HO-5 insurance

Just like there are different types of homes, such as a single-family, townhome or apartment, there are also different types of homeowners insurance policies. These homeowners forms, as they are sometimes called, provide different types and levels of protection for homeowners and renters. The most robust homeowners insurance policy, the HO-5 policy, provides home and personal property insurance for the most perils of all policy forms. Those looking for the broadest range of coverage for their home may want to consider the HO-5 homeowners insurance policy.

What is an HO-5 insurance policy?

An HO-5 policy is a homeowners insurance policy type that covers your home and personal belongings under open perils coverage, except for certain exclusions. This differs slightly from a standard HO-3 homeowners policy, which covers your home’s structure on an open perils basis but your personal possessions only for named perils. As an open perils policy, an HO-5 insurance policy will list out exclusions. That means your policy covers any scenario that is not specifically excluded.

What does an HO-5 policy cover?

Home insurance policies can often be customized to fit your needs, so your exact coverage will depend on your specific policy. However, there are several components of a standard HO-5 policy, including:

• Dwelling coverage: The structure of your home is typically covered on an open perils basis. This means that you are covered for any loss that is not specifically listed as an exclusion.
• Personal property coverage: Your belongings are also typically covered on an open peril basis, so anything not excluded is covered.
• Other structures coverage: HO-5 insurance also provides protection for structures that aren’t attached to your home, such as a detached garage, backyard shed or fence.
• Liability coverage: Another standard feature of an HO-5 policy is liability coverage. This may financially protect you in the event someone is injured while at your home or you are found liable for damaging someone’s property. It may also cover legal fees and settlement costs if someone tries to sue you.
• Medical payments coverage: This may help cover medical expenses if a guest is injured on your property, but you are not legally liable for their injuries.
• Loss of use coverage: HO-5 may also cover additional living expenses, like hotel and meal costs, if your home is damaged from a covered claim and you can’t live in it while it’s being worked on.

HO-5 policy endorsements

There may also be ways to customize your HO-5 home insurance policy to further meet your needs with additional standalone policies or homeowners insurance endorsements. Some endorsements you may be able to include are:

• Sewer and water backup: This endorsement protects your home against damage resulting from sewage backup or a failing sump pump.
• Identity theft: Identity theft coverage may help reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses related to identity theft, like the cost of restoring your credit and attorney fees.
• Scheduled personal property: Scheduled personal property coverage helps protect high-value possessions, like an expensive diamond ring or firearm.
• Earthquake insurance: An earthquake insurance add-on or policy provides protection against earthquake damage to your home, unattached structures on your property and personal belongings.
• Personal property replacement coverage: Personal property coverage helps pay to repair or replace your belongings — for example, a laptop or furniture —  that get damaged as a result of a covered event.
• Flood insurance: Flood insurance protects your home against and personal belongings against losses due to direct flooding — a rain storm, for example.

While flood insurance is usually a separate policy from the home insurance, earthquake coverage may be available as either an endorsement or a standalone policy, depending on your state and carrier.

You might also have the option to tailor your policy to your needs by adding endorsements like water backup, identity theft or scheduled personal property.

HO-5 policy exclusions

As an open perils policy type, HO-5 coverage does typically have a pretty long list of exclusions. Checking your policy for a comprehensive list of HO-5 exclusions may be a good idea; every company is different and exclusions could vary. However, the following homeowners insurance exclusions are fairly standard across HO-5 policies:

• Earth movement
• Power failure
• Nuclear hazard
• Collapse
• Settling or expanding
• Mold, fungus or rot
• Smog or corrosion
• Ordinance or law
• Neglect
• Intentional loss
• Theft from a building under construction
• Birds or vermin
• Typical wear and tear
• Smoke from agricultural or industrial site
• Water damage from sewer backups, floods or seepage
• War
• Government action
• Vandalism of vacant properties
• Mechanical breakdown
• Pollutant discharge
• Owned animals

That might seem like a long list of exclusions. However, remember that damage caused to your home or personal belongings is covered under an HO-5 policy unless specifically excluded by your property insurer.

Who needs HO-5 coverage?

You don’t have to own a high-value home to want HO-5 coverage. Because HO-5 policies offer open perils coverage on both the dwelling and your personal property, your finances will be better protected against a wider range of scenarios. Homeowners may opt for this robust insurance as a financial safety net against potential damages. However, HO-5 coverage is typically more expensive than a standard HO-3 policy due to its more broad coverage. Therefore, it may not be ideal for homeowners on a tight budget.

What is the difference between HO-3 and HO-5 policies?

HO-3 policies are the most common type of homeowners insurance. Both HO-3 and HO-5 policies cover your dwelling — the structure of your home — on an open perils basis.

The difference is in how each policy form covers your personal property. With an HO-5 policy, you get open perils coverage for your belongings, but with an HO-3, your items are covered on a named perils basis. This means that your personal property is only covered for the perils specifically listed in the policy, and anything else is considered excluded.

Frequently asked questions

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    Is HO-3 or HO-5 better?

    Whether an HO-3 or HO-5 is better depends on your wants and needs for your homeowners insurance policy. For instance, an HO-5 has broader coverage, especially for personal property, but may be more expensive than an HO-3 policy. If you do not need open perils coverage on personal property, you may be able to save on your annual premium with an HO-3 policy form.
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    How much does an HO-5 policy cost?

    The cost of an HO-5 policy is usually more expensive than an HO-3 policy, as it provides more financial protection for your personal property against a wider range of perils. Home insurance pricing depends on several factors, including your coverage types and limits, your location, the age of your home, the square footage and the condition of your home. For an HO-3 policy, the average cost of home insurance for $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,428 per year. You can generally expect to pay more than the average for a similar HO-5 policy.
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    Where can I buy HO-5 insurance?

    You can buy HO-5 insurance from many homeowners insurance companies across the country. Most carriers offer both the HO-3 and HO-5 policies, so you can get a quote to compare both policies if you are unsure which you want. Online quote forms may have an option to select the policy type you want, and if they don’t, you might want to call the carrier for clarification.
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    Does an HO-5 policy cover identity theft?

    Like most home insurance policies, an HO-5 policy doesn’t usually include coverage for identity theft. However, some carriers may include this in home policies or have it available for purchase as an endorsement.