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Questions and answers from John Oxendine

Q. If I have Christmas presents, wrapped and under the tree, stolen during a burglary, will my homeowners insurance cover their replacement?

A. Yes, if your policy provides burglary and replacement cost coverage on your contents. However, there are special types of items which may have specific dollar limitations. For example, guns are frequently limited to a total of $2,000. You should read your policy and carefully note the limitations. You would need proof of purchase of the items taken; keep your receipts.

If you have especially valuable items, like jewelry for example, you might want to consider specific coverage just for those gifts.

Q. I have coverage on my homeowners policy for specific jewelry items. I had a recent loss and my insurance company wants me to use their jeweler to replace the items. What happens if I decide not to replace the items through their jeweler?

A. As a general practice, insurance companies will replace the items if possible through a replacement service company, because they receive a better price than if they used your jeweler. If you decide not to accept the item from the replacement company, an insurer will generally pay only the amount of money for which they could replace it.

Please send your insurance or fire safety questions to: Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine, 716 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334. Or call 404-656-2070 (toll free at 1-800-656-2298) for assistance with an insurance question, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. TDD services available at 404-656-4031.