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Maryland Home Insurance

Maryland is known for its diverse landscapes, ranging from Chesapeake Bay, to Baltimore, to the mountainous regions in the west. With such varied surroundings, it's important to have reliable home insurance coverage, ensuring protection against accidents and unforeseen damages.

Is home insurance required in Maryland?

Maryland doesn’t legally 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. It should be tailored to your specific situation and needs.

Typical Maryland 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 cause 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 and exclusions, which are specified within your policy.

Your homeowners insurance won’t cover flood damages, so it helps to ensure you’re properly covered if there’s a flood. Flood insurance policies are available and are written through the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program. It’s common for mortgage companies to require flood insurance if your home is within or near a floodplain. Regardless, a flood can occur anywhere, and it’s a good idea to buy this additional coverage.

Additional coverages in Maryland

You may find that the general coverages afforded in a basic homeowners policy don’t cover certain losses or types of property. Amica offers home insurance options in the form of policy endorsements that can fill in some of those gaps in coverage. Adding endorsements to your Maryland homeowners insurance policy can provide valuable additional coverage tailored to your specific needs. Here are a few endorsements you might consider:

  • Special computer coverage:

    Additional protection beyond what’s included in your policy for devices against direct physical loss, like accidental damage or theft. Devices covered under special computer coverage include:

    • Desktops
    • Laptops
    • Smartphones
    • Gaming devices
    • Smart TVs

  • Identity fraud expenses:

    Identity theft is a growing concern, and this endorsement can help cover expenses associated with restoring your identity, such as legal fees, lost wages and other related costs.

  • Water backup and sump overflow:

    Unexpected and accidental water damage, like from an appliance or burst pipes, is covered by most homeowners insurance policies. But, at the same time, they also exclude coverage for backed-up sewers and drains. This endorsement provides coverage for water that backs up through drains and sump pumps.  

  • Scheduled personal property:

    If you have high-value items such as jewelry, fine art or collectibles, a basic homeowners policy may not provide sufficient coverage. With this endorsement, you can insure specific items to make sure they're adequately covered against loss or damage.

  • Earthquakes:

    A standard Maryland policy excludes damage caused by earth movement, including earthquakes. This endorsement would extend coverage to damage caused by an earthquake.

Key factors impacting Maryland homeowners insurance rates

The location of your home is a significant factor that impacts home insurance premiums. Different areas face different risks and exposures. The cost of home insurance in a city versus a small town will depend on many factors, including property values, crime rates, construction costs and population density.

Your Maryland home insurance policy should be as unique as your residence, tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. That's why we emphasize the importance of selecting the right coverage options. By customizing your policy to suit your lifestyle and preferences, you not only ensure adequate protection for your home but also gain some control over your rates.

Additionally, regularly reviewing and updating your coverage can ensure that your policy adequately reflects your current needs.

Save more on Maryland home insurance with discounts

There are several ways Maryland 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 a home in Maryland 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.
  • Claim-free: Receive a discount when you’ve had no claims in the past three years.

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.
  • Paid in full: Save money when you pay the entire balance of your Maryland policy premium up front.

One of the best ways to conveniently manage all of your insurance needs and save money at the same time is to bundle your insurance coverages for home and auto with the same insurance company. In fact, Maryland homeowners who bundle home and auto insurance with Amica could save up to 20% with a multiline discount.

Facts and figures about Maryland

Common claims in Maryland:

Given Maryland's unique weather conditions, it's crucial for homeowners to have adequate insurance coverage to protect against common claims.

  • Weather-related claims: High winds and coastal storms can cause various types of damage to homes, including roof damage, siding damage and water intrusion. Homeowners insurance typically covers damage caused by windstorms, hail, lightning and other weather-related perils.

It's important to note that flood damage caused by rising water from sources such as overflowing rivers, storm surges or heavy rainfall is not covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. Homeowners in flood-prone areas may need to purchase separate flood insurance to protect against this risk.

  • Plumbing leaks: Among the common insurance claims in Arizona are plumbing leaks. Leaks are a significant concern, particularly those complicated by pipes running through concrete slabs, which is a common construction method in the region. These leaks can go unnoticed for extended periods, leading to water damage, mold growth and other costly issues.

Most standard home insurance policies cover both types of damage, but it's best to review your policy to understand the extent of coverage and any limitations.

Fun facts about Maryland:

  • Annapolis is the capital city, but Baltimore is the largest city with a population of over 560,000.2
  • In 1962, jousting became the official state sport of Maryland.2
  • Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy, which was founded on Oct. 10, 1845.2

How to get home insurance in Maryland

We’re here to guide you through the process of personalizing your homeowners insurance in Maryland. 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 Maryland 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 that your home is safeguarded against the unexpected, allowing you to focus on what matters most – enjoying life in beautiful Maryland.

Get a home insurance quote

or call 833-513-3881

1 Discounts not available in all states and may vary.
2 100 Fun Facts About the State of Maryland
 

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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