Frequently Asked Questions

A deductible is the amount of damages that you agree you will be responsible for if you have a claim.

Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company; it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.

Under an auto policy, typically, Collision and Other Than Collision (comprehensive) coverage are subject to a deductible.

Deductibles serve several functions. Shifting the cost of small claims to the person buying the insurance (insured) enables the insurance company to reduce premiums. Small dollar claims often cost more to adjust and settle than the claim itself. The cost of insurance would be much higher if there were no deductibles. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium cost.

Collision and Other Than Collision (comprehensive) coverages are subject to a deductible. Several options are available, including a reducing deductible option. With this option, your deductibles reduce by 100 for each annual loss-free period. The amount of the deductible is shown on your declaration pages. Please check your policy or contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to see if you have a deductible and how much it is.

Yes. Missouri state law requires you to carry at least the minimum financial responsibility liability limits of $25,000 per person for Bodily Injury, $50,000 per occurrence for Bodily Injury, and $10,000 for Property Damage to others. This is sometimes referred to as $25/$50/$10.

Missouri State law requires all motorists to have:

• Bodily Injury
• Property Damage
• Uninsured Motorist coverage

If your vehicle is financed, your lender may require that you buy two more coverages: Collision and Other than Collision (comprehensive). These will protect you and the lender if your vehicle suffers damage or loss.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your rates as low as possible:

• Most importantly, drive carefully and protect your driving record
• Select your car carefully
• Choose higher deductibles
• Examine your coverages
• If you have an older car, consider the necessity of carrying Collision and/or Other Than Collision (Comprehensive) coverages
• Explore available discounts

Premiums are based on many factors. These include but are not limited to:

• Driving record
• Number of miles you drive
• Type of car you drive
• Where your vehicle is garaged
• Age

Collision provides protection for the upset of a covered automobile or its impact with another vehicle or object.

Other Than Collision covers damage to the covered automobile from risks such as falling objects, fire, theft, explosion or earthquake, windstorm, hail, water or flood, vandalism, riot, contact with a bird or animal or glass breakage.

These are referred to as "split" liability limits. The coverage would apply like this:

• The first number represents the maximum payable per person injured in any one accident.
• The second number represents the maximum payable for all injured persons in any one accident.
• The third number, which may also be listed separately, represents the maximum payable for property damage of others in any one accident.

For example 25/50/10 or $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 limits would indicate that for bodily injury in any one accident, the maximum amount payable per person is $25,000. The maximum payable for bodily injury for all persons is $50,000. And finally, the maximum payable for property damage is $10,000.

For 100/300, the maximum amount payable per person for any one accident is $100,000 while the maximum payable for all persons is $300,000. In this example, the property damage limit is separately listed.

If you carry combined single liability limits, this would mean that you choose a limit and that could be distributed in any combination in the case of an accident. Example: You select $100,000 combined single limit. That $100,000 is the maximum payable for all bodily injury/property damage claimed in any one accident, whether paid for one person, several people, or property damage; or any combination.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverages are either “split limits” or Combined Single Limits. “Split Limits” for liability are represented by a series of three numbers representing the per person bodily injury liability limit, the aggregate bodily injury liability limit and finally, the property damage liability limit.

Combined single liability limits represent a total limit that could be distributed in any combination in the case of an accident. Example: If a $100,000 combined single limit is elected, $100,000 is the maximum payable for all bodily injury AND property damage claimed in any one accident. This may be paid for bodily injury of one person or several people or for property damage; or any combination.

Your policy covers you while driving anywhere in:

• the United States of America, its territories and possessions
• Puerto Rico; or
• Canada.

It will not provide coverage in any other country. You should purchase coverage from the country you are visiting or the rental company prior to driving, if not in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada. There is NO coverage for driving in Mexico!

Our personal auto policy does extend coverage to rented private passenger automobiles* for temporary use by the named insured or family members who reside in the insured’s household. There are several factors to consider when determining your need to purchase coverage through the rental agency:

• Vehicles with certain weights may not meet the definition of private passenger auto and may not be covered under your Farm Bureau policy if you rent them. Two examples of types of vehicles with higher weights are motor homes and large moving trucks. Check your policy for specific coverage details.
• Vehicles rented for business use are not covered.
• Check your policy language for coverage regarding rented or borrowed trailers.

Please check with your Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance agent for more specifics.

*"Private passenger automobiles" is a defined term in our personal auto policy. Please see your policy for specific definition.

We will pay for towing if you have one of the following optional coverages:

• If you purchase Emergency Road Service Coverage (ERS), it reimburses you for reasonable expenses for towing and labor costs (if the labor is done at the place of disablement) for the covered auto.
• For Emergency Roadside Service or Accident Scene Assistance, please call 1-800-922-4632, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to purchase this coverage.

A variety of coverages are available including but not limited to:

• Other Than Collision (comprehensive)
• Collision
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Road Service

For a complete list, see our Coverages.

Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for specific details, costs, and other options.

Yes, called a total account discount. This credit is applied at each renewal to your auto policy if you maintain both your property and auto coverages with us. If you are not receiving this discount, consider the savings of insuring with us. Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for details.

For detailed information on reporting a claim or loss, visit our Claim Center.

We offer the following pay modes:

• Annually
• Semi-Annually
• Quarterly
• Monthly

Quarterly and monthly pay modes are subject to an installment fee. Choosing to receive and pay your bill electronically may reduce these installment fees.

• Cash (at office locations, please do not send via mail)
• Check
• Credit Card (on most types of invoices)
• Electronic Funds Transfer
• E-Check

Payments must be received in our Home Office or County Office by the due date. Online payment options are available including credit card and e-check. To pay your bill online, please visit On-line Payment.

Farm Bureau Town & Country Insurance Company can write insurance to protect your:

• automobiles
• home
• farm or ranch
• mobile homes
• business
• motorcycles
• motor homes
• boats
• farm trucks
• and much more

Through our other affiliates we can provide for all your insurance needs from Life and Health to retirement planning. Contact a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for details.

Some people think young drivers pay too much for auto insurance. They feel younger motorists are being penalized. But this isn't true. Young drivers are involved in 39% of Missouri's accidents. Over 26% of the drivers under the age of 26 are involved in an accident each year. By comparison, only 8.67% of motorists in the 66 and over age group have accidents annually.

*Source: MoDot 2009 traffic statistics

• Safe Driver Discount
• Multi-Vehicle Discount
• Total Account Discount
• Good Student Discount
• Occupational Discount
• Preferred Driver Discount
• E85/Hybrid Vehicle Discount
• And More

Details on Discounts

Farm Bureau Town & Country Insurance Company of Missouri offers a unique product in the industry. For qualifying youthful operators listed on automobile insurance policies ages 16 to 22, we offer a complementary $50,000 term life insurance benefit issued by the Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company of Missouri. While we hope that none of our policyholders have the unfortunate experience of losing a child, we go one step beyond our competition to protect you financially from that unexpected event. The Farm Bureau Family of Companies is here to protect your family.

What to do in case of an automobile accident:

• Call the police
• Determine if anyone is injured and get their names if possible
• Obtain the name, address, license plate number, and name of the insurance company of other drivers involved
• If possible, write down the names and addresses of any witnesses
• DO NOT admit being "at fault" or discuss your insurance coverag
• Notify us (or your agent) as soon as possible (report a claim)

Occasionally vehicles may be damaged beyond the point they are economically able to be repaired. If this occurs and you have collision or other than collision coverage for the loss, your policy will pay the actual cash value of the vehicle directly before the loss. If your policy has our New Vehicle Replacement Cost endorsement and your vehicle meets the qualifications for this endorsement, your policy will pay you the cost of a new vehicle, identical to your original vehicle.

In many cases your Claims Representative will have specialized automobile estimating software to calculate the damage to your vehicle. Simply give our estimate to your repair shop of choice. If your shop finds additional hidden damage, have them contact our Claims Department directly. In other cases, we may ask you to obtain a written estimate from the shop of your choice and forward it to us for review.

In many areas of the state, we offer a network of auto repair facilities that have been prescreened for your convenience. You are always free to use any shop you like for the repairs. Please see our Auto Repair Network Program page for more information.

Except for individuals specifically excluded under a Driver Restriction Endorsement, your liability coverage extends to other drivers whom you allow to drive your vehicle. Drivers who are not family members residing in your home or whom are not listed as a driver on the policy, are afforded a reduced liability coverage limit. Please see your local Farm Bureau Agent for more information.

We offer a Transportation and Travel Expense endorsement on our auto policies. If you have purchased this option, your policy will reimburse you for rental car expenses you incur during the time your vehicle is being repaired from a covered loss, subject to the insuring agreement and coverage limits.

Upon the conclusion of your claim, we will mail a Sales Tax Affidavit to you. The form gives you sales tax credit toward the purchase of your replacement vehicle and is valid up to 180 days from the date of our payment. You will need to bring this form with you to the license office when you register your replacement vehicle.

A deductible is the amount of damages that you agree you will be responsible for if you have a claim.

Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company, it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.

Deductibles serve several functions. Shifting the cost of small claims to the person buying the insurance (insured) enables the insurance company to reduce premiums. Small dollar claims often cost more to adjust and settle than the claim itself. The cost of insurance would be much higher if there were no deductibles. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium cost.

Yes, property coverages have deductibles. Several options, including split wind/hail deductibles and reducing deductibles, are available. Please check your policy declaration page or contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent to see if you have a deductible and how much it is.

With this option, your deductibles reduce by 100 for each annual loss free period. Assume you purchase a $1000 deductible with the reducing option. At the end of the first year, if loss free, you earn a $100 credit that would be applied toward your deductible in the event of a claim. If you remain loss free for 5 consecutive years, the credit would accumulate to $500. If a claim then occurs, your deductible would be $1000 - $500 = $500.

With this option, the deductible amount depends of the cause of loss for the claim. In the event, of a wind, hail or tornado event, the second of the two deductibles listed applies. The first number is the amount of the deductible for claims from other causes covered by the policy. Missouri is heavily impacted with weather events each year. Application of a higher deductible for claims caused by these weather events helps keep insurance premiums lower.

Yes, the total account discount is available on automobile insurance. This credit is applied at each renewal to your auto policy if you maintain both your property and auto coverages with us. For property coverage such as home or farm, a multiline discount is available on Elite policies. This credit applies at each renewal if you maintain your auto, home or farm, and life insurance with us. If you are not receiving this discount, consider the savings of insuring with us. Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent for details.

• Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
• Notify credit card or fund transfer card company in case of loss of a credit card
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

• Protect your property and belongings from further damage
• Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
• Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

• Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
• Protect your property and belongings from further damage
• Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
• Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

Farm Bureau Insurance can write your automobiles, home, farm, motorcycles, motorhomes, boats, mobilehomes, farm trucks, life insurance, health insurance and more. We can assist with retirement planning and estate planning as well. Contact a Farm Bureau agent for details.

• Choose higher deductibles
• Examine your coverages
• Explore available discounts

Premiums are based on many factors including but not limited to

• Property value
• Fire protection
• Condition of property
• Construction characteristics of property such as roof, heating, siding, etc.
• Claims history

• New home or renovation discount
• Protective systems discount
• Multi-Line discount
• And more

A deductible is the amount of damages that you agree you will be responsible for if you have a claim.

Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company, it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.

Deductibles serve several functions. Shifting the cost of small claims to the person buying the insurance (insured) enables the insurance company to reduce premiums. Small dollar claims often cost more to adjust and settle than the claim itself. The cost of insurance would be much higher if there were no deductibles. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium cost.

Yes, farm coverages have deductibles. Several options, including split wind/hail deductibles and reducing deductibles, are available. Please check your policy declaration page or contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent to see if you have a deductible and how much it is.

With this option, your deductibles reduce by 100 for each annual loss free period. Assume you purchase a $1000 deductible with the reducing option. At the end of the first year, if loss free, you earn a $100 credit that would be applied toward your deductible in the event of a claim. If you remain loss free for 5 consecutive years, the credit would accumulate to $500. If a claim then occurs, your deductible would be $1000 - $500 = $500.

With this option, the deductible amount depends of the cause of loss for the claim. In the event, of a wind, hail or tornado event, the second of the two deductibles listed applies. The first number is the amount of the deductible for claims from other causes covered by the policy. Missouri is heavily impacted with weather events each year. Application of a higher deductible for claims caused by these weather events helps keep insurance premiums lower.

Yes, the total account discount is available on automobile insurance. This credit is applied at each renewal to your auto policy if you maintain both your property and auto coverages with us. For property coverage such as home or farm, a multiline discount is available on Elite policies. This credit applies at each renewal if you maintain your auto, home or farm, and life insurance with us. If you are not receiving this discount, consider the savings of insuring with us. Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance agent for details.

• Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
• Notify credit card or fund transfer card company in case of loss of a credit card
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

• Protect your property and belongings from further damage
• Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
• Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

• Notify the police within 24 hours of discovery
• Protect your property and belongings from further damage
• Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property
• Keep an accurate record of repair expenses
• Notify us (or your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent) immediately (report a claim)

Farm Bureau Insurance can write your automobiles, home, farm, motorcycles, motorhomes, boats, mobilehomes, farm trucks, life insurance, health insurance and more. We can assist with retirement planning and estate planning as well. Contact a Farm Bureau agent for details.

• Choose higher deductibles
• Examine your coverages
• Explore available discounts

Premiums are based on many factors including but not limited to

• Property value
• Fire protection
• Condition of property
• Construction characteristics of property such as roof, heating, siding, etc.
• Claims history

• New home or renovation discount
• Protective systems discount
• Multi-Line discount
• And more

You need life insurance if anyone will suffer a financial hardship caused by your death. Our ability to earn an income is what makes us so valuable. If that income stops, your family will suffer. Life insurance can be used to fulfill all of your family’s future needs by replacing your income. Many people will also use life insurance for specific needs such as making sure the mortgage is paid off and leaving the family with a debt free home. Other people use life insurance as means to pay for burial expenses. We are all going to die and it is our responsibility to prepare for that day so our family won’t suffer financially, as well as emotionally.

Employer group life insurance is great as supplemental coverage. What happens to my employer coverage when I retire, change jobs, or get laid off? Group coverage is only good when you are part of the group. Make sure you have planned ahead and purchased individual life insurance so no matter what happens your family will be protected.

There are different ways to determine the amount of life insurance you need. Most experts agree you need to evaluate these areas to determine how much insurance is enough:

INCOME REPLACEMENT
What will your family need to enable them to maintain the same standard of living if you should die prematurely? Income needs are usually greatest when you have minor children. Most experts agree that you will need 5 to 10 times your annual income for replacement purposes.

MORTGAGE BALANCE
Money will be needed to pay the balance of your mortgage. If you rent, you will want to consider putting money aside for a "rent fund."

DEBT REPAYMENT
If you have a car loan, home improvement loan, credit card balances, etc. these will need to be considered when determining the amount of life insurance you need.

EDUCATION FUND FOR CHILDREN
Educating children can be a very expensive task. Be sure to include the cost of tuition, room and board, and books and other fees. You will want to consider this for all children.

FINAL EXPENSES
Final expenses refer to items such as final medical and hospital costs and funeral expenses. The average funeral in America today costs in excess of $7,500.

EMERGENCY FUND
You will want to have money set aside for your family to cover major home repairs, auto repairs and medical emergencies. Half of your annual income should be sufficient to cover the emergency fund.

MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
You will want to consider an additional amount for this category if you have special needs children, aging parents that are dependent on you or other important, unique needs. Use our needs analysis table to help you determine your current life insurance needs.

Simply contact your Farm Bureau agent and he or she can help you with your purchase. If you don’t have an agent, please use our Find an Agent page.

Term life insurance is perhaps the simplest form of life insurance. It provides temporary life insurance protection on a limited budget. Term life insurance is a way to get the most amount of coverage for the lowest cost. Since term insurance can be purchased in large amounts for a relatively small initial premium, it is well suited for short-range goals such as life insurance coverage to pay off a loan, or providing extra life insurance protection during the child-raising years. Term life insurance provides death protection for a stated time period, or term. The main drawback to term insurance is that after the specified term is over the cost will increase. The good news is that all of our term products are convertible to permanent insurance depending on your age, and you may not be required to complete any medical exams or answer any health questions.

Whole life provides life insurance protection for as long as the policy is kept in force (“whole life”). Whole life policies feature lifelong protection, guaranteed premiums, guaranteed death benefit, and a cash value account. The cash value can grow each year and grows tax deferred. The cash value can even be borrowed against to help with emergencies or when times get tough. Another valuable feature of whole life insurance is the opportunity to receive policy dividends*. Dividends can be used to increase your death benefit, increase your cash value, or even help reduce your premiums. Farm Bureau Life has paid a dividend every year since the company’s inception.

*Not all whole life policies pay dividends and dividends are not guaranteed.

Cash value is an internal build up of money inside a whole life or permanent life insurance policy. The cash value earns interest and grows on a tax deferred basis. The money in the cash value account can be accessed through policy loans or surrenders. However, surrendering the cash value or taking a loan on it may have an adverse effect on your policy and benefits paid. The cash value account is not a savings account but it can be a useful way get funds in the event of an emergency.

A dividend* is a benefit paid to a client who has a participating whole life policy. The amount of the dividend is based on the profitability of the company. There are several dividend options a client can choose. Dividends can be used to increase the death benefit, increase the cash value, be paid in cash or even reduce premiums. Farm Bureau Life has paid a dividend every year since the company’s inception.

*Not all whole life policies pay dividends and dividends are not guaranteed.

You choose how to use the dividend the company has issued on a participating whole life policy. The following options are available:

• Paid up additions: The dividend is used to increase the death benefit.
• Accumulate at Interest: The dividends are put into a side account with in the policy and earn interest.
• Reduce Premiums: The dividend can be applied to premiums that are due.
• Dividends Paid In Cash: The dividend is paid directly to the owner of the policy.

It depends on your age, the amount of coverage, and the type of policy. If you do need a physical, we will work around your schedule to make sure the process is as easy as possible. We will pay for the cost of the physical and we will even have someone come to you. Our examiners can come to your home or office. This makes the examination process quick and convenient.

The benefit of your policy can be paid in several ways at the choice of the beneficiary. There may be an immediate need for the entire lump sum to pay for medical expenses and funeral costs. After a traumatic loss, many beneficiaries choose to avoid making such important decisions in haste. Proceeds can be left to earn interest, to set a payment stream up for a designated number of years, pay a lifetime income, or paying a designated amount as requested. You can withdraw as much of the death benefit as you wish and leave the remaining balance with the company under an interest option, with the understanding that you can withdraw the remaining balance at anytime. The money sits in the account and earns interest until you choose to withdraw it. The death benefit can also be put into an annuity to create an income for the beneficiary’s lifetime or for a specific period of time, again, at the choosing of the beneficiary.

Yes, in most cases. The majority of our clients choose a revocable beneficiary, which can be changed by the owner of the policy at anytime. There are some situations where the owner chooses an irrevocable beneficiary. In this case, the beneficiary would have to approve the change along with the owner of the policy.

Upon the death of an insured you can contact your Farm Bureau Agent, call us at 1-800-922-4632, or email us. To assist us in providing the best possible service please provide the name of the insured, the date and cause of death, and the name, address, and telephone number of the person who should be contacted.

YES. Even though your spouse may not earn an income you will suffer a financial hardship if your spouse dies. Take, for example, the stay at home mom. What would it cost to hire someone to do all the things mom does on a daily basis? Numerous studies suggest it would cost over $100,000 a year. Just think about the cost of daycare and housekeeping alone.

We don’t depend on our children financially but should the unthinkable happen we will suffer financially. Funeral cost can be anywhere from $7,500 and up depending on the arrangements. If you don’t have the ability to pay for that cost out of pocket life insurance is an affordable alternative. Life insurance on a child is very inexpensive and it will be a great gift for them to have later on in life.

If you are in a saving-money stage of life, a deferred annuity can:

• Help you meet your retirement income goals
• Help you diversify your investment portfolio
• Help you manage your investment portfolio

If you are in a need-income stage of life, an annuity can:

• Help protect you against outliving your assets
• Help protect your assets from creditors

While the decision to purchase commercial insurance for some businesses is obvious, for others it's more complicated. For example, even though a business owner may work from their home and have no employees, they still have a risk exposure that a commercial insurance policy would provide protection.

Every business has different needs. A Missouri Farm Bureau agent can meet with you and conduct a Business needs analysis in order to customize a policy just for you to ensure both you and your business are fully protected.

Your local Missouri Farm Bureau agent is knowledgeable about what businesses like yours need. We'll help you choose exactly the right coverage for your business and you only have to go to one agent for all your needs so you will never have to make those important decisions alone.

Most customers want to save money, especially because insurance is one of the biggest expenses for businesses. And driving those costs down can mean an instant impact on your bottom line.

At Missouri Farm Bureau, we understand you want to save money. That's why we offer a variety of choices you can make to help save on commercial insurance.

Whether you plan to visit your local Farm Bureau office or call them to set up an appointment to review your needs, a little preparation can save you a lot of time when you're ready to get a quote.

Commercial insurance quote checklist:

• Current policy declaration pages
• Annual gross revenues/receipts
• Number of employees and annual payroll
• FEIN or SSN#