Homeowners insurance for veterans & military in 2023

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By

Pat HowardPat HowardManaging Editor & Licensed Home Insurance ExpertPat Howard is a managing editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where he specializes in homeowners insurance. His work and expertise has been featured in MarketWatch, Real Simple, Fox Business, VentureBeat, This Old House, Investopedia, Fatherly, Lifehacker, Better Homes & Garden, Property Casualty 360, and elsewhere.&Kara McGinleyKara McGinleySenior Editor & Licensed Home Insurance ExpertKara McGinley is a former senior editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. As a journalist and as an insurance expert, her work and insights have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Kiplinger, Lifehacker, MSN, WRAL.com, and elsewhere.

Edited by

Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor and home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our homeowners insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
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Reviewed by

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®Certified Financial PlannerIan Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

Updated

Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.

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Best homeowners insurance companies for veterans and military families

Veterans and active-duty military personnel have a number of options when purchasing homeowners insurance, like membership with top-rated insurers like USAA, Armed Forces Insurance, and other military-exclusive insurance providers.

USAA logo

Best company overall for veterans

  • Rating: 4.9/5 

  • Annual cost: $1,479

  • Availability: 51 states

Armed forces insurance logo

Best coverage add-ons for veterans

  • Rating: 4.0/5 

  • Annual cost: $1,513

  • Availability: 51 states

These companies generally cater their policies specifically to members of the armed forces and their families. USAA, for example, provides a special coverage for military uniforms. Numerous other insurers, including GEICO and Liberty Mutual, offer special discounts to veterans and active-duty personnel.

We looked at the average rate with each company, policy options, and availability of perks and discounts exclusively for VA members and their families to find the best homeowners insurance for veterans in 2023.

Methodology: Why you can trust our picks for the best home insurance companies

Our team of licensed insurance experts at Policygenius selected the best homeowners insurance for veterans by analyzing companies based on the following criteria:

  • Coverages and programs that cater specifically to veterans and the military
  • Strong customer satisfaction ratings and reviews
  • Competitive rates compared to the national average

To find these rates, we analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:

  • Dwelling: $300,000
  • Other structures: $30,000
  • Personal property: $150,000
  • Loss of use: $60,000
  • Liability: $300,000
  • Medical: $1,000

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Best overall company for veterans

USAA

USAA logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starHalf orange star

4.9

AM Best rating 

A.M. Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

A++

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

All 50 states

Offers extended replacement cost

Mobile app

Offers flood insurance

Offers earthquake insurance

Smart home discounts

Why we chose it

USAA's robust coverages and high marks for customer service and claims satisfaction make it a solid home insurance option for military members and their families.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Affordable rates

  • Over a dozen additional coverage options

  • Industry-best customer service and claims satisfaction ratings

Cons

  • Limited to people affiliated with the U.S. military

More details

Why USAA is best for veterans

USAA homeowners insurance, in particular, is among the best in the industry, featuring a full suite of flexible coverage options at competitive rates with excellent customer service and impeccable claim satisfaction ratings with J.D. Power. 

One particular coverage perk for active-duty members is military uniform coverage, which covers enlisted members’ uniforms if they’re damaged while on active or reserve duty. USAA doesn’t charge a policy deductible for damaged uniform claims.

The company also offers affordable rates. A homeowners policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage costs on average $1,479 per year with USAA — over $400 cheaper than the national average of $1,899.

USAA membership eligibility requirements

You’ll likely qualify for membership with USAA if you fit one of the following, according to the USAA website:

  • Active duty military personnel

  • Member of the National Guard or Reserve

  • Veteran

  • Eligible family member of a military personnel, cadet, or midshipman

  • Children of USAA members 

  • Pre-commissioned officers

More about USAA

USAA has over $150 billion in total assets and is one of the largest insurance companies around. With USAA, you can get homeowners insurance, condo insurance, car insurance as well as financial services like banking and investments.

Best coverage add-ons for veterans

Armed Forces Insurance

Armed Forces Insurance logo

Policygenius rating 

Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.

Full orange starFull orange starFull orange starFull orange starEmpty gray star

4.0

AM Best rating 

A.M. Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).

B+

Cost 

Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).

$

$

$

$

$

Bundle home & auto

All 50 states

Offers earthquake insurance

Offers flood insurance

Smart home discounts

Why we chose it

Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) offers home insurance policies to veterans, active military members, and their families. It’s a good pick if you’re looking for affordable rates and a slew of extra coverage add-ons.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Cheap rates that are 23% below the national average

  • Several valuable coverage add-ons, including water backup, valuable items, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, and more

  • Gives back to the military community by supporting local food banks and providing resources for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder

Cons

  • Only available to members of the military, veterans, and their families

  • Poor customer service and financial strength ratings

  • Doesn’t offer an app

More details

Why Armed Forces Insurance is best for veterans

An AFI homeowners insurance policy costs on average $1,513 per year for $300,000 in dwelling coverage — which is a few hundred dollars cheaper than the national average. 

The company offers upgrades and coverage add-ons, like earthquake and flood coverage. You can even qualify for discounts if you live in a gated community or install safety features like burglar alarms and cameras.

Armed Forces Insurance membership eligibility requirements

You’ll likely qualify for membership with Armed Forces Insurance if you fit one of the following, according to the AFI website:

  • Active-duty, retired or honorably discharged military, including National Guard, Reserves, and Coast Guard

  • Active or retired Department of Defense civilian employee

  • Service Academy including Merchant Marine or ROTC cadet

  • Spouse or child of a current or former AFI member

  • Active, retired or former commissioned officer of the NOAA or PHS

  • Former spouse of a current or former AFI member

More about Armed Forces Insurance

Armed Forces Insurance was founded in 1887 and offers homeowners, renters, and auto insurance. The company scored a 3.9 out of 5 stars from Consumer Advocate — which is considered “very good” on their rating scale. And although AFI is a much smaller company than USAA, it offers much of the same coverage and perks. 

Compare rates and shop affordable home insurance for veterans

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Homeowners insurance companies with military and veteran discounts

Several insurance companies in different states offer discounts on your homeowners insurance rates based on your profession, including if you’re an active-duty member of the armed forces or a veteran. 

You might want to start your search with one of these popular companies that offer military discounts:

1. Farmers

One way to trim your premiums with Farmers is through its affinity discount, which provides a discount for employees, retirees, and members of approved businesses and professional groups in your state. Military personnel and veterans of the armed forces are among the discount-eligible professions.

Read our Farmers homeowners insurance review

2. Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual also offers a military discount to veterans and those who currently serve in the military, according to the Liberty Mutual website.

Read our Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance review

3. Geico

if you’re on active duty, a veteran, or a member of the National Guard or Reserves, you may be eligible for a military discount of up to 15%, according to the Geico website

Read our Geico homeowners insurance review

VA loans and homeowners insurance

One of the overarching benefits of a service member and veteran status is access to VA loans, which are mortgages that require no down payment and typically have a low interest rate. While the VA itself doesn’t offer homeowners insurance, the mortgage lender servicing the VA loan may recommend insurers or have relationships with certain providers.

As is the case with most kinds of mortgages, your lender will require you to purchase homeowners insurance before letting you take out a VA loan on a home and keep the home insured through the duration of the mortgage term.

Does being deployed affect your homeowners insurance? 

There are a couple of stipulations found in most homeowners insurance policies that may impact deployed service members’ coverage. 

Look for any of these two clauses in your policy when you’re shopping for home insurance

Vacancy or occupancy clause

Most homeowners insurance policies won’t cover your home if it’s been vacant or unoccupied for greater than 30 to 60 days. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer a separate vacant and unoccupied home insurance policy or endorsement that can activate once you’re deployed for service.

War exclusion

Most standard homeowners insurance policies list “acts of war” as an excluded peril in the policy. That means if you’re deployed and your personal belongings are destroyed by combat overseas, your insurer won’t pay out for the loss.

Check to see if your insurance company offers an exemption to this peril for members of the military. As we touched on earlier, USAA offers uniform and war zone coverage for deployed service members.

Compare rates and shop affordable home insurance for veterans

We don't sell your information to third parties.

Frequently asked questions

Is USAA for veterans only?

No. You’re eligible for USAA membership if you’re on active duty, enlisted in the National Guard or Reserve, a veteran, an eligible family member of military personnel, an eligible family member of a USAA member, or a cadet or midshipman.

What is covered by a standard homeowners policy?

A standard homeowners insurance policy covers the structure of your home, personal belongings, personal liability, and additional living expenses if a disaster makes your home uninhabitable. Homeowners insurance protects your home from common hazards like fire, burst pipes, and weather-related damage.

How much does homeowners insurance cost?

Homeowners insurance costs $1,899 a year on average. But keep in mind there are many factors that can affect your rates, including your home’s construction, age, and location, as well as your credit score and insurance claims history.

Does the VA help with home insurance?

The VA doesn't offer home insurance, it offers VA loans which are mortgages. Your mortgage lender will likely require you to purchase home insurance.

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Authors

Pat Howard is a managing editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where he specializes in homeowners insurance. His work and expertise has been featured in MarketWatch, Real Simple, Fox Business, VentureBeat, This Old House, Investopedia, Fatherly, Lifehacker, Better Homes & Garden, Property Casualty 360, and elsewhere.

Kara McGinley is a former senior editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. As a journalist and as an insurance expert, her work and insights have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Kiplinger, Lifehacker, MSN, WRAL.com, and elsewhere.

Editor

Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor and home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she oversees our homeowners insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

Expert reviewer

Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.

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