Help with Health and off-road vehicle Insurance

[DamageWagon]

We are about 6 weeks away from our move from so-cal to Portland and will be beginning our trip two weeks after that. I have looked a little into this but haven't found any results that I like. We were coming home from a dirt bike trip this weekend where a friend broke her arm and we're talking about insurance for our trip; I have health insurance with my family but my girlfriend will be losing her insurance when she leaves her job. I also have Geico insurance on the truck and have spoken with them before about being covered off-road and was basically told "that sucks for you, not our problem. No coverage off road).

I was wondering if anyone has experience with these two things:

1. Health insurance that is fairly portable so she can sign up down here and use it in Oregon and the rest of the Western states. She can use COBRA to keep her insurance but her cost goes up to $500/month, not worth it.

2. Good, affordable vehicle insurance that covers off-road damage. I have heard that State Farm covers off-road but to get the same policy with them as I have with Geico would more than triple my cost. I have heard once or twice that Progressive covers too, but not sure on that. I pay $150/month for insurance with Geico including insuring my rooftop tent from theft. I would like an insurance that specifically will cover the truck and suspension components from damage off-road (comprehensive).

There are some people on the forum I am specifically thinking will have good answers on this, but I would rather keep this in the open so others can benefit in the future. Thanks in advance!

[Mule]

Geico sucks in my experience. No way i'd want to do business with them ever again.

I'm with State Farm for truck/sled/moto.
One claim on my moto (jeep "didn't see me", made a left turn right into me, he had geico), and one totalled sled about a year ago.
Moto took a while, minimal injuries (wear your gear ), fairly significant moto damage (plastics, wheel/hub, triple tree, bars, pegs), dude lied to his ins co, went back and forth in court for a while. I won (well, state farm won...).
Sled was handled in almost exactly a month. Hardest part of that was the initial claim investigation, and the lame-o's at the local shop I went to.
>"Where did the accident happen?" ... uhh, you want lat/long? No roads where it happened.
>"Was there a police report filed?" ... Snowmobile. No roads. No police report. Rock didn't call it in either.
>"Any witnesses?" ... Couple buddies at the bottom of the hill?
>"Were you wearing a seat belt?" ... SNOWMOBILE. Helmet and body armor.
>"Did the other party get a damage estimate?" ... I don't think the rock I landed on is too worried about it.
Shop didn't really even look at my sled the first time... basically "it's scraped up and doesn't start." My reply went something like "There's a hole in the f*cking crankcase, the chaincase is cracked, driveshaft's 15° out of alignment, and the tunnel's buckled... all of which you can see if you simply pull the side panels off, and all of which you missed. Don't call me until you get the estimate right."

Talk to an agent about it. You're paying them for a level of service in addition to the coverage. If you're not happy with the service you get from the agent/provider, there's a bunch of others that'd be happy to help you out.

Not really sure about health ins... last time I had an individual plan was in college. Don't lie to them, but tell them as little as possible and only what they ask. (I was rodeo'n at the time...)

[DamageWagon]

Thanks Mule! Right now I'm leaning towards State Farm. Do you know if they cover your Wagon off-road? It's hard for me to swallow the price pill, but I had a bad experience with Geico too. Got hit by a car on my motorcycle, ended up breaking my back and hurting both knees. I got one call during the entire year of recovery and the Geico agent was angry with me that I wanted to talk with a lawyer before speaking to either company. After that I never heard from Geico again. I ended up taking care of everything myself, which is exactly what I did not want to happen. The other party had AAA, and man is that company awesome. They were far more helpful.


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[Vee]

That is an interesting question that I have never really thought about. Technically, I never go offroad, as every jeep trail I have been on in the northwest is a marked road. Most require licensed street legal vehicles. Even in Death Valley, where I have been for the last 2 weeks, all roads require street legal vehicles. Does this cause an issue with insurance companies? I have USAA, so I may pose that as a question.

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[DamageWagon]

I have heard USAA covers off-road. You should check your policy though. I would sign up for USAA but I am not military or a veteran of. I believe insurance companies might even consider those roads to be off-road, pretty much because they aren't asphalt. Definitely worth checking out!


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[Mule]

No idea about offroad coverage on the truck. My 1wd is a lot more fun offroad, and the dirt roads I do in the PW are service/utility roads.

My moto coverage isn't much different than a street bike, as far as what is/isn't covered. My understanding is a loss is covered whether it happened on- or off-road, provided your policy covers that loss. (Same goes for med coverage should I involve someone else in an accident.)

I know I can get better rates by going with a different provider (progressive, geico come to mind), but having a question or wanting to check/change coverage and being able to go to the local office in the neighborhood and talk to someone who can help me out with that question... worth the price.
Need to swing by and talk to them about additional coverage on my sled and coverage in Canada...

[yooper68]

Insurance - you are wise to be doing your homework before your move.
My guess is that each state has slightly different laws and you have to basically be insured with a plan in that state.
Obviously many of the big companies do offer insurance in multiple states.
We have AAA (Michigan) and it has been probably about the best we have had (it helps to have a friend as an agent)
I'm pretty sure off-road damage is also covered but I should verify.
Good luck!

[DamageWagon]

Thanks Yooper! I would love to have AAA and I will look at them again. My holdup is that they were ridiculously expensive next to Geico. Being that we will both be unemployed and have bills to pay, expensive insurance is just one more thing to worry about (until you need it). I'm looking for a balance. We may need to pay more to insure the truck though, I really don't want to do this trip without off-road coverage.

Does physically meeting with an agent potentially get you better rates?


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[nts007]

Off road insurance? You mean wildlife coverage lol

[olyelr]

I just saw one of those comical State Farm commercials... this one was when a guy comes skidding up with in his 2nd gen Dodge Ram next to another guy ice fishing... trucks starts falling through ice... they covered it...

Does that count

[gtomike60]

I asked my agent Eric before I went to Moab last Year.

Me:Eric? I'm going off-roading in Moab,Utah the first week of May.If I drive my truck off a cliff,am I covered???

Eric:Is it a sanctioned race event?

Me:Nope,just a few of us in Power Wagons riding trails for a week.

Eric:You're covered.

I live in Massachussetts,so laws concerning coverage may be different than in other states.
Best to verify with your agent

[gtomike60]

Off road insurance? You mean wildlife coverage lol

Rule of thumb...if you kill it,you can eat it!!!hahaha

[DamageWagon]

Off road insurance? You mean wildlife coverage lol

Haha seriously that might be what happens. We have the bull bar, I'm less worried about Bambi and more worried about is taking an off-camber trail with the camper and rolling, something along those lines.


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[DamageWagon]

Well olyelr it is a dodge, and there's definitely no road on any lake... I think that means I'd be covered! That's admissible in court!


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[olyelr]

... more worried about is taking an off-camber trail with the camper and rolling, something along those lines.


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I hear ya there. Just cause you arnt actually wheeling crazy stuff that has a good chance of putting you on your lid, doesnt mean it wont happen.

I damn near rolled my truck with just a few thousand miles on it. Some how got side hilling too much on a very steep sand hill on my parents property. I thought for sure I was going over, but the ol wag held her own somehow. I was shaking for a good while after it happened

That little event kind of made me wonder what my insurance actually will cover.... but of course the shaking wore off and I have not done any research about it since

[DamageWagon]

Off road insurance? You mean wildlife coverage lol

Rule of thumb...if you kill it,you can eat it!!!hahaha

Unless you're in Idaho! Then it's illegal to eat your own road kill. Because I guess enough people intentionally hit deer for dinner... So now you have to call your relative to come get it


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[DamageWagon]

Olyelr the guys on DTX are saying State Farm covers off-road for what they know. What do you have?

Aaron Edelheit said they did cover in California for him. One of the other guys said they cover in Arizona where he is.


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[Reloaderguy]

Property insurance covers sudden and unexpected losses. As mentioned, unless you're in a sanctioned race it really makes no difference where you are. I don't know of a single P&C policy with an "offroad" exclusion and I don't think such a thing would hold up in court. If you have a policy in good standing, you're operating your vehicle, and it becomes damaged it should be covered.

I am not an attorney or agent, seek professional legal advice if you are uncertain of the limits of your policy.

[olyelr]

Olyelr the guys on DTX are saying State Farm covers off-road for what they know. What do you have?



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Hell I dont know, I would have to ask my wife


But I lied about what company that commercial was... it was Farmers Insurance, not State Farm... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0L3JPRjiK4

[DamageWagon]

Reloaderguy, I don't have any property. Maybe down the line I will look into that. Unless you are saying property insurance on my truck? I thought that was for land and buildings.

When my truck was stuck on a slippery edge in a snowstorm - the same storm that knocked out the local cell tower, which when it fell started a massive wildfire and knocked out phone coverage and sent all regional emergency crews scrambling to put out the fire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Bishop, CA - I talked to several people at Geico very clearly about a certain "potential" situation, and they said heck no way. You are covered on roads and highways. As soon as you leave pavement your insurance ends. They acted like I was crazy. This insist what they told me tough. This led to shenanigans like getting 500lbs of quick-set concrete, water jugs, and layout stakes hiked up said cliff to build a road... Definitely was a win-all or lose-all situation.


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[DamageWagon]

Olyelr you're the first person to recommend something besides State Farm hahaha. You should really find out who insures you though, nonetheless having no clue if you're covered in the dirt lol


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[nts007]

Off road insurance? You mean wildlife coverage lol

Haha seriously that might be what happens. We have the bull bar, I'm less worried about Bambi and more worried about is taking an off-camber trail with the camper and rolling, something along those lines.


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Moose pushed me off the road. Plausible

[Reloaderguy]

Reloaderguy, I don't have any property. Maybe down the line I will look into that. Unless you are saying property insurance on my truck? I thought that was for land and buildings.

When my truck was stuck on a slippery edge in a snowstorm - the same storm that knocked out the local cell tower, which when it fell started a massive wildfire and knocked out phone coverage and sent all regional emergency crews scrambling to put out the fire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Bishop, CA - I talked to several people at Geico very clearly about a certain "potential" situation, and they said heck no way. You are covered on roads and highways. As soon as you leave pavement your insurance ends. They acted like I was crazy. This insist what they told me tough. This led to shenanigans like getting 500lbs of quick-set concrete, water jugs, and layout stakes hiked up said cliff to build a road... Definitely was a win-all or lose-all situation.


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Your auto insurance is property insurance, it falls under Property and Casualty insurance regulations. I'm not aware of a legal difference between a dirt parking lot adjacent to a highway and the Rubicon trail. Neither would be a road or a highway. Carefully read your policy declaration and look for exclusions.

[DamageWagon]

Even if you are correct and they legally have to cover me, if we roll the truck on our trip I want to be on the road again in a month with a different vehicle. All of our belongings on this trip are probably worth $18000. I'm not going to hire a lawyer and spend three years fighting for less money than the lawyer costs. Only if one of us was seriously injured, and even then our health insurance deductible would be less than lawyers fees. I want an insurance company that will outright just fix the problem, not fight me every step of the way.


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[Reloaderguy]

Your truck is covered by your auto policy. Your personal property would be covered by a Home Owners or Renters policy. If you roll your truck, your personal property would not be covered by your auto policy.

I'm not trying to convince you which company to go with, they will all deny a claim if they legally have a right to. If you file a claim and the carrier denies it, your only recourse is through legal remedies. No matter which carrier you decide to purchase a policy from, carefully read your declarations for exclusions pertaining to your situation.