Best Homeowners Insurance for Veterans and Military Families (2023)

If you serve or have served in the military, the last thing you should have to worry about is your investment in your home. And thankfully, you don’t have to.

A number of home insurers extend coverage exclusively to veterans and active-duty service members and their families. Other insurers offer standard homeowners policies to veterans and active-duty military members with discount premiums in appreciation for your service.

Deciding which is the best homeowners insurance company for veterans and active-duty military is a daunting task. But this article can help guide you in making the best decision for your family.

6 best homeowners insurance companies for veterans and active-duty military members

The following insurance companies understand the insurance needs of active military members and veterans. Some have special insurance products and services designed especially for you or offer home insurance to veterans and active-duty military at a reduced rate.

USAA

The United Services Automobile Association was founded in 1922 by a group of Army officers who pooled their resources to insure each other’s cars. Today, the company is a major force in insurance, investment, and banking products for veterans and members of the military and their families.

USAA received the highest overall score in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study, which surveyed customers who had filed a claim during the previous nine months. A.M. Best awarded USAA an A+++ (Superior) financial strength rating.^[1] These awards illustrate USAA’s sound business practices and commitment to serving the financial needs of its customers.

Who is USAA best for?

USSA is best for veterans and military members who want a one-stop solution for all their financial needs.

What are USAA’s eligibility requirements?

USAA lists the following people as being eligible for USAA membership:

• Active-duty military

• National Guard and Reservists

• Veterans who have honorably served

• Contracted cadets and midshipmen

• Officer and warrant officer candidates

• Military spouses

• Children of USAA members

• Service academy appointees

What veteran-specific discounts does USAA offer?

USAA doesn’t offer veteran-specific discounts. However, it does offer a number of ways for all its homeowners insurance customers to save, such as by bundling products and insuring your property continuously for three years with USAA.

What’s the average cost of a USAA homeowners policy?

$1,903 annually

AFI

Armed Forces Insurance was founded in 1887 by military leaders committed to providing Armed Forces military professionals with high-quality, reasonably priced property and casualty insurance. To make sure you get the best price, AFI will even shop national insurers on your behalf.

Who is AFI best for?

AFI is best for eligible members who want the best possible rate.

What are AFI’s eligibility requirements?

The following people are eligible for AFI homeowners insurance:

• Active-duty, retired, or honorably discharged members of any branch of the U.S. military

• Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Merchant Marine, Military Auxiliary Radio System, and Marine Corps Auxiliary members

• Active or retired U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Civilian Auxiliary employees

• Current or past commissioned officers of the NOAA or PHS

• ROTC and service academy cadets

• Spouses or children of eligible members

What’s the average cost of an AFI homeowners policy?

$1,544 annually

What veteran-specific discounts does AFI offer?

While the company doesn’t have veteran-specific discounts, its agents will look for discounts to save you money.

Farmers

J.D. Power’s 2022 Property Claims Study ranked Farmers in the top three insurance companies for property claims satisfaction, which means that customers who filed claims were highly satisfied with how they were handled.^[2] Farmers also ranks well in terms of the soundness of its business. A.M. Best gives it a financial strength rating of A (Excellent).^[3]

Who is Farmers best for?

Farmers is best for veterans who need to insure one or more rental properties in addition to their residential home.

What are Farmers’ eligibility requirements?

Farmers serves customers regardless of military affiliation, so any homeowner is eligible to apply for a policy.

What’s the average cost of a Farmers homeowners policy?

$2,758 annually

What veteran-specific discounts does Farmers offer?

Farmers says members of the military may qualify for homeowners insurance discounts based on profession.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual scored 805 out of a possible 1,000 points in the J.D. 2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study for overall customer satisfaction and 876 out of 1,000 in the 2022 Property Claims Satisfaction Study for overall customer satisfaction.^{[4] [5]}

A.M. Best rates it an A (Excellent) for financial strength, indicating the company has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.^[6]

Who is Liberty Mutual best for?

Liberty Mutual is best for veterans who also need auto insurance and are comfortable purchasing their policies online. You can save 12% by purchasing your car insurance online and receive additional savings by bundling policies.

What are Liberty Mutual’s eligibility requirements?

Liberty Mutual has no special eligibility requirements. You don’t need military affiliation to purchase insurance.

What’s the average cost of a Liberty Mutual homeowners policy?

$1,932 annually

What veteran-specific discounts does Liberty Mutual offer?

Liberty Mutual doesn’t provide veteran-specific discounts. However, it does offer standard discounts, plus discounts for insuring a new or newly renovated home or a home with a new roof.

GEICO

A.M. Best gives GEICO an A++ (Superior) rating for financial strength based on its balance sheet and operating performance, so you can feel confident that the company has the resources to pay out your claims.^[7]

Who is GEICO best for?

GEICO is best for veterans who want 24/7 customer service.

What are GEICO’s eligibility requirements?

Anyone can apply for homeowners insurance through GEICO. There’s no requirement for affiliation with the military.

What veteran-specific discounts does GEICO offer?

Although GEICO doesn’t offer veteran-specific discounts, it does offer bundling discounts and may discount rates for homeowners with home-security systems or home-safety equipment.

Kemper

Kemper has an A- (Excellent) rating for financial strength, demonstrating its ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.^[8]

Who is Kemper best for?

Kemper is best for veterans who need a range of insurance products. In addition to property and auto, Kemper offers business and life insurance.

What are Kemper’s eligibility requirements?

Anyone can insure their home through Kemper. Military service is not required to purchase a policy.

What’s the average cost of a Kemper homeowners policy?

$1,788 annually

What veteran-specific discounts does Kemper offer?

Kemper offers a military discount for active and retired members of the military, as well as junior and senior military academy cadets.

Methodology

Insurify’s team of data scientists analyze millions of home insurance quotes, and weigh publicly available reviews, claims payout rates, complaint indexes, financial strength scores, company reputations, and proprietary quoting data. Our editorial team applies this insight to inform our unbiased reviews and recommendations.

What does homeowners insurance cover?

Homeowners insurance provides several different types of protection for your home and your assets in the event of an unexpected emergency. In addition to covering the cost of repairing or rebuilding the structure of your home and other structures on the policy, a homeowners insurance policy brings these benefits:

• Personal property protection covers the cost of repairing or replacing your personal belongings if they’re stolen or damaged or destroyed in a covered event. The coverage extends to personal property you keep in an off-site location, such as a storage unit, but coverage is limited to a percentage of the amount for which the structure of your home is insured.

• Additional living expenses covers your living expenses if you’re displaced from your home because of damage from a covered event. The coverage pays for meals, lodging, and other expenses you incur as a result of the displacement.

• Liability protection protects you against lawsuits for injuries or property damage you, your family members, or your pets cause to others or their property. Covered expenses include legal fees, judgments against you resulting from the injury or damage, and medical expenses for the injured party.

In insurance, covered events are called “perils.” How many perils your insurance covers depends on the type of policy you have. The most common type, called an HO-3 or special form policy, covers your home and other structures for all perils unless listed as excluded in the policy.

The average cost of homeowners insurance by state

The average cost of homeowners insurance varies widely from one state to the next. While the average rate is just $118 per month in Arizona, Floridians pay an average of $368.

Here’s a closer look at average homeowners insurance costs across the contiguous U.S.:

How does being deployed affect your homeowners insurance?

Deployment can complicate your home insurance situation, and the best homeowners insurance solutions for veterans ensure that your property and other assets are protected no matter where you serve and how long you’re deployed.

Policies typically contain an occupancy clause that voids coverage on homes that sit vacant for a specified period of time, such as 30 or 60 days.^[9] Talk to your insurer about purchasing a vacancy permit endorsement that continues your coverage if you’re deployed.

Another consideration is the exclusion of war from perils for which your personal property is covered. The exclusion means personal property you take into a war zone might not be covered if it’s damaged or destroyed. Look for a policy that covers those items. USAA, for example, covers uniforms and other personal property while you’re deployed on active duty, and it waives the deduction if you need to file a claim.

Veteran homeowners insurance FAQs