Home Home insurance Types of Homes FAIR Plan home insurance: Insurance for high-risk homes FAIR Plan home insurance: Insurance for high-risk homes A FAIR Plan is a state-run insurer of last resort that guarantees basic property coverage to homeowners who've been denied or priced out of the private market. These plans ensure basic home insurance coverage for high-risk homes, but coverage is narrower and more expensive than a standard homeowners policy. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Alisha AmbreAlisha AmbreAlisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.VIEW FULL PROFILE | Reviewed by Nupur GambhirNupur GambhirEditor-in-ChiefNupur Gambhir is the editor-in-chief of Insure.com and a licensed life, health and disability insurance agent in New York with seven years of experience covering insurance. Her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Balance, The Financial Gym and MSN. She holds a BA in Economics from The Ohio State University.VIEW FULL PROFILESee moreSee less | Updated onJuly 23, 2026 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plans, or FAIR Plans, are a last-resort homeowners insurance program for owners of high-risk homes so they can still meet their mortgage requirements and protect their property when no private insurer will write them a policy. I If you’ve been denied coverage or can’t afford what the private market quotes, a FAIR Plan is often your path to getting insured. It’s built as a temporary safety net, though — not a permanent replacement for a standard policy — so the goal is to use it only until you can requalify on the open market. Colorado is the most recent state to launch one in May 2023, in response to rising wildfire risk, so it’s worth checking whether your state offers a plan even if it didn’t in the past. How to figure out if a FAIR plan is right for you Because FAIR Plan coverage tends to be limited and expensive, it’s worth trying a few strategies before turning to it: Work with an insurance agent who knows the local market well Check with the company that insures your car or previously insured your home Ask neighbors which companies insure homes in your area Shop regional and local insurers, who may better understand local risk factors And even after securing FAIR Plan coverage, keep shopping the standard market, it’s meant to be a temporary solution. What is FAIR Plan home insurance? FAIR Plan insurance is a state-backed program that provides property coverage to homeowners who can’t buy it on the private market. Most states created these plans to pool high-risk homes among every insurer licensed to operate there: each participating company is required to take on a share of the risk, which guarantees applicants a policy even when no single insurer would cover them on its own. In Florida and Louisiana, a state-run company called Citizens fills this role instead. FAIR Plans operate in most U.S. states, but not all. Colorado is the newest, having begun issuing policies in April 2025 — about two years after state lawmakers created it — in response to rising wildfire and hail losses. It’s worth checking whether your state offers a plan even if it didn’t in the past, since availability keeps expanding. What does a FAIR Plan cover? A FAIR Plan covers the core perils that threaten a home’s structure — fire, vandalism, riots, and windstorms — but leaves out much of what a standard policy includes, and the exact coverage varies significantly by state. Most plans exclude flood damage, broad liability, and optional add-ons, and some won’t pay full replacement cost. Because coverage differs so much from one state to the next, confirm exactly what your state’s version includes before relying on it: PerilIs it covered?Fire✅Vandalism✅Riots✅Windstorms✅Flood damage❌Broad liability coverage❌Optional coverages (e.g., scheduled personal property)❌Full replacement cost in some states❌ Powered by: How do you fill the gaps a FAIR Plan leaves? Because a FAIR Plan covers only the basics, many homeowners pair it with a separate “difference in conditions” (DIC) policy from a private insurer. A DIC policy wraps around the FAIR Plan to add the protections it omits — typically theft, water damage, personal liability, and personal property coverage — so the two together come close to a standard homeowners policy. An independent agent can help you line up a DIC policy to sit alongside your FAIR Plan coverage. What to read next Mobile home insurance: What it covers and how much it costs Home insurance for older homes with knob and tube wiring Guide to off-grid home insurance Insurance for historic homes Vacant home insurance: Who needs it and how it works Some companies will insure straw-bale homes Show more How much does a FAIR Plan cost? FAIR Plan coverage costs much more than a standard policy while covering less, because it insures only the highest-risk homes. Your premium depends on your location, your home’s rebuild cost and construction, and the specific perils your state’s plan covers. Some states also cap the dwelling amount a FAIR Plan will write, which can leave owners of higher-value homes underinsured unless they add a DIC policy. Get the exact price and coverage limits in writing before you commit, and keep comparing them against any private quotes you can find. Should you use a FAIR Plan, or try other options first? A FAIR Plan is worth pursuing once you’ve genuinely exhausted the private market, but because its coverage is limited and costly, it pays to try other routes first. These strategies often surface standard coverage you might have missed: Work with an independent agent who knows your local market and which carriers still write your area. Check with your current insurers. The company that covers your car — or previously covered your home — may have options for you. Ask your neighbors which companies insure homes nearby, especially in high-risk areas. Shop regional and local insurers, who often understand local risk factors better than national carriers. Even after you secure a FAIR Plan, keep shopping the standard market — the plan is meant to be temporary. Who qualifies for FAIR Plan home insurance? To qualify for a FAIR Plan, you generally have to prove you were denied or couldn’t find affordable coverage on the private market. Exact requirements vary by state, but most follow the same pattern: Proof of denial or non-renewal. Most plans require a cancellation or non-renewal notice from a private insurer. Washington, D.C., for example, asks for a copy of that statement with your application. A private-market check. Some states make you shop first. In Florida, most new applicants must go through a Clearinghouse and only qualify for Citizens if they get no comparable private offer — or if private rates run at least 20% higher than Citizens. In Colorado, you must be turned down by three licensed insurers before you can apply. Risk-reducing improvements. Many plans expect you to lower your home’s risk first, such as repairing or replacing the roof, updating electrical, heating, or plumbing systems, or improving security features. Treat FAIR Plan coverage as temporary FAIR Plans are meant to be a bridge, not a permanent solution. While you’re covered, keep shopping the private market and making weather- and fire-resistant upgrades to your home, this improves your chances of qualifying for standard coverage down the line, often at a better rate. How do you apply for FAIR Plan home insurance? Applying for a FAIR Plan usually means proving you were shut out of the private market, then submitting your home’s details and any improvements to your state’s plan or assigned insurer. The general process: Get denied or priced out first. Most plans require proof, such as a non-renewal or cancellation notice, that you couldn’t secure affordable coverage elsewhere. Check for a clearinghouse requirement. Some states, like Florida, route you through a clearinghouse to confirm no comparable private option exists before you can apply. Make any required improvements. Address obvious risk factors first, such as repairing the roof or updating electrical and plumbing systems. Gather your documentation. This typically includes proof of denial or non-renewal, your home’s details, and evidence of any improvements you’ve made. Submit your application to your state’s FAIR Plan or assigned insurer. Some states require you to apply through a licensed agent or broker rather than directly. Get assigned coverage. Most states assign you to a licensed insurer required to accept you. In Florida and Louisiana, you’re covered directly by the state-run Citizens. FAIR Plan availability and contacts by state FAIR Plans operate in most states, each with its own program name, website, and phone number, and Colorado is the most recent addition. Requirements and coverage differ from state to state, so confirm the current details with your state’s plan before applying. Use this directory to find yours: StateFAIR Plan WebsitePhone NumberAlabamaAlabama Insurance Underwriting Association334-943-4029CaliforniaCalifornia Fair Plan Property Insurance800-339-4099Colorado*Colorado Fair Plan833-586-1454ConnecticutConnecticut FAIR Plan860-528-9546DelawareDelaware FAIR Plan215-629-8800District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia Property Insurance Facility410-539-6808FloridaCitizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida866-411-2742Georgia Georgia Underwriting Association770-923-7431HawaiiHawaii Property Insurance Association808-585-3524IllinoisIllinois FAIR Plan Association800-972-4480IndianaIndiana FAIR Plan317-692-0559IowaIowa FAIR Plan Association515-255-9531KansasKansas FAIR Plan785-271-2300KentuckyKentucky FAIR Plan502-425-9998LouisianaLouisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation888-568-6455MarylandMaryland Joint Insurance Association410- 539-6808MassachusettsMassachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association800-392-6108MichiganMichigan Basic Property Insurance Association313-877-7400MinnesotaMinnesota FAIR Plan800-524-1640MississippiMississippi Residential Property Insurance Underwriting Association601-981-2915MissouriMissouri Property Insurance Placement Facility800-392-7240New JerseyNew Jersey Insurance Underwriting Association973-622-3838New MexicoNew Mexico Property Insurance Program505-878-9563New YorkNew York Property Insurance Underwriting Association212-208-9700North CarolinaNorth Carolina Joint Underwriting Association800-662-7048OhioOhio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association800-282-1772OregonOregon FAIR Plan Association503-643-5448PennsylvaniaPennsylvania FAIR Plan215-629-8800Rhode IslandRhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association800-851-8978South CarolinaSouth Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association803-779-8373TexasTexas FAIR Plan Association800-979-6440Virginia Virginia Property Insurance Association800-899-7973WashingtonWashington FAIR Plan866-745-9808West VirginiaWest Virginia Essential Property Insurance Association888-879-9842WisconsinWisconsin Insurance Plan414-291-5353 Powered by: What if your state doesn’t have a FAIR Plan? If your state doesn’t run a FAIR Plan, your main fallback is the surplus lines market — specialty insurers that cover high-risk properties standard carriers won’t touch, usually at a higher price and with tighter terms. Coastal homeowners may also have a state beach or windstorm plan for wind and hail coverage specifically. An independent agent who knows your regional market is the fastest way to find which of these options applies to your home. How do you move off a FAIR Plan and back to standard coverage? A FAIR Plan is a bridge, not a destination, so treat requalifying for a standard policy as the goal from day one. Keep shopping the private market while you’re covered, and make the upgrades that lower your risk: a new or reinforced roof, updated electrical and plumbing, defensible space and fire-resistant materials in wildfire zones, or wind-mitigation features in storm-prone areas. Each improvement strengthens your case for standard coverage — often at a lower rate than the FAIR Plan charges — and documenting the work gives a private insurer a concrete reason to take you back. Frequently asked questions Is FAIR Plan insurance more expensive than regular home insurance? FAIR Plan insurance usually costs more than a standard policy while covering less, because it insures only the highest-risk homes that private carriers have declined. Pricing varies by state and by your home’s location, value, and construction, so the gap between a FAIR Plan and a standard policy differs from one homeowner to the next. Does a FAIR Plan cover flood damage? A FAIR Plan does not cover flood damage. Flooding requires separate coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer, and that’s true whether you’re on a FAIR Plan or a standard homeowners policy. Can I have a FAIR Plan and a private policy at the same time? Pairing a FAIR Plan with a private “difference in conditions” (DIC) policy is common and often recommended. The FAIR Plan covers core perils like fire and wind, while the DIC policy adds what the plan leaves out — such as theft, water damage, and liability — so the two together approximate standard coverage. Is a FAIR Plan the same as Florida’s Citizens insurance? Citizens serves the same purpose as a FAIR Plan but is structured differently. In Florida and Louisiana, Citizens is a single state-run insurer that directly covers high-risk homes, whereas most other states spread that risk across all the private insurers licensed to operate there. How long can I keep a FAIR Plan? A FAIR Plan can generally be renewed as long as you remain eligible, but it’s designed as a temporary solution rather than permanent coverage. Because the coverage is narrower and typically more expensive, the aim is to return to the standard market as soon as your home qualifies.