Special Insurance Riders for Valuable Items If you have items worth over $1,000, you need "floaters" to protect them.

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Home insurance covers your belongings from theft or loss, but there are limits on how much you can receive for individual items. Usually, the amount you can receive for any one item caps out around $1,000. This, of course, is before you factor in your deductible, so while your wedding ring may be covered, it might not be worth filing a claim if it's the only thing lost or stolen. The same goes for computers, stereo systems, pieces of art, and televisions.

If you have items that are worth significantly more than your coverage limits, it's important to purchase special "floaters" to make sure that they're totally covered from theft or loss.

Unless you're insuring something extremely valuable, these additions to your basic policy are typically inexpensive.

While wedding rings and pieces of art are some of the most common items people elect to purchase floaters for, you may have other items in your possession that are worth more than your basic policy insures them for. Bicycles, for example, are often worth several thousand dollars—more than their owners' cars on occasion. Fur coats and expensive antiques will need floaters as well.

You will have to verify the worth of these possessions by providing receipts or appraisals, but the trouble will be well worth it if you ever need to have any of them replaced. Talk to your insurance agent to double-check your coverage limits. Purchase all the floaters you need to make sure your belongings are adequately insured. Otherwise, you may be in for a rude awakening.