USAA Renter's Insurance

Noted that the items listed, all of which are good things to bring, were mainly of the common sense items (body glide, etc.). One thing I wish we or DS had boiught on Day 1 that is available was USAA Renter's Insurance (~41/year) for Midn'.
He has it now but it would have paid for itself 30+ times over when he inadvertantly left his computer oin the Amtrak train when he was returning to KP from a spring weekend liberty at home here in DC. It covers their computers and several other things that could come in handy and it's was only $41.00/year when we bought it the first time last year. If it went up, it can't have been all that much since DS paid for the renewal and if it went up too much he might have reconsidered "betting against himself."

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This quote was taken from a thread on USMMA. However my question deals specifically with West Point. Can anyone give me any thoughts, suggestion, or opinions with respect to Renter's Insurance (we use USAA for all our insurance needs)?

Do we need to buy enough coverage for the laptop computer daughter will get from West Point or will WP replace it if it gets lost or stolen? Are the cadets offered to buy a policy on R-day/A-day or should we secure it before reporting on the 27th of June?

Thank you!

I'm a USAFA (prospective!) mom but saw your post. I have been in the P&C industry for 25 years and here is my professional advice. EVERYONE who has a student living away from home, whether they are in a dorm, a house, an apartment, etc., needs to contact their homeowners company (or agent if you have an agent) to find out exactly what is covered under your homeowners policy for your student. Every company is different! We settled a claim a few years ago for a college student who had a renters policy. This young lady had packed her car up to head home for Fall break. She had a fur coat in the car, textbooks, you name it. Crazy and long story, but some leaves under her car caught fire and burned her car to bits. Her car was covered under her auto policy, but the CONTENTS were covered under her renters policy. What you really want to achieve is to have NO GAP between what is coverered under parents homeowners policy and what is covered under renters policy. BTW...renters policies are usually about $120 a year, so not a lot of output for the coverage it provides! Hope this helps! p.s. you also want to make sure to ask if there are any EXCLUSIONS , meaning a list of things that are NOT covered. Best bet it to have your renters policy w/the same carrier as your homeowners, for many reasons: Price, Claims Handling and not gaps in coverage.

Thank you very much!

You are very welcome! I'm usually the one ASKING the q's on this forum so it's nice to actually know something for a change! LOL Congrats to your daughter! We are still stalking the mailbox for word from the USAFA!

vamom said:

. . . find out exactly what is covered under your homeowners policy for your student. Every company is different!

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Just got off the phone with USAA. I was advised that DS is covered under our USAA homeowner's policy as long as he is being claimed as a dependent. I interpret this to mean that if DS attends a civilian university then he is covered under our homeowner's policy. However, if he attends USAFA then he will need to have his own renter's insurance under his USAA number.

Got my Mid signed up with USAA renters insurance just last week (Spring Break)...of course,I've been pushing it for months (if not years)......finally got him corraled in front of the home PC so we proceeded with an online quote using the provided worksheet... very reasonable premium that will cover his uniforms, PC, TV, desk chair, textbooks, etc, etc......also got him the valuable personal property coverage on that new and very impressive class ring he was so proud of

Blackbird said:

Just got off the phone with USAA. I was advised that DS is covered under our USAA homeowner's policy as long as he is being claimed as a dependent. I interpret this to mean that if DS attends a civilian university then he is covered under our homeowner's policy. However, if he attends USAFA then he will need to have his own renter's insurance under his USAA number.

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I'm not so sure about that! I think "dependent" in this context refers to the tax status...i.e. will you claim DS on your tax returns. If so, then he is a dependent unless USAA is different than the carriers with whom I have been associated. You may want to clarify this with USAA. Also, I know that I already mentioned this but if you DO find that he is considered a dependent, make sure to ask what would NOT be covered i.e. any gaps. If there are gaps, it may not be a bad idea to get the renters policy as they are quite inexpensive.

Oh, by the way Blackbird, I do want to mention that if anyone is reading this who has students at "civilian" universities....please don't assume that their belongings are covered at 100% or at ALL! Each carrier is unique and some have higher deductibles, some require a police report if something goes missing, etc. etc. Again, and I hate to sound redundent here.....the cost of a good renters policy is appx. $120 / year. $10 a month! It's worth it, trust me! Unless you are absolutely positively SURE that DS or DD is covered under your HO policy at 100% (that would be for loss/theft/damage etc.).

Btw- USAA.com has a deal with Hertz Corp where the member can sign up for the Hertz Gold Club with the annual membership $ fee being waived and if the member is under 25 (cadets/midshipmen), the young driver "penalty" fee will be waived ($25/day)....military members under 21 with this Gold Club card will also supposedly qualify to rent a Hertz vehicle A nice back-up in an emergency during Summer travel and training . Got my Mid signed up for the Gold Club card also !!

The past few years USAA has been great about being present at Induction days, Parent's Weekend and certain football game days.
They also have information for the incoming Mid/Cadet and are briefed about personal insurance.
Our cadet does have their own USAA personal property policy for $10K that covers their computer, books, uniforms and other personal property (you might think 10K is too much, but the cost to replace uniforms, etc. is costly). I believe the price of the policy is $80/year.
This also begins their subscriber savings account and transitions them into their auto policy once they received car privileges.

vamom said:

I'm not so sure about that! I think "dependent" in this context refers to the tax status...i.e. will you claim DS on your tax returns. If so, then he is a dependent unless USAA is different than the carriers with whom I have been associated. You may want to clarify this with USAA. Also, I know that I already mentioned this but if you DO find that he is considered a dependent, make sure to ask what would NOT be covered i.e. any gaps. If there are gaps, it may not be a bad idea to get the renters policy as they are quite inexpensive.

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For the USMA the only year you can possibly claim cadets as dependents for tax purposes is plebe year and we were not even able to do that.