Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Review (2024)

A Texas windstorm is no joke, so Texas homeowners should consider purchasing a Texas Windstorm insurance policy. Unfortunately, Texas homeowners who live near the coast may not have wind or hurricane coverage provided through their traditional home insurance policies even if they work with the best homeowners insurance companies. Thankfully, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is there to help you and your home remain protected.

Continue reading this Texas Windstorm Insurance Association review to learn more about this insurance entity and whether or not it can help you acquire the coverage you need to keep your home safe.

What is the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association?

The Texas Legislature founded the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) in 1971. The sole focus of this organization is to help protect homeowners living along the coastal territories of Texas. If you live outside the borders of the Lone Star state, you won’t be able to receive Texas Windstorm coverage.

The TWIA is a residual market property insurance entity and is one of only 36 such organizations in the United States. Created by state law, these residual markets provide alternative insurance solutions to consumers who can’t obtain coverage through traditional insurance companies. For example, many insurance companies won’t provide wind coverage for homes located along the Texas coast, so the TWIA steps in to fill that gap.

Chandra Franklin Womack currently serves as the Chair of the TWIA Board. And you can call 800-788-8247 or send in a question via the TWIA website if you would like to learn more.

What coverages does the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association provide?

You may think that you could procure water damage coverage through TWIA, but you can only receive coverage for wind and hail damage with a TWIA policy. The coverages offered by TWIA are sparse because this organization isn’t a traditional insurance company. However, you can use a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy to provide supplemental coverage to your regular homeowners insurance policy.

Who is eligible to buy a policy from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association?

You can determine if you are eligible to apply for a TWIA policy by reviewing the guidelines provided by this organization. You can apply for coverage through TWIA if you:

• Have been denied coverage by multiple private insurance companies
• Own a home in a designated catastrophe area
• Have a property that has been TWIA certified as having been built up to code.
• Have property located in a V flood zone that has been altered after September 2009 and can obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program
• Own a home that has been certified by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association in the Plan of Operation to be in insurable condition

If your application is accepted, you can make your payments through the TWIA website so that your policy can remain in good standing. Failing to make your payments on time could result in the cancellation of your policy and a complete loss of coverage.

Are the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association rates affordable?

On average, a TWIA residential policy costs homeowners $1,700 per year. However, your rates may be very different from this average. Rates are influenced by many factors, like the location of your home and the style in which is was built.

Are there insurance companies that provide more coverage for homeowners?

If you need more than just wind and hail coverage, you should consider purchasing a traditional home insurance policy. You can request quotes from other insurance companies that can provide coverage to protect your home’s structure and possession. Some companies worth considering include:

• State Farm
• Allstate
• USAA
• Lemonade
• Hippo
• Nationwide

Remember that your homeowners insurance policy may not be able to protect you against windstorms, hurricanes, and hail damage if you live in one of Texas’ coastal counties. You may need to purchase supplemental coverage from TWIA or another specialized insurance company.

How much does home insurance cost?

Like rates for a TWIA policy, home insurance rates will vary from person to person. However, if you would like to start planning your budget, you can refer to this chart and discover what the average rate for home insurance is in your state:

Average Homeowners Insurance Rates by State

Remember that your credit score, as well as your claims history, can influence your rates. If you have a low credit score, attempt to improve it in an effort to obtain lower rates for your insurance.

What You Need to Know About the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

If you live in one of Texas’ coastal counties and can’t acquire windstorm coverage through a traditional insurance company, TWIA can help you get the protection you need. TWIA policies only offer coverage for wind and hail damage, so you should treat this policy as supplemental coverage.

You can’t purchase standard home insurance coverage through this organization or use TWIA’s services if you live outside its coverage areas.

However, you can shop online to find the right insurance company for you if you need coverage to protect your home and possessions.