If you have children in the house and some open space in your backyard, perhaps the thought of getting a trampoline has crossed your mind. After all, a trampoline can provide hours of entertainment, not to mention good cardiovascular activity. But trampolines are widely considered dangerous; so much so, in fact, that owning or planning to purchase one can affect your homeowners insurance coverage.
Although there may be a few exceptions, insurance companies generally exclude trampolines from homeowners policy coverage due to their inherently dangerous nature. To include one under your policy, you may need to purchase umbrella coverage which can cost an additional $150 to $300 per year.
When it comes to trampolines, there is no uniform rule among insurance companies regarding coverage in homeowners’ policies. Some carriers flat-out prohibit trampolines while others will cover them as long as certain requirements are satisfied by the policyholder. Wondering which of these scenarios will apply to you and whether a trampoline will raise your insurance costs? Keep reading to find out.
Do You Have To Add a Trampoline to Insurance?
Purchasing a trampoline may seem like a personal decision that is no one else’s business but your own. But a trampoline is the type of apparatus that your insurance company will want to know about, and quite possibly, may have the final say in whether it stays or goes.
What it all boils down to are the risks posed by a trampoline to members of your family, your guests, and your neighbors, and the potential exposure to liability for injuries and damages. A potential payout could amount to tens of thousands of dollars, and possibly more, to pay for medical or repair bills.
Without insurance to cover these costs, you could face financial ruin and this is why you should add a trampoline to your homeowners policy. Here is a closer look at the types of risks posed by trampolines.
Here’s a link to the ORCC Trampoline We Have and recommend on Amazon as well as the highly recommended Trampoline Anchor Kit to help protect your trampoline.
Risk of Physical Injury
First, there is the all-too-real risk of injury. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, trampolines are responsible for thousands of injuries (source: aap.com) each year, and many of them are serious enough to require hospitalization. The types of physical trauma suffered in trampoline mishaps include:
- Fractures and dislocations resulting from collisions occurring on trampolines between multiple users (typically the smaller person is the one suffering the injuries)
- Injuries to lower extremities, including ankle sprains, fractures, and dislocations, resulting from falls or high-velocity impacts with the trampoline frame or the ground
- Head, neck, and spinal injuries, typically resulting from failed flips or somersaults
- Chest trauma, including rib and sternal fractures
- In rare instances, severe neurological damage, or even death, can result from trampoline accidents
If a neighbor or your child’s friend gets injured in a trampoline you own, you could be financially responsible, and this creates enormous exposure for the insurance company handling your homeowners policy.
Further complicating the matter is the fact that a trampoline is considered an attractive nuisance, meaning that curious children may be drawn to one and possibly be put in harm’s way because they are not able to comprehend the danger themselves. As the owner of the apparatus, you may be responsible for any injuries that occur on your trampoline, even if a child plays on it without your permission.
Risk of Property Damage
Another risk posed by a trampoline is the damage it can inflict on surrounding properties. Because of its large surface area, a trampoline can be picked up by high winds and flung with great velocity over a great distance.
Are you skeptical about trampolines being picked up and blown away? This video should remove all doubt.
The impact of a flying trampoline can cause tremendous damage to a neighbor’s house or property and result in significant liability, which is another reason your insurance company will want to know if you are planning to purchase a trampoline or already have one in your backyard.
How Much Does a Trampoline Raise Your Home Insurance?
Insurance companies differ in the way they view trampolines. While many carriers frown upon them due to their high liability exposure, others take a softer stance.
An insurance company will take one of the following stances toward a trampoline (source: bankrate.com)
- Most insurance companies exclude trampolines from the homeowners policies they issue due to the high risk for liability they pose, meaning that you would be solely responsible for the consequences of owning one
- A few carriers may include a trampoline in your homeowners policy without limitations and cover you for personal injury or property damage (in other words, without exclusions)
- Some insurance companies will cover a trampoline provided that you take certain proactive measures to prevent unauthorized use of the apparatus (such as installing fencing around it) and damage to neighboring properties by anchoring it securely to the ground
As far as the cost involved in owning a trampoline from an insurance standpoint, you can expect to pay higher premiums for such coverage because of the higher exposure that your insurance company will face. Amounts will vary from one carrier to another.
Your insurance agent may also advise that you add another layer of protection in the form of an umbrella policy that will boost the amount of coverage available in the event of personal injury or property damage arising from your trampoline.
Umbrella policy limits vary, but for $1 million in coverage, you can expect to pay an additional $150 to $300 per year.
Does Geico Homeowners Insurance Cover Trampolines?
One of the nation’s largest insurers is Geico. While it is better known for auto insurance, Geico offers homeowners insurance through a network of carrier-partners.
With respect to trampolines, Geico’s home policy will cover a trampoline (source: agilerates.com) provided that you:
- (1) completely fence it off to prevent unauthorized use and
- (2) enclose it with safety netting.
Here’s a link to the ORCC Trampoline We Have and recommend on Amazon as well as the highly recommended Trampoline Anchor Kit to help protect your trampoline.
Final Thoughts
Whether due to injuries potentially occurring on it or the danger it represents if it becomes airborne in inclement weather, a trampoline is considered hazardous to own.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to work with your insurance company to make sure that a trampoline will be covered by your homeowners policy, and for additional peace of mind, you may want to consider purchasing an umbrella policy.