When you hear Ray Charles sing about the “purple mountains majesty,” the image that comes to mind might be the Blue Mountain in Pennsylvania. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Mountain is just one small section of the gorgeous scenery that makes up the Pennsylvania landscape.

Sprawling mountains, colorful falls, snow during the holidays and as many cheesesteaks as your heart could desire. Sound too good to be true? Just ask Pennsylvanians how they feel, given that the state is rated as one of the happiest in the nation. So once you’ve found the perfect home in the mountains to settle down, check out our guide to getting that dream protected from the elements.

How much is Pennsylvania home insurance?

Illustration of three houses with green doors and smoke coming out of the chimney of one

Home insurance costs Pennsylvania residents an average of $1,046 a year — which could also get you two week’s worth of day passes at Hersheypark. And though your kids might be begging for 14 days of roller coasters and chocolate, they’ll be thankful you set aside some money for home insurance should all their toys get ruined because of a fire or burst pipe.

Home insurance costs Pennsylvania residents an average of $1,046 a year — which could also get you two week’s worth of day passes at Hersheypark.

What factors influence my home insurance rate?

Don’t be surprised if you sign up for home insurance and the bill is slightly different than the number listed above. Your actual home insurance rate will vary by your location, the age and value of your home, as well as the number of insurance riders you add to your policy. But generally, you can expect to pay a little over $1,000 a year to protect any home in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania Home Insurance Premiums
$1,200
$1,046

What does homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania cover?

As one of the 13 founding states of the nation, Pennsylvania takes things old school by not requiring its residents to get home insurance. But most (if not all) mortgage lenders will want you to get home insurance regardless, in order to protect their investment. That’s why it’s important to understand what home insurance policies typically cover, including your dwelling, personal property and liability.

Even though Pennsylvania has a relatively low risk for natural disasters compared to other states like Texas or Louisiana, severe weather still happens. For instance, while Pennsylvania doesn’t border the Atlantic Ocean, damage from hurricanes isn’t completely off the table for cities like Philadelphia or Reading. Because of this, you may want to consider an insurance rider like hurricane or catastrophe coverage to make sure your family is protected.

Pennsylvania Insurance Coverage Options

Traditional coverage

Physical
Structure
Living
Expenses
Liability
Protection
Additional
Structures
Personal
Possessions

Supplemental coverage

Fire
Earthquake
Flood

Tips for lowering home insurance rates

Free admission to all national parks, tours at a century-old observatory and tickets to museums like Bicycle Heaven — there are plenty of ways to save money while having fun in PA. But we know Pennsylvania homeowners want — and deserve — more ways to save. That’s why we offer great rates for comprehensive home protection.

For Steelers fans looking to save even more on their policy, they should consider updating older portions of their home to make them less prone to damage, such as their roof or HVAC system. Other quick tips to get that cost down include adding security cameras, alarm systems and other smart home devices throughout your home.

Pennsylvania home insurance resources

While Philadelphia is known for being Always Sunny, if you’ve ever watched The Office, you know PA regularly experiences other weather events like heavy rain and snow. And while Jim and Pam had no issue getting engaged in the pouring rain, they might have felt differently if that same storm ended up flooding the home they bought from Jim’s parents. Similarly, though you might be used to Pennsylvania’s varying weather patterns, you still need proper protection for your home.

The PA government has a few options for homeowners looking to extend their protection. Below, we break down what you need to know about NFIP and the FAIR program. For more information, you can visit the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

National Flood Insurance Program

Though flooding can happen anywhere, it’s significantly more likely to occur in coastal areas or cities near smaller bodies of water like rivers or lakes. While home insurance policies don’t cover flooding on their own, you can easily add flood protection to your plan through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This program will provide more financial assistance should your home’s structures or your belongings become damaged from floodwaters.

Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan

If you’ve experienced at least three rejections from private insurance companies, you will qualify for the FAIR plan in Pennsylvania. Rejections (while uncommon) can occur if you have a high-risk home, missed premium payments in the past or filed multiple claims within a short time. The FAIR plan is pretty bare-bones, though it will provide you with enough basic coverage until you can get approved for a full policy.

From the Liberty Bell to the Gettysburg Address, Pennsylvania is chock-full of history. Since we started offering policies across the state, we’ve been blown away by how Pennsylvanians honor their past while still looking to the future. We are glad to be a part of that future with more modern coverage and a faster quote than any homeowners insurance provider in the Keystone State.

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