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Illinois Home Insurance

If you’ve chosen to make Illinois your home, investing in homeowners insurance is essential to protect against the state’s diverse and sometimes unpredictable climate. With a well-rounded policy in place, you can weather any storm or season, knowing that your home is protected.

Is home insurance required in Illinois?

Illinois law doesn’t require homeowners to have insurance on their property, but if you finance your home through a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to have homeowners insurance. Even if you own your home outright without a mortgage, it’s still highly advisable to be insured. Home insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product. With YourPlan, there’s a range of options that can be tailored to meet your unique needs.

Typical Illinois homeowners insurance coverages

  • Coverage A – Dwelling:

    Coverage for your home and attached structures for damage caused by events such as fire, lightning, wind or hail.

  • Coverage B – Other structures:

    This covers damage to other structures on the property that are set apart from the dwelling, such as a fence, shed or detached garage.

  • Coverage C – Personal property:

    Coverage for your belongings, such as furniture, clothing and electronics, if they’re damaged by a peril listed in your policy.

  • Coverage D – Loss of use:

    This covers your temporary living expenses when a covered loss makes your home unfit to live in.

  • Coverage E – Personal liability:

    This covers damage or injury to another person or their property that you’re responsible for causing. It also covers legal assistance for claims made against you.

  • Coverage F – Medical payments to others:

    This coverage can pay for medical bills for people who are accidentally hurt on your property, not including members of your household.

Remember, each of these coverages is subject to a policy limit, deductible and exclusions, which are specified within your policy. 

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, so it’s important to make sure you have the right protection in place if a flood occurs. Flood insurance is available through the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program. Many mortgage companies require it when a home is in or near a floodplain, but floods can happen anywhere. Adding this coverage can help you stay protected no matter where you live.

Additional home insurance coverage in Illinois

In addition to the coverages included in a standard homeowners policy, many Illinois residents choose to explore optional coverages that provide added protection beyond the basics. These additional coverages may help with:

  • Enhanced protection for rebuilding or repairing your home, including extended replacement cost options.
  • Coverage for specific parts of your home, such as roofs, siding or certain types of property.
  • Protection for home systems and infrastructure, like buried utility lines or water backup.
  • Added support for a covered loss, including debris removal or protections designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs after a major claim.

These coverage options can be added individually or combined in different ways depending on how much protection you’d like and what makes the most sense for your home. Learn more about common homeowners insurance coverages and how they work.

Customizing home insurance in Illinois 

After reviewing standard and optional coverages, you may be wondering how homeowners typically put those choices together. YourPlan allows you to compare thoughtfully built coverage levels that are based on what Illinois homeowners often select. Then, you can adjust and customize from there, choosing what feels right for your home and budget.

Essential

Core coverage that’s designed to meet the needs of many Illinois homeowners. Essential focuses on foundational protection for your home, belongings and liability. It’s a straightforward option that covers common risks without added enhancements.

Advantage

Broader coverage that offers added protection for more situations. Advantage builds on Essential by including optional coverages and enhancements that go beyond a standard policy. It’s a good fit if you want extra flexibility and added protection for things like repairs, home systems or certain types of losses.

Signature

Our most complete option, with enhanced protection and added benefits. Signature includes the highest level of coverage we offer, combining broader protection, higher benefit limits and additional safeguards. It’s designed to help reduce gaps in coverage and provide added confidence if a loss is more complex or severe.

YourPlan lets you explore these approaches in more detail and customize coverage based on what you need in Illinois. Explore coverage options with YourPlan.

Understanding rate factors for Illinois home insurance

Living in a small town or a city can significantly influence your home insurance premiums. Population density, crime rates and environmental risks all play a role in determining insurance costs.

Your Illinois home insurance policy should be tailored to your unique needs and circumstances, taking into consideration specifics like the type of dwelling, the value of your belongings and the level of coverage desired. Certain factors that impact home insurance rates may be beyond your control, such as repair costs or your proximity to a fire station. 

Maximize savings with Illinois home insurance discounts

There are several ways Illinois homeowners can save money on home insurance without compromising the quality of their coverage.1 We offer home insurance discounts for:

  • Alarm systems: Receive a discount when you insure a home with burglar alarms, sprinkler systems or fire alarms.
  • Automatic detection devices: Insure an Illinois home with a temperature monitoring, water leak detection or gas leak detection system installed and receive a discount. 
  • New or remodeled homes: Receive a credit when you insure a new or remodeled home.

If these don’t apply to you, we also offer discounts for:

  • AutoPay: Receive a discount when you opt to pay your premium using automatic deductions. 
  • E-discount: Receive a discount when you sign up to receive policy information and bills electronically.

One of the best ways to conveniently manage all of your insurance needs and save money at the same time is to bundle home and auto insurance with the same company. In fact, homeowners in Illinois who bundle their policies with Amica may qualify for a valuable multiline discount.1

Facts and figures about Illinois

Common claims in Illinois:

Illinois geography allows for a diverse climate that can lead to a wide range of weather conditions, which can pose unique challenges for homeowners.

  • Weather-related claims: High winds from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms can result in significant roof and siding damage. Homeowners insurance usually covers structural damage caused by severe weather, including the costs to rebuild your home and replace belongings, up to your policy's specified limits.

The heavy rainfall may lead to flooding, particularly in low-lying areas; because of this, obtaining a separate flood insurance policy is often necessary to ensure protection for your home and belongings.

  • Old or corroded pipes: In older homes or those with outdated plumbing systems, pipes may become worn out, corroded or weakened over time. This can increase the likelihood of leaks occurring, especially in areas with high water pressure or hard water.

These leaks can lead to water damage to the structure of the home, as well as damage to personal property such as furniture, electronics and other belongings. Common areas where plumbing leaks occur include bathrooms, kitchens, basements and crawl spaces. Most standard home insurance policies cover water damage caused by leaking pipes, but it’s best to review your policy to understand the extent of coverage and any limitations.

Fun facts about Illinois:

  • Nearly 75% of the population of Illinois lives within the greater Chicago metropolitan area.2 
  • Built in 1885, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago was considered the first skyscraper in the world.2
  • Collinsville hosts the world’s largest horseradish celebration, the International Horseradish Festival, held each June. The festival holds events like a 5K run, a car show and more.3

How to get home insurance in Illinois

We’re here to guide you through the process of personalizing your homeowners insurance in Illinois. Here’s how to secure your policy in three easy steps:

  1. Assess your coverage needs:

    An Amica representative can provide personalized guidance and help you navigate your options to find the right coverage for your needs.

  2. Discover potential discounts:

    A representative can also assist you in exploring potential discounts or cost-saving measures available to Illinois homeowners based on your unique circumstances.

  3. Get a quote:

    Amica offers convenient options for getting a quote. You can either get a home insurance quote online or call 800-242-6422 today to speak with a representative.

With Amica, you can rest easy knowing your home is safeguarded against the unexpected, allowing you to focus on what matters most – enjoying life in beautiful Illinois.

Get a home insurance quote

or call 833-513-3881

AMIC-03-030427

1 Discounts not available in all states and may vary.
2 95 Interesting Facts About Illinois
3 The International Horseradish Festival

Your Policy, Policy Declarations or Amended Declarations in effect on the date of loss is the primary source of reference for your coverage, coverage limits and deductible amounts.

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