Insurance for laptop computer and digital camera
 

Can anyone recommend a reliable insurance company that offers trip insurance on notebook computers and digital cameras?

Thanks for any help.

What about your homeowners insurance--or perhaps a rider for the trip.

Check your homeowner's policy. I believe a "floater" would cover your needs.

I self insure as my H/O deductible is 2%.
However, I just called USAA, and they have a 1st dollar "floater" for a $500. min per item - my $1600.lap top (8/03)qualifies, but my $400. Dig Cam (3/03) does not. Up to $3000. has a $8.00 per year premium - PDG!
M

We just spent a considerable amount of time researching insurance for laptops and discovered it's not easy to come by. However, an outfit called Safeware offers good coverage for moderate premiums.

Many insurance companies will not add a floater for a laptop to homeowners' insurance, BTW.

Underhill,
While I don't pretend to understand insurance companies' decisions, $8. a year for (no deduct, 1st $) coverage for for a lap top seemed OK.
They have a $3000. min val coverage (for $8.)and a $500. per item minimum which is what I tried badly to state.

Read your homeowner insurance contract and/or call your agent. Most companies will cover laptop computers as part of your contents (with worldwide coverage), subject to your deductible and cause of loss. (Theft would usually be covered, dropping would not, for instance.) Some companies will not "schedule" laptops because they are a high risk for being stolen. If your laptop is scheduled (or covered under a "floater"), it is covered for more types of losses and the deductible is usually waived. Ditto for the camera.

Isn't USAA insurance restricted to current and former military--or am I thinking of some other company?

Those of us living in California have to be very careful about potential claims for losses because rates go through the roof afterwards and some companies cancel insurance entirely.

Underhill, excellent advice! (I hestitated to mention that since I am in the industry and didn't want to sound too preachy!) In NYS, two losses in 3 years will get you cancelled, and no one else will take you except a company that is filed to add a surcharge for homeowner losses. Unless the laptop and camera are super-valuable, I would personally eat the loss. (Take the camera, but leave the laptop at home.)

Thanks to all for the help. After further research, I have found that Safeware is the way to go for this trip; they get good reviews from their customers and from postings I have found on the Web. Austria has many T-Mobile "Hotspots" for wireless notebook access so I can upload a daily picture and comment from Vienna and the Wachau for freinds and family to view.
Thanks again!