Website - https://www.safeco.com
Located - Seattle, Washington
Phone - 1-800-242-6422
Employees - 7,200
Revenue (bil.) - $6.29
Description - While the name doesn’t tell you much about the business, Safeco does sound secure, and with insurance that counts for a lot. Through its Safeco Insurance Co., the company offers personal property/casualty insurance including auto, homeowners, and fire coverage. Its commercial business includes workers’ compensation, multiperil, and general liability geared towards small to midsized companies. In addition to its property/casualty business, Safeco also offers surety bonds to its long-term construction and corporate customers. Liberty Mutual acquired Safeco in a 2008 deal valued at $6.2 billion.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

MGreen8’s Full Review of Safeco Home Insurance Corporation

As a prior employee of SAFECO Insurance Company, I can say that it is one of the best homeowner’s programs out there. I know this because I was the person who determined the value of your home in the regrettable case of a fire or other devastating event. I left SAFECO only because I moved across the country to a location where there was no Headquarters. Because I have no further vested interest in this company, I can give you an educated and honest opinion of their Homeowner products.

What most homeowners do not understand is this: if your home burns to the ground and needs to be replaced you need money to do so. The amount of coverage you place on your home determines what you get. When you’re figuring the price of your home, don’t assume it is the price you paid for it. You have to take every single detail into account; door-knobs, pipes, stairs, wiring, roofing, vents, etc. If you chose to buy a home with ornamental decoration — don’t you want your new home to have the same characteristics? SAFECO will make sure that you are covered to do exactly that.

SAFECO uses a system which takes the following into account: the age of your home, materials used to construct your home (ex: special moldings, plaster walls, etc.), size of your home, number of bathrooms, etc. This system accurately analyzes what it would cost TODAY in YOUR CITY to rebuild your home. This is the total coverage they will suggest to your Insurance Agent. Why? Because SAFECO will insure that if something happens to your home that you get the closest possible replica in the re-building process. Additionally, in the binding process, they may request an agent to do an appraisal of your home and send photos to the company. They will use these to determine even more accurate pricing.

Who wants to deal with a company that will give you less coverage for less money if in the end you aren’t really insuring the total value of what you have? Additionally, SAFECO has Claims Representatives that will travel to your home in less time than the industry standard to settle your claim. Their Claims representatives are professional and respectful. They take the time to explain everything to you.

Additionally, SAFECO offers discounts for alarm systems and if you have your auto insurance with them you’ll get a discount for placing both lines with the company.

SAFECO has one of the best training programs for Underwriters in the industry. (The UW is the person who determines whether or not you are a good risk and what limits your home should have). Because of the intense training program your insurance needs will be met and your expectations will be exceeded. You may pay a small amount more in premiums, but you’ll also be dealing with a company that will make sure you are aptly covered in the event of a tragedy.

logan1973’s Full Review of Safeco Home Insurance Corporation

In 1995, I took an entry level position with a personal lines insurance company in Gainesville, Florida. I had just graduated from college and figured I would work there for a few months until I found something in the telecommunications field.

I never left.

After gaining a bit of tenure, I progressed to positions of increasing responsibility. Two years ago, I relocated to Portland, OR with the same insurance organization.

While I would not hesitate to recommend the insurance carrier I work for to others, I have always chosen to secure my own insurance elsewhere. I do this to avoid any possible conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest. (I liken it to auditing your own taxes or grading your own med school final examination).

After settling in to the Pacific Northwest, I bought a home. At the urging of a friend, I decided to insure with Safeco. Prior to moving to the out here, I had heard very little about Safeco.

I contacted a Safeco agent and learned a bit about his agency and the company. He was very prompt, courteous and professional. At the same time I took out homeowners coverage, I switched my automobile coverage over to Safeco as well to take advantage of the home-car discount.

That’s usually the end of the story. Most people don’t think too much about insurance until a loss.

Earlier this year, I had a loss.

I have always been on the other side of the equation - that is, I have always been part of the insurance organization not the customer with a claim. Although I would rather not have had the claim, it gave me a new appreciation for the feelings and concerns customers have when faced with an accident.

What happened? Well to make a long story short, the parking brake on my 5 spd vehicle was not fully engaged and the vehicle wasn’t in gear. It rolled down the hill and into my garage. The garage door and it’s support mechanisms were severely damaged.

Upon calling Safeco, I was asked a few questions and told someone would contact me shortly.

The claims rep called the next day and took a statement. He was patient, flexible and provided truly excellent service. Safeco did not demand I use a particular vendor to repair the garage. At the time, I was so preoccupied with other items at work, the claims rep actually followed up with me to see what progress I had made to secure estimates. Once I received an estimate, a check was promptly issued.

Never once was the claims rep I dealt with cynical or reticent to provide coverage. For a bad situation, I could not have asked for better service.

Recently, I learned Safeco is going through a major reorganization. I will continue to insure with them and hope the service I received will survive any restructuring efforts. Even if a premium increase is warranted, I would still continue to insure with Safeco.

Website - http://www.humana.com
Located - Louisville, KY
Phone - 1-800-486-2620
Employees - 28,900
2008 Sales (mil.) - $28,946.4
Description - Medicare has made Humana a big-time player in the health insurance game. The country’s second largest Medicare provider and one of its top insurers, Humana provides Medicare Advantage health plans and prescription drug coverage to more than 4.5 million members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It also administers managed care plans for other government programs, including Medicaid plans in Florida and Puerto Rico and TRICARE (a program for military personnel) in 10 southern states. Additionally, Humana offers health plans and some specialty products (group life and disability insurance, for example) to commercial employers and individuals. All told, it covers more than 11 million members in the US.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Max’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Humana has been my health insurance plan for the last three years. I was surprised to see how fast my enrollment to their scheme was done. When I gave the basic information they have asked for in the online form, they responded back with a list of plans and the deductibles for the various plans. I was able to customize the plan and the plan was entirely mine. You could know how happy I was when I got insurance plan for me and my family according to my expectations and dreams.

Harward’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana Insurance company has more than 9 million medical members. My friend suggested me to take this insurance and its almost two years since I have received good care from Humana. The main thing that attracted me was that Humana provides full replacement health coverage. Sounds interesting, right? So, do not give a second thought when it comes to insurance and you will never be dissatisfied with their customer service. So get it now and leave your worries behind.

Pierre’s Full Review of Humana Group Health Insurance

Hi friends, Humana is one of the top most health insurance company. It is known for its good customer services to the people who are in need. It provides the best health insurance and financial services that are designed to meet the cost and needs of an average person. I joined in this company for insuring my life.

Source: http://www.topinsurance.org

Website - http://www.gfb.org/indexins.htm
Located - Macon, GA
Phone - 1-800-342-1192 (Georgia only) or (478) 474-8411
Employees - 1,210
2007 Sales (mil.) - $534.5
Description- You don’t have to be a farmer to get insurance coverage here, but it helps. Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance and its affiliates provide a variety of commercial and individual property/casualty products to members of the Georgia Farm Bureau. Its offerings include automobile, farm, marine, homeowners, business owners, and personal liability insurance. The company specializes in writing lower-cost, preferred risk policies (policies for customers that are less likely to file claims). A network of more than 550 company agents and representatives market Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual’s products. A part of the Georgia Farm Bureau, the company was founded in 1959.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

hopes527’s Full Review of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Company

Georgia Farm Bureau is a company that provides all types of insurance to everyone, not just farmers. I am very satisfied with my plans. I have auto, renters, and life insurance with them. I have searched around for cost comparisons but there is not another company that comes close enough for me to change. I have been with them for 5 years. Over that time period, my car was stolen and my home was broken in to. The employees there, for the most part, were very helpful in trying to get things resolved. They are very thorough thus it takes a little longer for your claim to be settled. However, with the low rates, the convenient payment plans and the local offices it is worth the wait. I recommend this company to everyone that is looking to change insurance carriers.

3sisters’s Full Review of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Auto Insurance Company

Website - http://www.libertymutual.com
Located - Boston, MA
Phone - 1-800-837-5254
Employees - 41,000
Annual Revenue - $25,961,000
Description- Boston boasts of baked beans, the Red Sox, and the Liberty Mutual Group. Liberty Mutual Holding is the parent company for the Liberty Mutual Group and its three principal mutual insurance companies, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance, and Employers Insurance Company of Wausau. Liberty Mutual is one of the top property/casualty insurers in the US and among the top 10 providers of automobile insurance. The company also offers homeowners’ insurance and commercial lines for small to large companies. Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer with operations throughout the world.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

TheSmartTraveler’s Full Review of Liberty Mutual Home Insurance Group

I have recently switched from Allstate Homeowners Insurance to Liberty Mutual. To say that I am pleased would be an understatement. The agents I have encountered at Liberty Mutual are highly professional, courteous, and thorough. Liberty Mutual has written a Homeowners Policy on my home with a deductible of $1000 versus the deductible of $6,500 from Allstate, giving me much more coverage on structure and contents, and the best thing is that I am paying over $700.00 less in annual premiums than I was paying to Allstate.

I have recommended Liberty Mutual to many friends. Some of their names are Albert, Tony, and Ray. Albert and Tony also had Allstate and have saved more money than I have. Ray has just closed in the last couple of weeks on a dynamite house in Miami Springs. Also, Ray’s wife has been working for State Farm Insurance for the last couple of years. The premium Ray is paying from Liberty Mutual is mega bucks less than he could have gotten anywhere else, including his wife’s company.

When your Allstate policy is up for renewal and you want to save a bundle, compare the rates and coverage that Liberty Mutual Insurance can offer. I have only had wonderful experiences with the folks at Liberty Mutual.

I have highly recommended my friends check out the rates of Liberty Mutual when their existing homeowners’ policy is up for renewal, and I highly recommend the same for you.

thriftymommy’s Full Review of Liberty Mutual Home Insurance Group

I became a Liberty mutual auto insurance policy holder in 1997 after transferring to New Jersey where Geico is not available. After we purchased our first home and used our mortgage company’s recommended insurance company, I decided to investigate our homeowner’s policy on my own.

Customer Service
I made the initial phone call about five months after our home purchase. The houses in our area began selling for much higher than we had purchased our home for in 2002. I called our insurance company and learned that if we wanted to increase our insurance policy it would cost us $600 more annually and our deductible would increase from $500 to $2000. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t have an extra $2000 laying around to meet a deductible if something should happen to our home.

I already had our auto policies with Liberty Mutual so I gave them a call for a quote. One of the first things I learned was that they do not insure homes with inground oil tanks. Luckily, our home has an above ground oil tank and they could insure us!

I also learned that our current homeowner’s policy (underwritten by Zurich Direct) was insufficient in the current home market. We paid $129,900 for our five bedroom two bathroom two car detached garage home and saw the prices in the area skyrocket to $229,000 for a three bedroom. Our original homeowner’s policy only covered $145,000 replacement value for the home and $38,000 for the garage was insufficient to meet the current market prices. Since we had paid $452 at closing for the Zurich policy, I was a bit leery to change mid-year.

After calling Zurich to find if we received a refund for the remainder of the year’s coverage and finding out that, by law, we were able to receive a refund of the prorated amount, I decided to review Liberty Mutual’s offer at $645 annually with $245,000 coverage on the house, $68,000 for the garage and a $500 deductible.

The Application
The application was completed over the telephone and the confirmation letter was overnighted to our house. We signed and returned the confirmation the next day and our policy was sent to us two days later for review.

The Policy
I’m not going to line-item my policy. Most people only read what the replacement value of their home is anyway!

The policy language was straightforward and tedious. However tedious, I read the small print in every document. That said, among the numerous typos (none which affected the legality of the policy), there was a clause concerning flood insurance. New Jersey law does not require homeowners to insure against flood loss. Liberty Mutual however, requires that each of its policy holders maintain minimal flood insurance.

I called the state office on insurance and found out that, in fact, we are not required to carry flood insurance unless we live in a designated flood zone. I contacted Liberty Mutual and they removed that clause in the new policy they sent me.

Please read your homeowner’s policy: does it state replacement, restoration and repair? If not, call your insurer; some insurers will only do the minimum required by law to make your home habitable…in other words, they won’t restore it to its previous condition but instead repair the house to the state construction code’s passing grade.

Multi-policy Discounts
Since we had our auto policies with Liberty Mutual, we received a multi-policy discount of 5% per policy (two vehicles and home). This amounted to an annual savings of $350. Definitely a happy customer here!

The Claims Process
You never consider such things as bad drivers when you buy your first home. Specifically, one who runs off the road and into your front porch after a heavy night of drinking. Well, it happened to us last month. We had damage to our fence, sidewalk, mailbox (found in our neighbor’s tree), front porch and roof.

I called Liberty Mutual’s claim hotline at 2:30 in the morning. At 6:30 AM, a Liberty Mutual claims adjuster was knocking on our back door. He was polite, sympathetic, and most of all, had brought a contractor who works for Liberty Mutual with him to assist us in the claim process. The four of us surveyed the damage (our front porch had an overhang that extended from our roof and our entire roof would need to be assessed for structural damage) and the claims adjuster gave us an immediate payment of $200 to replace the mailbox (since I only paid $80 or so for the mailbox, I was confused at this point).

The contractor and the claims adjuster settled on the cost of the repairs to the roof and porch and they presented us with the offer to do all the work to restore our home.

I asked the adjuster if the drunk driver’s insurance company was going to pay for the damage to my home; he said that Liberty Mutual will file a claim through the driver’s insurance company but repair our home first and recoup the costs that way. I asked about my deductible: am I going to have to pay the $500 out of pocket and then file with the drunk’s insurance company? No, the Liberty Mutual claims adjuster said. We are not liable for the damages of the driver; this was not “going against us”. I asked for this in writing. The claims adjuster added this to the bottom of the claims form.

Yesterday, our front porch and roof were completed to original condition. Also, the drunk’s insurance company sent us a settlement check for $4000 for home repairs and pain and suffering. Liberty Mutual sent us a letter stated that the drunk’s insurance company settled with them for $6000. The contractor gave us a receipt for the work he did: $3018. Now, I don’t like math very much, but it seems to me that Liberty Mutual made out like a bandit. We made out like a bandit since we had no out of pocket expenses or were we required to pay out our deductible. Instead, we were given a settlement check and Liberty Mutual made almost $3000 of the drunk’s insurance company.
The Website
I pay my homeowner’s policy with my mortgage; I only use the website for my vehicle policies. The website is easy to navigate but does not give quotes online. You can use the website to request information.

Conclusion
Overall, the policy is standard and the customer service is outstanding! Four hours after my call, a claims adjuster was on our doorstep. One month after the incident, our home was restored to its pre-drunk driver condition and we have a check for the holidays. (Not to mention the money Liberty Mutual made by the other insurance company!!)

dearladyb’s Full Review of Liberty Mutual Home Insurance Group

My Personal Thoughts on Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual in Northeastern Ohio has by far to be the least exorbitant homeowner’s insurance available. We have been very fortuitous in our insurance agent Paul, and his associate (which always makes me giggle to say) Paula, both have always been very hospitable and expedient. Despite the time of day or night I may have a question they do not hesitate to answer my questions, if they cannot riposte they will attain someone who can.

Length of time with Liberty Mutual

I have been using Liberty Mutual for seventeen years without disillusion, or alteration. That is not to say I have not considered about it, or validated other prices of diverse insurance companies. It is most consequential that you have the desirable policy for your money. Therefore, yearly I shop around always concluding with Liberty Mutual

What does Liberty Mutual cover?

Depending on the estimation of your home, you will find the coverage obtainable. What I adjudged odd is that some people neglect also to include the home’s contents. This is where many run into conundrums when filing a claim. Although you may have your home insured, it does not automatically include its contents.

I experienced my lesson with my last claim with Liberty Mutual . Failing to have all of my contents covered compounded with the fact I had added new contents since my last policy went into effect, I totally lost on several items amounting to $3500. All of it absorbed, none recoverable, because I did not know what to cover.

Problems I have had with Liberty Mutual.

My problem was not actually with the Liberty Mutual my problem was with the recovering company while filing my claim. I had the impertinent representative in the world, and that is not aggrandizement. It actually came down to name calling, and her implicating me of fraud. In turn I contacted Ohio’s Insurance Commissioner. I advise anyone who has problems in recovering their losses while working with Liberty Mutual to contact their state “Insurance Commissioner, and you will not believe how fast your claim will slide through. It appears this recovering company still working under the Liberty Mutual Group does not have an admirable track record as far as paying or replacing on a claim. The company wants to replace every item lost, usually at a downgrade and not at the tangible cost of the merchandise lost.

For instance, during an electrical storm all of our phones, computers, and appliances plugged in got zapped. Some merchandise and products were new, somewhere four years’ old. The telephones were a year old, but I was miffed about this one thing. I order my phones through Ameritech, the company did not replace these Ameritech phones, instead they sent me a debauched ineffective Uniden! They did not replace the answering machine because they said it was not a “needed” feature of the phone. They replaced my flat screen monitors with the big grey ugly AOC’s, which were no where near the same as my flat screens. Nonetheless I did have a monitor and will eventually save up to replace them all again.

The biggest argument was over the fact I needed the rod replaced so that my home would not have a problem if struck again by lightening. “Grounding rods,” which this company said was implausible to be defunct. I actually had to have the Fire Marshall come to my home check the rods, remove it and write a letter to the insurance company before they would replace it.

Conclusion

Regardless at the nostrums of the recovery center the actual company Liberty Mutual has always given me respect, friendliness and fair prices. Yearly they send someone out to my home and assess it, almost like having your own personal appraiser without the cost. After they estimate, your insurance is adjusted to reflect either a decrease or increase in coverage. This year I am proud to say my coverage increased due to a few adjustments I had made to my home. I will give them their kudos for doing a great job for me.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website - http://www.aflac.com
Located - Columbus, GA
Phone - 1-800-992-3522
Employees - 8,292
Revenue (bil.) - $16.6
Description - Aflac’s clients may not welcome accidents and illness any more than a visit from Gilbert Gottfried, but at least their coverage will keep them from financial ruin. Aflac (whose popular ads feature a valiant duck voiced by comedian Gottfried) sells supplemental health and life insurance policies that cover special conditions, primarily cancer. It is one of the largest sellers of supplemental insurance in the US and is an industry leader in Japan’s cancer-insurance market (with 14 million policies in force). Aflac, which is marketed through and is an acronym for American Family Life Assurance Company, sells policies that pay cash benefits for hospital confinement, emergency treatment, and medical appliances.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

jasyjen’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

If I had given this review two years ago, it would have been very negative.  I’ve had Aflac for about ten years and my representative was just horrible.  He was never around to service the account, and I’d simply forgotten all about it.

But, my new representative is wonderful!!!  She reminded me of my policy and actually assisted me in getting two claims processed.  They were very minor accident claims, but within a week I received two checks totalling over $ 500.00!!!!  I was so pleased, so THRILLED, that I sent my rep flowers!  I would never have seen that money if it wasn’t for her!  I wuv her. 

If you’re not familiar with Aflac, it is a insurance policy that is in addition to your normal policy.  They offer many different ones, but I have the accident/wellness policy.  Every year, they send me a check for $ 60.00 just for getting my annual physical.  EASY MONEY.  Plus, if we get injured on the job or off the job, we can file a claim to receive money.  I actually received more money than I paid out when my son broke his finger!!  You can’t beat that.

I have the premium automatically deducted from my paycheck at work, so I never even miss the money.  And they remove what I owe BEFORE they take out taxes, so it actually helps me pay less to the taxman.  Works for me!

jgogo’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

AFLAC has very good programs that are affordable and they can tailor things to meet your specific needs.  The representatives are friendly and helpful in choosing a plan best suited for your needs.  What plans do they have? Well they have extended insurance plans if you are sick and need to take time off from work, all at reasonable monthly premiums.

I was having  a baby and my policy covered two weeks with full pay and an additional  two weeks since I had a C-section.  Great coverage, and they paid it out promptly.

The representatives are knowledgeable about their products and do  not try to sell you something you do not need,and they explain everything in detail.

Quack Quack for AFLAC!

JonsGirl’s Full Review of Aflac Health Insurance Company

Aflac, the insurance company no one should live without.  The insurance company that pays you and not your doctors or hospital.  For about a dollar a day you can have the peace of mind in knowing that if something should happen……such as an accident that keeps you from working you will have money to pay your bills, buy groceries…………live.  If you are diagnosed with cancer you will receive cash to take care of your family when you are too sick to work……………an insurance company that will make sure you are taken care of when you can’t do it for yourself.   Aflac………the insurance company no one should live with out.

Source: http://www.viewpoints.com

Website - https://www.calcas.com
Located - San Mateo, CA
Phone - 1-800-800-9410
2000 Employees - 1,400
2002 Revenue (mil.) - $228.4
Description - California Casualty looks after the less than golden moments in the Golden State and beyond. The group of four property/casualty insurance companies provides personal automobile and homeowners insurance in more than 40 states. It specializes in serving such affiliation groups as education and public safety association and credit unions. The group also provides some personal specialty coverage, including earthquake insurance, flood insurance, and personal liability umbrella coverage.The group is managed by its attorney-in-fact, California Casualty Management. Chairman Thomas Brown, whose grandfather founded California Casualty in 1914, controls the firm.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

kermitcummings’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

I had grown up being covered on my parents’ insurance policies offered by Allstate. As a young man, my rates were quite high. It was to the point where I was afraid to report any damage to my car for fear of being dropped.

So anyway, I grew up and became a teacher. The teachers’ union recommended this insurance carrier. I called for a rate quote. Their quote saved me over 200 dollars over what I had been paying. I was instantly hooked.

Thankfully, I have not had reason to use it as of yet. However, I have been quite pleased with their level of customer service. I have called several times to change aspects of my coverage. These matters were handled in a quick and efficient manner.

The best part I enjoy is that they take the premiums out of my paycheck. No longer do I have to worry about making a large payment at a certain time of year.

Hopefully, I will never have to make a claim. If I do, hopefully they will handle it as they have handled my dealings thus far.

ramonal’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

I bought Calif Casualty auto insurance after becoming a teacher in 1963. Their group rates were excellent.

In 1987 I quit teaching to go into business for myself and lost the group rate coverage. I’ve occasionally been tempted to shop around for better rates, but just haven’t gotten around to it, because of two things I know: the coverage is reliable and the service is terrific!

I’ve never encountered any problems with coverage… every claim has been settled.

Staff has always been extremely helpful, clear in their requirements and processes for getting autos fixed or paid for. Never had any claim denied… even though 3 of my children had major damage accidents… two of them totaled (nobody hurt, thank Goodness).

After reading about the 10 worst insurance companies in the U.S. at http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/07/07/daily50.html I’m especially grateful I’ve stayed with Calif Casualty… I have great peace of mind knowing I’m covered.

llwh’s Full Review of California Casualty Auto Insurance Group

A quality policy for good prices. Great discounts if you qualify. Great service, good communication. I love this company - my husband convinced me to switch to a different company after they raised his rates after an accident and I am SO SORRY I did it! He felt that they did not investigate the accident thoroughly. While I do agree with this, I still feel that I had excellent service with them.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website - https://www.farmers.com
Located - Los Angeles, CA
Phone - 1-800-FARMERS (1-800-327-6377)
2007 Employees - 25,935
2007 Net Income (mil.) - $147.5
Description - Don’t expect to see tractors in the parking lot of Farmers Group. The US subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services provides insurance management services to the members of the Farmers Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, and Fire Insurance Exchange — which together form one of the leading US property/casualty insurers. Farmers Group does not own the exchanges, but acts as the companies’ attorneys-in-fact. It chooses risks, distributes policy statements to customers, collects premiums, and provides other non-claims related services. The Farmers Group also is the holding company of Farmers New World Life Insurance, and specialty insurer Foremost Insurance.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Ginsan’s Full Review of Farmers Home Insurance Group

You never know how good an insurance company is until you need them and that is too late. I would highly recommend Farmers and I’ll tell you why. We had Farmers on our 100 yr old house for several years. One night our house caught on fire from Christmas lights on the outside. It was the most terrifying experience but they were able to save the house. Somewhere in the confusion huddling at my neighbors while the fire fighters worked, someone said to call our insurance agent then. I called our agent and he said he would go to his office and see what coverage we had and be back in touch.

We went to my mother’s for the night and at 7:30 the next morning we received a call from Service Master that they had been hired from by the insurance company and they were on their way. Within the hour we got the first call from a claims adjuster. The people hired by the insurance company immediately moved on getting windows boarded up and heat in the lower part of the house turned on so we didn’t have frozen pipes causing more damage. The adjuster arrived and after evaluating the situation explained that because of the large amount of damage, their catastrophic adjuster would be there the next day and would take over. Oh, and by the way, here is $3000 to get what we need immediately and pay for a hotel.

Through the next 5 months, the insurance company paid for a rental house for us including renting furniture and utilities. They put together a comprehensive description of everything that needed to be done and the costs and allowed us to pick our own contractor. Our contractor felt the prices were right in line. As additional things were needed, the insurance company was cooperative.

Five months later our house was ready to move back into. Service Master brought back all of our belongings that were salvaged with everything clean and odor free. Farmers had paid all bills.

To say we were pleased would be an understatement. To come through a catastrophe like that and actually like your insurance company is amazing. They say in their ads that they will get you back on your feet fast and it is true. They did not just give lip service but they really did what they said they would. I would highly recommend them and several of our friends and neighbors have switched to them after seeing how well we were handled.

jwimberley’s Full Review of Farmers Home Insurance Group

We have been with Farmers now for about 12 years. We have had to use just about every aspect of our policy coverages and have had great service from both the agency force and the claims department.

Farmers is one of the few companies left in Texas that is still writing insurance for homeowners. They are limited in who they can write for right now but that is improving. As of today each agent can write up to five new home policies each month. Those clients must already have an auto policy with Farmers. If they do not have an auto policy with Farmers they are eligible to be written in Farmers sister company Foremost Insurance. In order to get a Farmers policy you must also be claims free for the last three years. There are some companies that will only take you as a new client if you have perfect credit, Farmers offers discounts (up to 40%) if you have an excellent insurance score (like a credit score but weighted differently) but they will not decline someone based on credit.

As for the coverages, there are several and I will try to explain how each one works.

DWELLING: This is your home. It does not include the land but it has nothing to do with market value. Don’t get stuck on the “I didn’t pay anywhere near that much” argument. The fact is that this is the money that will be used to rebuild your house. That includes demolition of the remaining structure, hauling off the debris, re-engineering the plans to fit on your existing slab and the cost of custom building your house. Remember, the first time your house was built there was probably a builder working on all of the homes in your neighborhood with multiple crews and buying supplies in bulk to keep costs down. That is not the case when an insurance company has to come in and rebuild your house.

OTHER STRUCTURES: This includes your fence, decks and any permanent structures like well houses or storage buildings that are not attached to the dwelling. It does not included temporary buildings like Morgan sheds.

LOSS OF USE: This coverage will take care of providing you with a place to stay while your house is being rebuilt. Remember, just because you had a fire doesn’t mean you get to stop making your mortgage payments. This coverage is used to rent you a place to stay until you can move back into your home.

PERSONAL PROPERTY: Just like it sounds. This is your television, computer, clothing, etc… There are limits to some items like Jewelry, fine art and important papers so if you have a lot of high dollar items be sure to talk to your agent about getting special increased limits to cover them.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OFF PREMISES: If you are on vacation and your bags are stolen, you have coverage under this part of your policy. Some people don’t realize that if their car is broken into and their CD’s are stolen the auto policy will not cover the CD’s. This part of your homeowners or renters policy will however.

PERSONAL LIABILITY: Maybe the most important part of your homeowners policy. This is what will protect you when someone sues you. Everyone always thinks that this will take care of you if someone is hurt on your property and sues you. That is true but it goes so much further. If you are playing softball and slide into third breaking the baseman’s ankle he might well sue you for his injury. Your personal liability protection will cover the cost of your defense and pay any damages up to the limit of the policy.

MEDICAL PAYMENTS TO OTHERS: This coverage is for injuries to people that don’t live at the house while they are visiting the house. For example if you are having a barbeque and someone grabs a hot skillet burning themselves you can call an ambulance, get them to the hospital and get them taken care of knowing that your homeowners insurance will be there for you when you need to be reimbursed.

Farmers also provides some great endorsements to their policy.

REPLACEMENT COST: This is an absolute must have on both the dwelling and the personal property. Without it you have an Actual Cash Value policy. With Replacement Cost the insurance company will pay whatever it cost to replace the item that was damaged or stolen. Under an ACV policy the company will take depreciation on the item based on its age or condition. For example if you have ACV on your dwelling and there is a hail storm that destroys your roof the adjuster will come out and tell you that your $3,000 roof is only worth $750 because it is 15 years old. With Replacement Cost your get the full $3,000 (less deductible) regardless of the age of the roof.

TX AMENDATORY ENDORSEMENT: In Texas there are precious few companies that will cover a house for water damage because of the way the courts have been deciding mold claims. Farmers still offers coverage for water damage in increments of $5,000 - $10,000 - or $25,000 depending on how much coverage you think you need.

IDENTITY THEFT: This is a very low-cost but important coverage in today’s high tech world. If your identity is stolen this coverage will pay your legal fees up to $15,000 to repair any damage done to your credit.

INCREASED JEWELRY / COMPUTER / MONEY & SECURITIES: Because there are limits to these items in the standard policy Farmers offers a way for people to increase the amount of coverage in these and a few more areas. All you have to do is ask.

RESIDENTIAL GLASS: This coverage will keep you from having to meet the full deductible on your homeowners just to replace a pane of glass. Whether it is your storm door or the bay window in the kitchen you can have it fixed under this portion of the policy without paying your deductible.

There are many other coverages and endorsements that will cover things like Rental Property, Boats, Home Businesses and company equipment kept at home. That is one of the great things about Farmers; they have a huge agency force that is willing to sit down with you and talk about the coverages in order to find the right package for you.

In our experience with the claims department they bent over backwards to make sure that we felt like we were being taken care of at all times. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like things are moving as quickly as you would like but I would rather wait an extra couple of days and know that the adjuster was doing everything he could to help us that to have someone cut us a check on the spot without really knowing what it was that we needed.

Georgianni’s Full Review of Farmers Home Insurance Group

We recently lost our home to a fire. The fire broke out at around 5:00 p.m. Since I was at home with the children and saw the smoke coming through the attic vents, I was able to get the kids and the pets out with a bit of help. When the fire department had the home under control, a very wonderful woman came to talk to me. She was there to make sure that our large family had a place to go as well as to offer advice on what we needed to do immediately. The top priority was to call our insurance company.
When we finally called Farmers, it was late at night. We had to get our kids and pets settled with family. However, despite the late hour, our claim was taken quickly and efficiently. We had an appointment with an adjuster the following day.
The only problem that we encountered was that my husband is heavy into carpentry. Not your average, modern carpentry, but antique tools. He had lots of them. This posed a problem because the local adjuster was not authorized to handle a claim the size of ours. He did however give us a check for $5,000.00 to cover our immediate expenses. He also gave us literature on how we needed to document our expenses until the regional inspector was able to get there. Despite the title, he was there in 3 days. He offered to help us set up a temporary home, rental furniture and anything else we needed until our home was rebuilt. Since we have 6 kids and 3 dogs, that was a challenge.
Our Farmers adjuster took care of us from start to finish. There was no fighting over what we had or didn’t have. We just had to turn in an inventory complete with pricing. That was a chore! An important lesson to be learned at this point..DO NOT HIRE A RESTORATION COMPANY! They charged us $47,000 to pack up what was left and do the inventory for us. We still had to price everything out on our own. I can sincerely say… I could have replaced EVERYTHING in my home for that amount. (Not including the tools.) This is another subject, so I will get back on target.
We have figured that we will pay Farmers our yearly insurance for the next 114 years before they will have earned back the money that they have put out for us. No problems, no questions, and once we were in their hands, no issues. Their rates may be higher that other companies, but the bottom line is you get what you pay for.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website - https://www.aetna.com
Located - Hartford, CT
Phone - 1-800-MY-HEALTH
Employees - 35,258 (2008)
Revenue (bil.) - $27.6
Description - Aetna thinks you ought’a have some life insurance. As the life insurance subsidiary of health care giant Aetna, Aetna Life Insurance Company offers group life and individual life insurance policies throughout North America. Aetna Life Insurance was founded in 1853 as a spinoff of Aetna Insurance Company. After more than 150 years in operation, the company has more than 20,000 group life contracts in force. The parent company’s operations are focused on accident and health insurance, while life insurance accounts for less than 10% of total earned premiums.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Anonymous’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

We’ve been very pleased with Aetna HMO’s in-network doctors.and hospitals.
I have not had any major health issues, so I see my primary care doctor only once a year for a checkup. I do not have any prescription medicines.

Since 2002, my husband has had 5 surgery / emergency conditions (colon cancer, severely bleeding ulcer, 2 strokes and a broken leg) and each event required 3 days in the hospital with many tests and occasionally specialists. We never had a problem with any of our doctors getting paid by Aetna. The hospitals and doctors submitted the info directly to Aetna and we did not have to be involved.

But since 2002, our premiums have gone up 540%.

Rebecca W’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

due to various health issues and I never got the run around when I called. I believe the Aetna reps are amazingly knowledgeable since whenever I called I may have gotten a different rep but I still got a person in that knew what they were talking about and what needed to be done. The representatives at Aetna treated me like they really cared about my issues and concerns and I didn’t have to keep calling back a hundred times a day to get results. I really liked it when they helped me find a doctor in my local area that accepted their insurance coverage; it made it fast and convenient for me and saved me a lot of travel time of the road. I am truly appreciative of the positive attitudes that the representatives have and the level of professionalism used by Aetna’s claim department processors.

Anonymous Company’s Full Review of Aetna Health Insurance Company

We have aetna group insurance for my small business and have not had any compaints. Coverage options are to our liking, cost is reasonable, customer service was great and so far no complaints from any of my employees.

Source: http://www.insuranceusa.com

Website - https://www.safeco.com
Located - Seattle, Washington
Phone - 1-800-242-6422
Employees - 7,200
Revenue (bil.) - $6.29
Description - While the name doesn’t tell you much about the business, Safeco does sound secure, and with insurance that counts for a lot. Through its Safeco Insurance Co., the company offers personal property/casualty insurance including auto, homeowners, and fire coverage. Its commercial business includes workers’ compensation, multiperil, and general liability geared towards small to midsized companies. In addition to its property/casualty business, Safeco also offers surety bonds to its long-term construction and corporate customers. Liberty Mutual acquired Safeco in a 2008 deal valued at $6.2 billion.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

Sinata’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

I had so many different insurance companies and all of them are just too lazy to do their job. I had 2 accidents in the past 5 years, with my other insurance companies I had to call to report an accident and no one would really respond to me. With Safeco I have been there for 6 months and had my second accident in January (the road was too slippery from the ice). I have called Safeco and their agents were really nice, they recorded everything and gave me the claim #, and told me to relax and everythng will be done for me. 30 minutes later another agent called and explained everything to me that I needed to know, and offered me a rental car (included in my policy) and told me to just relax and wait for estimator to come over and take a look at all the damages that was made to my car. He came in 2 days. Check the car and gave an estimate of the damage. After 2 more days I recieved a good amount to fix my car. And after my car was fixed, I have returned the rental and only paid for the tax. That was the best insurance company I have ever had.

forelysium’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

I used another auto insurance carrier for years before switching to Safeco.
I have been *very* pleased with the customer service, rates and claim payout with Safeco.
Safeco even gives me easy options of how to pay my bill - without any extra charges added on.
My Safeco agent is always very patient with me when explaining the different types of coverage and is also very helpful at suggesting what type of coverage amounts I should have. My old carrier was happy to have me majorly over-insure my vehicle. But when I switched to Safeco my agent readily pointed out that I was very over-insured for my vehicle, assets and income level. My Safeco agent did a great job at helping me determine my insured amounts at levels that keep me plenty covered - and it even helped my rates drop!
With such good rates and service I always recommend Safeco when friends and family are looking for auto insurance. (and please keep in mind I don’t give compliments easily.)

kilrur’s Full Review of Safeco Auto Insurance Corporation

Right off the start, I will confess my epinion is biased because I’ve worked for SAFECO for over 9 years. This does make me qualified to say that SAFECO lives by its core values of discipline, integrity, diligence, empathy and decency. I’ve experienced this as an employee and as an insured.

Check the news and see how many other insurance companies are being sued for deceptive practices, poor repair practices, or not covering valid claims and you will understand why it is important to be insured by a company you can trust. As the adage goes: “You get what you pay for!”

You can find out more information about SAFECO at SAFECO.com or contact your local friendly independent agent.

For what it is worth. I’m an E-Commerce Business Analyst, not an insurance salesperson.

Source: http://www.epinions.com

Website - https://www.Amica.com
Located - Lincoln, RI
Phone - 1-800-242-6422
Employees - 3,200
Revenue (mil.) - $1,485
Description - Amica will amicably serve your insurance needs. The company provides a variety of personal insurance products, including auto, home, and life policies. Amica sells its policies directly to customers through some 40 offices throughout the US. The oldest mutual automobile insurance company in the US, it traces its roots back to 1907 (when fire coverage was a car owner’s most important need due to the danger of exploding gas tanks). Amica, the company’s current incarnation, was formed in 1973 when Automobile Mutual Insurance Company of America combined with Factory Mutual Liability Insurance Company of America.

Source: http://www.hoovers.com

Reviews & Ratings

thom413’s Full Review of Amica Mutual Home Insurance Company

My parents had Amica Insurance for many years as a result of their top rating in Consumer Reports. During that time, we had one or two minor claims - a car accident destroyed a hedge on our property, and Dad skidded into the garage door one icy evening. Both of those claims were paid promptly, with no fuss. Also, the company pays a dividend at the end of the policy year which can reduce your premium, and offers discounts for alarms and other protective devices. The service was always professional and good.

The ultimate test of an insurance company’s integrity and customer service is a total loss, and that’s just what we experienced. I’m happy to report that they met or exceeded all our expectations, with a few minor bumps along the way. In February 1996, I awoke to discover that our den was in flames. Our house was a split level, and the den was directly beneath the bedrooms where we were sleeping. I woke everyone up and we escaped uninjured, but the house was destroyed. Like most house fires, the structural damage was confined to one room, but the smoke and water damage affected every room, and the house had to be gutted and rebuilt. Here’s how the claim went:

1) A courteous, wonderful adjuster was dispatched to the scene the next day, with a check for about $5000.00 to cover any immediate expenses. He outlined the separate areas of coverage - additional living expenses “ALE”, which covers your rental home costs, structure expense, and contents expense. We had (thank God)chosen replacement cost coverage for both of these, which costs a bit more, but allows you to replace things without having to factor in depreciation.

2) We moved from my sister’s home to a hotel, then on on to a rental house. Administrative glitches meant that we sometimes had to advance the rent from our own funds, but for the most part, this aspect went ok.

3) The adjuster assigned to the contents portion of the claim was rude, nasty and unprofessional. He implied several times that we viewed this a money making opportunity. Also, he attempted several times to avoid using brand names in his reports, which would have reduced the payout if we allowed it to stand. His actions delayed settlement significantly, keeping us out of our home for a long time.

4) We ended up retaining a public adjuster to settle the claim. A public adjuster takes a percentage of the total payout and negotiates on your behalf with the insurance company. We also sent a letter to the CEO in Rhode Island detailing our concerns. These two actions moved things along right away, and once the construction began and our furniture was restored, we moved back in rather quickly.

I don’t wish a house fire on anyone. But if you are going to have one, make sure you have a company that will pay your valid claim. Expect resistance from even the most reputable company, but in the face of valid claims under the contract, Amica did what was right.

darwink’s Full Review of Amica Mutual Home Insurance Company

We’ve had several home insurers in the past 20 years, due to moving, broker changes, and even one alleged-decent insurer going bust (!).
We found Amica by accident a few years back, since it doesn’t do heavy advertising. Many consumer-type sites gave it top ratings for auto and home coverage, and it got a string of JD Power awards. So we figured “what the heck,” went to its site, and got some quotes.
The quotes were _far_ lower, for better coverage, than those of other (and better-known, but far lower-rated) insurers. Amica’s reps were super-pleasant and savvy, and they weren’t just sales-robots — they _clearly_ knew the business. The policy info was understandable, coverage was easily tailored, and reps have been customer-friendly and responsive. We’ve been beyond pleased (and Amica still gets top auto-home ratings on those consumer sites).
As for some complaints here re: qualifying for coverage:
- Amica’s a sound company, or we wouldn’t have signed on … esp after one of our previous insurers went “pffft” on short notice.
- Most insurers _do_ exclude specific dog breeds from coverage. However unfair it seems, it’s based on risk stats: All dogs can bite, but some breeds are more likely to do very serious damage via that bite. (In fact, some _countries_ ban or seriously restrict these breeds.)
I love dogs, but insurers can’t (a) cut slack for breeds based on a particular dog’s track record or age, or (b) just charge higher premiums (as for drivers or businesses in high-risk groups). Even a first-ever bite from a geriatric high-risk dog can do serious damage; and we can’t control our dogs’ every move 24/7. And dogs don’t weigh consequences — it’s not like “If I bite the mailman, I’ll lose my driver’s license and my job, and-or my premiums will go sky-high.”

dabergheim’s Full Review of Amica Mutual Home Insurance Company

Our San Diego home (Rancho Bernardo) burned down in the Witch Creek fire, and Amica was there for us. We were lucky in that we were renters, not homeowners, and so we are not having to go through the nightmare of having to rebuild, but still, Amica has done right by us on our renters policy and we will be customers for life. Here’s why…

We first confirmed that our house burned down at 8:00 a.m. the morning after the fires struck. Our first call was to Amica, and without any independent verification that the house had burned down - just our word - they got us a debit card with $5,000 on it to help us with immediate expenses (the card was in our hands within three hours). The next day they called us and told us that they had put another $10,000 on the card to help us out until the claim could be settled.

Amica assigned an independent adjuster to work with us on our claim. In our first conversation, the adjuster told us “you don’t know how lucky you are to have Amica.” He said that he works with 30 insurance companies, and that there are only two — Amica and Chubb — that treat their customers right in situations like ours. Amica was in frequent touch with the adjuster throughout the process, and the adjuster said they were encouraging him to move quickly so that they could get us our money and settle the claim.

As I write this, five weeks after the fire, I can report that Amica settled our claim for the full amount of our coverage, and we received the final check in the mail the day after the called to notify us that everything was complete.

I have had coverage with Amica (home and auto) for more than 20 years. In that time I have had two burglaries, a dented car door (someone backed into the car and then drove away), some cracked windshields, and now this whopper of a claim. Each time, Amica’s claims service surpassed my expectations. My extended family also has Amica (I learned about them from my father, who has been a policy holder for 50 years), and everyone has similar stories to tell of outstanding claims service.

I am a customer for life.

Source: http://www.epinions.com