And they may not know they have other coverage options if their homeowners insurance company cancels their coverage. Uninformed consumers aren’t aware that their dog choice could affect their homeowners insurance.“The use of breed lists has a detrimental impact on three groups-uninformed consumers, people of color, and consumers of low or moderate means,” say these dog advocates in their request to NAIC, the rule-setting organization for American insurance companies. In a plea to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), they raise an even bigger question: If insurers discriminate against the dog, do they also discriminate against the owner? And they won’t renew a policy if the presence of a “vicious dog” is discovered in the home.ĭog advocates-led by the Animal Defense League, American Kennel Club, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society and others-are fighting back.They say it’s wrong for home insurance companies to discriminate against dogs due to breed. Many major insurers’ filings specifically state that coverage won’t be provided to households where these dogs live. The home insurers’ “banned breeds” lists are long and include dogs you’d expect, like Rottweilers, some you might not expect, like German Shepherds and rarer breeds like Alaskan Malamutes. It’s a rogues’ gallery of so-called bad breeds who scare people, bite and knock kids off bikes. Many decide whether to cover a household with a problematic dog on a case-by-case basis.īut among insurers with banned breed lists, the lists can be found within filings made by home insurance companies to state insurance departments. Not all home insurance companies have official lists of restricted dog breeds. Any dog that displays a vicious temperament as observed by an insurance company employee.Dogs with any prior incident of attacking or setting upon any person or animal with violent force.Dogs with any prior incident of biting another person or animal.Pit bulls, as defined by insurance companies, generally encompass Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, or any combination of these breeds. ![]() Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of state insurance filings These lists are often hidden from consumers’ view in filings made by insurers to state insurance departments. ![]() We analyzed banned dog breed lists from 42 homeowners insurance companies across the nation to find the most frequently banned breeds. ![]() Some take dog bite problems on a case by case in deciding whether to offer insurance to the owner. Not all home insurers have strict lists of banned dog breeds. To rein in costs, many home insurance companies have lists of banned dogs-cases where the insurer won’t provide coverage if a customer owns the breed. The average dog bite claim has been around $44,760, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Homeowners insurance pays out for dog bites or other dog-related injuries-such as a fall when a dog jumps on someone or runs at them. The problem with dogs is the expensive liability claims against the dog owners. ![]() Aside from natural disasters and water, the three things that give home insurance companies agita are dogs, pools and trampolines.
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