Regular Church Attendance Could Offer Unique Insurance ‘Blessings’

West Des Moines, Iowa-based GuideOne Insurance says being a faithful churchgoer could provide some real insurance blessings.

GuideOne’s year old insurance product, FaithGuard, an auto and homeowners insurance policy with specific benefits for churchgoers, has been on the market for a relatively short time and so far it is proving to be popular among the faithful.

While GuideOne Insurance has a long history providing consumers with auto and homeowners insurance, it launched the unique personal lines product for churchgoers last spring. The company is currently adding new FaithGuard policies at a rate of more than 160 per day, GuideOne’s written statement said.

New and existing customers are opting to receive FaithGuard benefits, which come at no extra cost. One of the first FaithGuard claims was submitted by Jim Goforth, senior pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Florissant, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. Pastor Goforth said his parents had been long time customers of GuideOne and he also chose the company for his insurance needs. Once FaithGuard was launched, Goforth was one of the first to get the special policy. When his car was hit in a church parking lot in the spring of last year, his deductible was waived as part of the policy terms.

“When I signed up for FaithGuard, I was impressed with the benefits but never dreamed I would need them right away,” he said. “After the accident, I submitted the claim and GuideOne took care of everything as promised, no hoops to jump through, no hassles.”

“The popularity of FaithGuard is proving that Americans who attend church regularly also are in the market for insurance that understands their beliefs and needs,” said Jim Wallace, president and CEO of GuideOne Insurance. “As a company that insures more than 43,000 churches, FaithGuard was developed as a natural extension of our business to offer coverage for the more than 90 million people who attend church regularly.”

FaithGuard provides the following automobile insurance benefits. Waiving the deductible if your auto is involved in an accident while driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity. Church tithing or donations, up to $750, are covered if you suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by any accident in your insured auto. Medical payments are doubled if your auto is involved in an accident while you’re driving non-family members directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity. FaithGuard also pays for any existing auto loan payments on your covered auto, up to $3,000, if you suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident in your auto while you’re driving directly to or from a church service or other scheduled worship or religious activity. A memorial gift of $1,000 will be made to your church if your auto is involved in any car accident that results in your death, or in the death of an immediate household family member.

FaithGuard’s homeowners insurance policies include the following special benefits. A five percent discount is available to non-smokers. Your insurance deductible is waived if there is a loss to your personal property while it is in the possession of your church. Church tithing or donations, up to $750, will be paid if you suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by any accident at your residence. Medical payments for an injury will be doubled if you host an activity at your home on behalf of your church and an attendee is injured during the activity. Your mortgage payments will be made, up to $7,500, if you suffer a loss of income from a disability caused by an accident at your residence.

GuideOne’s FaithGuard policies are available in 19 states, including Ala., Colo., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ken., Minn., Miss., Mo., Neb., Ohio, Okla., Ore., Tenn., Wash., and Wis.

GuideOne markets its personal lines products and services through its career agents and select independent agents located in those states. Some coverages or discounts not available in all states.

Source: GuideOne Insurance