https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/ Insurance guides and local news for Minnesota homeowners, drivers, and business owners — written by the agents at Options Insurance in Chaska, MN. en-us tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) Tue, 08 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 1440 https://www.options-insurance.com/images/options-insurance-logo.png https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/ https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/rv-motorhome-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/rv-motorhome-insurance-minnesota.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Your auto policy doesn't fully cover an RV and your homeowners doesn't cover it at the campsite. Here's what a dedicated RV policy covers — including vermin damage, roof leaks, agreed value, and full-timer liability. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-insurance-deductible-how-to-choose.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-insurance-deductible-how-to-choose.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $450,000 home means $9,000 out of pocket — not 2% of the repair bill. Here's how deductibles work and how to choose the right level. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/classic-collector-car-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/classic-collector-car-insurance-minnesota.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Standard auto policies pay actual cash value — not collector market value. Here's how agreed value works, why stated value isn't the same thing, and what to know before car show season. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/minnesota-auto-insurance-rates-dropping-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/minnesota-auto-insurance-rates-dropping-2026.html Wed, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community Minnesota is projected for the second-largest auto rate decrease in the country in 2026 (5.29%). Here's why rates are falling and what to do at your next renewal. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-general-liability-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-general-liability-insurance-minnesota.html Wed, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance GL covers third-party injury, property damage, and advertising claims — but not employees, vehicles, or professional errors. Here's what it covers and the gaps that surprise contractors, retailers, and professional firms. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/credit-score-insurance-premium-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/credit-score-insurance-premium-minnesota.html Wed, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Most policyholders don't know their credit score affects their premium — or why their neighbor pays less. Here's how credit-based insurance scoring works and what you can do about it. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/progressive-state-farm-auto-insurance-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/progressive-state-farm-auto-insurance-2026.html Mon, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community For the first time since 1942, State Farm is no longer the largest private auto insurer. Here's what drove Progressive's rise and what it means for Minnesota drivers. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-to-do-after-hail-damage-claim-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-to-do-after-hail-damage-claim-minnesota.html Mon, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance After a storm, contractors appear fast and the pressure to sign is immediate. Here's the step-by-step process — documentation, filing, avoiding storm chaser fraud, and understanding ACV vs. replacement cost. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-tariffs-affect-auto-homeowners-insurance-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-tariffs-affect-auto-homeowners-insurance-2026.html Mon, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community The 25% tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts hasn't fully hit premiums yet — but it's coming. Here's how tariffs are working through insurance costs in 2026. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/chaska-fire-ice-festival-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/chaska-fire-ice-festival-2026.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community Chaska's signature summer festival turns 10 in 2026. Two days of live music, fireworks both nights, curling bonspiel, and family activities at Firemen's Park. July 10-11. Free. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/fireworks-near-chaska-mn-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/fireworks-near-chaska-mn-2026.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community Every fireworks show within 20 miles of Chaska for the 4th of July 2026 — Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Waconia, Delano, and Chaska's own Fire & Ice Festival. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/chanhassen-4th-of-july-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/chanhassen-4th-of-july-2026.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community The Civic Campus construction is changing the layout and parking, but the celebration is still on July 2-4. Full schedule, what's moved, what's the same, and tips for getting there. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/state-farm-agent-compensation-ai-independent-agents.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/state-farm-agent-compensation-ai-independent-agents.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community State Farm cut compensation for its 19,000 agents while investing in AI. Here's what the captive agent restructuring means for agents and the customers they serve. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/why-minnesota-auto-insurance-still-expensive-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/why-minnesota-auto-insurance-still-expensive-2026.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community Minnesota auto quotes are still 63% above 2022 levels — 22 points higher than the national gap. Here's why and whether it's finally coming down. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/hail-severe-storms-minnesota-homeowners-insurance-2026.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/hail-severe-storms-minnesota-homeowners-insurance-2026.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Industry & Community Minnesota had the largest homeowners premium increase in the country. Here's what the June 2026 storm outbreak, percentage-based deductibles, and the hail corridor mean for homeowners. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/short-term-rental-airbnb-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/short-term-rental-airbnb-insurance-minnesota.html Tue, 17 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Most Airbnb hosts assume their homeowners covers guests. It usually doesn't — and Airbnb's AirCover isn't real insurance. Here's what coverage you actually need. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-lower-auto-insurance-premium-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-lower-auto-insurance-premium-minnesota.html Tue, 17 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Raise your deductible, remove duplicate coverages, bundle, use telematics — and the 55+ AARP SmartDriver discount most older drivers don't know about. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-business-owners-policy-bop-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-business-owners-policy-bop-minnesota.html Tue, 17 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property in one package. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and who qualifies. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/contractor-license-bonds-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/contractor-license-bonds-minnesota.html Mon, 16 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance License bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds — contractors get asked for 'a bond' constantly without knowing which type. Here's how each works. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/liquor-liability-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/liquor-liability-insurance-minnesota.html Mon, 16 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Minnesota's Dram Shop Act makes serving an obviously intoxicated person a civil liability event. Here's what the law requires and what the policy covers. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/farm-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/farm-insurance-minnesota.html Mon, 16 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Homeowners insurance excludes farming operations. Here's how farm insurance works for both commercial grain operations and hobby farm owners. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/teen-driver-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/teen-driver-insurance-minnesota.html Sun, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Adding a teen typically doubles or triples your premium. Here's what drives the number, what discounts work, and why this is the right time to review your liability limits. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/condo-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/condo-insurance-minnesota.html Sun, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance The HOA master policy covers the building. Your HO-6 covers the rest — including loss assessment, which most condo owners have never heard of until they receive a bill. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/4th-of-july-fire-safety-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/4th-of-july-fire-safety-insurance-minnesota.html Sun, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance July 4th is one of the worst days for fire claims. Here's what's legal in Minnesota, how illegal fireworks affect your homeowners coverage, and what to know before the holiday. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/motorcycle-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/motorcycle-insurance-minnesota.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Riders who drop coverage in winter often forget to reinstate before spring. Here's what a proper policy covers, plus what Minnesota's new lane splitting law means for your coverage. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/atv-snowmobile-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/atv-snowmobile-insurance-minnesota.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Homeowners insurance doesn't cover ATVs or snowmobiles. Here's what a dedicated off-road vehicle policy covers across both seasons. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/jewelry-valuables-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/jewelry-valuables-insurance-minnesota.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Most homeowners policies cap jewelry at $1,500–$2,500. Here's how scheduling works and what you need to know about insuring lab-grown diamonds whose values have dropped. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/directors-officers-insurance-nonprofits-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/directors-officers-insurance-nonprofits-minnesota.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Nonprofit board members can be personally sued for governance decisions. Here's what D&O covers and why volunteer status doesn't eliminate personal liability. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/cyber-liability-insurance-small-business-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/cyber-liability-insurance-small-business-minnesota.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Small businesses are targeted in cyber attacks specifically because they hold valuable data with weaker defenses. Here's what a policy covers and how to think about your exposure. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-epli-employment-practices-liability-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-epli-employment-practices-liability-insurance-minnesota.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Good documentation doesn't prevent an employment claim — it helps you defend one. Here's what EPLI covers and why at-will employment isn't a shield against lawsuits. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/workers-compensation-insurance-minnesota-employers-guide.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/workers-compensation-insurance-minnesota-employers-guide.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Minnesota workers comp covers more employers than most expect — and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious. Includes the classification traps that get businesses in trouble. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-professional-liability-eo-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-professional-liability-eo-insurance-minnesota.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance General liability covers physical damage. E&O covers economic harm from advice or services that go wrong. Here's how it works and who in Minnesota needs it. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/do-i-need-commercial-auto-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/do-i-need-commercial-auto-insurance-minnesota.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Personal auto excludes business use. If your employees drive their own vehicles for work without commercial auto or HNOA coverage, your business has an uninsured gap. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-insure-boat-watercraft-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-insure-boat-watercraft-minnesota.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Most Minnesota boat owners are underinsured — especially after values climbed post-2020. Here's what a watercraft policy covers and how agreed value works. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-does-minnesota-no-fault-auto-insurance-work.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-does-minnesota-no-fault-auto-insurance-work.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance No-fault doesn't mean what most people think. Here's what it covers, why your health insurer may decline your claim, and what people drop that they shouldn't. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-umbrella-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-umbrella-insurance-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance One bad day can follow your family for years without the right coverage. Here's what umbrella insurance covers and how much you actually need. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-much-does-homeowners-insurance-cost-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-much-does-homeowners-insurance-cost-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Premiums have gone up significantly. Here's why, what you actually control, and how an independent agent shops the market differently than going direct. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-insure-lake-cabin-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-to-insure-lake-cabin-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance A cabin policy isn't the same as a homeowners policy. Here's how coverage works for second homes and seasonal cabins in Minnesota. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/do-i-need-flood-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/do-i-need-flood-insurance-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance More than 40% of flood claims come from outside designated flood zones. Here's why Minnesota flood risk is often underestimated and what a private flood policy costs. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/ice-dams-homeowners-insurance-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/ice-dams-homeowners-insurance-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Some ice dam losses are covered — some aren't — and sometimes the smartest move is to skip the claim entirely. Here's how the coverage actually works. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-much-does-renters-insurance-cost-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/how-much-does-renters-insurance-cost-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Most Minnesota renters pay $12–$20 a month and most underestimate what their belongings are worth. Here's what it covers and how to make sure you're not leaving yourself short. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-mn-fair-plan-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-mn-fair-plan-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance The FAIR Plan premium can feel close to normal. The coverage isn't. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and the three paths back to a standard homeowners policy. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-insurance-does-contractor-need-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-insurance-does-contractor-need-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance GL, workers comp, commercial auto — and several gaps most contractors don't know about. Here's the coverage checklist for Minnesota electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-experience-modification-factor-workers-comp.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/what-is-experience-modification-factor-workers-comp.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Commercial Insurance Your workers comp premium isn't just based on payroll. Your experience mod follows your business for three years — here's how it works and how to keep it from working against you. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish) https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-ebikes-minnesota.html https://www.options-insurance.com/blog/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-ebikes-minnesota.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Personal Insurance Standard home policies weren't written for e-bikes — and the gaps can be expensive. Here's what's covered, what isn't, and when Minnesota's 2026 e-bike laws change the picture. tom@options-insurance.com (Tom Wertish)