Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Holiday Disasters?

You can minimize the financial damage of most disasters ...

If you’ve ever watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” you probably laughed as one disaster after another wreaked havoc on the Griswold family’s holiday. Unfortunately, mishaps during the holidays are all too common in the real world and are no laughing matter. But if you have the proper insurance coverage, you can minimize the financial damage of most disasters.

Click ahead for several holiday-mishap scenarios that may -- or may not -- be covered by standard homeowners insurance policies.

You Attempt to Roast Chestnuts ...

And accidentally burn down the house -- COVERED.

Claims tied to fires at homes increase 12% during the holiday season, according to Allstate. Fortunately, standard homeowners policies cover damage due to fire. Make sure, though, that your policy limits are sufficient to cover the full costs of rebuilding your home and replacing all of your belongings at today's prices. If you've had the same policy in place for many years and the limits have change little, even as you've made expensive purchases and renovations, then you might no longer have enough coverage. See 3 Common Home-Insurance Gaps to Fill for more. Also create a home inventory of all your possessions that includes the estimated cost of each item to know whether you have enough coverage and to make filing a claim easier.

Your Outdoor Light Display ...

Sets your trees and bushes aflame -- COVERED.

Trees, plants and shrubs are covered under standard homeowners insurance when damaged by fire. However, most policies limit coverage to 5% of your dwelling coverage -- up to about $500 per item, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). When decorating outside, only use lights and extension cords specified for the outdoors. And don’t overload outlets when creating your holiday display.

Your Sewer Backs Up ...

Because you pour grease from your fried turkey down the drain -- NOT COVERED. It actually doesn’t matter how your sewer backs up. Most homeowners policies do not cover damage caused by sewage backup, says Kate Hollcraft, a spokesperson for Allstate Insurance. You typically have to purchase this coverage separately for an additional $40 to $50 a year, she says. See I.I.I.’s Insure Against the Risk of Sewer Backup fact sheet for more information. When cooking your holiday meals, don’t pour grease or dispose of waste in the sink to avoid clogging the drain, which can lead to sewer problems. Sewage-backup claims increase 19% during the holidays, according to Allstate.

Thieves Snatch the Gifts ...

Santa left under the tree -- COVERED.

Most homeowners policies provide coverage for possessions at 50% to 70% of the dwelling’s coverage. So if your home is insured for $200,000, you’ll have $100,000 to $140,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. However, there are limits on some luxury items (more on this later), so be sure to talk to your insurance agent about supplemental coverage for certain expensive gifts.

Insurance claims for theft increase 5% during the holidays, according to Allstate. So don’t leave gifts under the Christmas tree in plain view because it’s an invitation to burglars. Keep the shades closed, put your tree in a room that doesn’t face the street, or keep gifts hidden until you actually give them.

The Fur Coat You Wanted to Give Your Wife ...

Disappears from the back seat of your car -- MAYBE.

Whether you’re covered depends on the value of the coat and whether you elected to have off-premises coverage for your belongings. Your policy should provide coverage if your belongings are stolen from some place other than your home -- unless you opted not to have off-premises coverage. However, some insurance companies limit off-premises coverage to 10% of the amount of insurance you have for your possessions, according to I.I.I. Standard homeowners policies also typically limit coverage for expensive luxury items such as furs, art, jewelry and silverware to a total of $1,000 to $2,000 unless you buy extra coverage in the form of a floater or endorsement, according to I.I.I.

To lower your risk of having items stolen from your car, don’t leave purchases in the passenger compartment when it's unattended. Keep them locked in your trunk.

The Delivery Man Slips ...

On your icy walkway and breaks his arm -- COVERED.

Most homeowners policies provide about $100,000 worth of liability coverage, which can protect you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage. Your policy also should provide no-fault medical coverage to pay the medical bills of someone injured on your property. However, it’s typically limited to $1,000 to $5,000. Spend a little more (often less than $300 a year) for $1 million worth of umbrella liability protection. See How to Add a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy for more information.

To reduce your liability risk, keep your walkway clear of ice and snow so that guests are less likely to slip and injure themselves. Keep your pet confined so that it can’t hurt anyone delivering packages to your home.

Things Get Out of Hand ...

At your holiday party and you punch a guest -- NOT COVERED.

Your homeowners liability coverage won’t protect you if you intend to hurt somebody. Also be aware that most states have laws that allow social hosts to be held liable if a guest drinks too much, gets in an accident and injures others. Homeowners insurance usually provides some liquor liability coverage, according to I.I.I., but it might not be enough to cover an adverse judgment. Regardless, hosts should ensure that their guests don’t consume too much alcohol and encourage the use of designated drivers or taxis.

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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Holiday Disasters?

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