Homeowners coverage provides financial protection against loss due to disasters, theft and accidents. Most standard policies include four essential types of coverage: coverage for the structure of your home; coverage for your personal belongings; liability protection; coverage for additional living expenses
Coverage for the structure of your home
Your homeowners policy pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disasters listed in your policy. Most policies also cover detached structures such as a garage, tool shed or gazebo—generally for about 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of the house.
A standard policy will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear.
When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, remember this simple guideline: Purchase enough coverage to rebuild your home.
Coverage for your personal belongings
Your furniture, clothes, sports equipment and other personal items are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by fire, hurricane or other insured disasters. The coverage is generally 50 to 70 percent of theinsurance you have on the structure of the house.
The best way to determine if this is enough coverage is to conduct a home inventory.
Personal belongings coverage includes items stored off-premises—this means you are covered anywhere in the world. Some companies limit the amount to 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have for your possessions. You also have up to $500 of coverage for unauthorized use of your credit cards.
Expensive items like jewelry, furs, art, collectibles and silverware are covered, but there are usually dollar limits if they are stolen. To insure these items to their full value, purchase a special personal property endorsem*nt or floater and insure the item for its officially appraised value.
Trees, plants and shrubs are also covered under standard homeowners insurance—generally for about $500 per item. Trees and plants are not covered for disease, or if they have been poorly maintained.
Liability protection
Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by your pets. So, if your son, daughter (or even your dog) accidentally ruins a neighbor’s expensive rug, you are covered. (However, if they destroyyourrug, you’re out of luck.)
The liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards—up to the limit stated in your policy documents.
Liability limits generally start at about $100,000, however, it’s a good idea to discuss whether you should purchase a higher level of protection with your insurance professional. If you have significant assets and want more coverage than is available under your homeowners policy, consider purchasing anumbrellaor excess liability policy, which provides broader coverage and higher liability limits.
Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage, so if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company. This way, expenses can be paid without a liability claim being filed against you. It does not, however, pay the medical bills for your own family or your pet.
Additional living expenses (ALE)
ALE pays the additional costs of living away from home if you cannot live there due to damage from a an insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other costs, over and above your usual living expenses, incurred while your home is being rebuilt.
Keep in mind that the ALE coverage in your homeowners policy has limits—and some policies include a time limitation. However, these limits are separate from the amount available to rebuild or repair your home. Even if you use up your ALE your insurance company will still pay the full cost of rebuilding your home up to the policy limit.
If you rent out part of your house, ALE also covers you for the rent that you would have collected from your tenant if your home had not been destroyed.
Next steps: Purchasing a home? Get the Home Buyers Insurance Checklist.
FAQs
Home insurance usually covers the structure of your home and your personal belongings, typically covering the cost to repair or rebuild your home after a covered event, such as fire, hurricane, vandalism, or theft. Many policies will also cover detached structures, such as a garage, shed, fence, or gazebo.
What is not included in a standard homeowners policy? ›
Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered. Damage caused by smog or smoke from industrial or agricultural operations is also not covered. If something is poorly made or has a hidden defect, this is generally excluded and won't be covered.
What does a standard insurance policy cover? ›
When buying auto insurance, there are two main types of coverage to choose from: A Standard Policy usually provides minimum liability coverage (which will protect your assets) and uninsured motorist limits of $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage.
Which of the following does a standard homeowners insurance policy cover? ›
Well, homeowners insurance helps protect you, your home and your belongings from all sorts of unexpected events. And with a standard policy you'll get four key types of coverage: dwelling, other structures, personal property and liability.
Which event is usually covered as part of a standard homeowners insurance plan? ›
Typically covered by a homeowners policy if damage is caused by: Fire or lighting. Windstorm or hail. Explosion.
What is standard home insurance coverage? ›
Home insurance usually covers the structure of your home and your personal belongings, typically covering the cost to repair or rebuild your home after a covered event, such as fire, hurricane, vandalism, or theft. Many policies will also cover detached structures, such as a garage, shed, fence, or gazebo.
Which of the following would not be covered under a standard homeowners policy? ›
A standard policy will not pay for damage caused by a flood, earthquake or routine wear and tear. When purchasing coverage for the structure of your home, remember this simple guideline: Purchase enough coverage to rebuild your home.
What is in standard policy? ›
Standard form or policy describes an insurance policy form that is designed to be used by many different insurers and has exactly the same provisions regardless of the insurer issuing the policy.
What are the six categories typically covered by homeowners insurance? ›
A standard homeowners insurance policy covers the following:
- Dwelling Coverage.
- Other Structures Coverage.
- Personal Property Coverage.
- Loss of Use / Additional Living Expenses Coverage.
- Liability Coverage.
- Medical Payments to Others Coverage.
Key Takeaways
Damage or destruction due to vandalism, fire and certain natural disasters are all usually covered. So is your liability if someone is injured on your property. Certain catastrophes, like flooding or earthquakes, are generally not covered by basic homeowners policies and require specialized insurance.
Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages.
What is the most common homeowners insurance policy? ›
What it is: HO-3 coverage is the most common type of homeowners insurance. It is also known as special form coverage. Under HO-3 insurance, your home will typically be covered at its replacement cost, while your personal property will be covered up to its actual cash value.
What is the most complete homeowners insurance policy coverage called? ›
Called a comprehensive policy, an HO-5 policy offers the highest level of insurance coverage for houses and belongings. It covers your house and belongings under all circ*mstances except those listed as exclusions in the policy. The exclusions for HO-5 policies are the same as those under an HO-3.
Which of the following is not covered by a standard homeowners hazard insurance policy? ›
Standard homeowners insurance does NOT cover damage caused by flooding, earthquakes, termites, mold, or normal wear and tear. Learn about all the different home insurance exclusions and how to get covered.
What is a standard plan in insurance? ›
Standardized plans are a policy option that can simplify Marketplace consumer comparison shopping and bring more value to consumers by offering the same deductibles and cost-sharing across plans.
Which would normally not be included in a standard homeowners insurance policy quizlet? ›
The damage from normal wear and tear is one of the excluded perils from a typical homeowners' insurance policy.
What is excluded on a homeowners policy? ›
Earthquakes, landslides and sinkholes generally aren't covered under home insurance. Exceptions include Florida and Tennessee, where insurers must offer optional sinkhole protection. Aside from that, you'll need separate coverage for these disasters, which your insurer can help you find.
What is not covered under a dwelling policy? ›
Dwelling coverage only applies to structures attached to your main residence, meaning that detached garages, sheds, barns, unattached guest homes, fences, or any other detached structures are typically not covered under dwelling coverage.
What does homeowners insurance not cover quizlet? ›
Typical homeowners insurance policies offer coverage for damage caused by fires, lightning strikes, windstorms and hail. But, it's important to know that not all natural disasters are covered by homeowners insurance. For example, damage caused by earthquakes and floods are not typically covered by homeowners insurance.
