Insurance
Homeowners Insurance in Missouri
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Missouri homeowners paid about $1,668 a year on average in 2022, the 15th highest in the country and above the U.S. average of $1,569. Hail and tornadoes are a big part of that.
But the biggest gap in many Missouri homes isn't on the bill at all. It's earthquake coverage, and in the part of the state with the most risk, almost nobody has it anymore.
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The New Madrid earthquake gap
The New Madrid Seismic Zone runs under the Bootheel in southeast Missouri. A regular homeowners policy doesn't cover earthquake damage. You need a separate policy or an add-on, called an endorsement.
Missouri's Department of Commerce and Insurance has tracked how many homes have that coverage for years. The trend is steep:
| Year | Homes in the New Madrid area with earthquake coverage |
|---|---|
| 2000 | More than 60% |
| 2015 | 18.3% |
| 2018 | Just under 14% |
| 2024 | 10.4% |
Statewide, fewer than 20% of homes have earthquake coverage in 101 of Missouri's 115 counties.
Why people dropped it
Price. From 2000 to 2018, average earthquake premiums in the New Madrid counties rose about 700%, and nearly 1,000% in one county.
Deductibles. Earthquake deductibles are a percentage of your coverage, not a flat dollar amount. In 2018, only one insurer surveyed offered a deductible under 10% in the New Madrid area. On a home insured for $200,000, a 15% deductible means you pay the first $30,000. Some policies also apply a separate deductible to your belongings.
What's changed lately
There's some good news. In its 2025 survey, the state found:
- 37% of insurers were writing new earthquake policies, up from 32% the year before
- Fewer companies, 14% versus 19%, refused to offer it in the New Madrid area
- About 85% of the market now offers deductibles under 10%
What to do: if you dropped earthquake coverage years ago, or never had it, get a fresh quote. Ask for the deductible in dollars and whether your belongings have their own deductible.
How fast Missouri insurers must handle your claim
After a hailstorm or tornado, Missouri rules set a clock for your insurer:
- It must finish investigating within 30 days of hearing about your claim, unless it reasonably can't.
- It must accept or deny within 15 working days after you've sent in all the forms it needs.
- If it needs more time, it must send you a letter explaining why within 45 days, and another every 45 days after that.
If your insurer misses these, you can contact the Department of Commerce and Insurance at 800-726-7390.
The Missouri FAIR Plan
If regular insurers won't cover your home, the Missouri FAIR Plan may. It's meant as a temporary safety net. Here's what to know before you apply:
- It pays actual cash value. That means it takes off for age and wear, so it pays less than a replacement cost policy.
- Coverage tops out at $200,000 for your house and belongings combined.
- It includes sinkhole coverage on homes, and theft can be added.
- It doesn't cover earthquakes.
- Your home must be in decent shape. Homes in severe disrepair, with unsafe wiring or heating, or with unrepaired damage may not qualify.
- Expect inspections. The FAIR Plan inspects after your first payment and again every four years.
You apply through a Missouri-licensed agent, not directly.
What changes your price in Missouri
- Hail and wind exposure where you live
- Your roof's age and material. Impact-resistant shingles may help.
- Your deductible, including any separate wind and hail deductible
- Earthquake coverage, if you add it, and its deductible
- Your claims history
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company.
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Flood Insurance
Explore flood coverage, which standard home policies usually exclude.
Sources
- NAIC homeowners report (2022 data), via Insurance Information Institute
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Consumers encouraged to consider earthquake insurance as availability increases
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, New Madrid area on the verge of an earthquake insurance market collapse (2019)
- Missouri Code of State Regulations, 20 CSR 100-1.050, Standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims
- Missouri FAIR Plan, Consumers