A Consumer Guide to
HOMEOWNERS
INSURANCE
INSURANCE
ADMINISTRATION
A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
Maryland Insurance Administration • 800-492-6116 • www.mdinsurance.state.md.us
tAble of Contents
Introduction ....................................................1
Why You Need Homeowners Insurance ...............................1
Types of Homeowners Policies ......................................2
Basic Coverages Included in Homeowners Policies ......................10
Factors in the Cost of Homeowners Insurance..........................15
Lenders Can “Force-Place” Property Insurance .........................17
Options if You Have Problems Obtaining a Policy ......................17
Tips for Buying a Policy ..........................................18
Actions to Protect Your Property ....................................24
Obligations After a Loss ..........................................26
Frequently Asked Questions .......................................28
• Claims...................................................28
• CancellationsandRenewals...................................31
• Coverage .................................................35
Solving Problems With Your Insurance Company .......................37
Glossary ......................................................40
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
introduCtion
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is an independent State agency that
regulates Maryland’s insurance marketplace and protects consumers by ensuring
that insurers and insurance producers (agents and brokers) act in accordance with
insurance laws. We produced this guide to help educate Maryland residents about
homeowners insurance.
The Insurance Administration is also responsible for investigating and resolving
complaints and questions concerning insurers that do business in Maryland.
why you need
homeowners
insurAnCe
Most people do not think about homeowners insurance until they have reason to
use it. Although we know that fires, thefts and accidents occur, we tend to think,
“Odds are, that will never happen to me.”
Well, odds are more likely that, at some point, you will experience a fire, theft,
accident or other loss that may be covered by homeowners insurance. Purchasing
homeowners insurance will not prevent fires, thefts or some other types of loss, but
it can help you recover from the financial effects of a loss that is covered by your
policy.
A homeowners policy also can protect you if someone is hurt or has their property
damaged because of something you do or if something that you own hurts someone
else or damages their property.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
You also will need insurance to protect your lender if you have borrowed money
to purchase your home. Most mortgage holders require you to have homeowners
insurance and that the policy name the mortgage holder as an additional insured
under the policy in order to protect their financial interest in your home. However,
even if you do not have a mortgage on your home, you may still want to purchase a
homeowners insurance policy to protect you from financial harm in the event of a
covered loss.
Whether you live on a farm, or own or rent an apartment, condominium, home or
mobile home, your home is probably your largest and most important investment,
and a homeowners policy will help you protect your investment. There are
different types of homeowners policies available to fit your housing situation.
types of
homeowners
poliCies
Homeowners insurance policies vary according to the types of property they are
designed to cover and the number of perils (causes of loss) that they cover. Policies
may be of the named peril type (fire, windstorm, hail, vandalism, theft, etc.) or
of the open perils type (coverage for all causes of loss unless the cause of loss is
specifically excluded), or a combination of both. While a number of insurers (or
insurance companies) offer the same type of coverages, many sell a policy that
provides extra or broader coverages.
Policies have various names depending on the insurer that sells them. However,
standard homeowners insurance policies are often referred to as:
• HO-2BroadForm(NamedPeril)
• HO-3SpecialForm
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
• HO-4RentersInsurance(ContentsBroadForm)
• HO-6CondominiumUnitOwners
• MarketValueorOlderHomesForms(ModifiedCoverageForm)
The type of policy you choose should depend on:
• Yourtypeofhousing;
• Howmuchyouarewillingorabletopay;
• Howmuchcoverageyoubelieveisnecessaryforyoursituation.
The property damage section of named-peril policies contains a promise to pay
for losses to your home and/or its contents when caused by the perils specifically
named in the policy. If your property is damaged due to a peril not listed in
the policy, your insurer will not pay for the damage. The named-peril policy
covers most, but not all, of the common causes of damage to a person’s home or
belongings. If you are considering purchasing this type of policy, be sure that you
understand the type of coverage it provides.
An open-perils policy, or all-risk policy, provides coverage for all causes of loss
unless the specific cause of loss is excluded from coverage under the policy. The
open-perils policy typically provides more protection than a named-peril policy,
as it tends to cover more causes of loss. Often, the extra premium for this type of
policy is relatively small. When shopping for insurance, ask for a price quotation
on both an all-risk policy and a named-peril policy. If the difference in price
is affordable, you may want to buy the open-perils or all-risk policy for more
insurance coverage.
Most insurers also sell a homeowners policy that combines the features of the
all-risk policy and the named-peril policy. This policy is called the Special Form
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
(HO-3). The property damage section of this policy provides all-risk coverage on
the building and other structures by promising to pay for all losses to your property
except when the loss was caused by a peril that is specifically excluded by the policy.
It provides named-peril coverage for the contents of your home. The named perils
are usually those listed in the Broad Form (HO-2). (See list below.)
A QuiCk summAry of CoverAGe
under eACh type of poliCy
A. The HO-2 (Broad Form) is a named-peril policy, which generally covers the
following perils:
1. Fire and lightning
2. Removal of property endangered by any insured peril
3. Windstorm
4. Hail
5. Explosion
6. Riot and civil commotion
7.Vehicleoraircraftdamagetoyourproperty
8. Smoke
9.Vandalismandmaliciousmischief
10. Breakage of glass
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
11. Theft
12. Falling objects
13. Weight of ice, snow, or sleet damage
14. Collapse of building and any part thereof
15. Sudden and accidental damage, cracking, burning or bulging from steam
or hot water heating system or appliances for heating water
16. Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from plumbing or
heating systems
17. Freezing of plumbing, heating or air conditioning systems and domestic
appliances
18. Sudden and accidental injury from artificially generated electrical currents
19. Limited coverage for trees, shrubs or plants
20. Additional living expenses
21. Personal liability insurance protection
22. Medical payments coverage
B. The HO-3 (Special Form) generally provides the following coverage:
1. Usually covers a building against all perils, but often excludes flood,
earthquake, neglect, war, nuclear accident, damage resulting from freezing
of an unoccupied building, enforcement of an ordinance, damage to fences,
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
patios, swimming pools, etc., by freezing, thawing or pressure or weight of
ice or water, whether driven by wind or not.
2. Covers personal property against damage or loss caused by perils listed in
Form HO-2
Check your policy for a complete listing of any perils that may be excluded.
C. The HO-4 (Renters Insurance). This policy insures your household contents
or personal possessions, provides for additional living expenses in the event of a
covered loss that makes your home, apartment or condominium uninhabitable,
provides you with liability coverage, and provides for medical payments to others. It
covers all perils listed in the HO-2 Form.
D. The HO-6 (Condominium Unit Owners). This policy protects condominium
unit owners against loss or damage to their personal property and may include
coverage for any additions or alterations to the interior of the condominium unit
not insured by the condominium association (these are known as “improvements
and betterments”). The policy covers all perils listed in the HO-2 Form. You also
can purchase an endorsement to your HO-6 policy that would provide you with
coverage for assessment, a fee charged by your condominium association. Your
producer will be able to explain the limits to the alterations and additions coverage,
and help you determine whether you need to increase your policy limits.
Condominium Act Issues
The Maryland Condominium Act has been amended to make clear that the
condominium association is required to purchase a master insurance policy that
provides primary coverage for casualty losses to the common areas, the actual
structure, and the individual units, exclusive of the improvements and betterments
made to the unit after the unit was transferred from the developer to the first owner.
Thus, the condominium association is primarily responsible for making repairs in
the event of a casualty loss, and the bulk of insurance protection is provided by a
master policy purchased by the condominium association. Individual unit owners
also should purchase limited coverage to provide protection for their personal
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
liability and their personal property, as well as any improvements and betterments
(upgrades) made to the individual condominium unit.
E. The Market Value Form. This policy is designed for older homes usually
constructed in a manner that makes it cost-prohibitive to repair the home following
alossinthesamemannerastheoriginalconstruction.TheMarketValueForm
allows owners of older homes to carry lower limits of insurance, such as the market
value of the home, rather than the 80% to 100 % of replacement cost used for
newer homes. This policy generally provides for returning the property to livable
condition with the use of commonly used building materials, as opposed to
materials of the same kind and quality used in the original construction.
F. Deductibles. Many insurance policies provide a deductible amount of $250.
This means that you agree to pay $250 out of your own pocket to repair damage
to your home or personal property for each damage claim before you are entitled
to collect any money from your insurer. This deductible does not apply to claims
under the liability or medical payments coverages.
You may purchase a homeowners policy with a larger deductible amount such as
$500 or $1,000 or more. The advantage of choosing a higher deductible is that
your annual premium will be less. The disadvantage of a larger deductible is that
you will have to pay more out of your own pocket each time a claim or loss occurs
before your insurer would be obligated to make any payment. You should ask your
producer or insurer how much your premium will be reduced by increasing the
amount of your deductible to determine whether this cost savings is worthwhile.
Some homeowners policies contain special deductibles for losses caused by wind,
hurricanes or other storms. These deductibles are applied instead of the “all peril”
or general policy deductible if the damage is caused by wind, hurricanes or other
storms. Some insurers automatically include a deductible for wind, hurricanes
or other storms, while other insurers make these deductibles available at the
option of the policyholder. Some deductibles for wind, hurricanes or other
storms are written as a flat amount, such as $1,000, while others are applied to
the loss as a percentage of the insurance coverage on the dwelling. For example,
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
assume a wind storm causes $3,000 damage to your house, and your dwelling is
insured for $100,000. If you had a $1,000 deductible for wind storms on your
policy, your insurer would pay $2,000 towards the damage. Using that same
example, but changing the cause of loss to a hurricane, if your policy has a 2%
hurricane deductible, the deductible would be $2,000, and the insurer would pay
$1,000 towards the damage. By law, if the policy requires that a deductible in the
case of a hurricane or other storm be expressed as a percentage, it cannot exceed
5% of the coverage limit unless the insurance commissioner has granted written
approval to the insurance company. However, you can purchase a wind, hurricanes
or other storms deductible in an amount greater than 5% if you so choose. When
the insurance company requires a deductible equal to a percentage of the dwelling
coverage limit, it is also required to provide the policyholder with an annual
statement explaining the manner in which the deductible is applied. Please ask
about this deductible when shopping for insurance to become aware of how it may
affect you.
G. Mobile Home Policies. There are some special considerations for those
purchasing mobile homeowners insurance. Some insurers require notice before
your mobile home is moved or all protection under the policy may be suspended.
In addition, the typical mobile-homeowners policy usually does not cover collision
damage to your mobile home while it is in-transit. You can usually buy trip
collision coverage from your insurer to cover a certain number of days while you
move your mobile home. If you are planning to move your mobile home, you
should contact your producer or insurer to be sure that you have the appropriate
insurance coverage.
H. Flood Insurance. Most standard policies for homeowners, farm and ranch
owners,rentersandcondominiumsdoNOTcoverdamagecausedbyrisingwaters;
however, mobile home policies may cover this. Flood insurance is an optional
coverage offered through the federal government, some private insurers and other
sources. Many homeowners’ insurers and their producers sell National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) policies for the federal government.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
The Standard Flood Insurance Policy defines “flood” as:
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or
more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more properties (at least one of
which is your property) from:
• Overflowofinlandortidalwaters;
• Unusualandrapidaccumulationorrunoffofsurfacewatersfromany
source;
• Mudflow*;or
• Collapseorsubsidenceoflandalongtheshoreofalakeorsimilarbodyof
water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of
water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined...
above.”
*Mudflowisdefinedas:“Ariverofliquidandflowingmudonthesurfacesof
normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water....”
Even if you do not live in a floodplain area, you may still purchase flood insurance
through the federal government as long as the building is located in a community
qualifying for the NFIP. You should also know that flood insurance policies do not
automatically provide coverage for your contents or personal property. You need to
purchase this coverage separately and in addition to the coverage for your home.
You may contact a local insurance producer to apply to the NFIP. The producer
will then submit your application and premium to the NFIP or to an insurer that
issues policies on behalf of the NFIP. If you need additional information about the
types of properties that are insurable under the NFIP or the limits on amounts of
insurance, you should contact your insurance producer or the NFIP. For a more
detailed explanation of the flood insurance program, refer to our brochure entitled
An Insurance Preparedness Guide for Natural Disasters. It is available on our website
at www.mdinsurance.state.md.us. You may also visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 800-
621-FEMA (3362) for flood insurance information.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
bAsiC CoverAGes
inCluded in A
homeowners
insurAnCe poliCy
A homeowners insurance policy is a package policy that combines more than one
type of insurance coverage into a single policy. The cost of the package policy is
usually cheaper than if all of the coverages were to be purchased separately. There
are four types of coverages contained within the standard homeowners insurance
policy:
• Property damage coverage protects your home or belongings if they
are damaged or destroyed by certain causes of loss. Some examples are
lightning, hail or a tornado.
• Liability coverage will pay if you unintentionally cause an injury to
another person or cause damage to another person’s property.
• Medical payments coverage will pay up to a specified amount for medical
expenses incurred by people injured in an accident in your home and
certain situations away from your home, regardless of whether you were at
fault. This coverage does not apply to you or a member of your household.
• Additional living expenses coverage will pay for the additional expenses
you incur when you cannot live in your home because of damage or loss
that is covered by your policy. For example, if you are required to move
into a motel or apartment while your home is being repaired, your insurer
will pay the cost of this temporary housing.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
A. Property Damage Coverage
Many years ago, most people bought insurance that would protect against damage
to their home only if it was damaged as a result of fire. Over the years, insurers
began to offer protection for property damage or loss resulting from other causes
such as windstorm, hail, vandalism and theft.
Today, named-peril policies provide coverage for damage to property that arises
from multiple causes, as set forth earlier in this guide, that are specifically identified
in the policy. Open-peril or all-risk policies provide coverage for all causes of damage
to property unless the cause of loss is specifically excluded by the policy language.
B. Liability Coverage
When you or a member of your family are legally responsible for injury to others
or damage to the property of others, the liability coverage under your homeowners
policy requires your insurer to pay, on your behalf, for the damage you caused
(up to the policy limits) and for a lawyer to defend you in the event that a lawsuit
is filed against you. Liability coverage in a homeowners policy is not limited to
accidents that occur at your home. It may provide protection to you and your
family wherever an accident may occur.
However, the liability coverage is subject to limitations. Liability coverage will
not protect you if you are sued for something you did as part of your job or
for something you did intentionally to harm someone else. In addition, your
homeowners policy will not pay for your liability arising out of the use of an
aircraft, an automobile, or most motorized land vehicles, including mopeds, while
in use away from the insured property. You will require a different kind of insurance
policy for those types of liability coverages.
C. Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments coverage is usually contained in the liability section of your
homeowners policy. Unlike liability coverage, which provides protection only if you are
at fault (see paragraph B above), medical payments coverage pays if someone is injured
in your home regardless of fault. For example, if a neighbor’s child chips a tooth while
playing in your home, the medical payments portion of your homeowners policy will
pay for necessary dental work up to the amount specified in the policy.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
At a minimum, this part of your policy will pay, up to a specified limit, for
reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred within three years from the
date of injury or accident in your home. This coverage does not apply to you and
members of your household.
Medical payments coverage limits generally are applicable to each person, as
opposed to each accident. You may request higher limits for your medical payments
coverage, but this will result in a higher premium.
D. Additional Living Expenses
If it is necessary for you to move into a temporary residence (such as a motel or
apartment) as a result of damage caused by a peril covered by your policy, your
insurer will pay reasonable and necessary additional living expenses you incur.
However, your insurer may not pay for all the living expenses that you incur. It
typically pays only for those expenses that are beyond your normal and customary
expenses, not any expenses you would pay regardless of whether you are living in
your home. A homeowners insurance policy issued, sold or delivered in the State
of Maryland that provides coverage for additional living expenses must provide
coverage for at least 12 months. Please note that this coverage is usually subject to
a monetary limit, so be sure you are aware of this limit before incurring any such
expenses. Depending on the extent of property damage, your particular claim may
not be eligible for coverage for 12 months.
An example of normal and customary expenses is food costs. If you are in a hotel,
eating out for meals would not be a usual expense for you and would be reimbursed
at a reasonable amount. However, if you are placed in housing with kitchen
facilities, then eating out would not be covered as additional expense, as you would
have to buy food and eat regardless of the damage or loss to your home.
E. Other Coverages
The homeowners insurance policy also provides limited coverage for other
structures on your property, your personal property if it is away from your home,
trees and shrubbery and debris removal.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
Out-Buildings on Your Property – In this part of your homeowners policy,
your insurer promises to pay if a structure not attached to your home, such as
a detached garage, tool shed, swimming pool, fence or other building on your
property, is damaged by a peril covered by your policy. More coverage is available
for an additional premium. This coverage may not be included in certain types of
homeowners policies such as a renters insurance policy.
Personal Property – The amount of insurance protection for the contents of your
home is usually reflected on the Declaration Page of the policy. Your homeowners
policy also provides more limited coverage for personal property if it is stolen
or damaged away from your home, such as when you are on vacation and your
suitcase is stolen with your personal property in it.
Coverage is limited to very small amounts for certain types of property that are
particularly susceptible to loss such as cash, securities, jewelry, furs, manuscripts,
and stamp or coin collections. You may receive a total of only $1,500 for all furs
or jewelry stolen in a single theft. A $500 limit usually applies to all securities,
receivables, travel tickets, and stamp collections. A coverage limit of only $100
is typical for all money, coins, or bank notes regardless of the actual amount lost.
Additional amounts of insurance can be purchased separately. You should ask your
producer or insurer for information about scheduling valuable items separately
and the cost of such additional coverage.
Trees, Shrubs, and Plants – This part of your policy provides protection against
damage to greenery on your property. The coverage on trees, shrubs, and plants is
provided only against certain perils. For example, damage to greenery caused by
windstorm or ice is not usually covered, even if you buy an all-risk policy. The total
amount your policy will cover for damage to trees, shrubs, and plants usually is
limited to 5% of the policy limit on your dwelling with a $500 maximum per loss.
You should check your policy to see what your limit is for this coverage.
Debris Removal – This part of your policy traditionally pays to remove debris
from damaged property if the damage that caused the debris is covered by your
policy. Your policy also may pay to remove fallen trees that cause damage to your
covered property. This coverage is subject to a dollar limitation, which is provided
on the Declaration Page of your policy.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
Mold Coverage – Not all insurance policies provide coverage for mold damage,
but some do. Some policies exclude coverage for any type of mold damage, some
insurers provide coverage to the insured if the mold arises out of a covered cause
of loss (such as a broken pipe), and some insurers exclude coverage for any liability
claims arising out of mold. As coverage for mold and mold-related claims vary by
insurer, you should read your policy and ask your producer or insurer if you have
coverage for mold claims and, if so, under what circumstances and in what amount
you would have coverage.
speCiAl notiCes About your CoverAGe
• Annual Summary of Coverages and Exclusions: When you first purchase
a homeowners insurance policy and at each renewal, you will receive an
Annual Statement that summarizes the coverage and exclusions under your
policy. This Annual Statement may help you understand your policy, but
it is not a substitute for your policy, as all rights, duties and obligations are
controlled by your insurance policy and contract of insurance.
• Notice Regarding Flood Insurance and Statement of Additional
Optional Coverages: Remember, most standard homeowners insurance
policies do NOT cover losses resulting from floods. When you first
purchase your homeowners insurance policy, you will receive a written
notice advising you that the standard homeowners insurance policy does
not cover flood, and it will advise you how to purchase flood insurance.
In addition, at the time you apply for homeowners insurance, you will receive a
list of optional additional coverages that your insurer sells, which you may choose
to purchase to supplement your homeowners insurance policy. If you have any
questions about optional coverages or their cost, you can ask the insurance producer
or the insurer when you purchase the insurance policy.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
fACtors in the Cost
of homeowners
insurAnCe
When you apply for homeowners insurance, companies evaluate your risk and the
likelihood you will file a claim. Once your level of risk has been determined, the
company will group you with policyholders that have similar risk characteristics.
Then, the company will assign a rate based on the claims history for your risk
group. Some of the factors that are considered are:
• prior claims. Whether you or your property have had any prior claims
under a homeowners insurance policy (even if at the time of the prior loss
you were not the owner of the property), the date(s) of any prior claims,
the nature of the claim(s) and the amounts paid by insurance for each
claim. An insurer may not classify or maintain an insured for a period
longer than three years in a classification that entails a higher premium
becauseofaspecificclaim;however,aninsurercanremove,reduceor
refuse to apply a discount for claims filed within five years of the date of
application or proposed effective date of the policy.
• the type of construction. Frame houses usually cost more to insure than
brick houses.
• the age of the house. Newer homes are usually less expensive to insure
than older homes.
• access to and quality of local fire protection. The distance between
your home and a fire hydrant, as well as the capability of your local fire
department, determines your “fire protection class.” Protection classes
generally are used by insurers to either increase or decrease someone’s
premium.
• the amount of coverage. The dollar limits (the amount of coverage) of
your policy will affect the amount of the premium. The higher the limits,
generally, the higher the premium.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
• the amount of coverage required by a lender. Your lender may not
require you to insure any real property in an amount exceeding the
replacement cost of the dwelling. Remember that your mortgage includes
thevalueofyourland;yourhomeownersinsuranceonlyinsuresthe
buildings on your property and the contents of those buildings, not your
land. The lender cannot require you to obtain insurance in the amount of
the loan if the loan amount exceeds the replacement cost of your home. If
any lender is requiring you to purchase an insurance policy in excess of the
amount it will cost to replace your home, please report that information
and the lender. You may file a complaint with the Division of Financial
Regulation Commissioner, at 410-230-6096, or with the Maryland
Insurance Administration, who will forward such a complaint to the
appropriate enforcement agency.
• the amount of the deductible. The deductible is the amount you will pay
in the event that you have a claim and the insurer issues payment for the
claim;thepaymentwillbereducedbytheamountofthedeductible.Since
the deductible reduces the amount of money that an insurer pays on a
claim, generally the higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
• discounts. Some insurers offer discounts on policy premiums for things
such as purchasing multiple policies (e.g. home and car) with them, and/or
installing deadbolt locks or alarm systems in your home.
The following factors cannot be considered:
• claims inquiries. Insurers are not allowed to increase your premium,
cancel or nonrenew your policy, or refuse to issue a policy if you or your
producer, on your behalf, inquires about a claim if the inquiry does not
result in payment of a claim.
• credit history. Insurers are not allowed to review an individual’s credit
history when pricing a homeowners insurance policy or when making a
decision as to whether to cancel, nonrenew or refuse to issue a policy.
• victims of crimes of violence. Insurers are prohibited from using an
individual’s status as a victim of a crime of violence as the sole basis to
cancel, nonrenew, refuse to issue a policy, refuse to pay a homeowners
insurance claim, or for taking any adverse underwriting action, including,
increasing a premium, adding a surcharge and removing a discount.
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Compare the premium you are paying to what another company might charge
you. Refer to our Homeowners Insurance: A Comparison Guide to Insurance Rates at
www.mdinsurance.state.md.us or call 410-468-2000 to obtain a copy. Make sure
you compare policies that have the same coverage.
lenders CAn “forCe-
plACe” property
insurAnCe CoverAGe
If you finance the purchase of your home, your lender may require you to carry fire
insurance on that property. If you do not purchase fire insurance, the lender may
force place coverage for you. A lender force-places coverage by obtaining insurance
on the property and then requiring you to provide reimbursement to the lender for
the cost of the premiums paid. Force-placed property insurance coverage generally
protects only the interest of the lender and not you, the property owner.
options if you
hAve problems
obtAininG A poliCy
If you have been turned down by one insurer for homeowners insurance, try
obtaining coverage through another insurer or other insurers. Do not assume that
you will be turned down by all insurers. Just as insurers have different premiums,
they also have different underwriting requirements. So call around and keep trying
to obtain an insurance policy.
If you are unable to obtain insurance for your home from a private insurer, limited
insurance protection may be available through the Maryland Property Insurance
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
Availability Program, known as the Joint Insurance Association (JIA). You can reach
them at:
Joint Insurance Association
3290 North Ridge Road, Suite 220
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-539-6808
800-492-5670
www.mdjia.org
tips for buyinG
A poliCy
It is most important for you to:
• ReadtheDeclarationPageofyourinsurancepolicytomakesureyouhave
receivedthecoveragesyourequestedintheamountsyourequested;
• Readyourinsurancepolicycarefullytomakesureyouunderstandexactly
whatisandisnotcovered;
• Considerpurchasingadditionalcoveragesorpolicies,andscheduling
valuable personal property such as jewelry, furs, collectibles and antiques,
which may not be covered at all or not covered up to a sufficient amount
underyourpolicy;and,
• Considerpurchasingaseparatefloodinsurancepolicy.
In addition, you should read and keep all materials that your insurer sends you each
year at renewal, so you will be aware of any changes to your policy. If you have any
questions about changes to your policy coverage or limits, you should contact your
producer or insurer immediately.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
ApplyinG for CoverAGe
• Answerallthequestionsontheinsuranceapplicationcompletelyand
honestly. Your insurer may lawfully nonrenew your policy if you commit
fraud or misrepresent material information when applying for insurance
(such as, in some cases, your claims history), or if you commit fraud or
misrepresent material information when filing a claim (such as, in some
cases, how the loss occurred or who was responsible for the damage).
Additionally, as of January 1, 2013, by law, all applications for insurance
and all claim forms must contain the following statement, or a
substantially similar one:
Any person who knowingly or willfully presents a false or fraudulent claim
for payment of a loss or benefit or who knowingly or willfully presents
false information in an application for insurance is guilty of a crime and
may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.
• Donotsignablankapplication.
• Ifyourinsuranceapplicationisdeclined,askforawrittenexplanationof
the specific reason(s) your application was rejected.
• UnderMarylandlaw,insurershaveaninitial45-dayunderwritingperiod.
If they find you are not eligible within that period of time, your policy
may be cancelled with a 15-day notice to the named insured’s last known
address. The insurer must be able to prove that it mailed the notice to you
atleast15daysinadvanceofthepolicy’scancellation;however,proofthat
you actually received the notice is not required. If during the initial 45-day
underwriting period an insurer discovers that you are eligible under its
underwriting guides but that there is a “material risk factor” that will cause
the premium to change, the insurer must send you a notice advising you
of the amount of the premium change (increase or decrease), the reason
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for the change, and your right to request cancellation of the policy. The
law defines a “material risk factor” as a risk factor that, while existing at
the time of application, was incorrectly recorded or not disclosed by the
insured in the application, and which modifies the premium.
• Loss History Report: Some insurers review not only your loss history,
but the loss history of the property, when making a decision on whether
to insure you. If you want to verify the accuracy of any loss or claim
information, you may obtain a copy of the loss history reports for a fee on
any property you own from the following companies:
• LexisNexisRiskSolutions–C.L.U.E.:1-800-869-0751orat
www.lexisnexis.com/risk/solutions/clue-home-seller.aspx.
• ISO:1-800-627-3487oratwww.iso.com/Products/A-PLUS/
Consumers-Order-Your-Free-A-PLUS-Loss-History-Report.html.
If you are refused coverage based on information contained in one of these reports, you
are entitled to be provided access to the information which led to the adverse decision.
premiums, disCounts And deduCtibles
• Ifpayingthepremiumforthepolicyincash,askforareceipt.Makeyour
check payable to the insurer and make a notation on the check as to the
type of policy that you are paying for (automobile or homeowners, etc.)
and the policy number.
• Besidesthepriceofaninsurancepolicy,alsoconsidercoverageandservice.
Select an insurer and/or producer you feel you can trust and with whom
you are comfortable.
• Askaboutdiscountsforsafetyandsecuritydevices(forexample:burglar
alarms, fire alarms, and dead bolts) or other available discounts.
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• Seeiftheinsurergivesanew-homediscountormulti-policydiscount.(For
example: if you insure your car along with your home).
• Checkthedifferenceinpricebetweenanamed-perilpolicyandanall-risk
policy or open-perils policy.
• Askhowthedifferenceinyourdeductibleaffectsthepriceofyourpolicy.
• Askaboutseparatedeductiblesforwind,hurricanesorotherstormslosses
and, if so, how they are calculated and applied.
• Checkifyouhaveanycoverageformoldclaimsunderyourpolicy.
terms of CoverAGe
• Makesureyourdwellingpolicylimitsareatleast80%ofthereplacement
cost of your home or whatever percentage is required by the insurer. Ask
your producer or insurer to explain to you the implications of failure
to maintain policy limits at that level. Some companies have developed
reconstruction-cost estimator programs to assist you in determining
the cost to rebuild your property. While you must pay a fee for these
services, the information provided will help you make informed decisions
regarding the value of your home, as well as the appropriate coverage limit.
Additional information regarding insuring your home to value, as well as
linkstothreeestimators–ACCUCoverage,ZactValueandInsuretoValue
– can be found on the MIA’s website.
• Questionwhethertheinsureroffersaninflation-guardendorsement.
• Askwhethertheinsurerprovidesreplacement-costcoverageforyour
dwelling. If so, up to what amount?
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• Doestheinsurerofferfullreplacement-costcoverageonyourpersonal
belongings?
• Discusswithyourproducerwhetheryoushouldlistandseparatelyinsure
your valuable items of personal property on a personal property schedule.
• Askaboutthedifferenceinpriceforbasicliabilitylimitsof$100,000and
higher limits such as $300,000 or $500,000.
• Insurers are required by law to offer you the option of purchasing
coverage for water that backs up through sewers or drains in writing
at the time of initial application and at each renewal. However, you
will have to pay extra for this coverage. Ask your producer how much this
coverage costs, so you can decide whether you wish to purchase it or not.
• Insurersmayofferbuildingordinanceorlawcoverage.Thisprovides
protection when a building damaged by a covered peril must be repaired or
rebuilt in a more costly manner, because the original construction does not
comply with current building codes. This coverage may cost extra, but you
should find out what the cost is in order to determine whether or not to
purchase it.
• Insurers are required by law to offer licensed family day-care providers
liability coverage of at least $300,000 for liability that results from
bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury arising out of an
insured’s activities as a family daycare provider. You should decide if
you need this coverage.
• Yourhomeownerspolicyhassomeprovisionsthatmaypreventyoufrom
receiving payment for a claim even if you have paid the premium. If your
home or apartment is left vacant or unoccupied, you may lose all or a
portion of your coverage. When you plan a long vacation, or when you are
moving into or out of your home, or if your home will remain vacant for
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any other reason, you should ask your producer or insurer which coverages
will be suspended and what you can do to obtain coverage.
• Insurersmustnotifyyouifyourpolicydoesnotcoverlossesthatare
either partially or predominately caused by an excluded peril. Some
policies contain a clause which states that a loss caused by a combination
of covered and noncovered causes (perils) will not be covered. These
provisions are called, “anti-concurrent causation” clauses. If your policy has
an anti-concurrent causation clause, and you incur damages caused by a
combination of covered and noncovered perils, your loss will not be covered.
notifiCAtions to whiCh Consumers Are entitled
• AnnualSummaryofCoveragesandExclusions:Youareentitledtoreceive
a statement that summarizes the coverages and exclusions under your
homeowners insurance policy at the time you initially receive the policy
and at each renewal.
• Insurersmustnotifyyouifyourpolicydoesnotprovidecoverageforlosses
caused by specific breeds or specific mixed breeds of dogs.
• NoticeRegardingFloodInsuranceandStatementofAdditionalOptional
Coverages: You are entitled to receive these notices from your insurer
when you purchase a new policy.
• Ifthepolicycontainsananti-concurrentcausationprovision,aninsurer
must provide the insured with a notice explaining that losses caused by a
combination of covered and noncovered perils will not be covered, and
telling the insured to read the policy for complete information on the
policy’s exclusions and to contact the insurer or insurance producer for
more information about the exclusions.
The Maryland Insurance Administration does NOT
recommend or rate insurers.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
ACtions to proteCt
your property
Documentation, maintenance and safety are key.
• Prepareaninventoryofyourhouseholdpersonalpropertybeforealoss.
Whenever possible, include the make, model, and serial number of each
item. Your producer or insurer may be able to provide you with a booklet,
form, or mobile app that you can use to record your inventory. You can
also download a sample inventory form on the Maryland Insurance
Administration’s website, www.mdinsurance.state.md.us. You may want to
videotape or take photos for an inventory of your home and your personal
belongings. Keep your inventory in a safe place, such as a safe deposit
box, where it cannot be lost or damaged. The National Association
of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) also has forms and mobile apps
available at www.insureuonline.org/home_inventory_page.htm.
• Ifyoumakeanadditionorimprovementtoyourhome,remember
to advise your producer or your insurer so your insurance coverage is
increased as needed.
• Makeimprovementsorrepairstothepropertythatmaymitigatelossor
damage from a hurricane or storm. Some examples of mitigation efforts
include the installation of: hurricane shutters, secondary water barriers,
reinforced roof coverings, braced gable ends, reinforced roof-to-wall
connections, tie downs, and reinforced opening protections. Other efforts
include the repair or replacement of: exterior doors (including garage
doors), hurricane resistant trusses, studs and other structural components
and manufactured home piers, anchors and tie-down straps. By law, these
improvements and repairs are recognized as “qualified mitigation actions.”
For all homeowner policies issued, delivered or renewed on or after June
1, 2009, insurers are required by law to offer a discount to policyholders
who submit proof to the insurance company that they made qualified
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mitigation actions or other repairs or improvements that materially
mitigate loss from a hurricane or other storm otherwise covered under the
policy. All improvements must be inspected by a licensed contractor and
are subject to inspection and verification by the insurer.
• Donothideyourkeysinaspecialplaceoutsideyourhome.Burglars
usually know where to look for keys.
• Addwindowlocksandpeepholes.
• Makesuretheexteriorofyourhousehasadequatelighting.
• Keepyourhomefreeofoilyragsandtrashbuildup,anddonotstore
gasoline inside your home. Do not store combustible items in the attic,
basement or any place where heat builds up.
• Buyatleastonefireextinguisherforyourhomeandkeepitinahandy
location. Always have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and be familiar
with how to use it.
• Installsmokedetectorsanddeadboltlocksandconsiderinstallingan
approved fire and burglar alarm system.
• Practicehomefiredrills,soeveryoneknowswhattodoifthereisafire.
Consider purchasing emergency ladders for 2nd and 3rd floors.
• Checklamps,electricalcords,andlightswitchesforfaultywiring.
• Teachyourchildrennottoplaywithmatches.
• Neversmokeinbed.
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
• Placedecalsonthewindowsoftheroomsofchildrenortheelderlyso
emergency personnel will know to evacuate them in an emergency.
• Ifyoupurchaseawoodstove,haveaprofessionalinstallitandbesureto
maintain it on a regular basis.
• Whenyouareawayfromhome,askaneighbortocheckyourhouse.Usea
timer to turn your lights on and off, lock all windows and doors, stop your
paper and mail delivery and consider notifying the police if you will be
away for an extended period of time.
• Keepyoursidewalksclearofdebrisandingoodcondition.
obliGAtions
After A loss
When you are the victim of a theft, fire, or any other type of accident or loss
involving your home, you should notify the authorities immediately and then
contact your insurance producer or insurer as soon as possible. The sooner you
file your claim, the sooner you can expect to receive payment. You must telephone
first, or if the company permits, send an email. But if you do not get an immediate
response, write a letter. Your homeowners policy most likely will require notice of
a claim to be in writing. In most cases, you will be given complete instructions on
how to proceed when you call in the loss immediately.
Remember that your insurance policy sets time limits for getting certain things
done. If you do not fill out your claim forms promptly, or if you fail to protect your
property from further damage or otherwise fail to cooperate with your insurer, your
claim may not be settled to your satisfaction and your coverage may be jeopardized.
Therefore, it is important to respond promptly to all your insurer’s requests.
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If you have questions or concerns about the way your claim is being handled, you
should contact your producer or insurer directly. If you continue to have unresolved
concerns, you should contact the Maryland Insurance Administration for assistance.
Most homeowners insurance policies require you to do the following when a
loss occurs:
• Giveimmediatewrittennoticeofapossibleclaimtoyourproduceror
insurer. If the loss is a theft, you should notify the police and file a report.
If you have lost your checkbook or credit cards, you should notify your
bank or credit card company.
• Protectyourpropertyfromfurtherlossordamage.Ifyoumaketemporary
repairs, keep a record of what you do, and save all receipts for expenses you
incur in undertaking the repairs. For example, this could include buying
plywood and nails to board up broken windows.
• Giveyourproducer,adjusterand/orinsureralistofalldamaged,destroyed
or stolen property. Be sure to keep a copy of this list. In case of theft, be
sure to give a copy to the police.
• Showthedamagedpropertytoyourproducer,adjuster,and/orinsurer.Do
not dispose of any damaged property until your producer, adjuster, and/or
insurer inspects it or tells you that you can dispose of it.
• Ifyoufeelthattheamountofmoneyofferedbyyourinsurertopayforalossis
not fair, there are several alternative courses of action that you may consider:
• Youcandemandanappraisalasperthetermsofyourinsurance
policy;
• YoumayfileacomplaintwiththeMaryland Insurance
Administration; or
• Youmayhirealawyertorepresentyourinterests.
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freQuently Asked
Questions
ClAims
1. I submitted a claim for damage to my dwelling. I have replacement
cost coverage, but my insurer only paid part of the cost of repairs. Can
they do that?
A homeowners policy may provide for replacement-cost coverage for
covered buildings without deduction for depreciation. Under these types
of policies, the insurer may pay the replacement cost in different ways. The
most usual way is for the insurer to make a partial payment (known as the
actual cash value) until the property has been fully repaired. Then, once
the property has been fully repaired, the insurer will pay the difference
(referred to as “recoverable depreciation”), up to the policy limits, between
the amount already paid and the actual cost to repair the building with
similar materials and methods of construction less the amount of your
deductible. For a homeowner’s policy issued or renewed on or after January
1, 2011, by law, an insured has at least two years from the date of loss to
submitaclaimfortherecoverabledepreciation;thepolicywillindicatethe
specific time period applicable to your policy. However, an insurer may
require an insured seeking additional payments (those who intend to claim
the recoverable depreciation) to notify the insurer, within 180 days after
the date of loss of their intent to repair or replace the dwelling.
Depending on the specifics of the claim, an insurer may pay the full
replacement cost up front, less your policy deductible. This type of
settlement generally occurs when there is very minor damage to the
dwelling, so administrative costs to issue multiple checks are saved.
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If you elect not to repair the building, you can submit a claim for the
actual cash value of the damaged building. Payment of the actual cash
value claim would then conclude the claim process, since the building is
not being repaired.
2. I submitted a claim for several items stolen from my home. The
insurer indicated it would not pay my claim unless I submit bills,
receipts, or related documents that will prove I owned these items and
justify the values that I am claiming. Do they have the right not to pay
unless I give this information?
Yes. The insurer has the contractual right to request any information it
feels is necessary to confirm ownership and value of the items claimed. The
ultimate responsibility of proving the loss is yours. Having photographs or
a videotape of your property taken before the loss may help you document
your claim.
3. I submitted a claim for damage to my personal property. I have
replacement-cost coverage, but my insurer only paid a part of the
amount needed to replace my belongings. Can they do that?
Yes. Replacement-cost homeowners insurance policies cover the cost to
repair the damaged contents or the cost to replace them with like kind
and quality items. The insurer will ask that you produce an inventory
or list of all damaged contents, along with the date of purchase, amount
paid and the amount to replace. Once the list has been completed and
provided to the company, the insurer will review all the items, request
proof of purchase or ownership (for some or all) and then prepare an actual
cash value settlement. The actual cash value is the replacement cost less
depreciation. Once you have replaced the items, copies of the receipts are
submitted to the insurer and the amount of depreciation held back by the
company will be paid to you. For example: your sofa was destroyed by a
covered cause of loss, such as fire. The sofa was purchased 10 years ago for
$1,500 and would be fully depreciated in 20 years. Since the sofa is 10
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A Consumer Guide to homeowners insurAnCe
years old, it has depreciated 50%, or $750. The insurer will pay you $750
initially, or the actual cash value of the 10-year-old, used sofa. The cost to
replace the sofa with a similar one of like quality today is $2000. Once you
purchase a new sofa, the receipt is sent to the company and the balance
of the cost to replace, or $1,250 will be paid. If you choose not to replace
the sofa or fail to notify the insurer within the time period specified in the
policy of your intent to repair or replace it, the insurer will pay no further
monies to you and you will receive only the actual cash value of the item.
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, an insured has
at least two years from the date of loss to request the difference between the
actualcashvalueandthereplacementcostofpersonalproperty;thepolicy
will specify the time period applicable to you. However, even if the policy
was issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, an insurer may require an
insured seeking additional payments to notify the insurer within 180 days
after the date of loss of their intent to replace the personal property and to
make a claim for additional monies beyond the actual cash value.
For policies issued or renewed prior to January 1, 2011, the terms of the
policy will dictate the timeframes for providing notice and filing the claim
for recoverable depreciation. It is critical to read your insurance policy
carefully to determine the length of time allowed to notify the insurer of
your intentions and to file a claim for the recoverable depreciation.
4. Can the insurance company issue a check payable to both my mortgage
lender and me in settlement of a claim for damage to my home?
Your homeowners insurance company may issue a check payable to both
you and your mortgage lender in settlement of a claim for damage to your
home so long as the lender is listed as an “additional insured” on your
policy. This information should be listed on the declarations page of your
policy, but you also can call your insurer to confirm this information.
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Typically, a lender will require you to have the insurance company list the
lender as “mortgagee” or “additional insured” on your homeowners policy
as a condition of giving the loan. When a claim is made, the insurance
company must protect the rights of insureds, including the named insured
(you) and any additional insureds ([lender(s)]). To do this, the insurance
company will make claim settlement checks payable to both you and the
lender. You must then present the check to the lender, who will advise you
how the proceeds should be handled.
CAnCellAtions And renewAls
5. Is there a grace period for late premium payments?
Your insurer may cancel your insurance policy for nonpayment of a
premium, even if the payment is just one day late. The insurer must mail
a notice that the policy will be canceled for nonpayment of premium
10 days in advance to the named insured’s last known address, or, if the
insured elected to receive notices electronically from the insurer, the insurer
must provide electronic notification 10 days in advance to the electronic
mail address where the insured has consented to receive notifications from
the insurer. Proof that you actually received notice is not required.
6. What is the difference between a nonrenewal and a cancellation?
Insurance policies are issued for a specific period of time or “term”.
Homeowners insurance policies are usually issued for a term of 12 months.
A nonrenewal occurs when an insurer decides it will not offer to renew your
insurance coverage at the end of the current policy’s term. A cancellation
occurs when an insurer decides to stop your coverage during the effective
period of the policy or before the policy term ends. Maryland law limits
when an insurer can nonrenew a policy or cancel a policy mid-term.
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An insurer may nonrenew your policy:
• ifyoufiledthreeormoreweather-relatedclaimswithinthepreceding
three-yearperiod;
• ifyoumadeamaterialmisrepresentationinconnectionwiththe
application,policy,orpresentationofaclaim;
• ifthereisachangeinthephysicalconditionorcontentsofthe
premises or dwelling that results in an increase in a hazard insured
against and which, if present and known to the insurer prior to the
issuanceofthepolicy,theinsurerwouldnothaveissuedthepolicy;
• ifaninsuredhasbeenconvictedwithintheprecedingfive-yearperiod
of arson, or within the preceding three-year period of a crime that
directlyincreasesthehazardinsuredagainst;or
• ifaninsuredhasotherwiseviolatedtheinsurer’sunderwriting
guidelines.
An insurer may not cancel a policy mid-term except under the following
conditions:
• ifyoucommitfraudormakeamaterialmisrepresentationin
connectionwiththeapplication,policyorpresentationofaclaim;
• ifamatterorissuerelatedtoyourriskconstitutesathreattopublic
safety;
• ifachangeintheconditionoftheriskresultsinanincreaseinthe
hazardinsuredagainst;
• ifyoufailtopayyourpremiumwhendue;or
• ifyouareconvictedofarson.
By law, an insurer is generally required to give the insured notice of the
proposed cancellation or nonrenewal. All required notices must be given
at least 45 days in advance unless the cancellation is for nonpayment of
premiums, in which case the notice must be given at least 10 days in advance.
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7. Does the law require the insurance company to tell me how many
claims I can file before I will be cancelled?
Maryland law requires insurance companies to provide written notice at the
time of application or at the time the policy is issued, and at each renewal
that states that the insurer may cancel or refuse to renew a policy based on
the number of claims you had within the three prior years. This notice
must state that the cancellation or nonrenewal may be based on: (1) three
ormoreweather-relatedclaimswithintheprecedingthree-yearperiod;(2)
one or more weather-related claim made within the preceding three-year
period if the insurance company has provided written notice to the insured
for reasonable or customary repairs or replacement specific to the insured
property that the insured failed to make and that, if made, would have
preventedtheloss;and(3)achangeinthephysicalconditionorcontentsof
the property that increases the hazard insured against and that, if present and
known to the insurance company before issuance of the policy, would have
caused the insurance company to refuse to issue the policy.
8. My insurer cancelled or non-renewed my homeowners insurance
policy; however, I did not receive prior notification. Is this legal?
Maryland law requires your insurer to give you at least 45 days notice prior to
cancelling or nonrenewing your homeowners insurance policy for any reason(s)
other than nonpayment of premium (the law requires only 10 days notice of
cancellation for nonpayment of premium). Your insurer must be able to prove
that it mailed the notice to the named insured’s last known address 45
days in advance of the date of the policy’s cancellation or non renewal, or,
if the insured has elected to receive notices electronically from the insurer,
the insurer must be able to prove that it provided electronic notification at
least 45 days in advance to the electronic mail address where the insured
has consented to receive notifications from the insurer. Proof that you
received the notice is not required.
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9. Can an insurance company transfer my homeowners policy to a
different insurer at renewal?
An insurance company may transfer your policy to an affiliate (owned
by the same parent company) as long as: (1) the affiliated company is
admittedasaninsurerinMaryland;(2)yourpremiumdoesnotincrease;
and (3) there is no reduction in coverage under the policy as a result of
the transfer. The policy issued by the new company will still be considered
a renewal of the expiring policy. The insurer must send a notice of your
renewal policy premium at least 45 days in advance, and that notice must
contain a disclosure of the transfer to the new company.
10. I just received a non-renewal notice because of claims I made over
the past couple of years. Why has the insurer non-renewed my policy
when these claims were not even my fault?
Insurers develop standards (known as underwriting guidelines) that
help them determine if you still qualify for their policies. Each insurer’s
standards will vary from insurer to insurer. Although insurers are
concerned whether a loss is the result of your fault, they also review
and consider the size of the any loss(es) and the frequency of losses. In
Maryland, insurers can choose to non-renew a homeowners’ policy for
weather-related claims only after three weather-related claims within three
years. The standards for non-weather-related claims vary by insurer.
11. Can my insurance company cancel or refuse to renew my homeowners
insurance policy solely because of where the property is located?
An insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowners policy solely
because the risk or applicant’s or insured’s address is located in a certain
geographic area of the state unless:
• atleast60daysbeforetherefusal,theinsurerhasfiledwiththe
Commissionerawrittenstatementdesignatingthegeographicarea;and
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• thedesignationhasanobjectivebasisandisnotarbitraryor
unreasonable.
Additionally, if the insurance company has filed a “plan of material
reduction” with the commissioner in the past 60 days, the insurer may
cancel or nonrenew 3% or more of its policies on a state-wide basis solely
because the risk is located in a certain geographic area of the state.
12. Can my homeowners insurance company require me to insure my car
with them?
No. Maryland law prohibits a homeowners insurance company from
denying, refusing to renew, or canceling a policy solely because the
consumer does not have an automobile insurance policy with the same
company. Insurers are permitted to offer discounts to consumers that
choose to have their homeowners or renter’s policy with their automobile
insurance company though.
CoverAGe
13. My policy has a limit for other buildings and structures, but I do not
have a garage or a shed. Am I paying for coverage I do not need?
A homeowners policy is a package policy designed to meet the needs of
most homeowners. Although it may provide some coverage that you do
not need, it is less expensive for the insurer to issue a policy this way than
to tailor it to each policyholder’s needs. The result is a policy that provides
broader coverage at a lower price.
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14. My insurance premiums are paid by my mortgage company. Can I
shop for a better rate and change insurers?
Yes, you have all the rights and privileges of a consumer who pays a
premium directly to the insurer. However, some mortgage companies
require advance notice of a change in insurers. Check with your mortgage
company’s insurance monitoring department for their requirements.
15. Do I need additional coverage under my homeowners policy if I have
a business in my home?
Liability and property coverage associated with a business is often excluded
under a standard homeowners insurance policy. Therefore, you should
contact your producer or your insurer to determine if you are adequately
protected. You may have to purchase additional coverage or another policy
to protect the property that you use in your business or to protect you
against any liability that may arise from your business operations.
16. Will my homeowners policy pay for damage to my home caused by an
earthquake?
No. A homeowners insurance policy generally does not provide any type
of coverage against damage caused by earthquake or any type of earth
movement, including mudslides. You should contact your producer or
insurer if you have questions regarding this type of coverage.
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solvinG problems
with your insurAnCe
CompAny
1. Contact Your Producer or Insurer
If you believe your insurer has denied you homeowners insurance for an improper
reason or has refused to pay all or part of a valid claim, you have a right to ask
questions and to complain.
Your first step should be to contact your producer or insurer directly to address your
concern(s) with them. Sometimes, a mistake has been made and it will be corrected
if an inquiry is made and the error is brought to light. When making an inquiry,
supply your name, address, telephone number, policy number, type of policy, and
the nature of your complaint. It may be helpful to ask the insurer to send you a
letterexplainingthebasisfortheiraction;thatiswhytheywouldnotinsureyouor
why they are denying your claim or any part of your claim.
A written complaint letter is best. Keep a copy of your letter. If you complain by
telephone, keep a written record of:
• Thedateandtimeofyourcall.
• Thenameofthepersonyoutalkedto.
• Whatwassaidduringthecall.
• Makearequestforawrittenconfirmationofwhatyoudiscussedandwere
told by the insurer.
You should keep copies of all correspondence exchanged between you and the
insurer.
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2. Help from the Maryland Insurance Administration
The Maryland Insurance Administration’s primary role is to protect consumers
from illegal insurance practices by making certain that insurers and producers doing
business in Maryland act in accordance with State insurance laws. You may contact
the Insurance Administration to file a complaint against an insurer or producer
whom you believe is not acting in accordance with Maryland law.
Maryland’s insurance laws not only govern insurers’ conduct -- they also protect
Maryland consumers. In addition to the requirements discussed elsewhere in this
guide, State law bars insurers from settling claims in a manner that is arbitrary and
capricious or discriminatory. This means that insurers’ claim settlement practices
must be fair, nondiscriminatory and adhere to Maryland insurance laws.
If you feel that your insurer has acted improperly, you have the right to take action
by filing a complaint with the Maryland Insurance Administration. However, some
disputes may be governed by your policy’s terms and may not be a problem the
Insurance Administration can resolve for you.
Complaints must be received in writing. Please provide as much detail as possible,
including copies of pertinent documents. A trained, professional investigator will
handle your complaint. The investigator will contact the insurer/producer to try to
resolve the issue. Meanwhile, you will be advised of the steps taken on your behalf.
Complaint files are not closed until the Insurance Administration has made a
determination regarding the complaint.
The MIA has established a Rapid Response Program designed to help certain
consumers resolve property and casualty claims (such as auto and homeowners
claims including those made under commercial lines policies) quickly and without
having to file a formal written complaint. For more information about this
program, please call us at 410-468-2340 or 800-492-6116 ext. 2340. Participation
in the Rapid Response Program is voluntary and does not affect your rights to file a
formal complaint.
To request additional information or to file a complaint, please contact the
Maryland Insurance Administration’s Consumer Complaint Investigation Division
at 410-468-2000 or toll-free at 800-492-6116. Consumers also may file their
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written complaint in person, by mail or on-line at www.mdinsurance.state.md.us.
Under For Consumers, click on File a Complaint.
filinG A Civil ACtion for A first pArty
property & CAsuAlty ClAim
A Maryland consumer who believes that their property and casualty insurer failed
to act in good faith in refusing to settle their first-party insurance claim may seek
special damages against the insurer, both in a private civil lawsuit against the insurer
and in an administrative consumer complaint made with the Maryland Insurance
Administration (MIA).
If a consumer alleges that the failure to pay the first party property and casualty
claim was made in the absence of “good faith,” then the consumer can file a
civil law suit seeking to recover, in addition to the value of the claim, up to the
policy limits: the costs of litigation, including attorneys’ fees up to one-third of
the amount of the actual damages, plus interest at the post-judgment rate. Some
lawsuits that allege the absence of good faith and seek these special damages must
first be submitted to the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) for review and
decision before the suit can proceed in court. An explanation of when a consumer
can seek these special damages, when a lawsuit has to be filed with the MIA, and
how to make that filing are explained in a separate MIA publication: Filing a Civil
Action for a First Party Property & Casualty Claim - Insurer’s Civil Liability for Failure
to Act in Good Faith (Section 27-1001 Complaint).
In addition, a Maryland consumer who believes their insurer did not act in
“good faith” in denying their first-party property and casualty claim, may submit
an administrative consumer complaint to the MIA. If the Commissioner finds
that the insurer did not act in good faith with regard to the first-party claim, the
Commissioner may sanction the insurer by imposing a financial penalty and, in
addition, ordering the insurer to pay:
• thevalueoftheclaim,uptothepolicylimits,
• thecostsoflitigation,includingattorneys’feesuptoone-thirdofthe
amount of the actual damages,
• plusinterestatthepost-judgmentrate.
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GlossAry
1. Actual cash value (ACV) – The value of the property is determined by what it
would cost to replace the property (see replacement cost coverage) and is then
adjusted by subtracting an amount that reflects depreciation with the difference
being the actual cash value.
2. Additional living expense – This coverage provides you with reimbursement for
additional temporary expenses for hotel/apartment living while you are unable to
live in your home as a result of damage to your home caused by a peril covered
by your homeowners policy. This does not cover all your expenses, only those
costs and amounts that are beyond your normal living expenses. If you stay with
family or friends and do not incur additional expenses, no payment will be made.
3. Adjuster – The individual(s) assigned by your insurer to deal directly with you
about your claim.
4. Assessments – A fee charged to each unit owner by the condominium
association as a result of a loss not covered by the master insurance policy or
an amount that represents the portion of a claim that is deductible under the
master policy (see below).
5. Declaration Sheet/Page – The front page of your insurance policy that names
you as the insured, identifies the insured property and sets forth all the coverages
and the maximum limits of each such coverage available to you under the
insurance policy.
6. Deductible – An amount of money that you pay in a property claim before
the insurer payment applies. You can generally choose your deductible amount,
starting at $250.
7. Liability coverage – This coverage provides you with protection against claims
of injury to another person or damage to another person’s belongings when the
loss is your fault.
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8. Master Policy – This policy provides coverage to the condominium building
including the common areas.
9. Medical payments coverage – This coverage provides for the payment of
reasonable and necessary medical expenses of a person who is injured in an
accident at your home even if you are not at fault (medical payments coverage is
not available to you or a member of your household).
10. Named peril policy – This type of homeowners insurance policy covers any
loss that is caused by one of the specifically listed perils included in the policy.
11. Open perils or All risk policy – This type of homeowners insurance policy
covers damage or loss from all causes except those causes specifically excluded
by the policy.
12. Out-building – (also referred to as other structures or appurtenant structures)
This coverage provides protection for damage or loss to detached buildings on
your property such as a tool shed or garage.
13. Peril – A cause or event that contributes to a loss such as fire, lightning, theft, etc.
14. Personal property or contents – This includes everything in your home that is
not built into or affixed to the structure of your home such as clothes, furniture,
appliances, etc. However, it may not provide coverage up to the full value of
collectibles, antiques, furs, jewelry, etc.
15. Property damage coverage – This coverage protects your home and your
personal property.
16. Replacement cost coverage – This type of coverage provides you with payment
for the actual cost of rebuilding or repairing your home or building, less the
amount of your deductible, using materials of the same kind and quality to
return it to the pre-loss condition. The replacement cost of a house does not
include the value of the land.
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Note: This publication was produced to help consumers better understand
homeowners insurance. It should not be considered a substitute for your reading
and familiarizing yourself with your homeowners insurance policy.
Homeowners insurance policies are contracts with many different parts and terms.
As each consumer’s needs are different and few homeowners insurance policies
are alike, many consumers benefit from the advice of a knowledgeable insurance
producer. Other consumers, however, are comfortable dealing directly with an
insurer’s customer service representative, who can answer questions and provide
advice.
MIA-HO-1 (06/14)
Insurance
admInIstratIon
This consumer guide should be used for educational purposes only. It is
not intended to provide legal advice or opinions regarding coverage under a
specificpolicyorcontract;norshoulditbeconstruedasanendorsementofany
product, service, person, or organization mentioned in this guide.
This publication has been produced by the Maryland Insurance Administration
(MIA) to provide consumers with general information about insurance-related
issues and/or state programs and services. This publication may contain
copyrighted material which was used with permission of the copyright
owner. Publication herein does not authorize any use or appropriation of such
copyrighted material without consent of the owner.
All publications issued by the MIA are available free of charge on the MIA’s
website or by request. The publication may be reproduced in its entirety
without further permission of the MIA provided the text and format are not
altered or amended in any way, and no fee is assessed for the publication or
duplication thereof. The MIA’s name and contact information must remain
clearly visible, and no other name, including that of the company or agent
reproducing the publication, may appear anywhere in the reproduction. Partial
reproductions are not permitted without the prior written consent of the MIA.
People with disabilities may request this document in an
alternative format. Requests should be submitted in writing
to the Director of Public Affairs at the address listed below.
200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-468-2000
800-492-6116
800-735-2258 TTY
www.mdinsurance.state.md.us
Martin O’Malley Anthony G. Brown
Governor Lt. Governor