Louisiana Home Insurance

The Current State of Louisiana Home Insurance

The market in 2026 is more stable than it was during the worst stretch after the storms, but it is still tight. Several carriers have returned or expanded, partly because the state paid them to. The Insure Louisiana Incentive Program has awarded over $42 million in grants to companies such as Allied Trust and SafePoint to encourage them to write new business and take policies out of Louisiana Citizens.

The rules have also shifted under homeowners' feet. As of January 1, 2025, the state repealed the "Three-Year Rule", so insurers can now non-renew policyholders they have covered for three or more years. Longtime loyalty to one company no longer gives you the legal protection it once did.

For homeowners, that means shopping your policy is no longer something you do only when you are angry about a price. It is basic maintenance, like cleaning your gutters before June.

Why Premiums Rose After Hurricanes Laura and Ida

Laura hit southwest Louisiana in August 2020. Ida made landfall at Port Fourchon a year later and pushed damaging wind all the way through the New Orleans area and into the Northshore. Back-to-back catastrophes like that produced record-breaking losses, and many regional insurers simply did not have the reserves to absorb them.

Between 2021 and 2022, 12 insurance companies became insolvent in Louisiana, forcing more than 100,000 policyholders into Louisiana Citizens. When that many carriers disappear at once, competition collapses. The companies that remained faced more risk, higher reinsurance costs, and fewer rivals pressuring them on price.

Here is what that means for you: your premium reflects more than your own house. It reflects what reinsurers charge carriers to cover a catastrophic year in coastal Louisiana. A Slidell homeowner with no claims history may still see an increase because the whole region's risk profile changed. That is frustrating, but it explains why switching companies can sometimes produce very different quotes for the same house.

How Named Storm and Hurricane Deductibles Work

Named Storm vs. All Other Perils Deductibles

Your all other perils (AOP) deductible covers everything else: a kitchen fire, a burst pipe, a tree that falls during an ordinary thunderstorm, or theft. It is usually a flat amount, such as $1,000 or $2,500.

The trigger matters. A named storm deductible typically applies only when the National Hurricane Center has named the system, and policy language may define the time window before and after landfall. A severe unnamed squall line in April would usually fall under your AOP deductible instead. Read the definition in your declarations page and policy form, because wording can vary between carriers.

Comparison: Standard vs. Hurricane Deductibles

The table below shows how the two deductibles typically compare on a home with $350,000 in dwelling coverage. Actual terms depend on the carrier and policy form.

Saving with Fortified Roof Credits

A FORTIFIED roof is built to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety standard, with sealed roof decks, enhanced nailing, and stronger edge details designed to withstand higher wind speeds. Since roof damage drives a large share of hurricane claims, insurers can price these homes differently.

The state is backing this with real incentives. Effective January 1, 2027, all authorized insurers must apply mandatory premium reductions to the hurricane portion of a policy for homes built or retrofitted to the FORTIFIED standard. Homeowners who certify a FORTIFIED roof in 2026 are also eligible to apply for a state tax credit of up to $10,000 beginning January 1, 2027.

If your roof is nearing replacement, a few steps will help:

• Hire a FORTIFIED-certified roofer so the work qualifies for certification.
• Keep your certificate and send a copy to your agent once it's issued.
• Ask about state grant programs that may help offset the upgrade cost.
• Confirm the credit appears on your next renewal, because it may not apply automatically.

How an Independent Agent Compares Private Carriers

Since 1910, Aubert Insurance Agency has helped families in Covington and Slidell sort through the private market by comparing multiple carriers in one place. That matters more now than it did ten years ago, when far more companies were writing in the region.

Independent agents use comparative rating software to evaluate private market options alongside Louisiana Citizens. The differences may go beyond price. Private policies often provide Replacement Cost Value on the dwelling, which typically pays to rebuild without subtracting depreciation. Citizens' options may offer different settlement terms and fewer coverage choices, so a lower Citizens quote does not always mean better value.

When we shop a policy, we look at:

• Dwelling limit and whether it reflects current rebuilding costs in St. Tammany
• Named storm deductible percentage and how it's triggered
• Roof settlement terms, since some carriers may pay roofs on actual cash value
• Carrier financial strength, a lesson many people learned the hard way in 2021 and 2022
• Exclusions, including flood, which requires a separate policy

Our process is simple: you start online, we shop for you, and you pick the plan that fits. We also explain the contract so you understand what you're actually buying.

Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana Coverage

Why did my insurer drop me after years without a claim? Since the Three-Year Rule was repealed on January 1, 2025, insurers may non-renew long-term policyholders. Decisions often reflect regional risk, roof age, or a carrier reducing its exposure.

Is Louisiana Citizens a bad option? Not necessarily. It serves as the insurer of last resort, but private carriers may offer broader coverage like Replacement Cost Value, so it's worth comparing both.

Does my homeowners policy cover flooding from a hurricane? Typically no. Flood damage requires a separate flood policy, and many policies have a waiting period before coverage starts.

How do I know what my hurricane deductible is in dollars? Multiply your dwelling coverage by the percentage on your declarations page. A 2% deductible on $300,000 of coverage is $6,000.

Can I get a credit for a FORTIFIED roof I already have? Yes, in most cases. Send your FORTIFIED certificate to your agent so it can be applied to your policy.

Should I raise my deductible to lower my premium? Only if you can comfortably pay the higher amount after a storm. Saving a few hundred dollars a year doesn't help if you can't afford the deductible when you need to file a claim.

Making the Right Choice for Your Louisiana Home