Earthquake Insurance In St. Louis

Earthquake Insurance In Missouri

When you think of earthquakes, and earthquake insurance, most people don’t immediately think of the St. Louis area. The last earthquake to hit the St. Louis area was 2.6 magnitude on September 5, 2015, and occurred along the New Madrid Fault Line, which runs through southeastern Missouri. So, do you need earthquake insurance in Missouri?

Is There Any Way That You Can Buy An Earthquake Policy On Its Own?

Yes. We currently represent an A- rated, admitted insurance carrier.

You can buy a stand-alone earthquake policy by using excess surplus lines companies. In order to understand this method, you have to know the difference between “admitted” and “non-admitted” companies.

Admitted companies are insurance companies that are admitted under an individual state’s insurance laws.

An admitted insurance company must conform to the rules and regulations of the particular state’s Department of Insurance.

Admitted carriers also must submit their rates to the state for approval.

The benefit of working with an admitted company is that the state is obligated to pay an insurance company’s claim even in the event of the insolvency of the company. (We like that safety net.)

Non-admitted carriers may be perceived as riskier than admitted carriers. But this might not always be the case. Because they do not have to submit their rates to the state they have greater pricing flexibility so they can set rates high enough to cover higher risk events.

How to Get Earthquake Insurance in St. Louis

Step 1: Check Your Current Homeowners Policy

The first thing to know is this:

Standard homeowners insurance usually does NOT cover earthquake damage.

Call your insurance company or agent and ask:

• Do I already have earthquake coverage?
• Can it be added as an endorsement?
• What are my deductible options?
• What exactly is covered?

A lot of homeowners assume they are protected when they are not.

Step 2: Understand Why It Matters in St. Louis

St. Louis sits near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which is one of the most active earthquake areas in the Midwest.

Even a moderate quake can cause:

• Foundation cracks
• Chimney damage
• Structural shifting
• Water line breaks
• Damage to personal belongings

Older brick homes in the area can be especially vulnerable.

Step 3: Gather Basic Information About Your Home

Insurance companies will usually ask for details like:

• Year the home was built
• Square footage
• Construction type
• Foundation type
• Roof age
• Whether the home has a basement

Have this information ready before requesting quotes. It speeds things up a lot.

Step 4: Request Multiple Quotes

Do not stop at the first quote.

Earthquake insurance pricing can vary quite a bit between companies.

You can get quotes from:

• Your current homeowners insurance company
• Independent insurance agents
• Specialty insurance carriers

Ask each company about:

• Annual premium
• Deductible amount
• Coverage limits
• Personal property coverage
• Loss of use coverage if you cannot stay in the home

Step 5: Pay Close Attention to the Deductible

This is the part many homeowners miss.

Earthquake deductibles are usually percentage-based, not flat dollar amounts.

Example:

If your home is insured for $400,000 and your deductible is 15%, you may pay the first $60,000 out of pocket before insurance helps.

Lower deductibles usually mean higher premiums.

Step 6: Ask What Is NOT Covered

Every policy has exclusions.

Some policies may not fully cover:

• Masonry veneers
• Detached structures
• Swimming pools
• Landscaping
• Flood damage caused after the quake

Always ask for examples of what would and would not be covered.

Step 7: Compare the Cost vs. Your Risk

Some homeowners decide the added cost is worth the peace of mind. Others choose to self-insure and save money separately.

Think about:

• Your home value
• Your savings
• Your risk tolerance
• How expensive repairs would be after a major quake

For many families, the biggest concern is avoiding a financial disaster after major structural damage.

Step 8: Purchase the Policy Before You Need It

You cannot wait until earthquake activity starts making headlines.

Most insurance companies have waiting periods before coverage begins. If an earthquake has already happened or is expected, it may be too late to buy coverage immediately.

The best time to get earthquake insurance is before you need it.

Final Tip

If you are unsure whether earthquake insurance makes sense for your situation, ask an independent insurance agent to walk you through real claim examples and worst-case repair costs.

Sometimes seeing actual numbers makes the decision much easier.

Key Takeaways

• Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover earthquakes
• St. Louis is near the New Madrid Seismic Zone
• Standalone earthquake policies are available in Missouri
• Admitted insurance companies offer added state-backed protection
• Earthquake deductibles are often percentage-based and can be high
• Compare multiple quotes before choosing coverage
• Older brick homes may have higher earthquake risk
• Coverage may include your home, belongings, and temporary living expenses
• Buy coverage before earthquake activity starts making headlines

If you have any earthquake insurance questions, we are here to help. Please call us at 314-842-0960  or fill out our form below.

St. Louis Earthquake Insurance FAQs

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