Minnesota FAIR Plan Insurance — Last Resort Coverage

Declined by every insurer?
The FAIR Plan ensures you can still get covered.

The Minnesota FAIR Plan is a state-mandated safety net that provides basic property insurance to homeowners who cannot get coverage in the standard market. It is not the cheapest or most comprehensive option — but it is there when nothing else is.

Estimate My RateTalk to an Agent
📋
State-mandated — guaranteed access
🏠
Satisfies mortgage lender requirements
⚖️
We help you transition back to the standard market

When the standard market says no, you still need coverage. Your mortgage requires it. Your home needs protection.

The FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) is a shared-risk pool created by Minnesota law. All property insurers doing business in Minnesota share the risk of insuring properties that cannot find standard coverage. It is not charity or government insurance — it is a market mechanism to ensure coverage is available to everyone.

  • Multiple claims have made you uninsurable in the standard market
  • Property condition issues that insurers will not accept
  • Coverage lapse or cancellation history
  • Location or risk factors that standard insurers decline
  • Mortgage lender requiring coverage you cannot find elsewhere

The FAIR Plan is designed as a temporary solution — a bridge while you work toward standard market eligibility. We help you get coverage now and build a strategy to get back to the standard market as soon as possible.

What to know about FAIR Plan coverage

The FAIR Plan provides named-perils coverage on an actual cash value basis. Maximum dwelling coverage is generally limited to the assessed value of the property less land value. Water damage is typically excluded. Liability may be included at limited amounts depending on property type.

What It Covers

What the Minnesota FAIR Plan covers

🔥

Fire and Lightning

Fire is the primary peril the FAIR Plan was designed to cover. Fire, lightning, explosion, and smoke damage are covered.

🌧️

Wind and Hail

Windstorm and hail damage to the dwelling structure — a significant exposure in Minnesota.

🪟

Vandalism

Vandalism and malicious mischief are covered — important for vacant or difficult-to-insure properties.

🏠

Other Structures

Detached garages, sheds, and fences — typically at 10% of dwelling coverage.

💰

Personal Property

Your furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal belongings — typically at 50% of dwelling coverage.

🏨

Loss of Use

Additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable.

⚠️ Liability coverage — limited and property-type dependent

Depending on property type, the FAIR Plan may include liability coverage — typically capped at $100,000. This is often lower than what most homeowners need. Supplemental liability coverage is generally recommended to ensure adequate protection.

📋

Minnesota FAIR Plan Insurance Checklist

Understand what the FAIR Plan covers, what it excludes, and what supplemental coverage may be needed.

Download Free Checklist →
Getting Back to Standard Coverage

The FAIR Plan should be a bridge, not a permanent solution

Address property issues

Electrical updates, roof replacement, plumbing repairs, and general maintenance improvements can restore standard market eligibility. We identify what is affecting your insurability.

Build a clean claims record

Avoid small claims when possible — pay minor repairs out of pocket. Implement loss prevention measures. A clean claims record over time is the most reliable path back to standard coverage.

Maintain continuous coverage

Do not let your FAIR Plan policy lapse. Pay on time. Continuous coverage history helps with future underwriting when we remarket your property to standard insurers.

Work with your agent

We periodically remarket your property to standard carriers as your situation improves. Transitioning back to standard coverage often means lower premiums and broader protection.

Quick Rate Estimate

What does FAIR Plan coverage cost?

FAIR Plan rates reflect actual risk — typically higher than standard market. Estimate your range in four steps.

The Application Process

Three steps to FAIR Plan coverage

1

Document Your Declinations

You need evidence you have been unable to get standard coverage — typically written declination letters or agent documentation of a market search. You cannot apply to the FAIR Plan directly.

2

We Handle the Application

FAIR Plan policies are written through licensed agents only. We gather documentation, complete the application accurately, and work through any property inspection requirements.

3

Coverage in Place — Then Plan Ahead

Once your policy is issued, we build a strategy to transition you back to standard coverage — identifying what improvements or elapsed time will restore your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What FAIR Plan applicants ask us most

Usually yes. FAIR Plan properties are higher-risk by definition — that is why they are in the FAIR Plan. Premiums reflect that risk.
You qualify if you have been unable to obtain standard market insurance. This typically means you have been declined or can only find coverage at extremely high rates.
No. The FAIR Plan provides basic named-perils coverage. It is more limited than a standard open-perils homeowners policy. A DIC policy fills many of the gaps.
Yes. The FAIR Plan provides coverage that meets mortgage lender requirements. Ensuring you maintain required coverage is one of the FAIR Plan's primary purposes.
Generally no. Water damage — including burst pipes, water backup, and leaking appliances — is typically excluded from FAIR Plan coverage. This is an important gap in Minnesota where frozen pipe claims are common. Ask us about supplemental coverage options.
The FAIR Plan uses actual cash value (ACV) — not replacement cost. ACV factors in depreciation, so an older home will receive less than the cost to rebuild new. Maximum dwelling coverage is generally capped at the assessed value of the property less the land value. This means the FAIR Plan may not fully cover rebuilding costs on an older or depreciated home.
No. Flood damage requires separate flood insurance — just like with standard homeowners policies.
There is no minimum. The goal is to transition back to standard market coverage as soon as your situation improves. We help you work toward that.
Get Coverage

Coverage today. A plan to get back to standard tomorrow.

We handle the FAIR Plan application and build a strategy to transition you back to standard coverage as soon as your situation allows.

  • You cannot apply to the FAIR Plan directly — agent required
  • We document your declinations and complete the application
  • Supplemental liability coverage guidance included
  • Mortgage lender requirements satisfied
  • Ongoing support to restore standard market eligibility

Let's find your options

Tell us about your situation and we will explain your options and next steps.

We respond within one business day. No spam, ever.

The FAIR Plan is not something most agents deal with regularly. We know how the application process works and we know what steps can help you get back to standard coverage.

If you have been declined elsewhere, call us before you give up. There are usually options — and a path forward.

Featured Agent
Janel Morris

Janel Morris

Personal Lines Agent

FAIR Plan situations are always unique. Sometimes it is a property condition issue that can be fixed. Sometimes it is a claims history that just needs time. I help people understand exactly what is driving the problem, get them covered through the FAIR Plan in the meantime, and build a realistic timeline to get back to standard market coverage.

(952) 392-9508Email Janel
👥 Meet the full Options Insurance team →
Last updated: April 17, 2026