Confused about the difference between HO-3 and HO-5 homeowners insurance policies? Read on to discover what policy works best for you and your family.
Comparing the Two Policies
Coverage: While the two policy types offer identical coverage for dwellings, the HO-5 policy is clearly superior in terms of personal property coverage.
Price: In most cases, the HO-3 policy is cheaper as the coverage is not quite as comprehensive as the HO-5.
Claims process: A big difference between the two policies is how the claims process is handled. In an open claims process, the burden is on the insurance company to prove that damage sustained was caused by something on the exclusion list. In an HO-3 policy, the burden is on the homeowner to prove that the damage was caused by a named peril.
What Protection Does an HO-3 Policy Offer?
An HO-3 homeowners policy is by far the most common homeowners policy found in the United States. The HO-3 is a hybrid “open perils” and “named perils” policy—that is, your home is covered on an open perils basis and your contents are covered on a named perils basis.
What Protection Does an HO-5 Policy Offer?
An HO-5 policy is a complete open perils policy—both your dwelling and personal property are covered on an open perils basis.
Open vs Named Perils
An open perils policy offers you coverage against just about any type of damage you can think of, except for certain exclusions. The policy does not list what perils your home and/or personal property is covered from—rather, it only lists what perils are excluded. If damage to the home is not caused by something listed on the exclusion list, you are covered.
A named perils policy specifically lists the perils for which your home and/or personal property is covered, instead of a list of exclusions. If your home or personal property is damaged by something not on the named perils list, you are not covered.
Each policy comes with different benefits and coverages. Pick which one best suits you and your family’s needs.
Also Read: What Happens to Home Insurance When You Move?
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