GuideOne Insurance offers special benefits for churchgoers
The blessings are abundant for faithful churchgoers in special endorsements to insurance policies offered by an Iowa company that describes itself as one of the nation’s largest insurers of churches.
GuideOne Insurance, founded in the 1940s to offer lower insurance rates to people who didn’t drink alcohol, now offers special benefits for regular churchgoers.
The company launched its FaithGuard endorsements to property and casualty policies in two Missouri markets in August 2004 and expanded to those GuideOne policies up for renewal in 19 states, including Nebraska, last year.
Now, after a year, the company said it is adding FaithGuard endorsements at a rate of more than 160 per day.
The FaithGuard endorsement on an auto policy waives the deductible expense for an insured churchgoer in an accident that happens while on the way to or from church, among other benefits. It also pays toward tithing or church donations if the insured is accidentally injured in the covered vehicle.
There are also protections for those conducting church functions in their homes.
Currently 46,000 people have the endorsement, which may be added at no charge to regular GuideOne homeowners and auto policies, said spokeswoman Emily Abbas.
Of about 2,000 GuideOne auto policies in Nebraska, 260 have FaithGuard endorsements, she said. Of 1,700 homeowners policies, 250 in Nebraska have the endorsements, she said. Those are lower percentages than in most other states where GuideOne does business, Abbas said.
One of their Nebraska customers is Elaine Hampton, a member of the Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk.
She and her late husband Dennis had been customers of GuideOne’s predecessor for years, and when the FaithGuard option came out, she said it sounded good.
She and her late husband had a children’s ministry in their own home, and Bible study for adults, a practice she continues.
“We were constantly driving people to and from our home,” she said. “One of the things the policy talks about is (coverage) if you’re driving to or from a church functions. We did a lot of that, so it was to our benefit.”
Hampton said she’s not had to make any claims.
“Truthfully, it is a very good coverage,” she said. “You know these days, people are sue-happy.”
The popularity of FaithGuard is proving that Americans who attend church regularly are in the market for insurance that understands their beliefs and needs, said Jim Wallace, president and CEO of GuideOne Insurance.
“As a company that insures more than 43,000 churches, FaithGuard was developed as a natural extension of our business to offer coverage for the more than 90 million people who attend church regularly.”
GuideOne Insurance, based in West Des Moines, sells FaithGuard policies in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
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On the Net GuideOne Insurance: http://www.guideone.com
Journal Star reporter Richard Piersol and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It pays to go to churchHere are the benefits for the FaithGuard endorsement on GuideOne Insurance auto policies:
Pastors, executive church administrators, full-time seminarian students and missionaries are eligible for a discount.
Nondrinkers are eligible for a discount.
If the insured is in an auto accident while driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity, the deductible is waived.
Church tithing or donations up to $750 are covered if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident in an insured auto.
Medical benefit limits are doubled if the insured is in an accident while driving non-family members directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity.
Any existing auto loan payments on covered autos (up to $3,000) are paid if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident in an insured auto while driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity.
A memorial gift of $1,000 will be made to the insured's church if the insured’s vehicle is involved in any car accident that results in the insured's death or the death of a household family member.
These are the FaithGuard homeowners insurance Features:
FaithGuard Homeowners Insurance Special Features
Nonsmokers are eligible for a five percent discount.
The deductible is waived if there is a loss of personal property while it is in the care, custody and control of the church.
Church tithing or donations (up to $750) are paid if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by any accident at their residence.
Medical limits for an injury are doubled if the policyholder hosts an activity at home on behalf of their church and an attendee is injured during the activity.
The insured's mortgage payments are made (up to $7,500) if they suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident at their residence.
Source: GuideOne Insurance
GuideOne Insurance, founded in the 1940s to offer lower insurance rates to people who didn’t drink alcohol, now offers special benefits for regular churchgoers.
The company launched its FaithGuard endorsements to property and casualty policies in two Missouri markets in August 2004 and expanded to those GuideOne policies up for renewal in 19 states, including Nebraska, last year.
Now, after a year, the company said it is adding FaithGuard endorsements at a rate of more than 160 per day.
The FaithGuard endorsement on an auto policy waives the deductible expense for an insured churchgoer in an accident that happens while on the way to or from church, among other benefits. It also pays toward tithing or church donations if the insured is accidentally injured in the covered vehicle.
There are also protections for those conducting church functions in their homes.
Currently 46,000 people have the endorsement, which may be added at no charge to regular GuideOne homeowners and auto policies, said spokeswoman Emily Abbas.
Of about 2,000 GuideOne auto policies in Nebraska, 260 have FaithGuard endorsements, she said. Of 1,700 homeowners policies, 250 in Nebraska have the endorsements, she said. Those are lower percentages than in most other states where GuideOne does business, Abbas said.
One of their Nebraska customers is Elaine Hampton, a member of the Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk.
She and her late husband Dennis had been customers of GuideOne’s predecessor for years, and when the FaithGuard option came out, she said it sounded good.
She and her late husband had a children’s ministry in their own home, and Bible study for adults, a practice she continues.
“We were constantly driving people to and from our home,” she said. “One of the things the policy talks about is (coverage) if you’re driving to or from a church functions. We did a lot of that, so it was to our benefit.”
Hampton said she’s not had to make any claims.
“Truthfully, it is a very good coverage,” she said. “You know these days, people are sue-happy.”
The popularity of FaithGuard is proving that Americans who attend church regularly are in the market for insurance that understands their beliefs and needs, said Jim Wallace, president and CEO of GuideOne Insurance.
“As a company that insures more than 43,000 churches, FaithGuard was developed as a natural extension of our business to offer coverage for the more than 90 million people who attend church regularly.”
GuideOne Insurance, based in West Des Moines, sells FaithGuard policies in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
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On the Net GuideOne Insurance: http://www.guideone.com
Journal Star reporter Richard Piersol and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It pays to go to churchHere are the benefits for the FaithGuard endorsement on GuideOne Insurance auto policies:
Pastors, executive church administrators, full-time seminarian students and missionaries are eligible for a discount.
Nondrinkers are eligible for a discount.
If the insured is in an auto accident while driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity, the deductible is waived.
Church tithing or donations up to $750 are covered if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident in an insured auto.
Medical benefit limits are doubled if the insured is in an accident while driving non-family members directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity.
Any existing auto loan payments on covered autos (up to $3,000) are paid if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident in an insured auto while driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity.
A memorial gift of $1,000 will be made to the insured's church if the insured’s vehicle is involved in any car accident that results in the insured's death or the death of a household family member.
These are the FaithGuard homeowners insurance Features:
FaithGuard Homeowners Insurance Special Features
Nonsmokers are eligible for a five percent discount.
The deductible is waived if there is a loss of personal property while it is in the care, custody and control of the church.
Church tithing or donations (up to $750) are paid if the insured suffers a loss of income from a disability caused by any accident at their residence.
Medical limits for an injury are doubled if the policyholder hosts an activity at home on behalf of their church and an attendee is injured during the activity.
The insured's mortgage payments are made (up to $7,500) if they suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident at their residence.
Source: GuideOne Insurance
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