How can identity protection coverage help you protect your identity? Read the article to know everything about identity protection coverage.
What are the key benefits of identity protection coverage?
Although it helps protect you against identity theft, is insurance really worth the money? Identity theft is a widespread issue that millions of Americans face. In reality, a 2016 Bureau of Justice Statistics poll found that 10% of adults over 16 said they had experienced identity theft of some kind in 2016.
Identity can be stolen in a variety of forms. Frequently, the offender uses your personal information improperly to open credit cards in your name or obtains your current credit cards and utilizes them to make illicit purchases. Identity theft, in whatever manner it occurs, might cost you money and time.
Some businesses provide insurance against damages due to identity theft. But is this kind of insurance coverage worthwhile to purchase?
What is insurance against identity theft?
An insurance policy that offers protection in the event that your identity is stolen is known as identity theft insurance. Insurance companies often make the commitment to protect you from identity theft and to pay for your expenses if you do become a victim of fraud.
Your homeowner’s insurance coverage may occasionally allow you to supplement it with identity theft insurance. Additionally, you can purchase it through organisations that offer credit protection services or from local insurance firms.
Policy premiums range in price, but for the most comprehensive protection, they can cost as much as $50 per month. Prices vary.
What is covered by identity protection coverage?
Depending on the provider and amount of coverage, identity theft insurance coverage varies. Your policy might cover:
- Checking credit reports.
- Alerts are sent out when new accounts are opened, new public records are added to your credit report, unfavorable information is revealed, or there is any suspicious activity detected.
- Reimbursement for identity theft-related expenses, such as erroneous charges and lost wages, as well as money spent hiring an attorney to settle issues resulting from the improper use of your personal information.
Your expenses will only be reimbursed up to your policy’s maximums. If your losses and expenses surpass the ceiling on coverage, which is often $10,000 or $15,000, you’re on your own. There may be a deductible on your policy that you must meet before your insurer starts to pay claims.
Should you get identity protection coverage?
Even while you should take precautions against identity theft, it is typically not necessary to purchase this insurance. This is partially because, despite how troublesome it can be to deal with, identity theft isn’t likely to result in you experiencing an immediate financial loss. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 88% of victims of identity theft experienced out-of-pocket losses of less than $1.
Because banks and credit card firms already offer free fraud protection assurances, out-of-pocket losses are typically minimal. Your bank or card issuer may repay you in full if you promptly report fraudulent charges or other questionable account activity, or you may only be liable for a tiny portion of the loss brought on by the fraud — often $50 or less — if you don’t.
Numerous websites that notify you of new account openings or other questionable activity also offer many of the services that identity theft insurance offer for free, such as credit monitoring.
Before purchasing identity theft insurance, do your research.
Despite the fact that identity theft insurance is probably not worthwhile, you might decide that you desire the security that a policy might offer.
If that’s the case, make sure to carefully weigh the costs and benefits and verify the scope of coverage provided by your insurer. Always read the tiny print to help you as a consumer make an informed decision because you don’t want a policy that doesn’t actually provide you with the assistance you require.
Instead of spending money on an unnecessary identity theft coverage, think about choosing this course of action to protect yourself from fraud. A better method to protect your identity without spending hundreds of dollars a year on insurance is by protecting your personal information, freezing your credit, and joining up for free credit monitoring.
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