<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>Even though our homeowners policy covers all of our kids’ possessions which away at college, we’ve also gotten a CSI policy to cover the computers and cell phones. We have $3000 of coverage, with a $25 deductible, for about $90 a year. We haven’t had a claim, but others on CC have had good experiences with it. I like that it covers accidental damage. We took the policy out after D spilled water on her Mac. Luckily, it dried out fine and started working again, but it did give us a scare.</p>
<p>Our kids were in dorms and appts while students for a total of 9 years. No insurance purchased so far and nothing was ever lost or broken or damaged of theirs while in their apartment. Their laptops and netbooks did die but that was covered by the extended warranty on AmEx card. They each had a cell phone stolen but that was when they were away from their dorm or apartment and left it unattended.</p>
<p>S2 has always been covered under our policy for his dorm/student apt. possessions. Has never had phone or laptop stolen which are the main things of value. We do have a separate policy on his musical instruments which has come in handy when two of them have been stolen in 5 years. The insurance has paid right away, although somehow it seems he always wants a more expensive replacement to the one that was stolen. I told him it was intended to be an “upgrade.”</p>
<p>I use the same insurance company as the car insurance. The renters policy covers my things in the dorm as well as any injuries that might be sustained. That way if the sprinkles go off and fry my laptop, I’m not in major trouble!</p>
<p>Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it. It costs me about $12 a month, plus gives a car insurance discount. :3</p>
<p>Question; what does dorm insurance provide that the school doesn’t?</p>
<p>Here’s info about student insurance. There are other descriptions for other companies and policies. Be sure you read carefully so you understand what IS and IS NOT covered. </p>
<p>[NSSI</a> Affordable laptop insurance, college student insurance, personal property, and laptop theft](<a href=“http://www.nssi.com/]NSSI”>http://www.nssi.com/)</p>
<p>Colleges do not generally provide insurance coverage for students possessions. In our experience our homeowners insurance covered our kids stuff when they lived in the dorms - but our deductible is something like $750. So I can see some attractions to a low cost lower deductible policy for the kids stuff, especially computers. But we have never felt the need to purchase one of those.</p>
<p>As far as I know, there are two major companies which provide this kind of insurance: CSI and NSSI. They cover a student living in a dorm, living off campus, on travel abroad, etc. The reason we have taken it is because for a very low deductible, say $25, we can get $4000-5,000 worth of annual coverage for $100-$200. The alternative would be our homeowner’s policy, for which we have a $1,000 deductible, and would undoubtedly never put in a claim.</p>
<p>After 3 incident-free years, last year both son’s Macs were stolen/lost (different schools) and we did not have CSI or NSSI. Although, our insurance company did technically “cover” their stuff, we didn’t claim it because after the deductible and more importantly, the real risk of our policy increasing because of 2 claims, it just wasn’t worth it. </p>
<p>Lesson learned - After buying 2 brand new Macs in a matter of 4 months, I will be getting that extra policy for our younger son (older son graduated in May)!</p>
<p>Correction to post #9-I meant to type that we can get $4,000-$5,000 worth of coverage for $100-$125. (not $200)</p>
<p>After my daughter’s apartment was robbed, which was covered by our homeowners’ insurance because she was still a student, I purchased CSI policies for both kids. The deductible for homeowners, as was mentioned, was higher than the cost of the annual policy for CSI.</p>
<p>Both kids ruined their phones: one in a backpack with a leaky water bottle and one by setting it on a wet spot in a bathroom. Both phones were replaced. </p>
<p>Keep receipts for any new electronics you buy. Also, in addition to the low cost and deductible, these policies cover accidental damages. Drop your laptop? It is covered. Spill something on it? It is covered. It is less expensive than buying the insurance from the cell phone company and it covers all your other stuff too.</p>
<p>I just renewed the policy for DS because DD graduated.</p>
<p>Homeowners deductible way to high to be of value.</p>
<p>we got CSI for one of two kids: D is really hard on stuff, particularly electronics. Worked out great, since she had a claim within a couple of weeks into Frosh year.</p>
<p>OTOH, son is much more responsible of his ‘stuff’ so we decided insurance was not worth it for him.</p>
<p>Which is better, CSI or NSSI?</p>
<p>Whichever one you get…</p>
<p>We got NSSI because it can get extended after DD graduates. Unfortunately, when she slipped on ice walking back from the library back to her dorm and a car ran over her glasses that had flown off, they would not honor her claim. She only told us months later that her brand new camera has been stolen from her dorm room (“I thought the insurance only covered my computer”), so that claim was (no surprise) a lost cause.</p>
<p>I am still renewing the insurance.</p>
<p>USAA and others have options if you’re interested in this too.</p>