Your Insurance Is Only as Good as Your Agent

They say you can save 15% in 15 minutes. It’s a catchy slogan. It fits nicely on a billboard or a YouTube ad.

But here is the question those ads never answer: When your basement floods at 2:00 AM on a freezing Tuesday in February, who are you going to call?

If you bought a policy based solely on speed and price, you are likely calling a 1-800 number. You’ll talk to a call center representative in a different time zone who doesn't know you, doesn't know Gahanna, and honestly, just wants to get off the phone.

At Lew Griffin Insurance, we believe that an insurance policy is just a piece of paper. Its real value is determined by the human standing behind it.

Here is why your agent matters more than the policy itself.

The "Fast Quote" Trap

We live in an Amazon Prime world. We want everything instant. But treating your livelihood, your home, and your car like a commodity is a dangerous game.

When you buy direct from a carrier online, you are often acting as your own insurance agent. The algorithm recommends coverage based on what is cheapest to get you to buy, not what actually protects you.

• The Risk: You might click "decline" on Water Backup Coverage to save $20 a year, not realizing that in Central Ohio, sump pump failure is one of the most common claims we see.
• The Result: When the basement floods, the 1-800 number tells you you’re not covered. You saved $20, but now you’re out $20,000.

An expert agent asks the questions an algorithm won’t. We look for the holes in your coverage before an accident happens.

The "Captive" vs. "Independent" Difference

Most people don't know there are two types of agents:

1. Captive Agents: They work for one big company (think State Farm or Allstate). They can only sell you that one company's products. If their rates go up, their hands are tied.
2. Independent Agents (That’s us): We don't work for a designated insurance company; we work for you.

We represent over 40 different carriers. That is our superpower.

When your renewal comes up, if Carrier A jacks up your rates without a good reason, a captive agent has to apologize and ask you to pay it. An independent agent simply fires Carrier A and moves you to Carrier B—often with better coverage for the same price. You don't have to lift a finger.

Advocacy: The "Un-Googleable" Benefit

This is the part you can’t put a price tag on.

Insurance companies are businesses. They have adjusters whose job is to manage claims costs. Sometimes, claims get denied that should be paid. Sometimes, the payout offered isn't enough to fix your car properly.

If you are with a direct carrier, it’s You vs. The Corporation. Good luck.

If you are with Lew Griffin, it’s Us vs. The Corporation.

We know the language they speak. We know the claims adjusters. We know the difference between "replacement cost" and "actual cash value," and we will fight to make sure you get what you are owed. We have advocated for thousands of Gahanna and Columbus families to get claims overturned or expedited.

Local Roots Matter

I started this agency years ago on a bet with my dad. I bet him I could make it work on my own. That competitive spirit and drive to prove myself is still in the DNA of this agency.

We aren't a faceless entity. We are on Mill Street. We drive the same roads you do (and dodge the same potholes). We know the specific risks of living in Central Ohio.

Who Is In Your Corner?

You can buy a policy anywhere. But you can't buy an advocate everywhere.

Don't wait until you are standing in the wreckage of a car accident or a flooded living room to find out if your insurance agent is any good.

Let’s review your coverage today. Even if you don’t switch to us, we’ll tell you the truth about your current policy.

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Contact Lew Griffin Insurance