The Hartford/AARP Homeowners Insurance Review
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The Hartford
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
The Hartford
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
About AARP home insurance from The Hartford
The Hartford/AARP homeowners insurance earned 4 out of 5 stars for overall performance. The Hartford has been the provider of AARP home insurance since the 1980s. However, you don’t need to be an AARP member to buy insurance from The Hartford. Non-members can get coverage through independent agents.
The Hartford is one of the insurance industry’s most venerable brands, dating back to 1810.
Where The Hartford/AARP home insurance stands out
Perks for older homeowners. The Hartford targets mature homeowners with retiree and AARP discounts. In addition, its "Replacement Plus" coverage could help those with limited mobility make their homes easier to navigate after a covered claim.
Many coverage options. The Hartford offers quite a few ways to customize your policy, including the ability to waive your deductible for large claims.
Where The Hartford/AARP home insurance falls short
Consumer complaints. The Hartford's biggest weak point is its high volume of customer complaints.
Buggy Android app. Judging by user ratings and reviews, The Hartford's Android app may not be the most effective way to manage your policy. The iOS app fares slightly better.
State availability
The Hartford offers homeowners insurance to AARP members in Washington, D.C., and every state but California and Florida. In most states, non-members can get Hartford home insurance through independent agents.
The Hartford/AARP home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. | |
Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. | |
Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. | |
Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
The Hartford offers the standard home insurance above as well as other coverage options, such as:
Additional Limits Coverage. It pays up to 125% of your coverage limits (or 150% in some areas) if you need to rebuild your home completely.
ProtectorPlus Zero Deductible Benefit. Waives your home insurance deductible (the amount of a claim you're responsible for) up to $5,000 if you make a damage claim of $32,000 or more.
"New for Old" Protection. Pays to replace your possessions with new items after a claim, regardless of the old possessions' age or condition (often known as contents replacement cost coverage).
Lock replacement. Pays up to $500 (minus a deductible) to replace your locks if a key is lost or stolen.
Personal injury liability coverage. Helps pay for damages from a libel or slander claim, which standard liability coverage typically doesn't.
Identity fraud coverage. Pays out-of-pocket expenses to help you recover after fraud or identity theft. Learn more about identity theft insurance.
Disappearing Property Deductible. Reduces your deductible after you've been claim-free for three years.
Green Rebuilding. Increases your policy limits by up to 10% to pay for environmentally friendly materials or methods to repair your home after a claim.
Equipment breakdown coverage. Pays to repair or replace appliances and electronics if they fail for a reason other than normal wear and tear.
Replacement Plus or Easy Living Upgrade Coverage. Helps pay to make your kitchen or bathroom safer and more accessible after a covered claim with upgrades such as multi-level countertops or wider doorways.
Water backup and sump pump overflow. Reimburses you if a backed-up drain or failed sump pump causes water damage.
Scheduled personal property. Offers extra coverage for individual items that a standard policy won't fully cover, such as an expensive ring.
Valuable items blanket coverage. Raises the payout limit for items such as jewelry and silverware if stolen, lost or damaged — up to $10,000 per item.
Ordinance or law coverage. Pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a covered claim.
Refrigerated property coverage. Pays to replace refrigerated food ruined during a power outage or mechanical breakdown.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a discount by:
Bundling auto and homeowners policies.
Having home security features.
Installing certain fire protection devices like sprinkler systems or monitored fire alarms.
Owning a new home.
Having good credit.
Having filed no homeowners claims.
Working less than 24 hours a week.
Living in a gated community.
Being an AARP member.
Taking steps to prevent wind damage to your home.
Renewing your policy.
Consumer complaints
The Hartford had more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years' worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Consumer experience
Website: The Hartford's website offers coverage information, online quotes and a portal where you can pay bills and manage your policy. You can also use your online account to file and track claims.
App: Some of The Hartford's mobile app features are similar to the website's, such as bill payments and claim tracking. However, Android users have reported bugs that make the app challenging to use. iPhone users report a slightly better experience with the app.
Claims: You can report a homeowners insurance claim through The Hartford's website. If you'd rather speak to someone, AARP members can call 877-805-9918, while non-AARP policyholders can call 800-243-5860. For advice, see how to file a home insurance claim.
Customer service: AARP homeowners policyholders can call 800-423-0567, Monday through Saturday, for customer support. Non-AARP members can contact their local agent or call 800-624-5578, Monday through Saturday.
The Hartford/AARP home insurance: The bottom line
If you're an AARP member or considering becoming one, the organization's homeowners insurance is worth considering. But you don't need an AARP membership to get The Hartford's insurance; you can contact one of its local independent agents to ask about your options.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
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