Have you taken a look at your homeowners and windstorm insurance coverages recently? If not, it might be a good idea to. Now, you do not need to carry a separate windstorm policy in most coastal areas. Save time and money by carrying all coverage on one policy.
When you are buying a homeowners policy, you likely want to know what perils the insurance covers. Homeowners insurance policies can cover a number of different perils.
Different types of weather are perils. Homeowners insurance can cover some types of weather perils. Other weather risks might require separate policies depending on where you live.
In Texas, windstorm, hail and hurricane insurance sometimes is confusing. In coastal areas, you used to have to buy windstorm, hail and hurricane coverage as a separate policy with TWIA Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.
But now, those requirements are changing.
There have been recent changes to Texas law. You can now likely have windstorm, hurricane and hail insurance written into your homeowners insurance policy for most coastal properties.
To combine your homeowners and windstorm policies, you will likely need to buy a new homeowners policy. If you ask for it, this policy will include the windstorm damage coverage.
Under the new rules, you might save money from not having two policies. You also might have better-defined coverage than with two separate policies and a better claim experience outside of TWIA.
Most homeowners policies issued in Texas will now cover windstorm, hail and hurricane damages. However, some locations still may not offer this coverage in a homeowners policy. A good example of this would be beachfront properties.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the state’s insurer of last resort. Insurers of last resort can sometimes provide financial help in cases of damage in the excluded areas. But, to get this help, you must follow requirements set by the TWIA and TDI if you live in this area.
If you have questions about your policies, we can help answer them. Call HIG – Henrich Insurance Group today at (713) 349-0400 for more information on Texas windstorm and homeowners insurance.