Page 36 - BusinessWest February 3, 2021

Insurance
Are You Covered?
Pandemic Alters Lifestyles — and, Sometimes, Home-insurance Needs
CBy Mark Morris
all it the great migration indoors. When the pandemic first hit, many people were forced to quickly convert
their homes into offices, schools, and
entertainment centers. Some in the insurance industry predicted this might lead to more homeowners insurance claims. In reality, it didn’t.
Similarly, as people spend more time in their homes, they also depend more on their water, electrical, and heating systems to work. While some insurance claims have been filed due to these systems failing after increased use, the increase has not been notable.
In fact, Christine Fleury, Personal Lines manag- er at Encharter Insurance in Amherst, said compa- nies have actually seen a decrease in severe claims
“As people spend more time at home, they are catching that large loss before it happens.”
from homeowners. “As people spend more time at home, they are catching that large loss before it happens.”
Corey Murphy agreed, noting that, because people are home, they are noticing and taking care of seemingly minor problems like leaky gutters.
“As people pay more attention to fixing the small issues, they prevent the larger problems from ever happening. A little preventive main- tenance goes a long way,” the president of First American Insurance Agency in Chicopee noted.
Most homeowners insurance claims are the result of severe weather incidents. When COVID- 19 first hit, winter was ending, and warm weather soon followed. Bill Trudeau, executive vice presi- dent and partner at HUB International New Eng- land in Agawam, said the mild winter this year has helped keep claims down.
“Other than a couple isolated wind events,
the weather has behaved itself, and that means claims have tended to be in line with company projections.”
The pandemic has thrown a few wrinkles into
Christine Fleury says making alterations to the home — a common sight during the pandemic — could change insurance needs.
36 FEBRUARY 3, 2021
INSURANCE
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