There’s a TON of choices out there for self-defense learning and insurance.
And like you…I wanted to make sure I had the best.
I feel it’s one of those things that when you really needed it…you want it to be the absolute best.
Well…I guess there’s my seal of approval (since 2017)!
Read on to learn more about why I chose USCCA’s membership for both its learning library and added personal insurance benefits* all members get.
2023 Update: I’m an Elite member (with a better camera now). And I added an in-depth review of almost their entire video library.
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Why Trust Us?
I’m Eric Hung, the founder of Pew Pew Tactical, and since 2023 a licensed insurance agent in 48 states (sorry NY and NJ).
I’ve written hundreds of articles about firearms, especially from the beginner’s point of view since that was me not too long ago.
I’m bringing that same mindset to this USCCA review with easy-to-understand aspects of their training and coverage.
What’s Included in a USCCA Membership?
There are currently three tiers of USCCA membership:
- Gold Membership: $29/month or $299/year (save $49)
- Platinum Membership: $39/month or $399 a year (save $69)
- Elite Membership: $49/month or $499 a year (save $89)
They differ in the amount of education and training content you’re able to access on the USCCA website.
Don’t worry…I’ll go over all the major points and differences between each tier.
Wait, What About “Concealed Carry Insurance?”
You probably know USCCA and other competitors for “concealed carry insurance” but it’s a common misnomer that stuck.
All USCCA members become insured on the self-defense liability insurance policy issued to the USCCA*.
And as of October 2021…there are no longer defense expense limits.
Here’s the rest of the good stuff.
Coverage Details
- Annual Liability Insurance Limit: $2,000,000 aggregate
- Defense Expense: No Limit
- Cost of Bail Expenses: $100,000 of funds. A $1,000,000 bond usually costs $100,000 or 10% of the total.
- Incidental Expenses: $20,000
- Actual Loss of Earnings: Up to $750 per day
If you want to learn more about the insurance part yourself see the full details here.
Next up I’m going to dive deep into are what other things you get with USCCA…and what membership tier to get for your end goal.
Free Pew Pew Tactical Handgun Course
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! Sorry had to do that…
If you sign up for any USCCA membership you’ll also get free access to my Beginner’s Handgun Course which is normally $67.
I’ll take you from total gun newbie to someone safe and competent with handgun fundamentals.
Here’s a clip of how to fix a “double-feed” malfunction.
Every 2 weeks or so, an automated system will send you a coupon to sign up for my course for free.
More USCCA Bonuses
Ok, there’s even more stuff now when you sign up. These offers change every month or so and I’ll do my best to keep on top of them.
But for September 2023 you’ll get a free OTIS universal gun cleaning kit. And if you sign up for Platinum or Elite membership you’ll also get a free survival kit.
You can see the latest bonuses by scrolling down on the main signup page.
Gold Membership Perks
Now…back to USCCA! What do you get with the beginning Gold tier?
Once you log onto the USCCA site…it’s a little overwhelming with all the stuff.
Protector Academy
But that Protector Academy…that’s the good stuff.
With the starting Gold tier…you get access to Level 1.
The Handgun Safety and Marksmanship beginning video series is a great primer for everything handgun.
It’s a series of front-facing discussion, top-down views, and pictures of important concepts.
I also like how in the course they really hammer in the firearm safety rules.
If that’s the only thing you walk away with…you’re still good.
Plus you’re able to play at up to 2x rates if you’re like me and have gotten used to it on YouTube and podcasts.
Next up is the Children’s Firearm Safety & Fundamentals series which is great for parents of young ones like myself.
It’s definitely more engaging than the first one since the instructors are a real life couple.
They covered some good things for me:
- developmental stages vs age for when to start teaching children
- teaching mentality and different views when it’s children
- great examples of modified activities for dry-firing
Last up for Level 1 is the Range Requirements that you can fill in yourself.
And which consists of 2-hours instruction with a trainer, and 50 rounds into a target at varying distances with a 70% hit rate.
Easy peasy if you’ve got the fundamentals down. And you should…with both my course AND USCCA’s course!
Pass it and you’ll get a nice patch in the mail.
What else do you get in Gold?
Situational Awareness
Another great video series with Tim (founder of USCCA) and Kevin, editor of Concealed Carry magazine (and full-time LEO).
Here they covered really useful (and actionable) info like how to choose the best seat in a restaurant, mentality for going to “sketchy” places, and more.
Highly recommend giving it a watch since the best defense is to never get into bad situations in the first place!
When to Use Deadly Force
Another good series that puts gun owners in hypothetical AND real situations…then answers their questions.
I found it good to think over situations, see how my actions differed from others, and then go over some FAQs for general situations.
- What are your own rights?
- How should you train?
- What do you teach your family?
Other Stuff
Discounts and free shipping at their store. Pretty decent but nothing to write home about.
You also get their magazine digitally + paper copy.
Here’s the latest copy for me which goes in-depth into a case where a member actually used the insurance for a murder charge.
BUT…one thing I almost forgot was their 365 day money back guarantee.
If you feel it wasn’t worth it, even if you soaked up all the info, just call them up and ask for a refund.
Gold Verdict
You are probably after the most cost effective option at this point …but the courses are decent and you have a very nice 365-day guarantee.
Check out the full details here.
Now…what about the next membership tier up?
Platinum Membership Perks
Again, you get access to the Self-Defense Liability Insurance* like the gold plebes…but you unlock a bunch more educational stuff.
My favorite is the Proving Ground. But first…more courses!
Level 2 Protector Academy
Boom! First up is a class with world-renown Rob Pincus that goes over defensive shooting concepts.
With a big emphasis on concepts.
It has a different player that’s a small video and Powerpoint slides.
It really felt that it was some content that was repurposed for the course.
Not saying it’s bad info…since it’s really good mindset stuff.
But it got a little boring.
However, you do get some good info that hopefully sticks with you. I personally liked the stats that 86% of defensive shooting events occur between 9 and 15 feet.
That gives you some good training setup insight.
However at the end of it all I wish there was some more holster stuff or things at the range. Rob goes over advanced stuff like lateral movement and in-contact shooting but kind of leaves it at discussion only.
With Level 2 you also get some fun quizzes (that you can’t skip). I don’t mind since safety is super important and should keep getting refreshed.
But some questions were too definition-based instead of application.
Next course is a medical one in the same player format that goes over some useful info if you’ve never taken a med class before.
Overall it’s good info on what you can do before real medical help arrives.
There’s stuff on assessment (scene safety, life threats, distracting injuries, etc).
And easy-to-remember acronyms like ABC (airway, breathing, circulation).
There’s quizzes again and also gets randomly complicated…
Then rounds it out with things like heart attacks, CPR, diabetes, and stroke. Before going into setting up your own med kits of different sizes.
Next up is the in-person range test which is more difficult now. However on par with concealed carry qualifications if your state requires those.
The Proving Ground
Ok…my favorite part of the Platinum tier.
It runs normal people through real-life scenarios. It’s entertaining and gets you thinking of “what would I do?“
Plus the break-downs at the end are super helpful.
There’s a bunch of them and you get access to them all.
Sometimes things get…hostage-y.
And sometimes people run…a lot.
I won’t give you any more spoilers…but it’s good content and makes the Platinum level worth it for me if they keep producing Proving Grounds.
Other Stuff
There’s small additional training that’s added every month and also a “Ask an Attorney” series. It’s ok but I didn’t watch too many of them.
Platinum Verdict
You still get all the Self-Defense Liability Insurance* benny’s and some more advanced classes. But it’s the Proving Ground that makes it worth the jump.
Since you CAN downgrade/upgrade…it might be worth it to start with Platinum, watch all the Proving Grounds…and then downgrade.
If that’s your thing.
Otherwise Platinum is a good middle-ground for more info. Check out details here.
And remember…you get my course no matter which tier you choose.
Now onto the Elite tier!
Elite Membership Perks
The highest tier…you get all the previous goodies AND even more courses.
Level 3 Protector Academy
We go through our fair share of survival on the site so I dove into the Emergency Preparedness Fundamentals first.
They do a good job of going through the basics starting with water…and actually deep dive into what purifiers to get for your specific purpose.
Don’t forget about fire! I like how the instructor was outside using specific firestarters. Much better b-roll for this course.
And of course food!
He then goes into home security with some good tips on how burglars get in and how to protect against that. Then ends with some firearms knowledge.
The next course is the Mass Shooter course…
There’s good stuff on why mass shootings are getting more prevalent but the above image was eye-opening info for me. With a much higher percentage of business shootings and a much lower percentage of houses of worship from what I thought.
Lastly, there’s the LaserTRAIN course which uses a SIRT laser pistol. I didn’t have high hopes for this one but it exceeded my expectations.
You can tell the instructor does this all day long and knows how to present information.
Especially good was how he broke down the main components of drawing from a holster.
Now…how about the Level 3 range test?
I haven’t had a chance to do it yet but it definitely ups the ante with both speed and precision portions at 3/5/7 yards with a much more challenging target.
Mastering Handgun Confidence
Done with Protector Academy? There’s three more standalone courses you get with Elite.
These get more in-depth than before.
You have Kevin again learning about the fundamentals of handguns…but also the caveats that separate a beginner from the more advanced.
One tidbit even I picked up from the trigger pull section was to think of pulling the trigger from the front sight through the rear sight.
This equalizes your internal focus onto both your fingers and your eyes whereas if you only focus on the front sight you skew your focus.
There’s also more advanced drills done at the range such as the wall drill, bullet hole rill, walk-back drill, and reset drill.
Overall a good “intermediate” handgun course.
Armed American
Tim is back with the emergency prep guy for this series which starts off with securing your home.
Before diving more into setting up your own personal protection plan with the color codes of awareness and awareness of your surroundings. Things we’ve gone over before but now it’s more in-depth.
They also get into gun laws and the financial aftermath of what happens in a defensive gun shoot. Plus detailing what exactly are “castle doctrine” and “stand your ground” with a lawyer.
Next up is a little section on choosing your gun (which I felt was a rehash) and then a good section on the 10 concealed carry mistakes you can make.
#7…not trying our your defensive ammo in your gun. I know it’s expensive but you have to make sure it works…and that you know the difference in recoil!
Last up for this series is gun store etiquette which is always great info for first-timers to lower some anxiety when looking and purchasing firearms.
Armed and Ready
Last up…this course seems to be from DVDs since they talk about disc numbers. On the surface it seems like another rehash but there were some good tidbits.
The “Hard Truths” lesson gets you a little riled up and in the protector mindset after utilizing some news footage of bad guys doing bad guy stuff.
Before getting into guns (again) and holsters (yay).
They dive into all the malfunctions with actual on-the-range footage.
As well as some advanced stuff like movement and cover. Finally.
Then they end it with some pre-threat indicators since the best thing is avoidance…as well as some home staging.
Last up is what exactly is “deadly force” and what happens after a defensive gun use (lawyers, cops, phone call, and family plan).
It’s good to think of it now before something bad happens!
Other Stuff
I just about covered it all!
And yes…you still also get the self-defense liability insurance that comes with any USCCA plan. See details here.
Elite Membership Verdict
Some just want it all and you get it with the Elite Membership.
The additional Level 3 Protector Academy courses are quite good…as well as the three additional standalone courses that get much more in-depth.
I’ll report back with what new stuff is added each month.
But my advice is the same as the Platinum…
Since you can upgrade or downgrade I would soak up the info…see if it’s worth the new stuff each month and then downgrade. You’ll still have your insurance regardless of what plan.
Conclusion
It took a lot of words and video watching to get here…
But if you’re only looking for “concealed carry insurance”…know that you get personal insurance* solely by being a USCCA member even at Gold tier. Details here. Remember I’m not an insurance agent…
But for those who are looking for that AND education…it’s a question of how much you want to learn.
I would get the Platinum tier to start so I have access to Proving Ground and Level 2 Protector Academy.
But if you really like to learn everything you can’t go wrong with Elite.
You can upgrade/downgrade as you wish and there’s a 365 day money-back guarantee.
PLUS…you get access to my Beginner Handgun Course ($67 value) with any tier. I get emails of signups from USCCA and then auto-send coupon codes every 2-3 weeks so please have patience!
The Fine Print
*The USCCA is not an insurance company. A policy has been issued to the USCCA. That policy provides the association and its members with self-defense liability insurance, subject to its terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions. I also have a working relationship with Delta Defense & the USCCA. CA #4272012.
220 Leave a Reply
One of the things that ran me away from USCCA was the avalanche of ads that continually appeared on my screen. I went with CCW Safe, after doing my research. And I'm glad I did - their coverage has improved.
Yeah i cancelled USCCA and here's why. Gotta read the fine print boys and girls.
#1 if a DA charges you with a gun crime and it's a criminal charge not a civil one (pretty much all gun crimes for the most part are criminal) USCCA WILL NOT COVER you under their insurance PERIOD, no if's ands or buts, even if your innocent. NOPE. You don't think the local crazy DA's don't know the insurance policies of USCCA. They can charge you criminally for anything. Doesn't mean it will stick but it just means you get bankrupted because you can't use USCCA insurance because of a "clause" they slipped into their insurance paper work recently.
#2 if you are found guilty of a non-criminal act (the only thing their lousy insurance covers) YOU are REQUIRED to pay USCCA back in FULL, 100% for all legal expenses incurred. So again what's the point of this garbage insurance? I concur with what Joe said below. He is correct.
#3 If you utilize USCCA insurance to pay for your attorney's fee. USCCA dictates how you interact with the attorney, how much time you are allowed to spend with them, what conversations are allowed to happen, etc. Clearly violates client attorney confidentiality, but USCCA doesn't care.
Like I said. Just like the NRA, the USCCA takes your money and doesn't really care. Sure they print a few magazines, make a few training videos, hold conferences, do some lobbying, but whoop de doo. The insurance is a total scam if you ask me.
To hell with the USCCA. They backstabbed their members a year or two ago when they surreptitiously and without warning changed their policy to include a reimbursement clause should the insured be found guilty or forced to plead to a lesser charge. I cancelled my USCCA insurance when I confronted them with that info and they refused to give me any straight answers.
Wow! Thanks for saving me! I almost subscribed to USCCA before reading this. Total rip off. I would never knowingly agree to a reimbursement clause like this. Just… wow! Oh, BTW, who would you recommend?
It would appear that you are at the mercy of the lawyers and you will be bankrupted regardless of what insurance you have. I cancelled my USCCA insurance as well. What's the point of paying it when it covers virtually nothing and if your found guilty of a civil crime (they don't cover criminal charged crimes even if it doesn't stick), you have to pay it back in full to USCCA. Pointless.
CANCELLED MINE TODAY. Goodbye USCCA. You pulled a fast one on your members see ya!
I love this site and it's been my trusted go-to for advice on all kinds of gun-related subjects. I purchased the Handgun Course and it was well worth the money, very grateful for that. I trusted this site so much that I'm really disappointed with this review of USCCA as an insurance carrier. It's shamelessly sales-y and concentrates on perks rather than what matters most if the main point of the conversation is about getting the best CCW insurance coverage. I noticed that the comparison article covers CONS for other carriers but not USCCA, whose coverage has one major, deal-breaking CON for me: they reserve the right to go after the insured to recover defense expenses if the insured is found guilty in a court of law. That's a huge consideration that those looking for insurance must be made aware of, and one does not need to be a licensed insurance broker to share this important detail.
I, too, was initially swayed by all the bells and whistles of USCCA membership (namely, all the educational content covered in this article), so it pained me deeply to discover this game-changing clause in their policy, which even much cheaper insurance companies don't have.
Wish USCCA offered an education-only plan but, in the absence of that, all the educational content in the world means nothing if one should ever be in a situation where a jury needs to decide our fate over an action that took seconds to contemplate and carry out. Should that ever happen, last thing I want hanging over my head is the possibility of being sued by my insurance company at their discretion to recover costs. I'll take the world-class, no strings attached defense provided by CCW Safe any day, even if their perk roster pales in comparison to USCCA's; I can get my education elsewhere.
That said, I understand this is a very personal choice and the great majority of us will never find ourselves in a real-life draw situation requiring defense. Judging by USCCA membership numbers, the vast majority of people feel the perks are worth the gamble, and to each his own. However, guiding others who trust our judgment in such an important matter as which CCW insurance to get is a huge responsibility (at least to me), so omitting the one detail in the discourse that could make all the difference is a significant fail in my book.
I read your review on CCW SAFE and you said that it was your preferrred insurance plan. Here is your quote: "Of course, just because CCW Safe is my preferred CCW insurance plan, doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you." Now you are saying that you have an Elite uscca membership and it is the best one. Which is it? Please clarify
Different author; ERIC HUNG, here, PAUL YEN, CCW safe.
I read a lot. I remember some and then put it together and expect, no demand it makes sense. For all you need to decide when you chose to pull a gun are you prepared to take a human life. Gun out pointed at a criminal is not the time to make that decision. Far as insurance I recall reading an article by an attorney. In a self defense shooting, it is a safe assumption that the prosecutor will go after you with an unlimited budget especially to avoid public outcry. Far as insurance, I would like to hear from someone who needed and used their services. I've read unless you hand them a perfect case, they will not defend you.
Your posts are always well done. I tend to read a lot, remember some and expect not demand that it fits together when I made a decision. Today's reality as I understand it. If, you ever need to pull your gun, first of all that is not the time to decide if you are prepared to kill someone. Assuming you did everything correctly, you will be prosecuted and they will do anything possible to destroy you. The prosecutor's budget is UNLIMITED. Far as insurance, an article by an attorney says, if there is any question at all, they will not defend you. A criminal-you are at a distinct disadvantage. Did you follow the advice on page 47 of the manual? You know the third paragraph. The criminal is a criminal-he maybe on drugs, etc and he being a criminal DOES NOT CARE.
What do you do if you’re a resident of New York?
Of all the areas in the country, Communist NY is one of the states that you would need this type of insurance the most.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Their insurance is a scam. Read my post above. #1 and #2 points.
I've been a USCCA member for a number of years enjoying the knowledge of the Delta Defense Team standing ready to assist you should the worst situation happen - you shoot someone. I appreciate the attitude of restraint and advice on avoidance of situations that would put you in a position to find it necessary to use deadly force. The articles on their website and in Concealed Carry magazine are constant and excellent reminders of the huge responsibility everyone who carries a firearm must shoulder. USCCA also discusses every day situations and the legal options and ramifications of concealed carry. One recent article that should be a must read for everyone was about the 6 things that will happen to you when you shoot someone. I highly recommend to anyone that carries a firearm to belong to USCCA if it's offered in your State (not available in every State - surprisingly). Regardless of who you think you are, if you shoot someone, you are going to need help. USCCA will prepare and assist you in that regard.
All you really need is an umbrella insurance policy from your insurance agent. Almost everyone has car, home, or rental insurance. All them up and compare rates. The rest of the "training" they offer really isn't all that good.
A few issues with USCCA:
1. This year they jumped rates dramatically (and abusively).
2. They spam the crap out of you. Prepare to adjust their filters.
3. They waste a lot of effort on cheesey products and promotions like a cheap ripoff site.
On the plus: they have discusses with a self-defense lawyer that are good. Coverage for the wife is reasonably priced.
What about a major clause. In the insurance package; where if you PLEAD GUILTY OR FOUND GUILTY, you can be forced to repay everything back to the USCCA!!
Scary there is no disclaimer in here on whether the author is getting compensated in anyway by USCCA.
I just bought the Elite package from USCCA. Ya 500.00. I feel better. I like the fact I can cancell, ifI really need $.
USCCA and CW Safe both seem to have good plans. What draws me to CW Safe is the unlimited defense expense. USCCA has a $250,000 payout limit. Is this amount realistically good with the current mainstream & social media? We've seen all too many self-defense scenarios on video which turn into high profile cases. Another issue with USCCA is if I'm convicted or plea bargain, they won't pay my defense? I'll need to re-read CW Safe to see if they have the same clause.
I have been going back and forth between these two services. I am leaning heavily towards CCW Safe as I cannot find anywhere that restricts a plea deal or guilty verdict. As a matter of fact they even state they will cover an appeal.
Good comments most likely leave uscca and go ccw safe because you dont have to pay back costs if convicted of a lesser charge.
If you plead to a lesser charge, say a misdemeanor, because going to trial may be very risky, even though you're in the right, because you took a plea deal, you are not covered, at all, and owe all expenses paid back to the insurance company. You can find that hidden gem on Page 11, Section I (as in "eye') Sub Section 1. In other words, if you don't go through to trial and prevail, none of your costs are covered. None. You have to repay everything.
This is troubling. I just joined, and now that I see that language in the agreement, I may cancel.
If a company promises to provide legal defense for a policyholder after a firearm incident and a court later determines the act is criminal, the company may have sold an insurance product that is not in the public interest and that doesn’t comply with state law.
If a company promises to provide legal defense for a policyholder after a firearm incident and a court later determines the act is criminal, the company may have sold an insurance product that is not in the public interest and that doesn’t comply with state law.
What options are available for insurance protection in NY, NJ, and WA?
What do you recommend for residents in these states to protect themselves against the legal and civil liability expenses?
Hello Ken,
As someone who recently moved out of the "People's Republic of New Jersey," I can only speak of that state. So, it's basically a non-issue there because unless you are law enforcement, retired law enforcement, or work as an armed security guard, you cannot get a CCW. It's impossible. You can carry concealed in your place of business and on your own property, but even still, NJ is not a "stand your ground" state and there is no "castle doctrine" there. The best you can do is (along with the NRA) to join the NJARPC. They have lawyers on retainer for questions only. Other than that, you're basically screwed if you exercise your SA right to self-protect., unless Evan Nappan takes your case pro-bono. I was able to get Texas Law Shield there, but I got out of NJ and moved to South Carolina. Now there is a great gun state, got my CCP with no problem. I gotta figure NY and CA are similarly horrid to NJ..
In your criticism of TLS you linked to a story on “TheTrace”. That source is a Bloomberg anti-gun rag. Calls into question the rest of your article.
The Trace does have an anti-gun slant, but their facts, in this case, are not incorrect. TLS was the subject of a class action filed by Texas CHL holders. I don't know the details or the outcome of that lawsuit. Here is a second source for all of the information: https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/almID/1202733632179/Judge-Grants-Class-Certification-in-Texas-Law-Shield-Suit/?slreturn=20150713103623/
All I want to do is buy some insurance and it is not easy to do
Look at Giles v. USCCA and you might change your mind. They refuse to pay.
Missing many facts here. It appears she may have purchased the firearm and membership, then baited her husband into a confrontation, counting on USCCA to pay her legal fees. USCCA may be privy to some information from the prosecution in the case that contraindicates her legal status to their services. The full details of this story are yet unknown to the general public.
I have been shooting for over sixty-five (65) years. I am very much experienced with firearms & I spent over forty (40) years in the insurance industry having founded and run my own insurance agency. I highly recommend a membership in the USCCA and obtain their insurance. I am an elite member myself. Good Luck & Stay Safe.
I hold an Elite membership with the USCCA and I wouldn't think of anywhere else. Tim Schmidt founded the USCCA and continues as the head of it. I was swayed toward the USCCA when I was shopping because of him. The coverages were close but he was a hard worker, smart, started the USCCA with basically nothing but an idea and made it what it is. The others didn't have what seemed like as well thought out a business plan. Tim has slowly and methodically worked toward his goal and reached it. He sacrificed some family time but not so much that he didn't benefit from having one. I'm a retired/disabled businessman having had virtually the same experiences. I can't envision Tim offering his membership anything but the best he can. One of my own companies was a family founded and owned (by me) insurance agency. I was in that business for over forty (40) years. I have also been around firearms for even longer. I'm now in my seventh decade of life. When I was four(4) years old my fathers uncle took me to some land he owned, and I shot a firearm for the first time. Firearms have now been a part of my life for over sixty five (65) years. I was taught to and I practice safety at all times around firearms. However, just in case a situation arises that I can't avoid, I'm glad I have the peace of mind of having a membership with the USCCA.Stay safe.
You really have to be lawyer with insurance expertise to determine if any of these are of any value.
Everytime I get ready to buy a policy I read one of these reviews and come to the conclusion that you will just be lucky if it pays off.
I have a significant practice as an expert witness regarding insurance coverage disputes. I would like to see a copy of the actual policy. The problem here is that if someone is accused of a crime, it may not be legal for anyone to provide insurance against an illegal act. If the situation involves an allegation, other than simply having committed a crime, then the insurance may provide coverage under a reservation of rights. It might be better to sell this as a pre-paid legal product, which would not necessarily run into the same legal ramifications. The NRA problem ran into serious problems because it was allegedly providing insurance for criminal activities, which is considered against public policy. This is a very complicated subject and I fear few of the people commenting are actually qualified to have an opinion.
Have you asked the company for a copy of the actual policy? IF so, what did they say?
USCCA IS HORRIBLE. I emailed them 3x asking them to answer a few Qs before I make my decision to join, and NO ONE EVER GOT BACK TO ME. I even “chatted” with a rep who confirmed the email address was correct. Both CCWSAFE and US LAWSHEILD had comprehensive replies to my questions within 36 hours. Lesson learned: USCCA will take the time to bombard you with marketing emails but cannot spare a few minutes to answer questions for a prospective member.
(Note: Due to disability, I am not able to call; this was not an issue for CCWSafe or US LAWSHEILD —- they were there for me when I needed them.)
Update: USCCA DID get back to me, it just took a bit longer.
NOTE: One of the BIGGEST DIFFERENCES between plans is DO THEY COVER COSTS & EXPENSES (C&E)? This is a HUGE amount of money that most people could not afford. — so DO read the Terms & Conditions before signing. Plans either Exclude C&E completely (meaning you pay all C&E out-of-pocket as you go along), or they may Include C&E in with attorney fees UP TO your max limit (which means you have less money for attorney fees), or they may Cover C&E apart from attorney fees which is the best of both worlds. Which you choose could make a HUGE difference in your immediate out-of-pocket expenses.
You need to add some precision to your email. I cannot figure out if you were comparing CCWSAFE and Lawshield to USCCA or the different plans within USCCA.
Thanks for this post. Now I'm reading the insurance policy that you link to because in my day job, I teach insurance. I'm very interested to dig into the details of the policy. Right off the bat, there are a couple of items that concern me, but I'll hold off judgment until I read it all.
It is interesting that I would not be getting my own insurance policy, but would become an insured on their policy. That has its ups and downs, but more later as I dig.
Hi Eric,
would you know if a "significant other" would be covered? We're together, but she isn't my wife as of now. Also, I became a resident of Florida, but she is still a New Yorker. If we were both up in NY visiting family, would we be covered at home in NY?
Thanks for the article.
Much of the information on this site is misleading. USCCA has been sued multiple times for failure to provide coverage. The incidents you mention with other similar groups, example TLS, that case was dropped and TLS was absolved of any wrong doing. USCCA also allows ANY attorney to be a part of their program. Meaning you may or may not get the best defense possible. I know a guy that used to be a USCCA member that left because when he called for an incident was told by a lawyer that the member would have to PAY the lawyer to be represented aside from the membership he pays.
Why not take a good look at the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. They are the best! I'm a member for over 8 years and will continue to be a member for years to come. Check it out.
The Feb 24 2019 article states you went with CCW Safe...this article says you've been with USCCA for quite some time? Do you carry both?