event is if the item is left somewhere.</p>
<p>For high school S, we bought coverage from Worth Ave insurance group. CSI only covers college students. Worth covers through high school, college, and up to three years later. The coverage is a bit different, as it’s only for specific electronics, and you have to provide the serial numbers upfront. But cell phones are included!</p>
<p>We use NSSI for D1. She spilled water on her laptop, and they covered the full cost of repair. Most home owners insurance do not cover damage due to negligence, such as water spills, but NSSI did. After we submitted the claim with the receipt for the repair, we received the check in less than a week.</p>
<p>The insurance cost us approximately $125 for the year, and it was worth every penny.</p>