Millions of homeowners don't have homeowners insurance due to high costs

Homeowners insurance is required in many states, particularly when you have a mortgage, but not every homeowner has the insurance they need. More than six million homeowners in the U.S. don’t have homeowners insurance, according to a Consumer Federation of America (CFA) report.

An estimated 7.4% of all homeowners are uninsured throughout the country, leaving $1.6 trillion in assets unprotected, the report found. The high cost of homeowners insurance is causing homeowners to go without insurance.

"Many consumers are struggling to afford rising premiums and must go without homeowners insurance," CFA Director of Housing Sharon Cornelissen said in the report.

Homeowners with lower earnings are more likely to avoid getting insurance. Those who earn under $50,000 are twice as likely to lack adequate coverage or coverage at all.

Additionally, certain demographic groups forgo insurance more than others. Among Native American homeowners, 22% don’t have insurance, 14% of Hispanic homeowners go without insurance and 11% of Black homeowners have no insurance. Homeowners living in the Houston and Miami areas were also more likely to be uninsured, according to the report.

"That [not having insurance] puts them at risk of losing everything. One storm or wildfire means they have to go into deep financial debt to repair their home, live with unsafe and inadequate housing, or even become homeless," Cornelissen said.

2023 WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD, DRIVING UP UTILITY COSTS AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PRICES

Legislation could cut homeowners insurance costs

Due to the homeowners insurance crisis plaguing the country, certain states are trying to get legislation passed to lower insurance rates.

In Florida, particularly Broward County, a commissioner is seeking to pass legislation that would lower rates for Floridians by as much as 25%. Florida has some of the highest premiums in the country due to more frequent natural disasters and higher rates of fraud.

The legislation, originally introduced by Rep. Jared Moskowitz is titled the Natural Disaster Reinsurance Plan. Since Florida is significantly impacted by natural disasters, this program could save homeowners hundreds in monthly insurance premiums. If passed, the legislation would help Florida and other states that choose to opt-in scale back the need for insurance companies to purchase reinsurance from other providers.

In short, companies buy insurance from outside companies to protect themselves from risk and pass on the higher premiums to homeowners. The bill would limit this need, saving insurance companies money, as well as those they insure.

NORTH CAROLINA'S INSURANCE RATES HIKE DENIED, RATES IN OTHER STATES STILL RISING

Auto insurance rates also skyrocketing

Drivers in most states are also seeing their monthly premiums reach all-time highs. The motor vehicle index portion of inflation rose 0.9% in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Over the last year, the index increased by 20.6%, indicating a spike in auto insurance costs for the entire country. The rising cost of used cars and trucks added to this index increase. Its own index increased by 0.5% from January to February.

Last year, 31% of drivers saw their car insurance increase, J.D. Power found. Rates increased 15.5%, on average, largely due to substantial losses insurance companies faced.

"Overall customer satisfaction with auto insurers has plummeted this year, as insurers and drivers come face to face with the realities of the economy," said Mark Garrett, J.D. Power director of insurance intelligence.

Drivers are growing increasingly frustrated with the insurance industry as companies pull out of states entirely.

"While insurers are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to balancing profitability with customer experience, there are several ways they can blunt the negative effects of rising costs, such as proactively offering customers UBI alternatives, clearly signaling and explaining necessary rate increases and consistently delivering on brand promises to instill trust," Garrett said.

AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS RISE AS CAR THEFTS AND FALSE INSURANCE CLAIMS INCREASE

Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.