Renters Insurance and Liability in MC

CaliforniaGirl-1

When my LO moved into MC , the Director suggested we take renters insurance and liability, mostly in case my LO jammed up and forgot the water running and caused a flood. I let that go and now want to move forward with it since I can definitely see my LO putting things down the toilet or soaking something in the sink and leaving the water running.

What have other people done? How much is a reasonable amount? Whose name should it be in, mine (as the financially responsible person and PofA or my LO as the resident?)

Any experiences or tips would be appreciated!!

SDianeL

found this online: "Very often, there is coverage for "parents in a nursing home" in the policy wording of family member's home insurance. If the policy does not provide enough, the children may have more negotiating power to obtain favorable rates by asking if an endorsement can be added for the contents of the parent in the nursing home. Also ask about liability coverage, because this is most likely a separate option." The renters part is very cheap but liability might be more expensive. I would contact your own insurance company to see if they offer it. If you don't have homeowners insurance, see if your company offers renter's insurance and be specific about both contents and liability.

SDianeL

Allstate has renters insurance for $4.00 per month for example. They don't say how much liability insurance is.

JDancer

I can't believe this coverage isn't included in the ridiculously high cost of MC and AL.

M1

I wasn't asked about this at either facility, there was nothing about it in the admission paperwork.

BassetHoundAnn

When I moved my mom into a quasi-assisted living apartment several years ago they required that we take out liability coverage that they offered for possible flooding. I think it was $10/month. Ironically her apartment did flood, but it wasn't her fault. Pipes in the building's sprinkler system burst and flooded her apartment and the apartments below hers. The renter's liability coverage did not cover the damage to her belongings because it was the fault of the building. Grrr.

When we moved her to memory care none of the facilities ever suggested renter's insurance.

After all they are supposed to be checking on her at least once an hour, right?

Early on in my mom's Alzheimer's she was leaving the water on and throwing stuff down the toilet, but by the time I moved her to memory care she had lost the ability to do those things.

If you take out renter's insurance you should read the policy carefully and make sure it will pay if other residents cause the flooding or the building's management is to blame.

gampiano

ALL I CAN SAY IS, This is unbelievable,that you would be paying the exorbitant costs od memory care and that they don't have coverage for their patients.

This should be illegal.

CaliforniaGirl-1

I ended up taking out a policy out for $10/month which includes liability coverage, just in case. They check on her often but I can definitely see her letting the sink or toilet overflow at this point. If you do go this route for your LO, make sure your coverage includes water damage. It is usually separate rider.

I agree they should cover it but would rather she had it and didn't need it then suddenly had to pay for damage and didn't have it.

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Jo C.

I too have never had this topic raised and it seems to be a rather nefarious dynamic. Just does not feel right; wonder if it is legal for them to do that in the spirit of what their services are intended to be for.

J.

CaliforniaGirl-1

No one had raised it before. But, I don't think they raised it to be nefarious or unhelpful. At the end of the day they don't care if we have it or not. They didn't require us to take it or ask to be listed as interested parties, as landlords sometimes do. I think it was suggested to be helpful as in, "I don't know if you thought about this, but it might be helpful."

The insurance ended up costing about $10/month. If it turns out to be unneeded we can cancel.

SusanB-dil

Wow. thanks for bringing it up. Never knew or heard of this. Something else to add to list of 'by-the-way there's something else you need-to-know'.

CaliforniaGirl-1

@SusanB-dil It may not be even be a thing to think about at all places- my LO's unit has a private bathroom with a sink, a shower and a toilet and they are extremely mobile. Other places, I am aware of, either don't have a private in-room bathroom, it is shared across a group of residents or the resident doesn't use it without help . In those cases its unlikely to arise.

GothicGremlin

@CaliforniaGirl-1 This wasn't ever brought up with me either. We're also in California (I'm assuming you're in CA based on your name). Prior to moving Peggy into her memory care facility, I scouted out others in the general vicinity and no one brought it up in any of those interviews.

Maybe it's because of the arrangement you have - private bathroom. Peggy's got a bathroom in her room, but she shares that room with a roommate and there are people in that bathroom all the time. No way is a flood going to go undetected for any significant amount of time.