FAIR Plan home insurance: Insurance for high-risk homes

FAIR Plan insurance policies are programs available in most states to provide home insurance for owners of high-risk properties who have trouble finding coverage in the standard market.

Standing for Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, FAIR plans provide a last-resort option to allow homeowners to get the coverage they need to meet lender requirements and to protect their homes. FAIR plans provide home insurance when efforts to find reasonably priced policies on the private market have failed.

FAIR plans are not available in all states, but are continuing to expand; Colorado is the latest state to create one in response to growing wildfire risk.

What is FAIR Plan insurance?

FAIR Plan insurance is a homeowners insurance plan that is provided to homeowners unable to find affordable coverage on the private market.

Most FAIR plans are set up by the state to assign high-risk homes to insurance companies, which are required to offer a policy. All of the insurance companies in the state must participate, and the risk is spread across the insurance companies.

In Florida and Louisiana, a state-run company called Citizens is responsible for insuring high-risk homes that have been denied elsewhere.

A homeowners insurance plan purchased through a state FAIR Plan may differ in some ways from what you can purchase directly from an insurance companies.

What does FAIR Plan insurance cover?

Every FAIR plan home insurance policy covers the basics, including damages from:

• Fire
• Vandalism
• Riots
• Windstorms

FAIR plans are generally some form of a basic homeowners policy, which may not be as broad in scope as a standard policy. Some may offer liability coverage and other coverage options. Plans vary by state, so it’s important to ask about any differences when obtaining coverage.

FAIR Plan requirements

FAIR plans are the insurer of last resort for those who cannot get coverage elsewhere. You must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this coverage.

When you apply, you may have to show proof that you were unable to find standard coverage. To request coverage from the District of Columbia Property Insurance Facility, for instance, you must submit a copy of the cancellation or nonrenewal statement from your current home insurance carrier, along with your application to the plan.

Most new homeowners insurance applicants through Florida’s Citizens must first seek coverage through a clearinghouse to see if any private options are available. New applicants can purchase policies from Citizens only if they receive no comparable private offers or if the rates offered by private companies are 15% higher than those offered by Citizens.

To secure FAIR Plan coverage, you must make improvements that lower your insurance risk in specific ways, such as reducing the potential for fire, theft or water damage. This might include:

• Upgrading electrical wiring, heating or plumbing systems
• Repairing the roof
• Improving security features within the home

How FAIR Plan insurance works for high-risk homes

As home insurance becomes more difficult to obtain in areas of the country affected by severe weather, more homes are being classified as high-risk simply because of their location.

A high-risk home is generally any home with risk factors that put it outside of what is considered acceptable by most home insurance companies. While many insurers will charge higher rates based on increased risk, there comes a point where one of two things happens:

• Insurance companies deny the home coverage
• The quoted rate is so high that it’s unaffordable and therefore impossible for the homeowner to take on

In either situation, FAIR Plan coverage becomes the last resort to get coverage that the homeowner can afford. While rates may still be high, they are intended to be affordable, allowing homeowners to obtain coverage.

In most states, the plan will assign you to one of the home insurance companies that are licensed in the state, which can’t turn you down. In Florida or Louisiana, you will seek coverage with a state-backed insurer.

Last-resort coverage is meant to be temporary; you should continue to shop for coverage while taking steps to make your home more insurable. Upgrades that are weather and fire resistant, for example, can make it easier to get standard insurance.

Is FAIR Plan insurance right for you?

Because of the limitations and expense of FAIR Plan coverage, it always makes sense to secure basic property insurance through the standard homeowners insurance market if possible. First, try these strategies:

• Work with an insurance agent who knows the market to try to find standard coverage.
• Check with the company that insures your cars or previously insured your home.
• Talk to your neighbors about which companies insure their homes.
• Shop with regional and local insurers that may better understand the local risks.

Don’t give up on the standard market even after getting coverage from an insurer of last resort.

Find FAIR Plan homeowners insurance

Finding FAIR insurance coverage is not too difficult if you know where to look. To make things easier, we have rounded up a list of such plans by state and have included a link to each program’s website, as well as a telephone number.

FAIR Plan home insurance by state

*Available in 2025

Florida FAIR Plan: Citizens Insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida provides Florida FAIR Plan insurance, which is actually a state-run insurance company. It offers homeowners coverage for site-built homes, condominiums and manufactured homes. Renters also can get coverage through Citizens.

A typical Citizens homeowners policy covers the building, other structures on the property, and the owner’s personal property. The policy also includes personal liability and additional living expense coverages. Other policies are available that provide less extensive coverage. 

Because hurricanes and tropical storms regularly crash into Florida, Citizens also offers wind-only policies. The Citizens website features a calculator that can tell you if you are eligible for this coverage.

Georgia FAIR Plan

The Georgia Underwriting Association provides Georgia FAIR Plan policies to those who cannot get standard homeowners insurance. It offers a homeowners policy, dwelling fire policy, and wind and hail policy.

Illinois FAIR Plan

The Illinois FAIR Plan Association provides Illinois FAIR Plan insurance. Available policies offer coverage similar to what is available in the standard market, ranging from protection against many types of hazards (including fire, wind and hail, as well as others) to vandalism and “malicious mischief.”

Policies also offer protection against burglary and theft and provide personal liability coverage. An endorsement for earthquake insurance is available with a 5% deductible.

You can pay the policy in full at once or use up to five installments to pay your premium.

Final thoughts on FAIR Plan insurance

A FAIR Plan is coverage that many states offer to those who cannot secure a homeowners insurance policy in any other way.

These plans have significant limitations. They typically provide less coverage than standard insurance policies, but they are also more expensive. So, it always makes sense to shop for a standard homeowners insurance policy first.

However, if you cannot find coverage in any other way, a FAIR plan can be a lifeline that keeps you and your home protected.

Related Articles