Umbrella policy if you have a trampoline

[Fpfp]

Anyone with a trampoline know a reasonable priced insurer to get an umbrella policy? I currently have home owners insurance through progressive and went to add an umbrella policy. They told me they do not offer insurance if there is a trampoline and referred me to their partner who 1) only allows a $1million policy and 2) was $1600/yr for that. I know the recommendation is against trampolines but the house we bought had an in ground trampoline and the In ground portion also doubles as a dry well as our property is built on a hill with drainage and where there were previously some ponds. Figure we have to keep the dry well and are either stuck with the trampoline (which our kids love anyway) or a big useless hole in the ground. Does not seem worth $1600/yr though for a policy that probably wouldn’t significantly decrease my risk as a doc.

[G]

That is an expensive trampoline! It adds a bit of balance to my quip with the staff when I say "Trampolines will put my kid through college!"

If you applied the cost savings, you might be able to do some creative landscaping. Although I don't understand how a pond/well works on a hill.

[Steven Podnos MD CFP]

You should lose the trampoline

[Tim]

I recommend you locate an ortho that is dual fellowship (pediatric, sports medicine) trained. PM me if you need a referral. Not to me but i do have connections.
Your kids may need it and you want to get them back to sports etc. Glad to help. It's not cheap though.

[Hank]

The insurance market is telling you that this trampoline is risky and unnecessary. Believe the market.

[The White Coat Investor]

Anyone with a trampoline know a reasonable priced insurer to get an umbrella policy? I currently have home owners insurance through progressive and went to add an umbrella policy. They told me they do not offer insurance if there is a trampoline and referred me to their partner who 1) only allows a $1million policy and 2) was $1600/yr for that. I know the recommendation is against trampolines but the house we bought had an in ground trampoline and the In ground portion also doubles as a dry well as our property is built on a hill with drainage and where there were previously some ponds. Figure we have to keep the dry well and are either stuck with the trampoline (which our kids love anyway) or a big useless hole in the ground. Does not seem worth $1600/yr though for a policy that probably wouldn’t significantly decrease my risk as a doc.

I'm having trouble with Progressive on a boat claim. As soon as the claim is over I'll be changing carriers never to return. And recommend the 250,000 people who come by this site every month do too. I'm told by two separate boat repair folks that something changed at Progressive a couple of years ago and it's like pulling teeth now to get them to pay.

USAA didn't seem to have any particular issue with the trampoline, although ours broke in a windstorm and we haven't been able to replace it yet.

[bovie]

I'm having trouble with Progressive on a boat claim. As soon as the claim is over I'll be changing carriers never to return. And recommend the 250,000 people who come by this site every month do too. I'm told by two separate boat repair folks that something changed at Progressive a couple of years ago and it's like pulling teeth now to get them to pay.

USAA didn't seem to have any particular issue with the trampoline, although ours broke in a windstorm and we haven't been able to replace it yet.

Details in a future blog post?

[The White Coat Investor]

Details in a future blog post?

It's already written. Not much to say though. They're arguing the damage to the gelcoat on the BOTTOM of the boat from hitting a rock is "dock rash" from hitting the dock and was pre-existing prior to hitting the rock. As if I park the boat on top of the dock. As if I could hit the bottom of the boat on the dock. It's bizarre but not worth going to small claims court over. At least they're fixing most of what they should.

[G]

It's already written. Not much to say though. They're arguing the damage to the gelcoat on the BOTTOM of the boat from hitting a rock is "dock rash" from hitting the dock and was pre-existing prior to hitting the rock. As if I park the boat on top of the dock. As if I could hit the bottom of the boat on the dock. It's bizarre but not worth going to small claims court over. At least they're fixing most of what they should.

Don't know whether to bust your chops about using insurance to fix gelcoat or that you are motoring into rocks (or onto docks).

[AR]

It's already written. Not much to say though. They're arguing the damage to the gelcoat on the BOTTOM of the boat from hitting a rock is "dock rash" from hitting the dock and was pre-existing prior to hitting the rock. As if I park the boat on top of the dock. As if I could hit the bottom of the boat on the dock. It's bizarre but not worth going to small claims court over. At least they're fixing most of what they should.

May not be worth it in a vacuum, but a blog post detailing WCI vs Progressive in small claims court would be a must read.

[Fpfp]

Comments are appreciated so far. I am a FM doc and talk to people multiple times a week about the AAP (and I think AAOS though not sure on that) recommending trampolines be completely banned so understand the injury risk. Sounds like most people don’t know an insurance company that is decent in that regard and that was the question. Was thinking of getting rid of the trampoline for that reason anyway. Just think I am stuck with a big hole in the ground that I don’t want and like that my kids stay active on it. (I take care of all the kids and 20-30yo that already have diabetes).

As an aside- grew up with an above ground trampoline and parents have had it for 40 years, well used. No one has ever broke anything. My brother and sitters have broken bones in baseball, soccer, hurdles, but no trampoline. We have had ours at old house and here for 14 hears. 1 minor fractured wrist on it (Ortho just gave me a look). Ironically same kid has broken wrists much worse from falling out of a tree he was climbing and jumping off a couch. Gymnasts with broken bones from bars, beam and floor but nothing on trampoline. That being said- I understand the risks of SEVERE injury with trampoline is really the issue (neck/back) when it comes to litigation. At a point now where I think those risks outweighs benefits (was there a while ago but not thinking about it).

guess I am stuck with that hole in the ground (which ironically I can see someone getting hurt on anyway). Good news is that prior owner is who designed the drainage system ( that was his occupation). We are still in contact and lives local. Hopefully he can give me schematics or Rex’s on how we can remove the hole but keep drainage good.

[Tim]

I'm having trouble with Progressive on a boat claim. As soon as the claim is over I'll be changing carriers never to return. And recommend the 250,000 people who come by this site every month do too. I'm told by two separate boat repair folks that something changed at Progressive a couple of years ago and it's like pulling teeth now to get them to pay.

USAA didn't seem to have any particular issue with the trampoline, although ours broke in a windstorm and we haven't been able to replace it yet.

Much is thought about on insurance policies, but the claims process is really important. The job of a claims adjuster is to save the insurance company money.
Different from the agent or broker. Sometimes they can help and sometimes not. Add Farmer's to the list of difficult claims processing the will leave you short.

[Fpfp]

Oh and by the way- my kids (especially the son who has broken wrist 3 times) want me to pass on their dislike for your advice

[Fpfp]

Will look at USAA. Thanks WCI.

[G]

Comments are appreciated so far. I am a FM doc and talk to people multiple times a week about the AAP (and I think AAOS though not sure on that) recommending trampolines be completely banned so understand the injury risk. Sounds like most people don’t know an insurance company that is decent in that regard and that was the question. Was thinking of getting rid of the trampoline for that reason anyway. Just think I am stuck with a big hole in the ground that I don’t want and like that my kids stay active on it. (I take care of all the kids and 20-30yo that already have diabetes).

As an aside- grew up with an above ground trampoline and parents have had it for 40 years, well used. No one has ever broke anything. My brother and sitters have broken bones in baseball, soccer, hurdles, but no trampoline. We have had ours at old house and here for 14 hears. 1 minor fractured wrist on it (Ortho just gave me a look). Ironically same kid has broken wrists much worse from falling out of a tree he was climbing and jumping off a couch. Gymnasts with broken bones from bars, beam and floor but nothing on trampoline. That being said- I understand the risks of SEVERE injury with trampoline is really the issue (neck/back) when it comes to litigation. At a point now where I think those risks outweighs benefits (was there a while ago but not thinking about it).

guess I am stuck with that hole in the ground (which ironically I can see someone getting hurt on anyway). Good news is that prior owner is who designed the drainage system ( that was his occupation). We are still in contact and lives local. Hopefully he can give me schematics or Rex’s on how we can remove the hole but keep drainage good.

I was thinking a rock garden and/or a water feature.

BTW, echoing Jim, I do not recall USAA asking me about a trampoline.