Does Home Insurance Cover Your Pool?

Pools are great fun, and having a pool can increase the value of your home. But with the added risks of owning a pool, many homeowners think they should purchase separate "pool insurance." But don't worry--there's really no such thing as a separate pool insurance policy. As long as you have home insurance, your pool and any accidents that happen around it are covered.

What Is Pool Insurance?

"Pool insurance" is basically liability coverage through your home insurance policy. If someone is injured in or around your pool, the liability portion of your home insurance will cover the costs of that person's medical care (but not yours or your family's). Pool insurance liability protection also covers you against lawsuits. Most home insurance polices include $100,000 worth of liability, but if you are looking for better pool insurance, the Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends increasing your liability coverage to $300,000 or $500,000 because of the high risk involved in owning a pool. And believe it or not, if someone uses your pool without your permission and gets injured, you can still be held responsible for corresponding liability.

Basic Safety Measures Save Lives

Every year in the U.S. roughly 43,000 people are injured in and around pools, and nearly 300 people drown. That's why it's important to always think safety when around the pool. Here are few tips:

• Never leave children unsupervised, even for a few seconds.
• Put fencing around the pool area to keep people from using the pool without your knowledge.
• Keep children away from pool filters.
• Make sure everyone knows how to swim. Learners should stay with a good swimmer.
• Don't swim alone.
• Keep electrical devices away from the pool or any wet surfaces.
• Don't let anyone who has been drinking alcohol use the pool.
• Stay out of the pool during rain or lightning storms.
• Never dive into an above-ground pool or the shallow end of an in-ground pool.
• Don't swim if you're tired or have just finished eating.

Pool Type Determines Pool Insurance Rate

When shopping for pool insurance through a home insurance policy, understand that not all pools cost the same to insure. Insurance companies take into consideration whether the pool is in-ground or above-ground, if there are any slides or diving boards, and if the pool has safety features such as a fence or locking gate. They will also consider the location of the pool—if it is visible from the front of your home, for example.

Compare Home Insurance Rates to Save on Pool Insurance

Home insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars between carriers, and charges for pool insurance liability protection can also differ dramatically from company to company. Protect your finances and enjoy the pool by comparing multiple home insurance quotes at InsWeb.com.