Skip to main content

Live In a Multigenerational Home? Time to Revisit Your Insurance Coverage

Boomerang kids — adult children moving back in with mom and dad while they save money or search for jobs — aren’t the only ones shacking up in spare bedrooms or basement suites. Rising nursing home costs have also caused many older Americans to move in with younger relatives. Pew Research Center reports that in 2012, nearly 23 percent of adults ages 85 and older lived in a multigenerational household, and overall, 57 million Americans (nearly a fifth of the country) lived in one.

Aside from adding a handicap-accessible ramp for grandma’s walker or soundproofing the basement for a teen’s late-night jam sessions, multigenerational households need to consider the insurance implications of this living arrangement. “The first call you should make when grandma moves in with you would be to your insurance professional,” says Loretta Worters, spokeswoman of the Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization that provides insurance information to the public. “Any life change should be discussed with your insurer to make sure you are financially protected.”

Here’s a look at several areas to consider.

Personal property coverage. More people under one roof often means more contents to insure, so make sure you have enough coverage in case of a fire or other claim. “We’ve had several losses where another generation has moved back into the home, and they found that there are a lot more contents in the home than what an average policy supports,” says Rick Albers, a senior appraisal specialist with Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. “It’s more jam-packed with items, and there is basically a cap on contents coverage when you have an insurance policy.”

Many insurers require an appraisal for items such as art work or jewelry that are worth $2,500 or more, Albers says. If grandparents move in with a collection of antiques or heirloom jewelry, keep in mind that these items may be subject to an even lower policy cap, even if your total coverage is higher.

[See: 10 Money Questions to Ask Your Parents.]

One solution is to buy an optional floater or rider for additional coverage on valuable items that would otherwise be subject to a cap of a few thousand dollars. Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advises consumers on insurance topics, recently upgraded her homeowners insurance policy due to its limited coverage on jewelry. Originally, she asked about buying a rider, but the insurer suggested she switch from basic coverage to premium coverage. Buying the premium version of her homeowners insurance wound up being cheaper than buying basic coverage plus the rider. “I would have been wasting money buying the rider,” she says.

Homeowners insurance. Revisit your homeowners insurance policy if you’ve made additions or upgrades to your home to accommodate family members. “Say your children move back in, and you build an addition on the house with a kitchen and bathroom,” Worters says. “You will need to have your overall homeowners insurance updated to reflect that.”

[See: 10 Costs Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover.]

Flood coverage. If your mortgage is paid off, you likely don’t have a mortgage company requiring you to buy flood insurance. But if a family member is living in the basement, his or her belongings (and possibly yours) could be destroyed in the event of a flood. “The kids move in with the parents and the parents paid off their mortgage and then the house is underinsured,” Bach says. “The house may have been declared a flood zone [after the mortgage was paid off], and they may not have bought flood insurance because they don’t have to.” The National Flood Insurance Program maintains a website where homeowners can look at flood policies and view flood maps.

Auto coverage. If grandparents or adult kids will be driving your vehicle, check if they need to be added to your insurance. Insurance varies by state; some require insurance of individual drivers, while others insure the actual vehicles, Albers explains.

Other types of insurance. With more people in the home, it may mean more guests and more potential for lawsuits if, say, someone slips on an icy walkway or gets bitten by the family dog. Your homeowners insurance likely has a personal liability component, and if you feel you need additional coverage, you could talk to your insurance broker about purchasing an umbrella policy. Also, think about people who come into your home for work purposes. “If grandma needs care and a home health care worker is hired, depending on the state you live in, you might need to purchase workers’ compensation,” Worters says.

[Read: 5 Insurance-Buying Mistakes to Avoid.]

More from U.S. News

12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families

Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands

4 Things to Know When Buying Homeowners Insurance

Live In a Multigenerational Home? Time to Revisit Your Insurance Coverage originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story