Insured or not ?
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Accidents happen. That’s why you have insurance. You’re probably familiar with the common calamities that are covered by standard policies. House catches fire? File a homeowners insurance claim. Get into a fender bender? Call your auto insurer. Visit the emergency room? Flash your health plan’s card. But what if your dog bites the mailman? A meteorite crashes through your roof? Or rioters torch your car? Suddenly, the answers are less clear.

Here are ten things that you might not realize are covered by standard insurance policies. Take a look. Just be aware that even though your insurer will pay the claim, you might not want to file a claim if the expense doesn’t greatly exceed your deductible. A series of small claims can cost you a claims-free discount or even prompt your insurer to drop you at renewal time.

Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.