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Frequently Asked Questions
Renters Insurance
Not to worry! GradGuard will send you an email, as well as a text message leading up to the date we charge your card (15 days before your coverage starts). At that time, just let us know if your plans have changed and we’ll cancel out the policy before the charge occurs.
We also know that life is hectic and it may slip your mind. Don’t worry about that either! You can always cancel your policy before the coverage start date and be refunded in full!
If you live in the state of Florida, you need to enter in information about how many sprinklers you have in your residence.
No Sprinkler - 0 Sprinklers in residence
Sprinklers in some rooms - Can't recall how many sprinklers, but know there are some in the residence
Sprinklers in all rooms - Can confirm that there are sprinklers in every room of the residence
Here is a step by step guide to cancel your renters insurance policy online:
Step 1. Log in to your GradGuard account at account.gradguard.com.
Step 2. From the home page, select the renters insurance policy that you wish to cancel.
Step 3. Scroll down to the bottom of your policy information page and click "Cancel Policy."
Step 4. Select the date that you wish the coverage to cancel. Remember, you can only cancel a policy for today's date or a date in the future. GradGuard does not honor backdated refunds and cancellations*.
Step 5. Select the reason you are canceling your policy from the drop-down menu and click "Continue."
Step 6: Review the summary of cancellation information. Once you are sure everything is correct and you want to set your coverage to terminate, you MUST click "Confirm Cancelation" to finalize the cancellation of your policy.
Step 7. Once your policy has been cancelled, you will receive an email confirmation summarizing the cancellation of your policy. If you do not receive this email, please contact us so we can be sure you receive it!
*Note that partial month refunds are not available. Because our policy covers worldwide personal property coverage, we do not honor backdated cancellations or refunds. Upon purchasing a policy, it is required that the purchaser agrees to terms and conditions and an understanding of the payment schedule. As GradGuard is a separate entity than the university, we are not notified when a student moves out of a residence or withdraws from the university. It is the responsibility of the insured or account holder to cancel a policy when coverage is no longer needed. Cancellation must be requested by the account holder or the insured.
Having trouble canceling online? Click here to submit a contact us form with the name of the student, date of birth, and university and an agent will assist you.
To increase your coverage limits we will need you to cancel your current policy and purchase a new one with the higher coverage limits. This can all be done within your online account at account.gradguard.com.
Yes, you can! GradGuard offers renters insurance to students living both on-campus and off-campus! You will be able to select "off-campus" when you are going through the quote process at www.gradguard.com/renters. Then you will just proceed as normal and enter in your off-campus address as the insured address.
Your rental company or landlord does not need to be associated with the university for you to purchase a policy.
On the date you purchase your policy, we charge you the monthly premium for the first full month of coverage. Your next charge will come out 15 days after the start date of your policy; this charge is for the second full month of coverage. Then that date is the date you will be charged every month following.
We have to charge you 15 days in advance just in case a payment declines or if your policy is going to cancel for any reason, so you can either correct the issue or get set up with insurance elsewhere.
Below is a diagram of how the monthly billing cycle works:
Yes, you can! We are able to add a landlord, parent, or property management company as one of these three things at any time! Just send us an inquiry, give us a call, chat with us, or send us an email so we can get them added for you.
Adding an interested party, party of interest, or additional interest means that the person or company you add is able to request details about your policy from GradGuard as well as be notified if you cancel your policy.
You can read a sample GradGuard College Renters Insurance Policy by clicking here.
GradGuard covers items you would consider personal property such as your laptop, smartphone, bicycle, clothing, and television set! Personal property is covered against the following circumstances:
- Vandalism or malicious mischief
- Theft
- Fire and lightning
- Windstorm and hail
- Explosion
- Smoke
- Flood (where available; note flood coverage is not available in the following states: AL, AZ, AR, FL, GA, NH, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY)
- Breakage of glass
- Falling objects
Note that GradGuard does not cover accidental damage or the normal wear and tear of items.
You can read a sample policy by clicking here.
Items such as bicycles, skateboards, and roller blades are all covered under this policy.
However, any motorized or electric vehicles are not covered. Any bike, scooter, or other modes of transportation powered by a motor or battery are not covered, nor are any modes of transportation that are designed for street use.
Be sure that you have documentation and proof that you owned the item before you submit a claim.
Yes, your phone is covered in the case of an event such as theft or another covered peril. Please note that we do not cover accidental damage such as a cracked screen.
Yes, items such as laptops, phones, head phones, speakers, and other electronics are covered under your renter's insurance policy.
In order to suspend coverage for the summer, you must cancel your current policy. For instructions on how to cancel your current policy click here.
You can then purchase a new policy online at gradguard.com and select the appropriate start date for the new policy. This will allow coverage to resume in the fall when you return to school.
*Note: GradGuard renter's insurance policies include worldwide personal property coverage. If you choose to keep your account active throughout the summer, you will still have personal property coverage even if you are no longer living on campus.
In order to change the address on the account, you will need to cancel the existing policy and purchase a new one. Each renter's insurance policy is attached to a specific address which is why a new policy must be purchased in order to change the address.
For instructions on how to cancel your current account click here.
After canceling your account, you can purchase a new policy online at gradguard.com with the updated address.
*Note: If you are currently living in on-campus housing and are moving to a different dorm/apartment that is also on-campus housing, your address does not need to be updated.
We are unable to pause your coverage for the summer. If you wish to suspend your policy after the student leaves their residence, you can cancel anytime through your online portal at account.gradguard.com. You can also purchase a new policy and schedule it to become active when the student starts school again.
GradGuard is a separate entity than the university that the student who is covered attends so we are not notified when the student moves out of the residence. Thus, you need to notify us that you want the policy to be cancelled. You agree to this within the terms and conditions when you purchase the policy. You can cancel your policy anytime within your online account at account.gradguard.com
Your policy documents are conveniently located in your online account. The two documents that you will find are:
GradGuard College Renters Certificate: This document serves as proof of insurance for an active or pending policy for the listed dates. If your landlord or property management company is looking for a copy of your policy or the declarations page, 9 times out of 10 this is still the best document to give them.
GradGuard Policy: Markel, the underwriting company for GradGuard, uploads the complete policy within 3-4 business days after your first payment. For a sample copy, please click here:
Where is the certificate or policy located within my online account?
On the top menu bar, please click on "policies". Once prompted, choose the policy you wish to get a certificate of. This will take you to the policy information. At the bottom of the page, you may click on the document.
How do I save this?
Once you've opened the policy or certificate in a new screen, you may right-click, choose "print," and then change the printer option to "save as PDF".
Incidents relating to mold are not covered unless it is a result of a covered peril. Covered perils include:
- Vandalism or malicious mischief
- Theft
- Fire & lightning
- Windstorm & hail
- Explosion
- Smoke
- Flood (where available)
- Breakage of glass
- Falling objects
Motorized and electric vehicles are not covered, nor are any modes of transportation that are designed for street use.
If it is registered with the department of motor vehicles, you will need to purchase specialty insurance coverage.
Additional living expense coverage helps pay for increased costs you incur if you are temporarily unable to live in your residence due to a covered loss.
For example, let's say that you have a grease fire in your kitchen and it causes enough damage to make your residence uninhabitable. Additional living expense coverage may help pay for costs that exceed your typical expenses such as hotel bills or restaurant meals while you're unable to live in your residence.
The additional living expense coverage is 20% of your personal property limit. If you have a $5,000 personal property policy, that means you have up to $1,000 worth of coverage for additional living expenses. Please note that this coverage is paid on a reimbursement basis.
Upon your initial enrollment, we take a payment the date that you purchase the policy, however, the coverage for the insurance will not begin until your selected start date.
If you have chosen the annual payment plan, then this is the only charge that GradGuard will take from you. Once again, it is taken on the date that you purchase the policy, not the date that the coverage begins. If you have selected to auto-renew the policy, we will remind you at least 30 days in advance that your policy is set to renew.
If you've selected the monthly payment option, then we take a monthly payment on the date you purchase the insurance, then your next payment will come out 15 days after the start date of your policy; that date will now be your recurring payment date when the monthly premium is automatically taken out of your account.
*For example, if you purchase a policy on June 2nd, but do not want the coverage to start until July 1st, then you will be charged your first months premium on June 2nd; this payment is for your first full month of coverage going from July 1st to August 1st. Your second payment that comes out 15 days after the start date of your policy which would be July 16th is for the next months worth of coverage going from August 1st to September 1st; so on and so forth.
If you received an email from us stating that your monthly payment declined, it could be due to a few different reasons:
- Change in billing address
- Change in card number or expiration date
- You canceled the card that we have on file or reported it stolen
- Bank flagged GradGuard as a fraudulent charge on your card
- Insufficient funds
If none of these seem to describe what may have happened, we recommend looking into the decline with your bank and then contacting us if needed. You can update your payment at any time by logging into your online account. Until we are able to take a payment from you, your policy will remain suspended until the end of your current policy period, then the coverage will terminate.
If your policy is permanently-suspended, then we are unable to reactivate it. Not to worry though! To get the coverage again, you will just need to purchase a new policy on our website.
Since GradGuard comes with worldwide personal property coverage, your personal belongings such as clothes, laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. are covered while you are studying abroad! However, since we are only able to attach a US-based address to a policy, the liability coverage does not extend outside of your U.S. based address.
Unfortunately, GradGuard does not have the ability for you to only purchase a policy for a few months upfront or change your end date, however, we do have a few different options for you if you are needing the insurance for less than 12 months:
- You can purchase an annual policy and pay for a full 12 months in advance, then cancel the policy when you moved out of your residence. We will refund you the remaining months of premium that are still left on your policy. This option is good for those who may be attending school for 8-9 months out of the year and just don't want to worry about the monthly payments coming out.
- You can purchase a monthly policy and then cancel it when you move out of the residence. This is a good option for those students who might be taking summer classes or international students who are only going to be attending the university for a semester rather than the full year.
Either option can be purchased at www.gradguard.com/renters
Yes, you may add a roommate after you purchase a policy. We don't encourage students to share policies unless you have a minimum of $5,000 personal property and $25,000 liability per person. Note that when you add a roommate to your policy, the coverage limits are split between everyone listed.
In order to add your roommate(s), we will need the following information:
- First and last name
- E-mail address
To add a roommate, please chat with an agent or leave us a message.
Yes, you can! If you are within your housing enrollment funnel, you can bypass the insurance offer and be reminded later by denying the coverage. If you choose "remind me later" we will send you a few reminder emails over the summer to purchase a policy before you move into your residence.
You can also purchase a policy anytime within 90 days of the date that you want the coverage to begin on our website at www.gradguard.com/renters. So you can just make a note to yourself to purchase a policy in the few weeks before you move into your on-campus or off-campus residence.
If you are having trouble logging into your online account, it could be due to a few different reasons:
- If you don't remember your password, reset it with the "reset password" link. You will then be emailed a link to reset your password so you can log into your online account. Wait up to 5 minutes for the email to arrive at your inbox. If you do not receive a reset password email to the email address you have entered in, it could be due to the following:
- Check your spam folder, as the email could have gotten filtered into it.
- The email address you have entered is not one that we have on file for an account. Try other possible emails that could have been used within the enrollment such as a student school email or parent email address.
- If you have ever unsubscribed from an email that we have sent you, then that email address is put on a suppression list where our system does not send out emails to you anymore, even if you request them. This is a rare case but can happen.
- You cannot create an online account if you do not have a policy with us. So if you haven't purchased a policy, an account is not created for you to log into. You can purchase a policy here.
If you need help resetting your password or figuring out the email address that we have on file with your account, chat with us, send in an inquiry, or give us a call at 866-985-7598.
As much as we value you as a member of the GradGuard community, we understand that sometimes things change. Before submitting a cancellation, please read below to see if any of these situations apply to you:
I moved off campus: No problem! We can cancel your on-campus policy and write a new one for you off-campus. Many landlords require renters insurance anyhow, so you'll be ahead of the game. Chat with an agent or schedule a call at www.gradguard.com/contact-us to make this change.
I will be studying abroad: Did you know that we have worldwide personal property coverage? This means that whether you're backpacking through Europe or staying with your family for break, your items are still protected.
I found cheaper coverage elsewhere: Lower rates could mean a change in the quality of your policy. GradGuard College Renters Insurance has a specific student endorsement designed to give students, like you, the best coverage. Please make sure to ask your new renters insurance provider the following questions to ensure that you’re not losing essential protection. If it doesn't, we're happy to have you back!
- Is there a lower property coverage limit for a single electronic item?
- Are my items covered at replacement cost value?
- Do you have worldwide personal property coverage?
- Will the cost of insurance increase if I file a claim?
I don't feel I need this coverage: Think of insurance as an invisible shield that is designed to protect you from the unexpected in life. While you're building your future, GradGuard wants to be there to help you protect against financial uncertainty. Please note that in the event of a theft or loss, your school or landlord is not responsible for replacing your items.
Still want to cancel? We're here to help make that process smooth.
Cancel my policy online: Policies run on monthly terms. You may cancel any future unused months by visiting your online account at account.gradguard.com. Need assistance with those steps? Click here.
You can also click here to submit a contact us form with the name of the student, date of birth, and university so an agent can assist with the cancelation.
*Note that partial month refunds are not available. Because our policy covers worldwide personal property coverage, we do not honor backdated cancellations or refunds. Upon purchasing a policy, it is required that the purchaser agrees to terms and conditions and an understanding of the payment schedule. As GradGuard is a separate entity than the university, we are not notified when a student moves out of a residence or withdraws from the university. It is the responsibility of the insured or account holder to cancel a policy when coverage is no longer needed. Cancellation must be requested by the account holder or the insured.
If you purchase a GradGuard College Renters Insurance policy, your personal items are covered when in storage. However, any unintentional damage to the structure of the storage unit will not be covered. Please refer to the policy for specific details, limits, and exclusions.
GradGuard College Renters Insurance is underwritten by Markel American Insurance Company, Waukesha, WI. (MKL NYSE), a member of the 2.3 billion dollar Markel Corporation. Rated "A+" (Excellent) by A.M. Best, Markel has been in business for over 80 years.
N14 W23800 Stone Ridge Drive,
Waukesha, WI 53188.
*If you live in AK, CT, or RI, your policy may be underwritten by Assurant Specialty.
General
Please visit the link below for information on GradGuard's response to COVID-19.
When selecting a class, please estimate what year you plan on graduating. If it changes over time, no need to worry. We only collect it for internal reporting purposes.
Of course! We are available Monday-Friday 11am-8pm EST by phone at 866-985-7598. If we do not have an agent immediately available, please leave a voicemail and we will reach back out to you as soon as possible.
For after-hours and weekends, please click the button below to leave us a message.
GradGuard™ is a service of Next Generation Insurance Group, a national specialty insurance marketing firm that focuses on serving the needs of students, young adults, the colleges and universities they attend, and their families.
Many young adults and students don't think to purchase life insurance. However, it can be smart to lock in a rate while you are young and healthy, since your rate will likely be lower at this time. Speak with an insurance agent to determine if life insurance is something you could benefit from, and whether a term or whole life policy makes more sense for you.
GradGuard™ offers insurance and benefits plans suited to the lifestyles of young adults and students, thanks to the expertise of our team comprised of veteran collegiate, insurance, and affinity marketing executives.
Life insurance helps the insured protect the standard of living of their beneficiary should the insured die. There are many different types of life insurance, two of these being "term life" plans and "whole life" plans. Term life covers the insured for a set period of time, while whole life protects the insured throughout their life.
Health insurance is important to have because of the risk of unforeseen medical problems arising in the future. In 2005 alone, uninsured students incurred $120 million to $255 million in uncompensated care for non-injury-related medical events (GAO). Health plans can help cover some of those expensive medical costs. Also keep in mind that since the Supreme Court upheld the health insurance mandate, most Americans are required to have health insurance.
Not necessarily. While many insurance plans can cover the children of the policyholder, additional coverage is sometimes necessary. Families should look over their insurance policies to determine whether their young adult might need something more. Young adults may only be covered under certain circumstances, like if they reside with the policyholder or are under a certain age. It's also important to consider that the risks young adults may face can depend on their life stage, and that they may need different coverages as they get older.
Mandating insurance can allow states to better protect their citizens without having to raise taxes. Depending on state regulations, you may find that auto insurance or health insurance can have specific mandated coverages. You can talk with an insurance agent to determine what you need. It depends on your state; Idaho, for example, has only 13 mandates, while Rhode Island and Virginia each have 70.
There can be other reasons you are mandated to get insurance coverage too, regardless of state regulations. If you live in a dorm or apartment building, school administrators or landlords may mandate that residents purchase renters insurance. Be sure to check your lease or with your university to see if they have any insurance requirements.
Underwriters and agents work together to insure customers. While agents sell the insurance, underwriters assess associated risks, and write the insurance policy. Underwriters take on the financial risk, while agencies help determine the most beneficial types of plans for customers.
Property insurance protects against potential risks property could face such as fire, earthquake, and flood. Casualty insurance protects against being held liable for any damage done to persons or properties due to negligence. Health insurance helps keep the costs of care within your means, and life insurance can provide protection for your standard of living if a loved one dies.
We welcome any relevant guest posts for our blog. Here is what we accept and what you need to know!
GradGuard's criteria for guest posts:
- Must be a unique piece geared towards US-based college students
- 300-500 words in length*
- Up to 2 outside links to credible sources**
- Uncopyrighted photos are welcome within the post
- Our creative team will assign a hero image
- No links to our competitors or unapproved advertisements
- We will not accept posts that solicit essays and homework for purchase
Should this suit your style, email us a few topic suggestions and a short bio at socialmedia@gradguard.com. It's important to note that it can be up to 3-4 weeks from the time we receive your article until it will be published, as we have a content calendar in place that we abide by.
As we will be allowing you two outside links as well as promoting your post with an author bio and photo if desired, we ask that you do the same in return by @ and following us on Twitter and Facebook. We will do the same in return.
Please head over to our blog to check out the first few pages to understand what kind of articles we publish. We ask that you avoid any controversial subjects. Should you need topic suggestions, here are some things our audience is most interested in:
- Finances for young adults
- College tips and tricks
- Motivation of any kind
- College student health and well-being
- Insurance for young adults
- Apartment and residence hall life
*If you send us a long piece that is anything over 600 words, we will immediately ask you to cut down the length, so please, save us the time and keep the word count within reason. We reserve the right to edit any and all content that you send to us to our liking.
**Note that if your post contains any sources like this, they will be removed.