 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-06-20 14:01
As some of you may be aware, my husband and I are heading (in 6 weeks!) to Illinois for a couple of years (all going well at our visa interview tomorrow!) We currently have excellent musical insurance cover here in Australia, but I am almost certain there is a clause regarding place of residence, etc, which I am yet to confirm (on my growing to-do-list).
Assuming this is the case, what companies in the US offer musical instrument insurance? I am aware there is insurance through IDRS, but do they insure other instruments? We will insure an oboe, flute, piccolo and a couple of clarinets, all of which will add up to a decent amount (our insurance company rubs their hands with glee everytime I add an instrument to our policy!)
Thanks,
Rachel
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-06-20 14:22
Rachel,
We have all of our instruments insured through Clarion. Never have had to make a claim (thank goodness!), but their reputation is sterling. Here's a testimonial and a link:
http://www.bassfrontiersmag.com/clarion-associates-musical-instrument-insurance
The main way this saves us money is by not having to insure the instruments when we ship them off for service -- mailing insurance is ridiculously expensive, but Clarion covers that, too.
Susan
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Author: Bobo
Date: 2011-06-20 14:42
I've heard great things about Clarion, but I use a rider on my homeowner's insurance - it was a less expensive alternative for me. You may be able to do the same if you rent an apartment and get property insurance.
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-06-20 14:59
Bobo, here in Australia it is an extremely expensive way to insure items of value (we call it 'special risks insurance' - stuff that goes out of the house), but I would be very interested to compare when we get there if this is the method you use.
Is Clarion the insurer recommended through IDRS? The name rings a bell...
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2011-06-20 23:37
All of our musical instruments are covered under our homeowner's policy. We have a piano, clarinet, flute, 3 classical guitars, and my oboe. (There are just 3 of us in the family, too.)
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-06-21 02:13
I don't know if Clarion is recommended by the IDRS, but I know I got the reference from Martin Schuring's site (Martin Schuring was the host-of-record at the most recent IDRS Conference at the University of Arizona).
Susan
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-06-21 02:59
I insure my instruments through my (house) renter's policy. I had to submit their serial numbers and value, and they charged me just a wee bit more than the 'normal' policy would have cost.
Never had to make a claim, but it was less expensive than Clarion.
GoodWinds
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Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2011-06-21 05:03
BE CAREFUL folks! If you are insuring your instruments through a "rider" on your home-owners or renters policy, they DO NOT (typically) cover your instruments if you are playing them professionally. And yes, they will check, if you have to file a claim. If you are playing at church for fifty bucks and a choir member knocks over your oboe, that counts as professional activity and you are not covered. There are likely to be many additional limitations to this type of coverage.
Clarion is a great choice, as they are geared toward professional musicians, and they understand the risks involved. I'm not a sales person. I, personally, do use a rider on my renters' plan, but it does provide coverage specifically for professional use (I use USAA/Great American, available only to U.S. veterans). This is certainly not the norm!
Any insurance is too expensive if you can't successfully file a claim when you need to. I don't mean to strike fear into anyone's heart -- just make sure you check this out with your carrier.
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-06-21 14:06
I agree with Jonathan. Our homeowners policy (also with USAA) was more restrictive than Clarion. Clarion covers, for example, shipping your instruments for repair, which our homeowners did not.
That was the situation that prompted us to look into specialty insurance. The cost to insure an instrument in shipping via the shipper is exorbitant (and some shippers will not insure past a preset amount -- say, $100).
Clarion also provides categories for amateur players, as well as professionals who might have to ship their instruments overseas, for example. For our $35,000 menagerie of instruments, it is substantially under $200 a year, with NO DEDUCTIBLE.
Susan
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-06-21 14:12
Wow, Susan, that's a similar stash to mine, and I pay significantly more here in Australia (just received my renewal today, actually, for a grand total of $700!). I would be happy to spend $200 while we are in the US!
So what we gain in health insurance costs here, we lose in property insurance costs. Guess you can't have them all!
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Author: johnt
Date: 2011-06-21 14:59
USAA will insure children & spouses of veterans also. Less expensive, again for vets, is Armed Forces Insurance in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. For automobiles, though, USAA is tops.
Best,
john
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-06-21 15:50
I am not playing my instrument profesionally -- yet. When I do, I am aware that Allstate will not cover them and will probably then switch to Clarion.
GoodWinds
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-06-21 15:52
that's good news, Susan. Either I've added more instruments or shopped too long ago; my memory says that Clarion wanted about that amount for 1 instrument. (I'd rather trust you than my memory these days...)
GoodWinds
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Author: Wes
Date: 2011-06-21 20:57
It is a good idea to never leave an instrument in an automobile, in plain sight or hidden from sight. In public, never lose physical touch with an instrument such as your oboe.
At home, there are ways of minimizing losses, such as keeping valuable nstruments in locked storage. One can leave a few $50 bills in plain sight so that any burglars will leave early with some cash without searching much.
For people who own many instruments, the cost of insurance is so high that, over many years, the insurance cost could easily exceed the value of several stolen instruments. What does one do for insurance if one owns 20 or 30 instruments?
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Author: colloquial42
Date: 2011-06-27 02:09
I also use Clarion. My rate is is $160/yr for $11,000.00 worth of instruments (2 flutes and an oboe). I thought it was a good deal, and well worth the peace of mind.
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