[TowerTalk] insurance and towers

[K8RI on TowerTalk]

Amen,

I'm also in Michigan and my tower is covered if it *ISN'T* attached to the 
house.  It is covered in the same manner as any other out building or 
structure not attached to the house.  (Auto Owners ins)
In addition I have a rider for increased value on the tower.

So far the only claim I've had was to replace a computer that was taken out 
by lightening some time back.

Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com

> Obviously it varies from company to company. Could it vary from state to 
> state, since insurance is often (always?) regulated by the state?
>
> I asked about insurance for my tower, and the agent said that, as long as 
> it's attached (and the attachment could be purely nominal) to the house, 
> it's covered as an accessory structure. This is Citizens Insurance; I'm in 
> Michigan.
>
> Alan NV8A
>
>
> On 12/29/04 03:34 am Jim Jarvis tossed the following ingredients into the 
> ever-growing pot of cybersoup:
>
>> In the course of commenting on tower ratings, I realized that
>> I hadn't seen a post on insurance.  Or if I had, I've forgotten.
>>
>> In the US, in the post-9/11 environment, the insurance industry
>> has become highly risk averse.  They had under-priced homeowners
>> insurance in many areas of the country, as a loss-leader for more
>> profitable lines, like life and auto.  (and the payout on the NY towers
>> was shared across the entire industry.)
>>
>> In addition, there is now a firm called "CLUE", or Comprehensive
>> Loss Underwriters Exchange, which provides a loss history which
>> all carriers can see.
>>
>> As a result, you need to be VERY careful with what you claim.
>> Or even inquire about.
>>
>> In 2002, in the backwash of hurricane Lili, I lost a 100' tower
>> and antenna system when a 90' oak fell across a guyset.  In the
>> same storm,  I had a branch break off a 150' tall white pine, and
>> damage my roof.  The insurance company logged that as two claims.
>>
>> Earlier that year,  we had two events with large trees downed, touching
>> the house.  I called the insurance carrier to verify coverage in one.
>> My wife called in the other, as I was away.   They logged them as
>> claims, with no payout.
>>
>> Now, I am having difficulty getting homeowners insurance on my place in 
>> MD,
>> even though I am not in the deep woods any longer.  I'm paying double the
>> market
>> rate, with a carrier which is in state receivership. I will continue
>> in that situation for a period of 3 years.
>>
>> And THAT was after 30 years with the same carrier having home, car, boat,
>> $1M liability umbrella, and life insurance, and no real claims history.
>>
>> Short form:  It may be worthwhile to examine specific tower insurance,
>> through the ARRL program.  Some homeowners policies are excluding towers
>> and other accessory structures, as well, so you have to check.
>
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