Bart Watson
- Farm Bureau Insurance Agent since 2007
- Graduated from Tusculum College with B.S. in Organizational Business and Management
- Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow
- Local Involvement: Loudon County Young Farmers and Ranchers coordinator, United States team roping championship member
- Farm Bureau Insurance Recognitions: Honor Council, Winners Circle, Round Table, and All Star
You may access your account online for payment and billing information. Also, you may contact your local Farm Bureau office or call our Customer Service Center at 1-877-876-2222.
No. Contact your local Farm Bureau office when your young driver gets an intermediate license.
You can pay online, over the phone at 1-877-876-2222, or in person at your local Farm Bureau office. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards.
Policies cannot be reinstated online. Give our Customer Service Center a call at 1-877-876-2222 or contact your local Farm Bureau office for reinstatement options.
You can use your Visa, MasterCard or Discover card anytime. Follow this link to pay online, or if you prefer, call 1-877-876-2222 to pay through our automated telephone system.
In addition, you can pay your premiums automatically each month by electronic funds transfer from your checking or savings account. If you are interested in this option, a customer service representative at your local Farm Bureau office will be glad to help you.
We will mail you a Final Notice or Notice of Cancellation letter that tells you the last date you can pay your premium and have no lapse in coverage.
You may download a card from your account. You may also request one by email using our contact page.
You and your spouse, if a resident of the same household, have coverage extended to an auto you rent on a trip or vacation. Coverage applies only to accident or losses that occur in the United States of America, its territories and possessions, or in Canada. The auto you rent will have the broadest coverage provided for any auto listed on the declaration. When completing the rental agreement, it is very important you list all the individuals that will drive the auto.
Note: Motorcycles, trucks larger than one-ton, and vans with a seating capacity greater than nine passengers are not automatically covered unless a like-kind vehicle is already listed on the declaration.
If the auto you have traded for is titled in your name, the auto you traded for will have the same coverage as the one you traded. Your spouse is covered as well if his or her name is on the title and you both live in the same household.
Be sure to ask us to cover it within 30 days after you acquire ownership.
If the replacement auto is not otherwise afforded comprehensive and/or collision by this policy, and you have comprehensive and/or collision coverage on another auto insured by us, the replacement auto will be extended comprehensive and/or collision coverage for five days after you acquire ownership of the replacement auto. Any comprehensive or collision coverage provided by this situation is subject to a deductible of $500.
You have the sole responsibility to contact us about this. No one else, car dealers or drivers on your policy included, can do this for you. You may also make this auto change online.
NOTE: Motorcycles, trucks larger than one-ton, trailers and vans with a seating capacity greater than nine passengers are not automatically covered unless a like-kind vehicle is already listed on the declaration.
If the additional auto is titled in your name, or your spouse's name if he or she is a resident of the same household, the additional auto will have the broadest coverage for any auto listed on your policy, provided:
• We insure all other autos which you own on the date you acquire ownership
And
• You ask us to insure it within 30 days.
If a family member who is a listed driver acquires ownership of an auto during the policy period, the broadest coverage we provide under this policy will be extended to the newly acquired auto. If coverage is extended in this situation, it will apply for five days after acquisition of ownership of the auto by the family member that is listed in the policy. Any comprehensive or collision coverage provided in this situation is subject to a deductible of $500.
You have the sole responsibility to contact us and this responsibility cannot be delegated or assumed by another person such as car dealership personnel. You may also make this auto change in your account online.
Note: Motorcycles, trucks larger than one-ton, trailers, and vans with a seating capacity greater than nine passengers are not automatically covered unless a like-kind vehicle is already listed on the declaration.
If the insured acquires ownership of a trailer during the policy period and asks TFIC to insure it within 30 days, the trailer has the same coverage as any other trailer listed on the declaration.
If the insured acquires ownership of a trailer during the policy period, asks TFIC to insure it within 30 days, and no other coverage is applicable, the trailer is extended comprehensive and collision subject to a $200 deductible.
Immediately notify the local law enforcement agency in the area where the accident, theft or vandalism occurred to report the incident.
Our claims representatives will gladly assist with claims when coverage is provided by Tennessee Farmers Insurance Company. However, if we do not provide coverage and have no right of subrogation, our claims representatives are unable to contact the other company on your behalf.
It is always best to await instructions from the responding authority, but in cases where there are no injuries and only minor property damage, it may be safer to move your vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway while waiting for the authorities to arrive.
Tennessee law says if you are involved in a minor traffic accident on a Tennessee interstate or divided highway, you should move your vehicle off the road as soon as possible.
Signs along urban interstates urge motorists to move their vehicles if they are involved in fender benders. This provision of Tennessee law applies only to accidents that occur on a divided, controlled access or interstate highway.
To get a duplicate copy of your policy, click on Contact Us or send a written request to Farm Bureau Insurance, P. O. Box 307, Columbia, TN 38402. A duplicate policy will be mailed to you within a few business days.
If for any reason your mailing address has changed, please provide your current or temporary mailing address.
To find out if your policy is still in force, please access your account online. Also, you may message us using the Contact Us form on our website. You can contact your local Farm Bureau office or call our Customer Service Center at 1-877-876-2222.
You may file a claim directly with our Customer Service Center at 1-877-876-2222. The hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (CST). Saturday hours are from 8 a.m.-Noon (CST). Holiday hours may differ.
You may also file a claim at your local Farm Bureau office.
Additionally, you may file a claim online.
Please be prepared to tell us the cause and date of the loss. All theft and vandalism losses must be reported to the police.
Since moving may affect your coverage, contact an agent at a local office to make the necessary changes on your policy (or policies). Click here to find an office near your new address.
You may request cancellation of your policy by clicking on Contact Us. Your request should include the effective date of the cancellation and the reason you are requesting cancellation. If you have moved, we will need your new mailing address for any premium refund due you.
You may also contact your local Farm Bureau Insurance agent to sign a cancellation request.
Farm Bureau Insurance is a benefit of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, a membership organization. Dues are $25 a year, and all residents of Tennessee are eligible.
You can pay:
- Annually by bill
- Quarterly by bill for annual policy premiums $200 and up
- Monthly by checking account transfer for annual policy premiums $60 and up
We take Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards. You can pay online at your fbitn.com account or by phone at 1-877-876-2222.
Here are a few ways to find out:
- Use the Contact Us form
- Ask your local Farm Bureau Insurance agent
- Call our Customer Service Center at 1-877-876-2222
Though we do not offer flood and earthquake insurance, your agent can help you find those kinds of coverage through our brokerage program.
Before you turn in a formal application for property insurance, an agent will stop by to inspect and take pictures of your home. The agent will check things like the condition of the home, the kinds of material your home is made out of, and potential hazards. We do this to make sure you have the right kind of policy for your property.
Please use the Contact Us form. Include the effective date of the cancellation, the reason you are requesting cancellation, and your policy number. If you have moved, we will need your new mailing address for any premium refunds. If your mortgage company paid the premium from an escrow account, any premium refund will be sent to the mortgage company for disbursement.
You may also contact your local Farm Bureau agent to sign a cancellation request.
Since moving may affect your coverages, contact the Farm Bureau Insurance agent at the local office closest to your new home to make any changes. To find your new agent’s office, click here.
Final expenses refers to things such as final medical and hospital costs and funeral expenses. The average funeral in America today costs about $7,500.
In most cases, the answer is “yes.” We don’t depend on our children financially, but should the unthinkable happen, we will suffer financially. Funeral costs can be anywhere from $7,500 and up depending on the arrangements. If you don’t have the ability to pay for that cost out of pocket, life insurance is an affordable alternative.
Life insurance on a child is very inexpensive, and it will be a great gift for them to have later on in life.
You will want to have money set aside for your family to cover major home repairs, auto repairs and medical emergencies. Half of your annual income should cover these emergencies.
No. There are a lot of great benefits to being a Farm Bureau member, but you are not required to have a membership with us to own a life insurance policy.
You will want to consider more money for this category if you have special needs children, aging parents that are dependent on you, or other important, special needs.
Yes, your coverage will follow you wherever you go.
Farm Bureau Insurance is one of the largest writers of individual life insurance in the state of Tennessee. We offer competitive rates and have a strong reputation. We have more agents in more communities in Tennessee than any other company. Our financial condition is rated A+ Superior by A.M. Best, the largest company devoted to rating insurance companies, and we have a very conservative approach to managing the company.
With this philosophy in mind, you can rest assured that the trust you put in us will result in Farm Bureau Insurance always being there when you need us.
This free feature lets you receive part of your death benefit if you are diagnosed as being terminally ill, as defined in the policy. The funds can be used anyway you choose.
Just contact your Farm Bureau agent and he or she can help you with your purchase. If you don’t have an agent, please use our “Friendly Agent” tool on the right side of this page.
Term life insurance is temporary and is purchased for a set length of time, a term. We offer policies lasting one, 10, 20 or 30 years. Term life insurance is a way to get the most amount of coverage for the lowest cost. It has a low initial premium and the cost stays level for a specified period of time.
Term insurance is most often used to take care of temporary needs like replacing your lost income or paying off the mortgage. The main drawback to term insurance is that after the specified term, the cost will increase.
The good news is that all of our term products can be converted to permanent insurance. Depending on your age, you may not have to complete any medical exams or answer any health questions to convert to a permanent plan.
Whole life insurance is meant to last your whole lifetime, as long as you keep paying the premium, and it increases in cash value as time passes. The amount of the premium stays the same, and policies guarantee a set death benefit. The policies’ cash value accounts can grow each year and are tax deferred. The cash value can even be borrowed against to help with emergencies or when times get tough.
Another valuable feature of whole life insurance is the opportunity to receive policy dividends.* Dividends can be used to increase your death benefit, increase your cash value, or even help reduce your premium. We can proudly say that we have paid a dividend every year since the company’s inception.
*Not all whole life policies pay dividends and dividends are not guaranteed.
Cash value is a build up of money inside a whole life or universal life insurance policy. The cash value earns interest and is tax deferred. You can get at the money in the cash value account through policy loans or surrenders.
However, surrendering the cash value or taking a loan on it may reduce the value of your policy, cause your premiums to increase or result in policy cancellation. The cash value account is not a savings account, but it can be a useful way to get funds in the event of an emergency.
A dividend is a benefit that may be paid to a client who has a whole life policy. The amount of the dividend is based on the profitability of the company.
There are several dividend options a client can choose. Dividends can be used to increase the death benefit, accumulate interest or even reduce premiums. We can proudly say that we have paid a dividend every year since the company’s inception. Not all whole life policies pay dividends, and dividends are not guaranteed.
You need life insurance if anyone will suffer a financial hardship caused by your death. Our ability to earn an income is what makes us so valuable. If that income stops, your family will suffer. Life insurance can be used to meet your family’s future needs by replacing your income.
Many people will also use life insurance for specific needs such as making sure the mortgage is paid off and leaving the family with a debt-free home. Other people use life insurance as means to pay for burial expenses. It is safe to say that sooner or later we are all going to die; it is our responsibility to prepare for that day so our family won’t suffer financially as well as emotionally.
Dividend options are basically how you choose to use the dividend the company has issued on a whole life policy. The following options are available:
- Paid-up additions: The dividend is used to increase the death benefit
- Accumulate at interest: The dividends are put into a side account within the policy and earn interest
- Reduce premiums: The dividend can be applied to any premiums that are due
- Dividends paid in cash: The dividend is paid directly to the owner of the policy
Employer group life insurance is great as supplemental coverage, but ask yourself this: What happens to my employer coverage when I retire, change jobs, or get laid off? Group coverage is only good when you are part of the group. We have all heard the saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Make sure you have planned ahead and bought individual life insurance so no matter what happens, your family will be protected.
Universal life is a flexible form of insurance that can last your lifetime and can also increase in cash value over time. Flexibility means that you can change different aspects of the policy – the size of the premiums, whether the death benefit increases with time or stays level – which allows you to change your coverage as your needs change.
Another important feature of universal life is that it can also build up cash value as your premiums are paid. The cash value account earns interest and is tax deferred. With so many products and coverage options, universal life insurance is easily included in budgets of any size.
There are different ways to calculate how much life insurance you need. Below are the major concerns that most experts agree should be used to determine your need for life insurance.
Our needs analysis calculator is a great way to determine how much coverage you need.
It depends on your age, the amount of coverage, and the type of policy. If you do need a physical, we will work around your schedule to make sure it’s as easy as possible for you. We will pay for the cost of the physical and we will even have someone come to you. Our examiners can come to your home or office. This makes having the examination quick and convenient.
What will your family need to enable them to maintain the same standard of living if you should die in the prime of life? Income needs are usually greatest when you have young children. Most experts agree that you will need 5 to 10 times your annual income to replace your income if you die.
The benefit can be paid in several ways. For many, there is an immediate need for the entire lump sum to pay for medical expenses and funeral costs. After the loss of loved ones emotions are high, and many beneficiaries choose to avoid making such important decisions in haste. If instructed, Farm Bureau Insurance will allow you to withdraw as much of the death benefit as you wish and leave the remaining balance with the company earning interest, with the understanding that you can withdraw the remaining money at anytime. The money sits in the account and earns interest until you take it out.
The death benefit can also be put into an annuity (see Annuities and Retirement) to create an income for the beneficiary’s lifetime or for a specific period of time.
Money will be needed to pay off your mortgage. If you rent, you will want to think about putting money aside for a “rent fund.”
Yes, in most cases. Most of our clients choose a “revocable” beneficiary that can be changed by the owner at anytime. There are some situations where the owner chooses an “irrevocable beneficiary.” In this case, the beneficiary would have to approve the change along with the owner of the policy.
If you have a car loan, home improvement loan, credit card balances, etc., these will need to be considered when deciding how much life insurance you need.
Upon the death of an insured person, a Farm Bureau Insurance office should be contacted and told the name of the insured, the date and cause of death, and the name, address, and telephone number of the person who should be contacted. Information on how to file a death claim is then sent to that person.
Educating children can be very expensive. The average cost of tuition for a four-year, in-state public university is about $3,000 and $17,000 for a private university. Current cost for room and board is about $5,000 per year. Books and other fees should be included as well. You will want to consider this for all children.
The answer is “yes.” Even though your spouse may not earn an income, you will suffer financial hardship if your spouse dies. The classic example is the stay-at-home mom. Have you ever thought about what it would cost to hire someone to do all the things mom does on a daily basis? A number of studies suggest it would cost more than $100,000 a year. Just think about the cost of daycare and housekeeping alone.
