At ease Soldier, Sailor, or Airman. USAA is on the job
Written: Mar 09 '06
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Pros: Competitive rates, One stop banking & insurance
Cons: No local branch offices, claims must be called in
The Bottom Line: If you are military, former military, spouse or child of a military member, USAA is hard to beat on price and way above average for customer service.
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| caithnessfan's Full Review: USAA Group - Home |
When they first began doing business in 1922, USAA was open only to Officers and their spouses and children. Years later, USAA had an eye opening break through idea.
In this they realized two IMPORTANT things.
1.There are a LOT more enlisted personnel in the military than there are Officers.
2. Enlisted personnel and their spouses and kids need insurance, banking, and other financial services too.
USAA now offers a wide variety of insurance and financial services including
- Home, Life, Vehicle, property and other insurances
- Investments and finance management
- Checking and Savings
- Annuities
- Discounts for members to a variety of shops and services
Eligibility
USAA is only available to persons
- currently serving in the military in some form (active duty, national Guard, or Reserves)
- Separated or retired from the military
- Going through a commissioning program
- Spouse or child of one of the above
Customer service
Assistance is only a phone call or a few clicks away on line.
For a rate quote, you'll have to call their toll free number and speak to a service agent but wait time is minimal to talk to a real human instead of a computer.
I have so far in 5 years never gotten anything other than polite, courteous service from the person on the other end of the phone.
Once you become a member, you will be able to view your policy and make payments on line but changes to property/home insurance can not be made on line.
Response time
So far I have only made one claim after a nasty hail and thunder storm about 4 years ago.
I called the day after the event and within 2 days an adjuster was at my house to survey and document the damage.
Within a week I had a check in hand for the damage done to my ceiling and gutters minus the $500 deductible.
Unlike many other insurance companies, USAA will cover you and your property world wide.
Rates
Since rates vary depending on location, value of home, construction materials, and many other factors, I can only relay my information.
My house is 1371 finished square feet, built in 1920, and has fuse and breaker wiring.
I live in a suburb of Omaha, NE and the house is insured for $155,000 and has $79,000 contents coverage additional with $100,000 liability/injury.
The deductible on all but wind and hail damage is $500 and the deductible for that is $1100.
My house insurance premium is $638 a year.
I do not have any other dealings with USAA such as their banking and investments or other insurances besides auto so can't speak personally of them but I do have several friends who use them for checking and they are extremely happy with them.
Other than just insurance, USAA offers other home related services to members as well, including buying and selling assistance, and mortgages.
Final notes
If you are looking for a personal touch, branch office to visit and a face to put to your insurance provider, USAA will disappoint. They save a fortune in operating expenses by not having agents and offices to pay and maintain all over the country and pass off the savings to members.
Lots of financial services, counseling, and advice free of charge to members.
When looking for home and auto insurance, I checked with Geico, Farmers, State Farm and USAA.
USAA had the best rates, and terms of the four and weren't pushy.
They answered my questions, asked a few of their own to determine the rate and what I was looking for and made a couple of suggestions but at NO TIME did I feel like I was being hard sold or coerced into buying a policy or anything from them that I didn't want or need.
USAA does not call and try to sell me the latest insurance or such but they do send out mailings regularly with various offerings.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
caithnessfan
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Will Young
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Reviews written: 209
Trusted by: 32 members
About Me:
40, voracious reader, lover of good wines and beers and bad puns
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