Farmers Insurance And Mastiffs: A Policy Overview

Farmers Insurance does not have breed restrictions; however, if your dog has a bite history, they will refuse to write a policy for you. Any dog with no bite history is eligible to be covered under liability insurance. However, Farmers Insurance has recently changed its liability insurance policy regarding dog bites in the state of California. They are now requiring that all customers sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites if their dog is of a certain breed. Homeowners with pit bulls, rottweilers, or wolf-hybrid pet dogs will need to sign this exclusion waiver of liability coverage.

Farmers Insurance has changed its policy regarding dog bites in California

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its policy regarding dog bites in California. The company has decided to no longer provide liability coverage for dog bite claims involving three breeds: pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. This decision has surprised many dog owners, as Farmers Insurance was one of the last companies to make this policy change, making it more difficult for owners of these breeds to find insurance coverage.

Farmers Insurance is not cancelling policies, but they are now requiring customers with these breeds to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites. Without this signature, the policy will not be renewed. This change means that people injured by a dog bite or attack from one of these three breeds will not be able to sue the dog owner, as Farmers Insurance has initiated a "blanket policy" of exclusion liability.

The company's decision is based on the fact that these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack than any other breed. However, pit bull rescue groups and trainers have criticized the move, arguing that it is offensive and condemns the breeds indiscriminately. Breed bans are also illegal in California, so Farmers' policy update is seen as a tactic to steer dog owners away from these breeds.

The group most affected by this policy change is dog bite victims. Before the update, the standard course of action after being bitten by a dog was to seek medical attention, nurse their injuries, and contact a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog or homeowner. With the recent update, victims of dog bites or attacks from pit bulls, rottweilers, or wolf hybrids in California will no longer be able to take legal action against the dog owner.

It is important to note that Farmers Insurance's policy change only applies to dog bite claims and not to other types of incidents or injuries involving these breeds. Additionally, the change only affects homeowners in California, and it is unclear if Farmers Insurance plans to implement similar changes in other states.

The company no longer covers dog bites for certain breeds

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its liability insurance policy regarding dog bites in California. The company is no longer providing insurance coverage for three dog breeds: pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. While Farmers Insurance is not cancelling policies, homeowners with these breeds of dogs are now required to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites. Without this signature, the policy will not be renewed.

This change in policy has surprised many dog owners, who feel that the company is discriminating against them and their dogs based on appearance rather than individual risk factors. However, according to Erin Freeman, the chief communications officer for Farmers Insurance, these three breeds accounted for 25% of dog bite claims and cause more harm when they attack than any other breed.

The impact of this policy update will be felt most by victims of dog bites. Previously, a person bitten by a dog could seek medical attention and then contact a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog or homeowner. With the recent update, people injured by a dog bite or attack from a pit bull, rottweiler, or wolf hybrid in California will not be able to sue the dog owner. Farmers Insurance has implemented a "blanket policy" of exclusion liability for these three breeds, regardless of the circumstances of the attack or bite.

The decision by Farmers Insurance highlights the challenges faced by dog owners in obtaining insurance coverage for breeds that are considered high-risk or dangerous. While some insurance companies have specific breed restrictions, others, like Farmers Insurance, will refuse to provide coverage if a dog has a bite history, regardless of its breed. Homeowners with dogs considered high-risk may encounter higher rates or reduced coverage for injuries or damage caused by their dogs.

Owners of these breeds must sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its liability insurance policy regarding dog bites in California. The company now requires all customers to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites if their dog is of a certain breed. This means that owners of these breeds must sign a waiver acknowledging that they will not be covered for dog bite claims.

The breeds that are now excluded from Farmers' Insurance policies are pit bulls, rottweilers, and wolf hybrids. These breeds are widely considered to be dangerous and account for a significant number of dog bite claims and fatal dog attacks. While Farmers Insurance is not cancelling any policies, homeowners with these breeds of dogs will need to sign the exclusion waiver of liability coverage for their policies to be renewed.

The change in policy has surprised many dog owners, who feel that the company is discriminating against them based on their dog's breed rather than their individual responsibility or risk level. However, Farmers Insurance is not the only company to implement such a policy, and there are other insurance companies that have similar breed restrictions in place.

It is important to note that breed restrictions and liability coverage for dog bites can vary by state and insurance company. Homeowners with dogs that are considered "high-risk" or "dangerous" may face challenges in obtaining insurance coverage and should carefully review the policies of different insurance companies.

Farmers Insurance offers pet insurance coverage through Pets Best

Farmers Insurance has been offering pet insurance coverage through Pets Best since 2014. The pet insurance coverage offered by Farmers Insurance is provided by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC and underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, a New York insurance company.

Farmers Pet Insurance offers three different policies: Accident & Illness, Accident-Only, and Wellness Routine Care. The price of a Farmers Pet Insurance policy depends on your chosen coverage level, location, and pet size, breed, age, and health history. The average cost of a Farmers Pet Insurance policy through Pets Best is $44 per month, lower than the average pet insurance cost of $49 per month across all states.

The BestBenefit Accident and Illness plan is the most popular and comprehensive plan. It includes an unlimited annual limit option and can help with unexpected emergencies and illnesses like accidents, including broken bones, lacerations, or car accidents, and illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, and skin and ear infections. The price of this plan is based on your pet's age, breed, and location.

The Accident-Only plan is a budget-friendly option that covers accidents but not illnesses. It is available at a monthly rate of $6 for cats and $9 for dogs, regardless of age or breed. In Washington, the flat monthly rates are $7 and $10, respectively.

You can add optional Wellness Routine Care coverage to the BestBenefit Accident and Illness plan. It offers two tiers of coverage to help pay for routine care veterinary visits like annual check-ups, vaccinations, and preventative medication for fleas and ticks. The EssentialWellness plan costs $16 per month, and the BestWellness plan costs $29 per month.

Farmers Pet Insurance offers a 5% discount for pet parents who insure multiple pets and for military service pets. You can also get a 5% discount if you purchase a Pets Best policy after a referral from a Farmers agent or on the Farmers website.

Claims can be submitted through the Pets Best website or mobile app, and are typically processed within three to five days. Customers can choose to receive reimbursements by direct deposit at no additional charge.

The company does not have breed restrictions, but will refuse coverage if a dog has a bite history

Farmers Insurance does not have breed restrictions, but it will refuse coverage if a dog has a bite history. This means that any dog with no bite history is eligible to be covered under liability insurance. However, if the dog has any incident, such as biting or knocking someone over and hurting them, the dog will be removed from the policy.

Farmers Insurance has recently changed its liability insurance policy regarding dog bites in California. They now require all customers to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for dog bites if their dog is of a certain breed. Homeowners with pit bulls, rottweilers, or wolf-hybrid pet dogs will need to sign this waiver. This change in policy has surprised many dog owners, who feel that the company is discriminating against them and their dogs based on looks rather than individual risk factors.

Farmers Insurance is not the only company with policies regarding dog breeds. Several major companies, including Allstate, GEICO, Nationwide, and Travelers, have some form of dog breed restrictions, although the terms and conditions may vary by state. For example, Nationwide will offer homeowners insurance as long as the dog doesn't have a bite history, while Travelers refuses to offer insurance to anyone who owns an American Staffordshire Terrier, any breed of Mastiff, or mixed-breed dogs that include any of the breeds on their blacklist.

If you are unable to find a home insurer that will cover your dog, you may need to get a separate canine liability policy in addition to homeowners insurance. Canine liability insurance, also known as dog-bite insurance, is a standalone policy that covers injuries or damage caused by your dog. It can provide valuable protection if your homeowners insurance policy excludes or limits liability coverage for your dog.

Frequently asked questions