The Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan is a state-mandated program that provides fair access to insurance for individuals who are having trouble insuring their property due to the fact that insurers consider them high risk. The FAIR plan is a "shared market plan."
Key Takeaways
- FAIR Plans provide insurance to people that would otherwise be denied insurance on their property due to being in a high-risk area or having other major problems.
- High-risk homes include those in regions prone to natural disasters or in high-crime areas, residences in disrepair, or homes with many previous claims.
- Extra steps may be needed in order to be eligible for a FAIR Plan, such as limiting your risk by installing alarm devices, water backup valves, or replacing your home's wiring.
FAIR Plans Help Cover Higher-Risk Properties
FAIR Plans are state programs that are sometimes subsidized by private insurance companies. These plans often provide insurance to people who would otherwise be denied coverage on their property due to being in a high-risk area or having other related high-risk problems.
Your state insurance department can give you more information on its particular FAIR Plan, or you can check out the state-by-state list of where you can get help for the FAIR Plan insurance program below.
The FAIR Plan and High-Risk Insurance
With high-risk insurance, the insurance company has decided that the risk of having claims in a specific location or area is high based on:
- Geographic data
- Maintenance
- "Loss history" or having a high number of claims incidents for the location or specific home.
Where Do You Get Insurance for a High-Risk Area?
Standard insurers do not specialize in high-risk properties and therefore will often refuse to insure them by either not insuring in the first place or by refusing to renew a high-risk location once the insurance policy term is up. An insurance company's underwriting guidelines will usually dictate which risks they are comfortable with. You can get insurance for high-risk properties from specialty insurers, some of which may be non-admitted insurers. Non-admitted insurance companies will often think outside the box or specialize in risks that other insurers are uncomfortable with.
What Makes a Home High Risk?
- If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, like tornados, or where there is a high incidence of hurricanes or windstorms, your property may be considered high-risk.
- If you live in an area that is prone to high crime levels, such as vandalism or theft.
- If your home has not been renovated or is in disrepair.
- If you have had many claims.
What To Do if You Have Trouble Finding Home Insurance
If you are purchasing your first home or a new property and are having a hard time finding an insurance company to insure you, try asking your realtor whether they know of local insurance companies or brokers that will write policies in the area. Insurance brokers have access to many different insurance companies and will work to find you something.
You can also contact your local state insurance commissioner's office, and they will point you in the right direction. You may still be able to find a policy with a private insurer that is comfortable and offers good coverage. The FAIR Plan should be used as a last resort.
You can also try to negotiate: Consider the reasons that you are being refused insurance, and try negotiating with the insurance company. Very often, if you make adjustments or repairs, or consider higher deductibles, you may be able to obtain coverage. Make sure you try everything with a few standard insurers before going to the FAIR Plan.
Conditions To Be Eligible for the FAIR Plan
According to the Insurance Information Institute, even the FAIR Plan has conditions that must be met. Just because you have a high-risk home, it does not mean the FAIR Plan will accept you. You may be asked to limit the risk of fire, theft, or water damage by installing anti-theft or alarm devices, or you may be asked to install water backup valves or make repairs on your home, such as replacing or fixing a roof or your wiring. If these types of conditions would have made you eligible for standard insurance, you are probably better off doing your necessary repairs and sticking with a standard insurance company. Standard insurance companies are usually less expensive than high-risk insurers.
When To Look for FAIR Plan Insurance
If you have exhausted all of the options outlined above, and you can't seem to find an insurance company to accept your risk, then you have the option of applying for insurance with the FAIR Plan. Keep in mind, however, that if the reason for a refusal to insure your property is not due to matters beyond your control, even the FAIR Plan has the right to refuse coverage if you do not adhere to the recommendations. The situation varies case by case, so the best idea is to contact them directly to discuss the conditions of the FAIR Plan as they apply to your situation. You may also be eligible for additional insurance endorsements that may improve the base coverage.
Where To Find FAIR Plan Insurance Help State by State
Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association
California FAIR Plan Association
Connecticut FAIR Plan
Insurance Placement Facility of Delaware
District of Columbia Property Insurance Facility
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation [Florida]
Georgia Underwriting Association
Illinois FAIR Plan Association
Indiana Basic Property Insurance Underwriting Association
Iowa FAIR Plan Association
Kansas All-Industry Placement Facility
Kentucky FAIR Plan Reinsurance Association
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Maryland Joint Insurance Association
Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association
Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association
Minnesota FAIR Plan
Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association
Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility
New Jersey Insurance Underwriting Association
New Mexico Property Insurance Program
New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association
North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association - FAIR Plan
North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association - Coastal Property Insurance Pool
Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association
Oregon FAIR Plan Association
Insurance Placement Facility of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association
South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association
Texas FAIR Plan Association
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
Virginia Property Insurance Association
Washington FAIR Plan
West Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association
Wisconsin Insurance Plan
How To Get Insurance When You Live in a High-Risk Area
If you have been unsuccessful in obtaining insurance for your home because it is designated as high risk, or you have been refused insurance, and you have already tried to negotiate with standard private insurers and have exhausted all other options, then you can contact the FAIR Plan administrator in your state to find out more information about the FAIR Plan and how to get insurance on your home.
FAIR Plan Administrator Phone Numbers by State
Alabama: 334-943-4029
California: 213-487-0111
Connecticut: 860-528-9546
Delaware: 215-629-8800
District of Columbia: 202-393-4640
Florida: JUA 850-513-3700
Florida Windstorm Underwriters Association: 904-296-6105
Georgia: 770-923-7431
Hawaii: 808-531-1311
Illinois: 312-861-0385
Indiana: 317-264-2310
Iowa: 515-255-9531
Kansas: 785-271-2300
Kentucky: 502-425-9998
Louisiana FAIR Plan: 504-831-6930
Maryland: 410-539-6808
Massachusetts: 617-723-3800
Michigan: 313-877-7400
Minnesota: 612-338-7584
Mississippi: 601-981-2915
Missouri: 314-421-0170
New Jersey: 973-622-3838
New Mexico: 505-878-9563
New York: 212-208-9700
Ohio: 614-839-6446
Oregon: 503-643-5448
Pennsylvania: 215-629-8800
Rhode Island: 617-723-3800
South Carolina: 803-737-6180
Texas: 512-899-4900
Virginia: 804-591-3700
Washington: 425-745-9808
West Virginia: 215-629-8800
Wisconsin: 414-291-5353
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does FAIR plan insurance cover?
FAIR Plans do not cover as many perils as a standard homeowners insurance policy, but the exact coverages vary by state. All FAIR plans cover losses due to fire, vandalism, riots, and windstorms. In California, coverage also includes losses for brush fires. Georgia and New York both offer wind and hail coverage for some coastal areas. A dozen states also include liability coverage.
How much is high-risk insurance for a home?
Premium rates for FAIR Plans vary by state, coverage area, and your risk level, but they can be significantly higher than the rates for standard policies.