Executive Director’s Commentary
By Don Eversmann, F240000
January 2007
In 1986 members of FMCA’s Insurance Committee met with Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency to discuss a specialty motorhome and towed car insurance program for members. FMCA wasn’t quite big enough back then for the concept to come to fruition, but the idea of entering into the motorhome insurance arena was on the minds of the Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency. Fast-forward 21 years to 2007 and more than 120,000 families belong to FMCA.
During the November 2006 committee meetings at the FMCA national office, representatives from Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency presented a proposal to offer discounted motorhome insurance to FMCA members. I am excited to tell you that FMCA has teamed up with Dempsey & Siders to be the first to offer truly discounted motorhome insurance. It becomes available January 1, 2007.
Many of you have heard me say in my Member Benefits seminar at FMCA international conventions and area rallies that if you do not have a specialty motorhome insurance policy, then you probably have an “auto policy” on your motorhome. Put more simply, if you do not have insurance that is written specifically for a motorhome, you probably do not have complete coverage. And even if you already have an RV policy, you may be paying more for that policy than you need to.
Here is a glimpse of the coverage that is being offered to FMCA members at a discount.
- Total loss replacement: if the motorhome is a total loss in the first five model years, it will be replaced with a brand-new, comparable model
- Purchase price guarantee option for used motorhomes
- Coverage for commercial and business-use motorhomes and motorhomes titled under LLCs
- Personal effects option
- Emergency vacation expense
- Mexico coverage for physical damage
- Full-timers’ coverage
- Custom equipment coverage option
- Awning replacement coverage option
- Campsite liability protection
- Towing and roadside assistance option
- Disappearing deductibles: reduces your deductible by one-fourth for each consecutive claim-free year
- Companion auto coverage
- And much more
During their presentation at the November meetings, representatives of Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency noted that the average cost savings to an FMCA member would probably range in the neighborhood of 25 percent or greater, based on the following risk profile, which was derived from data in FMCA’s 2004 Member Survey: married; age 68; 2000-model-year coach valued at $150,000; deductible $250/$500; liability 100/300; roadside assistance and towing included; clean driving record.
You’re probably asking yourself, “How can they do this?” Well, first, they’ve eliminated the middleman. Second, instead of staffing the telephones with commissioned salespeople, they have licensed, qualified, salaried customer service representatives. These factors help keep costs down and allow the savings to be passed on to you.
The Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency is offering this discount insurance in 32 states, and the company is petitioning to expand to as many additional states as possible. Dempsey & Siders will only use insurance companies that have received an A.M. Best’s financial strength rating of A, which is an opinion of an insurer’s ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. While the discount insurance product may not currently be available in all states, Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency is also able to write motorhome insurance with the majority of the RV specialty insurance companies with which we are all familiar.
One additional benefit of carrying RV specialty insurance on your motorhome is the availability of companion auto insurance. Companion auto insurance is available for the towed car as well as all other autos in your household. FMCA members can take advantage of the following features: diminishing deductibles for your auto, application of only one deductible in the event of a loss to both vehicles, the convenience of having both vehicles insured with one company for billing purposes, as well as the convenience of using one company in the event that you have a claim.
FMCA believes this coverage is important for providing you peace of mind while in a campground, at a commercial business parking lot, or traveling. You are automatically eligible for the FMCA discount by being an FMCA member in good standing. If you are not familiar with specialty motorhome insurance, please refer to page 32 of this issue of Family Motor Coaching for more information; click on the Membership channel on FMCA.com; or go directly to the new insurance Web site, www.fmcainsurance.com.
About Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency: The company was founded in 1949 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by two soldiers returning from the war. Over the years the agency grew and became successful in placing not only personal and commercial insurance, but by specializing in association insurance. In 1962 the agency was acquired by American Financial Group as its first insurance venture. In 1996 American Financial began providing specialty RV insurance, through an affiliation they formed with another major insurance company.
This now brings me to another announcement. Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency will sponsor the ice cream socials at FMCA’s two international conventions in 2007. In addition to sponsoring these enjoyable events, Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency will also be cosponsoring the FMCA Anti-Theft Program along with FMCA. Be sure to attend the ice cream socials and stop by the Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency booth at the conventions.
How much money can you save? It’s easy to get a quote online. Go to www.fmcainsurance.com, enter seven bits of information, and you will get your discounted quote right away. A team of specially trained RV insurance assistants also are available to help you with any question you may have concerning your particular needs, so don’t hesitate to call them. A dedicated, toll-free phone number has been established for FMCA members to use as well: (866) 977-8467.
If your vehicle insurance policy does not come due for renewal until later this year, just pull out the quote request card on page 32 A & B and send it in. No need to call in January; representatives from Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency will contact you well in advance of your renewal date to discuss your needs. And you might even win a HoneyBaked Ham just for sending in a quote request card.
This is an idea whose time has come. Please tell a fellow motorhome owner who is not an FMCA member about this new member benefit. Since FMCA members will be eligible for an additional 5 percent discount, you’d really be doing them a favor.
Member benefit awareness
This issue of the magazine includes an updated “Member Benefits Guide,” which begins on page 164. I would encourage new and longtime members alike to review this information so that you can be sure you’re taking advantage of all that your FMCA membership offers. Also of interest in this issue is the updated Business Directory “” a roster of FMCA’s commercial members. Note that some commercial members, especially the campgrounds, offer discounts to FMCA members, so you will want to make note of this listing and remember to use it throughout the year as you seek to purchase products and services. An updated Business Directory will be printed in the June 2007 issue as well, and it’s available online all of the time at FMCA.com in a searchable format. FMCA membership continues to be a great value for motorhome owners.
We wish you safe and happy travels in the new year.
More info links:
FMCA’s Five Star Specialty Motorhome Insurance Program
www.fmcainsurance.com
Dempsey & Siders Insurance Agency
www.dempsey-siders.com