INDIVIDUALSMEDIAMEMBERS
 SPECIALTY TYPES OF INSURANCE 
What is an umbrella liability policy?
If you are ever sued, your standard homeowners or auto policy will provide you with some liability coverage, paying for judgements against you and your attorney's fees, up to a limit set in the policy. However, in our litigious society, you may want to have an extra layer of liability protection. That's what a personal umbrella liability policy provides.

An umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on the underlying liability coverage in a homeowners, renters, condo or auto policy. It will also cover you for things such as libel and slander.

For about $150 to $300 per year you can buy a $1 million personal umbrella liability policy. The next million will cost about $75, and $50 for every million after that.

Because the personal umbrella policy goes into effect after the underlying coverage is exhausted, there are certain limits that usually must be met in order to purchase this coverage. Most insurers will want you to have about $250,000 of liability insurance on your auto policy and $300,000 of liability insurance on your homeowners policy before selling you an umbrella liability policy for $1 million of additional coverage.
<<
Do I need to insure my household help?
>>
Can I get separate medical coverage for my college-age child?
Are you a reporter searching for insurance-related information?
Click Here for Help
Content permission and free insurance content feeds
For permission click here





Tips for finding a lost or unclaimed life insurance policy: Due diligence and database searches can help beneficiaries. (Also in Spanish)
Insurance industry financials: Commentary on first-half results for 2008.