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Homeowners insurance for military and veterans

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Written by
Elizabeth Rivelli
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There are dozens of homeowners insurance companies on the market, but if you are an active duty military service member or veteran, there are some specific providers that might be worth considering. Military personnel often have unique coverage needs, especially if you get deployed. Veterans home insurance can provide tailored protection for a variety of circumstances that service members might face.

Best home insurance companies for military and veterans

While the best home insurance for military members and veterans is going to be a highly personal choice, two companies definitely worth considering are USAA or Armed Forces Insurance. These providers only sell coverage to eligible military personnel, and are experienced in insuring veterans’ homes. Here is some more information about the best military homeowners insurance companies:

USAA

USAA is one of the highest rated home insurance companies on the market. The company has excellent customer service, good coverage options and low-cost policies. Home insurance policies from USAA include coverage for perils like fire, theft and windstorms, as well as identity theft coverage, earthquake coverage, home sharing coverage and military uniform coverage.

Home insurance from USAA can be pretty affordable, but to save even more money, you can take advantage of discounts. USAA offers special savings for bundling two or more policies, being claims-free and installing a security system in your home to protect against theft and vandalism.

Armed Forces Insurance

Armed Forces Insurance is another insurance provider that caters specifically to military personnel and veterans. Homeowners insurance policies from Armed Forces Insurance include coverage for your dwelling and personal belongings, plus liability insurance, medical payments and loss of use coverage.

One of the best features of Armed Forces Insurance is the optional coverages available. You can customize your policy with equipment breakdown coverage, golf cart coverage, animal liability coverage, earthquake coverage, flood coverage, identity theft coverage and many others. The company also offers a number of discounts to help lower your premium.

Discounts for military members and veterans

Although USAA and Armed Forces Insurance offer affordable policies, they do not offer any military-specific discounts. If you are looking for cheap home insurance, it is possible that another home insurance company that offers discounts for military members and veterans could be a more affordable option. Here are some insurance companies that offer military discounts:

  • Geico: If you are affiliated with any branch of the military, you might qualify for a home insurance discount through Geico. The company’s website states that military personnel and National Guard/Reserve personnel can qualify for a discount of up to 15% on their premium. You can also get a discount for going on emergency deployment, or being a member of a professional military association, like the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
  • Farmers: Through Farmers’ affinity discount, military members may be eligible for a discount on their home insurance policy. According to Farmers’ website, members, employees and retirees of certain businesses, groups and professional associations can get a lower premium. We recommend contacting a Farmers agent to find out if any military-specific membership groups qualify.

VA Homeowners Insurance

If you are thinking about buying a house, you might consider a loan through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). A VA loan is a type of mortgage that is only available to military personnel, veterans and their spouses. This type of home loan does not require a down payment and typically comes with competitive interest rates and property tax deductions.

When you purchase a home using a VA loan, you can also work with the VA to get veterans mortgage insurance. The VA does not specifically sell home insurance, but the organization might have relationships with reputable home insurance companies that they can recommend. They can also help you choose an appropriate amount of coverage for your home and personal belongings.

What happens to my homeowners insurance if I am deployed?

Official military deployment will affect your homeowners insurance coverage and your premium. Many home insurance policies include two clauses that place certain limitations on your coverage when you get deployed overseas, or even to another state. Here are the two clauses to look for in your policy documents:

  • Occupancy clause: Home insurance policies typically only apply to primary residences where at least one person is living at all times. If you get deployed for more than a month and no one else is living in the home, your coverage may become invalid. Military-specific insurance companies, like USAA, are less likely to have this clause. If your policy explicitly states that it will not cover your home while you are deployed, you can probably purchase an endorsement to insure your home during vacancy.
  • War zone exemption: The other clause to be aware of is the war zone exemption. Your home insurance policy will cover your personal belongings anywhere in the world, but there may be an exception for war zones. Depending on where you get deployed, your home insurance policy might not cover your personal items. Most military-specific insurance companies will not have this exemption.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best home insurance company?

The best home insurance company is different for everyone. For military personnel, the best option might be USAA. But for a civilian, State Farm could be the best option. To find the best home insurance company for you, we recommend comparing providers using your personal criteria and getting quotes from several carriers to see which one is the cheapest.

How much does home insurance cost?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in the United States is $1,477 per year for a policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage. However, every homeowner pays a different rate for coverage. Home insurance quotes are based on a variety of personal factors, like your state and ZIP code, your age, your credit score and your claims history.

How much home insurance do I need?

If you are a first-time home insurance buyer, you are probably wondering how much coverage you should buy. As a general rule, you should have enough dwelling insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding your home back to its original condition. You should have enough personal property insurance to cover the value of your personal belongings, like furniture and clothing. Your liability insurance limit should be based on your personal financial assets that could be at risk in the event of a lawsuit.

Written by
Elizabeth Rivelli
Insurance Contributor
Elizabeth Rivelli is a contributing insurance writer for Bankrate and has years of experience writing for insurance domains such as The Simple Dollar, Coverage.com and NextAdvisor, among others

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