If you wish to discuss mitigation discounts and efforts you could take to possibly reduce your premium, such as installation of automatic sprinkler systems in all rooms of your dwelling, addition of a central station monitored fire and burglary alarm, a new roof or change to roofing material, or if a water supply or fire station is now closer to your home, please contact us at 1-800-466-3748. These discounts range from 5-35% of applicable peril premium.
New York Insurance Law, section 2612, prohibits insurers from discrimination based on being a victim of domestic violence. This law states that no insurer, solely because a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence, may:
The fact that a person is or has been a victim of domestic violence is not a permitted underwriting criterion. This law also contains protections for victims of domestic violence regarding health insurers who receive a valid order of protection against the policyholder. The insurer is prohibited for the duration of the order from disclosing to the policyholder the address and telephone number of the insured, or of any person or entity providing covered services to the insured. The insurer should also honor a reasonable request by a person covered by an insurance policy to receive communications of claim related information by alternative means or at alternative locations if the person clearly states that disclosure of all or part of the information could endanger the person.
If any person covered by a Homesite insurance policy, issued to another person as the policyholder, delivers to Homesite a valid order of protection in the State of New York, against the policyholder, Homesite shall be prohibited for the duration of the order from disclosing to the policyholder the address and telephone number of the insured, or of any person or entity providing covered services to the insured. If a child is the covered person, the right established by this provision may be asserted by, and shall also extend to, the parent or guardian of the child.
Below are the applicable Protection Protocols Request Procedures for a person who is or has been a victim of domestic violence:
For additional assistance, please contact the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline.
NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-924-6906
Spanish language: 1-800-942-6908
In NYC: 1-800-621-HOPEor dial 311
TTY: 1-866-604-5350
Please be advised that the employees at Homesite have up to three business days to implement the necessary protocol to secure your contact information and other confidential identifying information.
Insurance fraud is an act committed with the intent to deceive an insurer for the purpose of profit or gain. Insurance fraud could involve making false representations on an insurance application, inflating an insurance claim, and billing for services never rendered.
Email: askSIU@afics.com
Phone: 608-242-4100 x29510
NICB: https://www.nicb.org/speak_up/speak-up
1-800-835-6422
Title 27. Insurance. (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 22. Property Insurance Contracts. (Refs & Annos)
Article 3. Alabama Homeowners Bill of Rights Act. (Refs & Annos)
§ 27-22-42. Policyholders bill of rights.
The following shall serve as the minimum standards to be followed by the Alabama Department of Insurance in exercising the department's powers and duties in regulating insurance companies pursuant to Chapter 12. The Department of Insurance and insurance companies shall post this list or an electronic link of this list on their respective websites. These standards include the following:
CREDIT(S)
(Act 2012-510, p. 1521, § 3.)
HISTORY
Effective date:
The act which added this section was approved by the Governor on May 22, 2012. For effective date, see the Code Commissioner's Notes preceding § 27-2-40.
Ala. Code 1975 § 27-22-42, AL ST § 27-22-42
Current through Act 2014-457 of the 2014 Regular Session.
Alaska Only
In connection with this application for insurance or notice of renewal, we will review your credit report or obtain or use a credit-based insurance score based on the information contained in your credit report. We may use a third party in connection with the development of your insurance score. We may use this information to decide whether to insure you or how much to charge.
Colorado Only
Please be advised that we offer a variety of endorsements to enhance the coverage provided by your policy. The following endorsements are available to Colorado policyholders:
Extended Replacement Cost Coverage for Coverage A – Dwelling and B – Other Structures
This endorsement provides an additional amount of insurance for Coverage A and Coverage B if there is a covered loss to the dwelling or other structure(s) and the cost to repair or replace the damaged building(s) exceeds the applicable limit of liability stated in the Declarations. Additional amounts of insurance of 25% and 50% are available to all Colorado HO 00 03 and HF 00 09 homeowners policyholders. This optional coverage can help you to rebuild your home and other structures when the cost of materials and labor increase due to a surge in demand, which may occur as a result of a wildfire or other event that causes substantial damage in a particular area.
Ordinance or Law – Increased Amount of Coverage
Your policy provides limited coverage for the increased costs that you incur due to the enforcement of any ordinance or law which regulates the construction, demolition, remodeling, renovation or repair of that part of a covered building or other structure damaged by a Peril Insured Against. You may purchase an increased amount of coverage of 20% of the Coverage A limit of liability (for Form HO 00 04, this is based on the limit of liability that applies to Building Additions and Alterations). Other limits may be available. This coverage can help cover the increased costs to repair or replace damaged property in accordance with current building code requirements.
Please call us or your agent to learn more or to add these optional coverages to your policy.
Delaware Only
In connection with this application for insurance, we may obtain or use a credit based insurance score based on the information contained in your credit report. We may use a third party in connection with the development of your insurance score. If we do use a credit based score, you will have the right on an annual basis to request that we obtain your updated insurance score, based on a current credit report, to determine whether use of the new insurance score would result in a decrease in your insurance premium. If the new score would result in a decrease in your premium, we will make that reduction. If the new credit information would not reduce your premium, your credit report will not be used to impact your premium in any way.
Florida Only
Any person who knowingly and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive any insurer files a statement of claim or an application containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
Hurricane Mitigation Discounts Florida Hurricane Mitigation Discounts
Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802
Oregon Only
Any person who, with intent to defraud or knowing that he is facilitating a fraud against an insurer, submits an application or files a claim containing a false or deceptive statement may be guilty of insurance fraud.
Wildfire eligibility and mitigation
Homesite uses a wildfire risk model to assess the real-world exposure of critical infrastructure and property. The wildfire model returns a wildfire hazard and risk (severity and probability) classification for any address or geocoded location that is sensitive to and dependent on fuel, weather, topography and the resultant fire behavior calculations in conjunction with community-level attributes that mitigate or exacerbate wildfire exposure. The model differentiates wildfire risk through calculated fire behavior, ember generation and how fires transition from wildland into wildland urban interface and urban areas.
Part of the wildfire risk model is Wildfire Risk Score which is determined for each location and is on a scale of 1-50 with 1 indicating minimal wildfire risk and 50 indicating the most extreme wildfire risk. The Wildfire Risk Score is used to determine the policy premium for Homeowners policies, starting on or after September 8, 2016, and is used to determine coverage eligibility of the property in the underwriting evaluation for all new business, renewals, rewrites and location changes. If the Wildfire Risk Score is above the eligible threshold, the exposure is deemed ineligible for coverage with Homesite. Community-level attributes that mitigate or exacerbate wildfire exposure are accounted for in the wildfire risk classification model, but no additional underwriting expectations or premium discounts are offered.
For houses which meet our wildfire underwriting rules and are eligible for coverage, we offer the Wildfire Defense Services, an optional endorsement that provides homeowner customers with pre- and post-fire mitigation efforts to reduce the impact of wildfire damage to the insured's property.
Marijuana Items and Activities Coverage Notice
Under Section I – Property Coverages, marijuana items are covered under Coverage C – Personal Property, subject to any applicable policy sublimits. Examples of property sublimits that may apply include a limit for business property and limits on Trees, Shrubs and Other plants. Please see your policy contract for more information.
Under Section II –Liability Coverages, Coverage E – Personal Liability and Coverage F do not apply to bodily injury or property damage arising out of the use, sale, manufacture, delivery, transfer or possession by any person of marijuana. The exclusion of these marijuana activities does not apply to the legitimate use of Marijuana by a person following the lawful orders of a licensed health care professional.
Alabama Only
Policyholder Bill Of Rights
The purpose of this Act is to set forth the rights Alabama homeowners have with respect to their insurance policies and with insurance companies. Section 3 of the Act sets out the following minimum standards to be followed by the Alabama Department of Insurance in exercising the Department’s powers and duties in regulating insurance companies pursuant to Title 27, Chapter 12, Code of Alabama 1975. These standards include the following.
Policyholders shall have the right to competitive pricing practices of insurers as prescribed by applicable federal or state insurance law and regulation.
Policyholders shall have the right to insurance advertising and sales approaches that provide representative information on the policy in accordance with Title 27, Chapter 12, Code of Alabama 1975.
Policyholders shall have the right to assurance that the insurance market in general and their insurance company in particular are financially stable as provided in Section 27-12-7, Code of Alabama 1975.
Policyholders shall have the right to receive service from licensed producers in accordance with Title 27, Chapter 7, Code of Alabama 1975, and to request the license status of an insurance company or producer.
Policyholders shall have the right to a policy as prescribed in Title 27, Chapter 14, Code of Alabama 1975, to receive a complete policy, and to request a duplicate or replacement policy, if needed.
Policyholders shall have the right to receive in writing from their insurance company the reason for any cancellation of coverage and a minimum number of days’ notice of cancellation of coverage, subject to applicable federal or state insurance law and regulation.
Policyholders shall have the right to cancel their policy and receive a refund of any unearned premium. If a policy was funded by a premium finance company, the unearned premium will be returned to the premium finance company to pay toward the policyholder’s financing loan.
Policyholders shall have the right to a written notification, at renewal, describing changes in their insurance contract language that are applicable to the renewal period.
Policyholders shall have the right, in the event of a claim, to reject any settlement amount offered by the insurance company.
Policyholders shall have the right to select their licensed contractor or vendor to repair, replace, or rebuild damaged property covered by the insurance policy.
Policyholders shall have the right to file a written complaint against any insurance company with the Department of Insurance and to have that complaint reviewed by the Department of Insurance.
Policyholders shall have the right to file a written complaint against any insurance producer with the Department of Insurance and to have that complaint reviewed by the Department of Insurance
Flood Coverage Disclosure Notice
All homeowner insurance policyholders are cautioned that:
Your policy excludes coverage for damage caused by flooding of all types. This exclusion may exclude any and all damages resulting from storm surge from a hurricane, surface water, flash floods, waves, tidal water, tidal waves, wind driven rain or water, or any other overflow of water, and spray from any of these events. For further details, please see the language of your policy. The language of your policy will control the obligations of the parties.
You are further advised that to be covered for such a loss, you will have to obtain a separate flood insurance policy by applying to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Your need for flood coverage can be confirmed with the NFIP or your mortgage lender. If available in your location, the NFIP can provide both structure and contents coverage. A claim under a flood insurance policy may be adjusted and paid on a different basis than a claim under a homeowners policy.
You can contact the National Flood Insurance Program for information at:
National Flood Insurance Program
P.O. Box 619
Lanham, MD 20706
Statement of Additional Optional Coverages
Not included in the Standard Homeowners Insurance Policy
Your standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover all risks. You may need to obtain additional insurance to cover loss or damage to your home, property, and the contents of your home to cover the risks related to business or personal activities on your property. We offer the following additional coverages that you may choose to purchase. We urge you to review these optional endorsements and credits.
Extended Replacement Cost on Dwelling This endorsement can be used to increase Coverage A (dwelling) by either 25% or 50% to better accommodate a customer's needs.
Earthquake This covers against a direct physical loss caused by an earthquake or earth movement. You may add this additional coverage for an additional premium. It is subject to a percentage of Coverage A deductible.
Increase Deductibles By increasing the deductible, the policyholder may lower the cost of annual insurance premium. For instance increasing a $500 deductible to a $1000, 1% or 2% may decrease the annual premium significantly.
Increase Limits on Other Structures Provides additional limits for Coverage B if needed. Only structures on the insured premises apply. You may increase up to double the original Coverage B amount.
Water Back up and Sump Overflow Provides coverage for direct physical loss due to water backing up through sewers or drains and water which overflows from a sump. This is not a flood coverage, which requires a separate policy.
Replacement Cost on Personal Property This endorsement protects the customer from receiving the depreciated value for their personal property. Instead contents will be replaced with new items of like kind and quality.
Increased Limits on Personal Property This endorsement offers the insured the ability to increase certain personal property coverages from the standard homeowners limit. For instance, the basic homeowners policy insures jewelry for up to $1000 for the named perils; a customer may choose to increase that coverage to $5000.
Increased Limits on Business Property For additional premium, this endorsement may increase the coverage for "business" property on the "residence premises".
Scheduled Personal Property For additional premium, we offer open perils coverage for items such as jewelry, furs, cameras, musical instruments, silverware, fine arts and golfer's equipment. Not subject to a deductible, these items would be covered for the appraised value.
Special Computer Coverage For additional premium, this would broaden the coverage for your computer due to direct physical loss. For example, if the policyholder drops a glass of water on the computer, this would be covered. This endorsement is subject to the policy deductible.
Identity Theft This endorsement covers up to $15,000 for expenses incurred by the insured as a direct result from identity theft. The deductible would only be $250.
Loss Assessment Coverage Specially designed for condominium owners, this coverage provides protection for assessments made by the condominium association resulting from loss to the property. The policyholder can choose the limit of coverage they wish up to $25,000 if the loss is caused by an insured peril.
Watercraft This endorsement extends the limit of liability on your homeowners policy to your watercraft. This does not cover for the physical loss of the watercraft.
Personal Injury With this endorsement, you can extend the limit of liability on your homeowners policy to cover you against libel, slander, and invasion of privacy.
Home Day Care Coverage Registered family day care providers can purchase liability coverage in the amount of at least $300,000 to protect you against claims of bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury arising out of your activities as a day care provider.
***Additional endorsements and credits are subject to availability and qualification.
California Only
Increased Dwelling Protection is important in the event there is a covered loss to your home that exceeds your dwelling limit. This protection will provide up to an additional 25%, and in some areas 50% of your dwelling limit in coverage. For example, if you have dwelling protection with a dwelling limit of $200,000 on your policy, and you purchase Increased Dwelling Protection of 25%, your home is covered for an additional $50,000 for a total dwelling limit of $250,000. Your coverage limits, deductibles, and certain exclusions may apply. Please read your Homesite insurance policy for details once you receive it after purchasing.
Fraud Warning
For your protection California law requires the following to appear on this form. Any person who knowingly presents false or fraudulent information to obtain or amend insurance coverage or to make a claim for the payment of a loss is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in state prison.
Connecticut Only
Homesite considers lapses in coverage in determining the premium charged for your policy. We may be able to offer you an accommodation if you had a lapse in your previous coverage as the result of active military duty in the armed forces or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces (including National Guard). Please contact our customer service department for more information.
District of Columbia Only
Sewer Line Backup Coverage Not Included
Minnesota Only
THE INSURER MAY ELECT TO CANCEL COVERAGE AT ANY TIME DURING THE FIRST 59 DAYS FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF THE COVERAGE FOR ANY REASON WHICH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED BY STATUTE.
New Jersey Only
Mass Marketing Disclosure Notice
The following features apply to the mass marketing plan for which you may qualify:
Special Discounts — Mass Marketing Account Deviation: If you are a member, employee or are associated with one of our sponsored groups, you may qualify for a discount off the base rates for Homeowners, Tenants, or Condo policies.
Premium Rates and Coverages — Rates are based on numerous factors including location, coverages, limits, and deductibles selected.
Descriptions of Coverages and Duration of Coverage — Information regarding the descriptions of the coverages selected, and the duration of coverage is included on the Declarations page of the policy.
Association Termination — Should your membership, employment or association end during the policy period with the group sponsoring this program, your coverage will continue. However, on the renewal after you discontinue membership, employment or association, the mass marketing discount will be removed.
Customer Service — Please contact our customer service department for more information.
New Mexico Only
We may collect information from sources other than you or someone else named in your application. This information may include confidential abuse information; that is, confidential information regarding acts of domestic abuse; the work, home, school, or other address or telephone number of a victim of domestic abuse; an applicant’s or insured’s status as a victim of domestic abuse; or their status as a family member, employer or associate of a victim of domestic abuse or a person with whom an applicant is known to have a direct, close personal, family, or abuse-related counseling relationship.
Protected Persons
All insurance companies are prohibited by law from using anyone’s confidential abuse status as a basis for denying coverage; refusing to issue, renew, or reissue a policy; canceling or otherwise terminating a policy; restricting or excluding policy coverage or benefits; or charging a higher premium for a policy.
A protected person has a right to request access to any confidential abuse information we have about them in our records or files. A protected person also has a right to request that we correct, amend, or delete any such information we have about them in our records or files. A notice detailing our confidential abuse information practices is available on request.
New York Only
New York Insurance Law §3114 prohibits an insurer from cancelling, refusing to issue, refusing to renew, or increasing the premium of a policy solely on the basis that one or more claims have been made against any policy during the preceding 60 months for a loss that is the result of a hate crime. If you filed and received payment on a property insurance claim against this policy or a policy written by another carrier for such a loss within the last 60 months, you may be eligible for a reduced premium. Please call us or your agent for more information.
North Dakota Only
We will consider the insured’s claims history in determining whether to decline, cancel, nonrenew, or surcharge a policy and claims you incur will be reported to an insurance support organization.
South Carolina Only
THE INSURER CAN CANCEL THIS POLICY FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING WITHOUT CAUSE DURING THE FIRST 120 DAYS. THAT IS THE INSURER'S CHOICE. AFTER THE FIRST 120 DAYS, THE INSURER CAN ONLY CANCEL THIS POLICY FOR REASONS STATED IN THE POLICY.
Texas Only
Use of Credit Information Disclosure
Vermont Only
We do not disclose, and do not wish to reserve the right to disclose, nonpublic personal information about customers or former customers to affiliates except as authorized under Sections 15, 16, and 17 of VT ADC 4-3-42.
Virginia Only
In connection with this application for insurance, we shall review your credit report or obtain or use an insurance credit score based on the information contained in that credit report. We may use a third party in connection with the development of your insurance credit score. You may request that your credit information be updated and if you question the accuracy of the credit information, we will, upon your request, reevaluate you based on corrected credit information from a consumer reporting agency.
West Virginia Only
We use your credit information to produce an insurance score. This insurance score has an effect on the premium that you pay for your insurance. We are required by the Insurance Commissioner to recheck your credit information no less than once every 36 months for changes. You have the option to request that we recheck your insurance score more frequently than once every 36 months, but you can only make this request once during any 12-month period. If there has been a change in your insurance score, we will re-underwrite and re-rate the policy based upon the current credit report or insurance score. The change in your insurance score may result in an increase or a decrease in the premium that you pay for your insurance. Any changes in your premium will take place upon renewal if your request is made at least 45 days before your renewal. If the request is made less than 45 days before your renewal date, the insurer shall re-underwrite and re-rate the policy for the following renewal.
Homesite considers lapses in coverage in determining the premium charged for your policy. We may be able to offer you an accommodation if you had a lapse in your previous coverage as the result of active military duty in the armed forces or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces (including National Guard). Please contact our customer service department for more information.
