Do you understand your different insurance contracts? Do you really read the little lines that no one reads? According to the latest study carried out by the comparator lesfurets.com, almost one in two people questioned judge their complex contracts to understand until 61% have never read their terms and conditions in depth. “ Indeed, contracts are quite complicatedexplains Cédric Ménager, CEO lesfurets.com. They need to be detailed and legally precise, with plenty of information, to avoid errors of interpretation in the event of a disaster. “.
Fortunately, efforts are being made by insurers with increasingly standardized documents, giving examples of compensation. But this does not prevent 37% of people surveyed from considering themselves as less well covered than what they thought, a proportion which rises to 43% among 35-49 year olds. “ A figure which illustrates the gap between perception and realityand which underlines the importance of better understanding its guarantees upstream », analyzes the CEO.
Insurance: check guarantees and excess
What is the first information to check on your insurance contract? The levels of guarantee which are calculated differently depending on the type of insurance. For example, for your car, it’s about assessing what level do you need? Rather all-risk or third-party? On the residential side, “ it is necessary that the amount of housing assets corresponds to realityexplains the expert. If it is too high, the prime will be more expensive than necessary but if it is too low, you will not be reimbursed for their value “.
Also check, the excess amountremaining amount payable by the insured after compensation. “ It’s important to keep this in mind because there may be unpleasant surprises. », Reveals Cédric Ménager. Often, it is a few hundred euros. Depending on your property, you must assess the possible risks: “ For potential water damage in an apartment, it is better to have a low deductible but rather high for a house in the heart of a risk zone in the event of climatic events“.
Insurance: what ceilings and exclusions of guarantee
Another important point in an insurance contract, the ceilings: “ Check the compensation limitsparticularly on goods of a certain value and if necessary, readjust », he advises. Without forgetting the warranty exclusions. “ There is no refund if the item has a natural wear and tearif there is a neglector a lack of maintenanceas in technical inspection for example », notes the expert. Also, remember to look at possible options, including car insurance assistance.
Finally, do not hesitate to ask specific questions to your insurer: if I crash into a vehicle, does the contract cover both my damage and that of the vehicle I hit? What is covered in the event of water damage? Are the exterior elements of my house, garden furniture, swimming pool, well covered? “ Feel free to check a number of points with your insurer», concludes Cédric Ménager. With the possibility of bringing competition into play by comparing different contracts.
