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Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2024

The best home insurance companies offer high-quality coverage that protects against damage to your home’s structure and your property, whether it is caused by lightning, winds, fire, or other covered perils.

Homeowners’ insurance also comes with important liability coverage that can save you financially if someone is injured on your property and decides to sue you for damages.

That said, not all homeowners insurance is created equal, and the best home insurance companies stand out due to the breadth of their policy offerings, the discounts they offer, and their affordable premiums.

To help you find the best home insurance company for your needs and your budget, we compared more than 20 of the top providers based on these factors, as well as third-party rankings from agencies like A.M. Best and J.D. Power.

Our Picks for Best Home Insurance of May 2024

  • Lemonade: Best Online Insurance Company
  • Hippo: Best for Fast Quotes
  • USAA: Best for Military
  • Allied: Best for Flexible Coverage

Best Home Insurance – Company Reviews

These are the best homeowners insurance companies for 2024 based on their coverage options, customer satisfaction scores, available discounts, and more. That said, it’s worth noting that not all of these home insurance companies offer their products nationwide.

Lemonade offers instant home insurance quotes without any hassle, and their rates start at just $25 per month. This insurance company operates online and through its mobile app, which boasts an average rating of 4.6 stars on Google Play and 4.9 out of 5 stars in the App Store.

Because Lemonade uses newer technology, it can provide speedy insurance quotes with just a few clicks of a button. It also promises an incredibly fast claims process with 24/7 customer service. Although the bulk of its insurance claims are handled electronically, Lemonade also offers human customer service agents who can answer questions along the way.

With Lemonade, you have the chance to customize coverage to meet your needs. Its homeowners’ insurance policies can include coverage for your dwelling, other structures, personal belongings, medical payments to others, loss of use, and personal liability.

Liberty Mutual has been in operation since 1912, so the company has more than a century of experience in the insurance space. This provider is also known for letting customers customize policies so they can “pay for only what they need” when it comes to home insurance and other products they provide.

While Liberty Mutual home insurance includes automatic dwelling coverage and personal liability, you have the option to add on items like personal property coverage for replacement cost and water backup and sump pump overflow coverage. Customers can also get a 10% discount for purchasing their policies online. Homebuyers can also get a discount on insurance for their new home.

In business since 1937, Progressive isn’t exactly new in the neighborhood. That said, the company has grown steadily in reputation and market share in recent decades.

We like Progressive because it’s easy to access customer service representatives online or by phone if you prefer. Also, it goes without saying the company has some of the highest grades from independent agencies when it comes to its financial strength.

Also, note that Progressive is one of the only home insurance companies that lets you compare rates across multiple homeowners insurance providers in one place.

 

Hippo prides itself on its “top-notch customer service,” and they are willing to help you through the claims process. While this company started out offering coverage in only 12 states nationwide, Hippo now offers affordable homeowners insurance in 37 different states. 

Hippo makes it easy to get a free quote for home insurance online, and they say you can save up to 25% off homeowners insurance when compared to their competitors. Hippo also offers a “Hippo Smart” program in some states that lets customers qualify for a discount on insurance premiums when they install eligible home monitoring and security systems.

Originally founded in 1864, Travelers has been in operation for longer than most other home insurance companies in operation today. Based in New York City, Travelers Insurance writes policies throughout the nation, which is an important factor for homeowners shopping for new coverage.

With customers all over the country, a company can also more easily absorb disasters such as hurricanes that create a large volume of claims in a short period of time. Independent insurance rating agencies such as A.M. Best and Moody’s also like Travelers, giving it consistently high marks for stability.

Farmers is another nationwide company that earned its spot in our ranking of best home insurance companies. Based in California, Farmers has been tested, and it continues to excel.

This company provides basic home insurance for your dwelling as well as liability coverage, but you can customize your plan with add-on coverage for things like “green” replacement coverage and identity theft protection. A feature called “declining deductible” also lets you earn $50 toward your deductible each year your policy is in force.

We’re particularly attracted to the discounts you can get by having newer safety features on your home or by living in a newly constructed home. Farmers have also received strong ratings for financial strength from A.M. Best, so you can rest assured your eligible claims will be honored.

Unless you’re on active duty, a veteran, or a family member of a military member or veteran, you won’t have access to USAA’s home insurance rates or customer service. But if you are already a USAA member, you can find some of the best homeowners insurance and customer service on the market. Even with its limited pool of potential policyholders, we think highly enough of this company to add them to our ranking.

Standard & Poor’s and A.M. Best think USAA is top-notch as well, giving USAA their highest ratings for financial stability. Further, USAA received the top ranking for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2021. U.S. Home Insurance Study, as well as in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study.

 

Allied Insurance, part of the Nationwide Insurance family, offers solid, flexible coverage at competitive rates. If you prefer getting answers to questions by telephone, you’ll appreciate Allied’s approach to customer service. Also, note that Allied lets you choose from flexible coverage options with the potential to customize your standard home insurance policy to suit your unique needs as well as your budget.

Since policies are backed by Nationwide, which has nine decades of experience, Allied is a reliable and stable partner. If you’re already a Nationwide customer, ask about multi-policy discounts and claim-free discounts.

With one of the lowest customer complaint ratios and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Erie has the makings of a great homeowners insurance partner if you live in an area it serves. A.M. Best gives Erie an A+, one of its highest marks, for financial stability, too.

Erie Home Insurance excels at customer service, and its coverage is strong, too. In fact, Erie Insurance earned the 4th highest ranking across all major home insurance companies in J.D. Power’s 2021. U.S. Home Insurance Study.

Amica Mutual may not have the name recognition of some of our other favorites, but it keeps moving up the list because of consistent praise for its customer service and speedy claims process. In fact, Amica Mutual received exceptional ratings from J.D. Power for customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction in 2021. Both of these studies rely on the user experiences of past customers to form their rankings.

Amica gets high marks for its financial stability, too. They may not do much in terms of national advertising and brand management, but people throughout the country continue to hear about this century-old firm.

Home Insurance Guide

Before you invest in a homeowners insurance policy, you should learn more about home insurance products and how they work. You should also arm yourself with information when it comes to insurance claims and what home insurance policies typically cover.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Just like auto insurance, homeowners insurance offers a variety of protections for various aspects of your property.

Your homeowners’ insurance should protect:

  • Your dwelling, which is a term insurers use for your actual house
  • Other buildings on your property, such as a detached garage or storage building
  • Your personal property, such as furniture, electronics, and appliances
  • Your liability in case someone gets injured on your property
  • Your additional living expenses in case damage to your home requires you to move out for a while

These protections seem straightforward enough at first glance, but when buying coverage, you’ll need to make sure you know exactly what is included. Also, note that some home insurance companies include more features as standard in their policies than others. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to customize your homeowners’ insurance with additional coverage options you believe you could benefit from.

What Doesn’t Home Insurance Cover?

Whether you have a named peril policy or an open peril policy can have a direct impact on whether the disaster that destroyed or damaged your home qualifies for insurance coverage.

  • Named peril policies cover only damage from the perils listed in your policy, whether they’re natural disasters such as windstorms, fire damage from wildfires, and volcanic eruption, or man-made, such as vandalism and civil unrest.
  • Open peril policies cover all damages unless from perils specifically excluded in the policy.

Typically, a named-peril policy costs less because it’s up to the insured to prove property damages resulting from a covered peril. Meanwhile, open peril policies cost more because they can potentially cover a wider range of damages.

The exact inclusions of your homeowners’ insurance coverage depend on the specifics of your policy and the home insurance company you purchase from. However, an array of events are typically excluded from home insurance. These can include:

  • Water damage
  • Power failure
  • Ordinance or law
  • Earth movement
  • Neglect
  • War
  • Nuclear hazard
  • Intentional loss
  • Governmental action
  • Loss to property

In many cases, homeowners can buy add-ons or extra coverage that provides more protection in areas that are typically not covered with a traditional homeowners insurance policy. These are also called endorsements.

For example, it’s possible to buy flood insurance and earthquake insurance in many areas of the country. As we mentioned already, an open perils policy can also provide broader insurance protection for your home and property.

How Much Is Home Insurance?

Generally speaking, home insurance is one of the major costs of owning a home outside of the purchase price and property taxes. Homeowners’ insurance rates vary based on information such as the location and size of your home, the materials your home is built from, other structures on the property, the policy limits you require for your coverage, your home insurance deductible, credit score, and more.

Every insurer also has its own discounts, whether for home security devices like burglar alarms, for installing sprinkler systems, or for bundling in other products, such as life insurance or auto insurance.

That said, a 2021 National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) report states that the national average cost of homeowners insurance worked out to $1,249 per year, or $104.08 per month, at last count.

If you’re curious to find out home insurance costs based on where you live and the property you want to insure, your best bet is shopping around and comparing quotes from at least three of the best home insurance companies. You should plan on shopping around for insurance just like you did when you were wondering how to get approved for a home loan

How to Find the Best Home Insurance Coverage

One of the most crucial steps to finding affordable insurance is shopping for quotes. In fact, you should shop for homeowners policy in the same way you shopped around for the best mortgage rates

Whether you’re shopping for homeowners coverage, renters insurance, or auto insurance policies, Gabi should be at the top of your list. Gabi is a free platform that provides home and auto insurance shoppers with quick rates from leading providers, showing them just how much they can save on their policies. In a matter of minutes, you get access to up to twenty quotes and the option to switch your policy seamlessly.

While using this platform to compare home insurance policies can help you see how pricing stacks up across multiple providers, there are other details to keep in mind. For example, you’ll want to make a true “apples to apples” comparison across providers to make sure you’re getting the same types of coverage and similar policy limits.

You’ll also want to know whether you are buying named perils coverage or open perils coverage, as well as whether policies are offering replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage.

Methodology: How We Found the Best Home Insurance Companies

To find the best homeowners insurance providers, we compared companies based on satisfaction ratings from third-party agencies like J.D. Power and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. We also looked for home insurance companies that offer broad coverage options that allow customization, as well as companies that offer at least five major discounts that can help customers save on premiums.

Finally, we looked for home insurance companies that offer protection in most states, as well as the ability to get a free home insurance quote online.

Summary of the Best Home Insurance Companies

  • Lemonade: Best Online Insurance Company
  • Hippo: Best for Fast Quotes
  • USAA: Best for Military
  • Allied: Best for Flexible Coverage

Bottom Line – Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2024

In 2024, selecting the best homeowners insurance is imperative for safeguarding one’s property and financial interests. Quality home insurance provides coverage for damage from numerous perils and liability in case of accidents on your premises. 

With a plethora of providers in the market, a few shine through due to their comprehensive policy offerings, attractive discounts, and cost-effective premiums. 

Among the standout companies are Lemonade, renowned for its online efficiency; Liberty Mutual, with over a century of trusted service; and Progressive, for its rate comparison feature. 

Others like Hippo, Travelers, Farmers, USAA, Allied, Erie Insurance, and Amica Mutual each bring unique offerings to cater to diverse customer needs. 

However, always ensure you understand the nuances of what’s covered and what’s not, and don’t hesitate to customize your policy based on individual requirements.

The post Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2024 appeared first on Good Financial Cents®.

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Life Insurance With Kidney Problems

People with pre-existing conditions will find getting life insurance to be more difficult than people with a clean bill of health.  Anyone with severe health complications can find that finding an affordable life insurance policy can be a long and frustrating process

When you buy life insurance online, you are essentially entrusting the value of your life over to a financial institution.

After you become deceased, the insurance will have to pay out a benefit to your beneficiaries.

To ensure they keep their investment for as long as possible, insurance companies will avoid insuring people who have a higher death rate than others who are guaranteed to live a long, healthy life.

If you have any kidney problems, your chances of getting approved for life insurance will be significantly lessened. However, there is a chance to get a reasonably good rate depending on your condition, how long you have had the condition and whether or not it has been fully treated.

If you have any kidney problems, you may have been told that you can get life insurance because of your health, but that isn’t true. In fact, there are still plenty of options for affordable and quality life insurance coverage, even with kidney problems

What Is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs located in the lower back that filter waste products from the blood and regulate the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body.

Chronic Kidney Disease Stat

According to CDC: More than 1 in 7 US adults–about 35.5 million people, or 14%–are estimated to have CKD.

There are several different types of kidney disease, ranging from acute conditions that develop suddenly and are often reversible, to chronic conditions that progress slowly over time and can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal disease, is a common and potentially serious condition that can lead to a variety of health problems if not properly managed.

Here is a table summarizing some common types of kidney disease, their symptoms, and treatment options:

Type of Kidney Disease Symptoms Treatment
Acute Kidney Injury Sudden Decrease in Urine Output, Swelling, Confusion, Fatigue, Shortness of Breath Iv Fluids, Medications to Improve Blood Flow to the Kidneys, Dialysis (In Severe Cases)
Chronic Kidney Disease Fatigue, Decreased Appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Sleep Problems, Trouble Concentrating, Muscle Cramps Control of Underlying Condition (e.g. Diabetes, High Blood Pressure), Lifestyle Changes, Medications, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant
Glomerulonephritis Blood in Urine, Foamy Urine, Swelling, High Blood Pressure, Dark Urine Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressive Drugs, Blood Pressure Control
Polycystic Kidney Disease Pain in the Side, Back, or Lower Abdomen, Large Cysts on the Kidneys, High Blood Pressure, Urinary Tract Infections Pain Management, Control of High Blood Pressure, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant
Nephrotic Syndrome Swelling, Especially in the Feet and Ankles, Foamy Urine, Weight Gain, Increased Risk of Infection Control of Underlying Condition, Medications to Suppress the Immune System, Blood Pressure Control

Getting Life Insurance With Kidney Problems Is Difficult, but Not Impossible

You have several options if you have kidney problems. You can find an insurance company who accepts people with kidney problems, get premium financing, or check with guaranteed life insurance companies. If you work for a company that offers life insurance, then group benefits will be a great option for you. They are much easier to qualify for.

Consider Graded Insurance Policies

If that is not an option for you, consider graded benefit life insurance. You will not need a medical exam to apply for this type of insurance. The downside is, it takes up to three years for this insurance to payout.  

These types of plans have a waiting period in place, which means that if you were to pass away within the first two or three years after buying the policy, the insurance company would not pay the face value of the plan.

This waiting period shouldn’t scare you away from buying one of these plans, it’s a great way to get the coverage that you wouldn’t be able to acquire otherwise.

Guaranteed Insurance Policies Are Another Option

Guaranteed life insurance companies offer no medical exam life insurance. However, the rates may be higher, but you can be guaranteed $10,000 to $25,000 of coverage. You can use several of these to build up the coverage you need.

There are some obvious disadvantages to these guaranteed issue policies that you should be aware of when you’re shopping for life insurance. The first, as we mentioned, is that these policies are more expensive than a plan that requires a medical exam.

The insurance company wants to know what type of health you are in before they accept your policy, without the medical exam, they have less information to base their insurance on. To offset that risk, they are going to charge you much more every month.

Another disadvantage is the low limit on how much coverage you can purchase. Most applicants need more life insurance coverage than these guaranteed issue plans offer. Aside from having a life insurance plan, it’s vital that you have enough coverage for your family if anything were to happen to you.

While there are some disadvantages to these types of plans, they are a great option for anyone that has already been declined for insurance coverage by another company. You health shouldn’t prevent you from getting life insurance.

You Can Also Obtain Premium Financing

This is a way to borrow money from the bank to pay for life insurance if you have impaired risk. The bank guarantees that the premiums will be paid and the insurance company promises the loan will be paid off if the insured dies. The payments for the loan will be fully or partially covered by the bank. If the loan is standard, you will have to make loan payments but those payments will be lower than any premium you would have had to pay. If the loan is non-recourse, then it will be paid off from the insured’s death benefit.

You can also ask your doctor if they will be willing to talk with the underwriting department of your insurance company on your behalf. Your doctor may be able to vouch for your condition with your insurance company. You should also shop around to different insurance companies to see which ones will allow you to get life insurance with kidney problems.

Potential Kidney Diseases That Could Affect Your Life Insurance

There are several different medical conditions that can affect your life insurance coverage.  Each condition will have it’s own unique affect on the cost of insurance.  Here are a few sample conditions:

  • Kidney Stones
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Proteinuria
  • Renal Insufficiency

If you have some sort of kidney disease, here are some questions that we’ll need answered to best get you with the right insurance company and the most affordable life insurance rate.

  • Please provide date of first diagnosis with kidney disease.
  • Please indicate specific name of the kidney disorder diagnosed by your physician.
  • Please provide approximate dates and readings of known blood pressure measurements.

Approximate date, systolic/diastolic reading.

  •  Please advise of the following laboratory findings if previously and recently done by your physician:
  1. a. Protein in the urine (protein urea)
  2. b. Blood in the urine (hematuria)
  3. c. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN level)
  4. d. Creatinine level.
  5. e. Of these, we need to find the date of the most recent test, the level of findings and the normal reference range.
  • Does the proposed insured take any medication? If so, list the name of medication, date used, quantity taken and frequency taken.
  • Is there any know family history related to kidney or cardiovascular disease?
  • If yes, please describe.

Ways To Lower Your Insurance Premiums with Kidney Disease

All of these factors are going to play an important role in how much you pay for your life insurance. The company is going to lo ok at all of these and many more things to calculate how much of a risk you are to insure. The higher the risk, the more you’re going to pay every month for the policy. If you want to get lower premiums, there are several lifestyle changes that you can make to save yourself some money on the coverage.

Improve Your Health

The first is to improve your overall health through diet and exercise. Both of these are going to help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and much more. The better your health is, the lower your monthly premiums are going to be for your life insurance.

Eliminate Tobacco Use

Another way to increase your chances of being approved for coverage and to get lower rates is to cut any tobacco that you use. If you’re a smoker, that’s going to drastically increase how much you pay for coverage. In fact, it could double your premiums.

Shop Around For Premium Options

Also, make sure to shop around for different premiums based on your age, as one company may offer lower premiums than another. Generally, it really depends on your condition if you are able to get insurance or not. If you are in fairly good health otherwise, then your chances of getting insurance will be much higher.

Benefits of Obtaining Life Insurance with Kidney Problems

Securing life insurance when you have kidney problems offers several essential benefits that can provide peace of mind and financial security for you and your loved ones:

  • Financial Protection for Your Family
    Life insurance ensures that your family or beneficiaries receive a financial payout, known as the death benefit, when you pass away. This lump sum can help cover various expenses, such as mortgage payments, daily living costs, outstanding debts, and even future education expenses for your children. It provides a safety net that eases the financial burden on your loved ones during a challenging time.
  • Estate Planning and Inheritance
    Life insurance can be a valuable component of your estate planning. It allows you to leave a legacy for your heirs or favorite charitable causes. By designating beneficiaries, you ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, even if you have significant medical conditions like kidney problems.
  • Peace of Mind and Reduced Stress
    Knowing that you have life insurance coverage in place can provide you with peace of mind. You can rest assured that your family will have the financial resources they need to maintain their quality of life and achieve their long-term goals. This peace of mind can reduce stress and allow you to focus on managing your kidney condition and enjoying your time with loved ones.
benefits of life insurance

Bottom Line – Life Insurance With Kidney Disease

Life insurance is one of the best purchases that you’ll ever make for your loved ones. If you have any pre-existing health conditions like kidney problems, you may think it’s impossible to find an affordable life insurance plan, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Don’t wait any longer to get the insurance protection that your family deserves.

FAQs on Life Insurance and Kidney Problems

Can I get life insurance if I have kidney problems?

Yes, you can still get life insurance if you have kidney problems. However, the cost and coverage options will depend on the severity of your condition and other factors such as age, overall health, and lifestyle.

How will my kidney condition affect my life insurance policy?

The insurance company will consider your kidney condition when determining the cost and coverage options for your policy. If your condition is severe, it may lead to higher premiums or a reduced coverage amount.

Do I need to disclose my kidney condition to the life insurance company?

Yes, it is important to disclose any medical conditions, including kidney problems, to the life insurance company when applying for coverage. Failure to do so could result in a denial of benefits if you pass away during the policy term.

Research Articles Cited

  1. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States (2021) CKD Is Common Among US Adults. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-national-facts.html

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