Homeowners Insurance FAQ for Louisiana

We're a free homeowner referral service. You fill out a short form with your address and basic information about your home. We connect you with a licensed local insurance agent who actively works the St. Tammany Parish market. That agent shops available carriers on your behalf and contacts you with real quotes. You compare your options and make your own decision. We don't sell insurance directly. We connect you with someone who can.

There is no catch. It is genuinely free for homeowners. We are compensated only when you choose a policy, and only by the agent you work with. Agents in our network pay a small commission when they successfully close a policy with a homeowner we referred. You never pay us a fee, and you are never under any obligation to purchase a policy. If you go through the process and decide not to buy anything, that's completely fine.

Most homeowners hear from an agent within one business day of submitting their form. In many cases, same day. If you haven't heard anything within 48 hours of submitting, reach out to us directly. We want to make sure every inquiry gets followed up.

Every agent in our network is licensed by the Louisiana Department of Insurance. You can verify any agent's license for free at the LDI's online license lookup tool at ldi.la.gov. Before doing any business, ask your agent for their license number and look it up yourself. Any reputable agent will expect you to do this and will have no problem providing it.

Louisiana has experienced one of the worst homeowners insurance market contractions in the country over the past several years. The combination of major hurricane losses (Laura, Delta, Ida, and others in quick succession), reinsurance market hardening, litigation costs, and claims inflation drove many private carriers to either dramatically raise rates or exit the Louisiana market entirely. Between 2020 and 2024, more than a dozen carriers stopped writing new homeowners policies in Louisiana. The ones that stayed recalculated their risk exposure and raised rates significantly. This is not something your individual home caused. It is a statewide market problem.

Carriers have been issuing non-renewal notices across Louisiana for reasons that have little to do with individual homeowners. Common reasons include: the carrier exiting the Louisiana market entirely, the carrier pulling back from specific coastal or near-coastal areas, properties that don't meet updated underwriting standards (older roofs being the most common), or a cumulative claims history. If you received a non-renewal notice, you likely have 45 days from the effective date of cancellation to find replacement coverage. Do not wait.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Louisiana's insurer of last resort, a state-created entity that provides homeowners insurance coverage when the private market won't. It is not a bad company, and it does pay claims. However, it is explicitly designed to be a last resort, not a long-term solution. Citizens rates are not always lower than the private market, and Citizens has the ability to assess policyholders additional premiums after a major hurricane to cover losses. If you're on Citizens and private market options exist for your home, it is generally worth exploring them.

LIGA stands for Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association. It is a state-mandated fund that steps in to pay claims when a licensed Louisiana insurance company becomes insolvent, meaning it goes out of business and can't pay its own claims. If your insurance company fails, LIGA provides coverage up to certain limits (currently $500,000 for property claims). LIGA is not a direct insurer. You cannot buy a policy from LIGA. It is a safety net that activates after an insolvency. Claims handled by LIGA can take significantly longer to process than normal claims.

The carrier landscape changes frequently enough that we are not going to publish a specific list here. It would be outdated within months. The honest answer is: a local agent who works this market daily has the most current information. What we can say is that as of 2025 and into 2026, there are private carriers writing new homeowners policies in St. Tammany Parish. The options are more limited than they were five years ago, and they vary by property characteristics, location, and claims history. This is exactly why connecting with a local agent, rather than using a national website, matters in this market.

A standard homeowners insurance policy (HO-3 form, which is the most common) generally covers:

• Dwelling coverage: Damage to the structure of your home from covered perils (fire, wind, hail, lightning, but NOT flood)
• Other structures: Detached garages, fences, sheds
• Personal property: Your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing) up to policy limits
• Loss of use / additional living expenses: Hotel, rental, meals if your home is uninhabitable due to a covered loss
• Liability: Legal protection if someone is injured on your property
• Medical payments: Minor medical bills for guests injured on your property

What is NOT covered: flood damage, earthquake, normal wear and tear, intentional damage, and certain other exclusions. Always read your policy.

No. This is one of the most important things for Louisiana homeowners to understand. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, including storm surge from hurricanes. Flood damage is covered by a separate flood insurance policy, typically purchased through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier. If your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (flood zone AE or similar), your mortgage lender is likely requiring you to carry flood insurance. Even if it's not required, flooding is a serious risk in Southeast Louisiana, including areas that flooded in 2016 that were considered low-risk at the time.

In coastal and near-coastal Louisiana, wind and hail coverage is one of the most important parts of your homeowners policy. It covers structural damage caused by windstorms and hail, including hurricane wind. Some Louisiana homeowners policies include wind coverage as part of the standard policy, while others exclude it and require a separate wind endorsement or policy. St. Tammany Parish homes generally need wind coverage. Importantly, many policies in Louisiana now carry a separate wind/hail deductible, typically calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage (e.g., 2% or 5% of the insured value) rather than a flat dollar amount. On a $300,000 home with a 5% wind deductible, you'd owe $15,000 out of pocket before wind coverage kicks in. Make sure you understand your deductible structure.

An elevation certificate (EC) is a document prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer that describes the elevation of your home relative to the base flood elevation in your area. It is used primarily for flood insurance rating purposes. If your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, an elevation certificate is often required to accurately rate your flood insurance policy. Without one, NFIP may assume the worst-case elevation for your property, resulting in higher premiums. If you have an EC, providing it to your flood insurance agent can sometimes significantly reduce your flood insurance premium. Elevation certificates typically cost $300 to $700 to obtain from a licensed surveyor. Check with your mortgage company or your local assessor's office. Sometimes a prior owner obtained one and it may be on file.

Mortgage lenders require you to carry homeowners insurance that covers at least the replacement cost value of the dwelling, not the market value or purchase price, but the cost to rebuild the structure from scratch if it were destroyed. Your lender will also typically be listed as an "additional insured" or "mortgagee" on the policy and require proof of coverage (a declarations page) before closing. If you let your homeowners insurance lapse, your lender has the right to purchase "force-placed insurance" on your behalf, which is almost always significantly more expensive and offers you less protection. Keep your lender's requirements in mind when comparing quotes.

It varies significantly based on your home's age, construction type, location, claims history, and the carriers currently active in your area. Some homeowners we've connected with agents have seen savings of $500 to $1,500 per year by switching from Citizens to a private carrier or from one private carrier to another. Others in more difficult situations have found the market is genuinely limited and the savings are smaller. We can't promise a specific number, but the only way to know is to get actual quotes. That's what the agent is for.

Possibly. Having one or two claims in the past three to five years doesn't automatically disqualify you from coverage, but it does narrow your options with some carriers. Certain carriers are more flexible on claims history than others. The nature of the claim matters too. A wind claim from a hurricane is generally viewed differently than a water damage claim. A local agent who knows which carriers have more flexible underwriting is your best resource here. Be upfront about your claims history on the form, as it helps match you with the right agent.

If you've been denied by private carriers and don't qualify for Citizens, or if Citizens has also declined you, there are a few additional options to explore. The Louisiana FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) is a state-created program designed for high-risk properties that cannot obtain standard coverage. A licensed agent can help you determine if you qualify and what coverage looks like under the FAIR Plan. This is a genuine last resort: FAIR Plan coverage is typically expensive and limited, but it exists for a reason. Don't go without coverage if there's any option available. A single uninsured loss in Louisiana can be financially devastating.

At minimum: a homeowners insurance policy in place before closing (your lender will require it), and a flood insurance policy if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (also required by your lender if applicable). Even if flood insurance isn't required, strongly consider it. Many St. Tammany Parish properties have flooded during events that didn't technically constitute major hurricanes. If the home has an elevation certificate, get a copy. Start the insurance process at least two to three weeks before closing to avoid delays, as binding coverage can sometimes take time in this market.

Yes. Mandeville is one of our primary service areas. The Mandeville market for homeowners insurance is complicated by its proximity to Lake Pontchartrain and the range of flood zones in the area. Homeowners near the lakefront or in lower-lying areas may face higher flood insurance premiums and more limited homeowners options. Inland Mandeville neighborhoods generally have more carrier choices. A local agent who works Mandeville regularly will know the nuances of specific streets and subdivisions. We match Mandeville homeowners with agents who have current knowledge of what's available in the local market.

Yes. We serve all six communities listed on our site: Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, and Pearl River, and most other St. Tammany Parish addresses. Covington and the north Covington/St. Tammany interior tend to have slightly more carrier options due to greater distance from the coast. Slidell, given its proximity to Lake Borgne and the Pearl River, can face more limited options in some flood-zone areas. Wherever you are in the Parish, fill out the form and we'll connect you with someone who knows your specific area.