Frequently Asked Questions


Zander Identity Theft Solutions

I’ve never set up my online account. What do I do?

If you know your membership number, visit the login page enter it on the left side of the page. Our system will walk you through the process of creating a user ID and password and setting up your online account. If you don’t know your membership number, call us at 888-210-3274.

I’m having trouble logging into my online account.

If you know your user ID, you can reset your password. If you don’t know your user ID, call us at 888-210-3274.

I would like to switch from an individual plan to a family plan, or from a family plan to an individual plan.

This is a quick process, but it does require phone verification. Please call us at 888-210-3274.

I would like to update my billing or personal information.

To update billing or personal information, log into your online account then click the My Account link in the top-right corner. From there, click Edit Billing Info to update your card on file, change its expiration date, or switch to a different billing method. To update personal details such as mailing address, email address, or phone number, click Edit Personal Info.

I recently saw an ad that talked about home title fraud. Is that identity theft, and does Zander’s plan cover that?

Yes, and yes! When we say we cover all types of identity theft, we really mean all types, and that includes home title fraud.

Life Insurance

Am I guaranteed to receive the price quoted?

Not necessarily; each company has certain guidelines you must meet to qualify for the rate class at which you were quoted. The guidelines are similar with most companies, but each company has underwriting niches that may allow more flexibility in the approval. The areas reviewed by the insurance company include, but aren’t limited to, medical history, height, weight, cholesterol, driving record, family medical history, hazardous sports/activities, etc. We provide the most accurate quote possible based on the personal details you provide. If you do not receive the same rate you were quoted, you will be provided with an explanation regarding what factors changed the outcome, and additional options can be discussed, if applicable.  You may accept or decline it the offer, and there is no cost to you should you decide not to take the policy offered.

Is a medical exam required?

A basic paramedical exam is required for most term life products, though there are some that do not based on the applicant’s age and the amount for which they apply. The exam is simple and takes approximately 15-20 minutes. The examiner will obtain a blood and urine specimen, take your blood pressure and ask questions concerning your medical history. Examiners are not licensed insurance agents and are unable to assist with questions regarding your application. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

How much coverage do I need?

A good rule of thumb for the amount of coverage you need is ten to twelve times your income, though you could need less depending on your personal financial situation. Paying off your debts and increasing your savings can reduce the amount of insurance your family needs. Run a few numbers through our term life insurance calculator to get an idea of how much may be appropriate for you.

What is the difference between whole and term life?

Dave Ramsey recommends term life insurance, and that is the only type we sell. The difference between these two options is centered around the fact that whole life insurance covers you for your whole life (hence the name) and term life covers you for a specific amount of time. That allows you to get more coverage for a far lower cost by choosing a term policy. Learn more about the differences between whole and term life insurance.

How long does the application process take?

The average underwriting timeframe is 4 to 6 weeks from the time we receive your signed application. It can take longer if your medical exam is delayed or if medical records must be ordered from your doctor. Let us know of any specific time limitations, and never cancel your existing policy until your new one is active.

Disability Insurance

What is long-term disability

Long-term disability insurance supplements a percentage of your income if you are unable to do your job due to an illness or injury, whether that injury occurred on or off the job site.

What does Dave recommend?

Dave recommends a policy that replaces 60-65% of your income, a benefit period that lasts to age 65, and a 90 or 180-day elimination period. If you’re following Dave’s baby steps, you should utilize your emergency fund to get you through the first 3-6 months of the elimination period.

What are benefit/elimination periods?

A benefit period is the length of time during which you can receive a benefit should you become disabled and unable to return to work. The elimination period is the number of consecutive days you would have to be disabled before you are able to receive those benefits.

What is the Supplemental Disability Income Rider (SDIR)?

The SDIR will provide you maximum benefits for minimal cost. The rider will offset dollar for dollar with any social insurance or compensation benefits you receive.

What types of riders are recommended?

Don’t fall for policy riders that increase your premium, but give you little value in return – many agents push these, as it increases the commission they receive. Most of these have an emotional value attached to them, but offer very little benefit. Overspending for a “Cadillac” type plan at the detriment of other financial goals is not recommended. It is a mistake to over-insure this risk instead of focusing on other types of core insurance plans such as term life, health insurance, etc. and your efforts to pay down debt and grow your savings.

Home and Auto Insurance

How can I access my account information?

Zander Insurance Group clients can now access auto and home insurance account information on most mobile devices with the Zander Insurance app. Account access is available to business customers for commercial lines coverage as well. Among several other options, policyholders can:

  • Instantly download and view auto insurance ID cards
  • Report a claim (desktop only)
  • Request policy changes to home and auto insurance policies
  • Contact an agency representative
  • Access detailed coverage information

Insurance Liability Limit Should I Carry?

Dave typically recommends a minimum of $100,000 of protection for all operators. Many states may require less than that, but the cost difference is very small between these lower amounts and the level Dave recommends, which offers greater protection. The thing to remember is that your greatest risk is the liability exposure when you or a family member are operating an automobile. Even with limited assets, your future earnings could be garnished from a lawsuit, making the cost of the higher liability limits worth the added protection.

Should I Carry Comprehensive and Collision on My Older Vehicle?

To determine whether to carry full coverage or liability only, consider the cost of the insurance (broken down by liability and physical damage) and whether or not you have money in your emergency fund to replace the vehicle if totaled, stolen, or damaged. Most of the time, the savings for dropping the comp/collision is fairly small, and Dave recommends keeping it in place if the car is crucial to your household income and you don’t have the money to replace it. Remember, carrying the appropriate level of liability insurance is the most important issue since your greatest risk to your personal assets is usually operating a vehicle.

How Do I Find the Best Rates on Auto Insurance?

An independent agent (like Zander) can help you find the most competitive rates on auto insurance. Independent agents are not bound to a specific company, allowing them to shop prices from multiple companies, which can pay off big time for you as a consumer.

At What Value Should I Insure My Home?

The thing to remember when determining the value at which you should purchase your homeowners insurance is that the replacement cost of your home and the appraised/market value are two different things and are not interchangeable. You also need to be careful since many companies no longer offer guaranteed replacement cost on their policies, meaning that if you are under-insured, you may not receive enough money to rebuild the damaged portion of the house if you experience a loss. The replacement cost is usually calculated on the per-square-foot building costs in your area, along with the specialty features of your home.

Are Umbrella Policies Necessary

When shopping for home insurance, you’ll likely be asked if you’d like to add on an umbrella policy. Whether or not this is necessary for you largely depends on the size of your personal assets and net worth – the greater your assets, the higher your risk. The value of your home is a good place to start in determining your coverage amount. Your community identity and profession can also play a factor in this decision. Physicians, for example, often carry higher limits since most people assume that they have more assets, and therefore more insurance – so suits against them tend to be filed at higher amounts. The cost for additional million-dollar layers are also less than the first layer, so the cost of higher limits are an even better value. For most people, a limit in the $1-3 million range would be more than enough unless they have accumulated significant wealth.