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State-created insurer · Louisiana

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What Louisiana Citizens is

The legislature created Louisiana Citizens in 2003 as a nonprofit corporation to run the state's residual market (the coverage of last resort) starting Jan. 1, 2004. It provides property insurance "solely for applicants who are in good faith entitled, but are unable, to procure insurance through the voluntary market."

It operates two programs:

• FAIR Plan: the successor to Louisiana's "Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan" from 1992, covering the non-coastal area of the state.
• Coastal Plan: the successor to the Louisiana Insurance Underwriting Plan from 1970, covering the designated coastal area.

On the January 2026 rate exhibit, Coastal Plan policies were listed in 10 parishes: Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion. FAIR Plan policies were listed in parishes across the state, including those same coastal parishes. Ask an agent which plan applies to your address.

Citizens says plainly that it "is the insurance of last resort and is state-mandated to be more costly than private property insurance companies." Its offices are at 1 Galleria Blvd., Suite 720, Metairie, LA 70001.

We are not Louisiana Citizens and have no connection to it. For your policy, use the official links above. [3][4][8][9][10][12]

Who is eligible

Under state law, anyone with an insurable interest in Louisiana property who has been denied coverage by one or more insurers authorized to write property insurance in this state may apply, "directly or through a representative." The application must list each insurer that turned you down, and it states that Citizens is an insurer of last resort.

The property must be "insurable property": in an insurable condition, at a fixed location in Louisiana, where basic property insurance "is not obtainable in the voluntary market." Citizens' Plan of Operation (the version on its website was last amended in 2015) says underwriters may consider the amount of insurance compared with the home's value, its physical condition (construction, heating, wiring, prior damage or deterioration), its use and upkeep (such as vacancy), and conditions that violate the law or public policy. It also says a neighborhood or environmental hazard beyond the owner's control is not a reason to decline, and credit scoring alone is not a reason either. The law also requires coverage for property "easily accessible by road for emergency vehicles."

If you're turned down: if Citizens denies your application (for a reason other than not showing a prior denial) or doesn't act on it in the time its plan allows, you may appeal in writing to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The Plan of Operation sets that time at 90 days from receipt of the application. [1][9][13][14]

What it covers and what it doesn't

State law defines the coverages Citizens provides ("essential property insurance") as:

• Fire, with or without extended coverage and vandalism and malicious mischief
• Windstorm and hail without fire, for dwellings and commercial properties on a monoline (wind-only) basis
• Homeowners
• Business interruption, for commercial properties on a monoline basis

Its 2026 rate exhibit shows personal-lines policy types for homeowners, fire and extended coverage, mobile homes and wind-only.

Flood is not covered. Citizens says all its policies "do not include flood insurance, which is administered by the National Flood Insurance Program." See our sister site FloodHawk for flood coverage.

Personal property: Citizens' claims FAQ says the standard homeowner policy covers belongings at actual cash value (depreciated), and replacement cost for contents is available by endorsement. If you're displaced by a covered loss, additional living expense may apply. State law also lets a policyholder ask in writing to exclude personal property coverage, and the insurer may then reduce the premium by an actuarially justified amount.

Deductibles: options listed in Citizens' discount disclosure include $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 (with the building insured for at least $200,000) and a 5% hurricane deductible. Its claims FAQ says a hurricane deductible is a percentage of your Coverage A (dwelling) limit, and a calendar-year hurricane deductible applies to hurricane losses from January to December. Our hurricane deductible guide explains how these work.

Your exact coverage and limits are on your declarations page; Citizens' FAQ says to check your policy or ask your agent. [10][11][13][15][16]

How to apply

Licensed insurance agents ("producers") who have signed Citizens' subscriber agreement can bind Citizens coverage, and state law lets you apply directly or through a representative. Be ready to show which insurers denied you. Louisiana's Department of Insurance has a producer and company search to find licensed agents.

Each Citizens application and policy must come with a separate disclosure telling you that you can get a list of agents and insurance companies that may be able to cover you in the private market, with directions to the Department of Insurance website. [1][7][9]

Paying, managing your policy and claims

Pay online: personal lines policyholders can pay by check or credit card through the customer portal. First-time users register with the policy number and the property address on the policy. Online payment is not available for commercial policies.

Report a claim: online 24/7 through your account, through your agent, or by phone at 1-888-568-6455, option 3. Citizens' FAQ says an independent adjuster will contact you within 72 hours of the report to schedule an inspection. Don't start permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects, but do protect the property (tarp the roof, cover broken windows) and keep receipts.

Questions about your policy: call 1-888-568-6455 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or your agent. Fax: 504-831-6676. [4][5][6][15][17]

Why Citizens costs more: the rate law

Louisiana law says Citizens' plans "are not intended to offer rates competitive with the voluntary market." Rates are set by Citizens' board, adjusted every year, approved by the insurance commissioner, and "shall exceed by at least ten percent" the higher of:

• the actuarially justified rate, or
• the highest rates charged by private insurers with at least 2% of the market in that parish for that line of business (for homeowners coverage other than wind-only, also the highest rate of insurers that grew by at least 25 policies in the parish).

To find those benchmarks, Citizens surveys Louisiana property insurers every year.

Temporary exception: until Dec. 31, 2027, in a market the commissioner has ruled "noncompetitive," Citizens' rates may not exceed the higher of the actuarially justified rate or that highest private rate, without the extra 10%. The commissioner looks at that question when Citizens writes more than 50% of the residential property business in a market.

Citizens also collects an extra charge equal to the state premium tax, which it keeps as a state contribution to the corporation. [2][18]

Recent rate changes

These are averages for personal lines policies, new and renewal. Changes in the 2026 filing varied a lot by parish and policy type; for example, the exhibit's FAIR Plan average was -11.0% in East Baton Rouge Parish and +35.3% in Washington Parish. Your own change depends on your parish, policy type and coverage.

Citizens' board agenda for Sept. 9, 2026 included a vote on a new personal lines rate filing. As of Oct. 13, 2026, Citizens had not posted the result on its rate changes page. [10][19][20]

Takeout offers (depopulation)

Since 2008, Citizens has run a takeout program (also called depopulation) in which approved private insurers offer to take over Citizens policies. State law says the legislature intends Citizens to work toward "the ultimate depopulation" of its plans.

• Takeout insurers must be admitted in Louisiana, rated at least B+ by AM Best (or equivalent), and approved by Citizens' board.
• Your agent must agree. No policy is moved without approval from the agent of record.
• Price limit: in the first year, the takeout insurer's rate must comply with the Citizens rate law; in years two and three it may not be higher than what that law allows.
• You can say no. Taking the offer is voluntary. The law protects your right to stay with Citizens or keep your agent.

Round 24 has an assumption date of Dec. 1, 2026. Participating personal-lines companies are Cajun Underwriters, Ocean Harbor Casualty and GuardianPointe. Policies taken out in this round may return to Citizens if you send the opt-out form by Feb. 28, 2027; your agent can also file a "Request to Continue Coverage" form. The forms and coverage comparisons are on Citizens' Round 24 resources page. Round 25 is being planned for April 1, 2027.

In 2025, two rounds moved 2,334 policies (April 1) and 1,839 policies (Dec. 1) to private insurers. Our Louisiana page covers other ways back to the private market, including the state's insurer incentive program. [12][21][22][23][24][25]

Assessments and finances

If either plan runs a deficit, state law lets Citizens charge a regular assessment of up to 10% of industry premium to insurers, which insurers may pass on to their policyholders. If that is not enough, Citizens can borrow and charge an emergency assessment on property policyholders statewide, including its own.

After the 2005 hurricanes, Citizens issued $978.2 million in bonds to pay about 80,000 Katrina and Rita claims, and property policyholders statewide paid an emergency assessment to repay them. Citizens ended that assessment on April 1, 2025 (it had been 1.36%) after collecting enough to cover the remaining debt, and it planned to retire the bonds in June 2026. On June 3, 2026, the Louisiana Department of Insurance and Citizens held a press conference marking the bonds' retirement. Policyholders may be able to claim assessments paid as a Louisiana income tax credit; Citizens points to the Louisiana Department of Revenue for details.

A 2026 law (HB 1187) let Citizens transfer $50 million in additional Katrina and Rita bond assessment funds to the state's Fortify Homes roof grant program.

Finances: Citizens reported policyholder surplus of $543.2 million at the end of 2025, up from $386.3 million, and earned premium of $221.7 million in 2025, down from $305.7 million in 2024. Its 2025-2026 reinsurance and catastrophe bonds totaled $1.86 billion, which it described as 1-in-122-year storm protection. [12][26][27][28][29][30]

Discounts at Citizens

Citizens offers credits for a FORTIFIED roof or home (Bronze, Silver or Gold, with a certificate from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety). LDI's 2026 report lists Citizens' FORTIFIED Roof discount as 24.3% in Zone 1, 17.1% in Zone 2 and 7.2% in Zone 3.

Owner-occupied homes can also get wind loss mitigation credits (roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, opening protection, secondary water resistance, roof shape, door strength) with a survey by a certified wind loss inspector. Homeowners policies can get alarm credits. Ask your agent to quote them. See our FORTIFIED roof guide. [16][31]

Cancellation by Citizens

Citizens' Plan of Operation says a policy in effect fewer than 60 days may be canceled for any reason. After 60 days, it may be canceled only for nonpayment (including fees and assessments), material misrepresentation, a reason that would have made the property ineligible had it been known, a change in the property that makes it uninsurable or ineligible, evidence of arson, or another reason the law allows. Policies renew each year as long as the property stays insurable and you pay. [1][9]

Help

• Louisiana Citizens: 1-888-568-6455, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Louisiana Department of Insurance: consumer hotline (800) 259-5300 or file a complaint.

[4][32]

Questions people ask