Why Lincoln Became One of America’s Life Insurance Towns

Posted on September 30, 2026September 25, 2026 by admin

Drive through downtown Lincoln and you’ll pass the headquarters of companies that have been writing life insurance for well over a century. For a mid-sized Plains city, Lincoln carries an outsized place in the industry’s history, and that story holds a few lessons that still matter to anyone buying a policy today.

A Quick Timeline

1887 Old Line Bankers Life Insurance Company of Nebraska is founded in Lincoln. It later becomes Ameritas.
Late 1800s and 1900s Other Lincoln-based insurers take root, including Woodmen Accident and Life.
2007 Several of those local companies combine to form Assurity, still headquartered in Lincoln.

A fun footnote: Lincoln Financial Group isn’t from here. That company takes its name from Abraham Lincoln and is based elsewhere entirely.

Three Lessons Worth Carrying Forward

1. “Old line” once meant something specific

In the early days, the term described companies that held legal reserves to back their promises, rather than relying on collecting assessments from members after a death. That idea, keeping money set aside so claims can be paid, is still the foundation of every sound policy.

2. Ownership structure is worth knowing

Both Ameritas and Assurity operate as mutual organizations, meaning they’re structured around policyholders rather than outside shareholders. Not every insurer works this way, and asking how a carrier is organized is a reasonable question.

3. Longevity and strength go hand in hand

A life policy may need to perform decades from now. Independent financial strength ratings help show which carriers are built for that kind of commitment.

Home and Farm Insurance helps families in Lincoln, Bennet, and across Nebraska compare carriers and find life insurance that fits their goals. To start the conversation, reach out through Home and Farm Insurance, proudly serving Lincoln, NE from our Bennet office.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Hail Damage? What Lincoln Drivers Should Know About Nebraska Storm Season

Posted on August 28, 2026August 14, 2026 by admin

Lincoln’s Hail Season Is Predictable, Even If the Storms Aren’t

About 70 percent of Nebraska’s hail events happen between May and July, with June alone accounting for nearly a third of the total. For Lincoln drivers, this means there’s a real window every year when a parked car is at meaningfully higher risk of hail damage, and it’s worth understanding how auto insurance actually responds when that happens.

Comprehensive Coverage Is What Handles Hail

Hail damage falls under comprehensive coverage, not collision coverage. Comprehensive addresses non-collision events like weather, theft, and falling objects, while collision coverage is built around accidents involving another vehicle or a fixed object. If your policy doesn’t include comprehensive coverage, hail damage to your vehicle typically isn’t covered at all.

What Hail Damage Actually Looks Like on a Claim

Dents across the hood, roof, and trunk from larger hailstones
Cracked or shattered windshields and windows
Damage to side mirrors and exterior trim
Paint chipping in severe hail events

Why Nebraska Sees More of These Claims Than Most States

Nebraska consistently ranks among the states with the highest hail-related vehicle claim costs nationally, alongside Texas and Colorado. Lincoln and the surrounding counties have a well-documented history of significant hail activity, including reports of golf ball-sized hail in recent years. This isn’t a rare occurrence here, it’s a predictable part of the spring and early summer forecast.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Is Hail Damaged

Document the damage with photos as soon as it’s safe to do so
Avoid driving if a windshield or window is cracked to the point of visibility concerns
Contact your insurance agency to begin the claims process
Ask about any deductible differences for comprehensive claims versus collision claims

A Few Steps Worth Taking Before Storm Season

Parking in a garage or under covered parking during hail watches, and keeping an eye on severe weather alerts throughout May and June, can help reduce exposure. That said, prevention only goes so far, which is exactly why confirming your comprehensive coverage is in place matters more here than in most parts of the country.

This connects to the same kind of risk-matching thinking we discussed in our recent post on why coverage should reflect actual risk, not just a general category, since Nebraska’s hail exposure is exactly the kind of regional risk that deserves specific attention rather than a one-size-fits-all policy.

Home and Farm Insurance in Lincoln, NE helps drivers confirm their comprehensive coverage is in place before hail season peaks. Visit Home and Farm Insurance today to review your policy.

Why General Liability Looks Different for a Feed Store Than It Does for an Office

Posted on July 31, 2026July 15, 2026 by admin

Not All Businesses Face the Same Kind of Risk

General liability insurance often gets talked about as though it works the same way for every business. In reality, the physical nature of a business’s operations plays a huge role in shaping its actual risk. Home and Farm Insurance in Lincoln, NE works with a wide range of local businesses, and one of the clearest examples of this difference shows up when comparing a feed store to a typical office.

A Feed Store Carries Physical, Hands-On Risk

A feed store deals with heavy bags of product, loading and unloading activity, forklifts or hand trucks, and customers moving through aisles stacked with inventory. These everyday tasks create real potential for slip and fall incidents, product-related injuries, or accidents involving equipment. The constant physical activity on the premises means liability exposure is tied closely to the store’s daily operations.

An Office Environment Looks Very Different

An office setting typically involves far less physical activity and fewer moving hazards. Liability exposure in this environment often centers around visitor slip and fall risks, general premises safety, or incidents involving professional services rather than physical handling of goods. The overall risk profile tends to be lower, but it isn’t absent entirely.

Why Location and Layout Matter

Loading docks and storage areas increase exposure for retail and supply businesses
Customer foot traffic patterns affect the likelihood of slip and fall incidents
Equipment use on-site changes the nature of potential claims
Outdoor storage or display areas introduce additional weather-related risk

Matching Coverage to the Business, Not the Industry Label

Two businesses in the same general industry can still carry different risk levels depending on how they operate day to day. A feed store with heavy foot traffic and constant loading activity needs coverage that reflects that reality, just as an office needs a policy suited to its own lower-activity environment. Home and Farm Insurance helps business owners across Lincoln, NE match their general liability coverage to how their business actually functions, not just its category. To learn more, visit our general liability insurance page.

Sewer Backup vs. Sump Pump Overflow: What’s the Difference and What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Posted on June 15, 2026June 1, 2026 by admin

Understanding Two Common Causes of Basement Water Damage

Basement water damage is one of the most stressful issues homeowners face, especially in areas like Lincoln where heavy rain and aging infrastructure can combine quickly. One of the most common points of confusion is the difference between sewer backup and sump pump overflow. Home and Farm Insurance in Lincoln, NE often helps homeowners sort through these scenarios after a loss, and understanding the distinction ahead of time can make a major difference.

Sewer Backup Explained

Sewer backup occurs when wastewater flows backward into a home through floor drains, toilets, or sinks. This is often caused by clogged municipal sewer lines, tree root intrusion, or overwhelmed systems during heavy rainfall. Standard homeowners insurance policies typically exclude sewer backup damage unless a specific endorsement is added. Because this type of loss can cause extensive contamination and structural damage, knowing whether your policy includes protection is critical.

Common signs of sewer backup include:

Water coming up through basement drains
Multiple plumbing fixtures backing up at once
Foul odors accompanying standing water

What Is a Sump Pump Overflow?

A sump pump overflow happens when the pump fails, loses power, or cannot keep up with incoming groundwater. In Lincoln homes with basements, sump pumps play a key role in managing groundwater during storms. Damage caused by a failed sump pump is also commonly excluded from standard home insurance unless additional coverage is in place.

Typical sump pump failure causes include:

Power outages during storms
Mechanical failure or poor maintenance
Overwhelming groundwater volume

How Home Insurance Responds to Each Situation

While both situations result in basement flooding, insurance treats them differently based on the source of the water. Sewer backup coverage and sump pump overflow coverage are often bundled under similar endorsements but are not automatically included. Reviewing these details with Home and Farm Insurance helps ensure there are no surprises when a claim is filed.

Why Policy Reviews Matter for Lincoln Homeowners

Homes in Lincoln, NE vary widely in age, plumbing systems, and drainage design, which directly impacts risk. Home and Farm Insurance in Lincoln, NE encourages homeowners to review their policies regularly and understand how water damage exclusions apply to their specific property. Proactive knowledge is often the difference between a covered claim and an uncovered loss.

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Author: admin