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Mississippi FAIR Plan (MRPIUA)

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the Mississippi FAIR Plan is

The Mississippi Residential Property Insurance Underwriting Association was created by House Bill 1113 of the 2003 Regular Session, which amended Miss. Code Ann. 83-38-1 and following sections and replaced the old Mississippi Rural Risk Underwriting Association. Its purposes include providing "an adequate market for residential coverage insurance throughout Mississippi" and making sure every licensed insurer writing fire and extended coverage in the state "is required to meet its public responsibility."

The plan says it is "a separate and independent entity that operates as a private enterprise governed by a Board of Directors," with five member-company representatives and two licensed agents, and that its rules are subject to the review of the Commissioner of Insurance. It shares an office, phone line and website (MSPlans.com) with the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association.

The plan's own Policyholder Bill of Rights says an MRPIUA policy "is a policy of last resort." Its coverage checklist adds: "This is a policy of limited coverage and should have only been purchased as a last resort. More comprehensive coverage and/or less expensive coverage may be available to you in the voluntary market."

This site is not the MRPIUA and is not affiliated with it. We explain the plan's published rules; the plan and your agent make the decisions. [3][4][5][10][11]

Who is eligible

- Turned down first. "Applicants must document declinations from at least two standard market insurers before MRPIUA coverage can be considered." - Homes only. The plan "only insures one or two family residential dwellings or builders risk related to construction of one or two family residential dwellings." It does not write commercial property. - Any county. It covers eligible homes "in all MS counties," but not for wind and hail in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties (see below). - Condition. "Dwellings that are not in reasonably sound condition are not eligible." The plan looks at maintenance, worn-out components, unrepaired damage from past claims and anything that weakens the home's protection against wind and water. - Not vacant. The plan won't insure a vacant home, and the policy's vacancy clause says vacancy or unoccupancy "of more than 90 consecutive days will void coverage." A renovation project may be insured case by case with a supplemental Form V application. - Not over water. "MRPIUA does not provide coverage for any dwelling built over water." - Photos. "Two current color photographs (front and back of the dwelling to be covered) must be submitted with every application." - Mobile homes placed or moved on or after July 1, 2009 need a Form J supplemental application and a copy of the State Fire Marshal's inspection sticker. [1][2]

What it covers and what it doesn't

The plan's coverage checklist says plainly: "THIS IS NOT A HOMEOWNERS MULTI-PERIL POLICY." It is a dwelling property (fire) policy that covers damage you prove was caused by:

• fire or lightning, explosion, riot or civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, volcanic eruption;
• windstorm and hail, except in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.

Wind on the coast. In Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, windstorm and hail are excluded from FAIR plan policies, as state law (Miss. Code Ann. 83-38-3) provides for those three coastal counties; the plan says wind and hail there "can be submitted to MWUA for potential coverage." See our MWUA wind pool page. In George, Pearl River and Stone counties the FAIR plan's rate manual includes windstorm and hail.

State limit. The same law limits plan coverage to 95% of the market value of the insured real and personal property, not counting the land.

Different descriptions. The MSPlans home page lists "HO-3, HO-8, DP-1/DP-3, and mobile home policies with options for liability," and the plan's overview page lists HO-3, HO-8 and DP-1/DP-3 forms and mobile home policies "with optional liability," but the plan's FAQ, coverage checklist and rate manual describe a single dwelling fire policy with no liability, theft or vandalism coverage. Confirm with your agent exactly which form you are being offered.

Flood needs a separate policy; see our sister site FloodHawk. [1][2][3][5][8][9][12]

How to apply

1. Collect two declinations from standard-market insurers. 2. Work with a licensed agent. "To seek plan coverage for eligible dwellings the owner must work through a properly Mississippi Department of Insurance licensed agent." Agents "have no authority to bind coverage" for the plan; the plan decides. 3. Send photos and pay in full. "MRPIUA requires payment in full at the time of application." It accepts payment from a premium finance company but not credit cards. 4. Start date. Once the plan has everything and approves it, coverage starts at 12:01 a.m. "on the day after the application is received with the required payment." The plan says "No coverage will be retroactively backdated for any reason." 5. Storm freeze. No new coverage or increased limits are bound while a named storm is declared to be "within 80 degrees west longitude and 20 degrees north latitude." [1][2]

Paying, renewals and claims

- Paying: through the ACH Policyholder Service Portal or your agency's trust account; no credit cards. There is a $25 fee for NSF checks. - Minimum cost: "a $150 fully earned premium and a fully earned $30 service fee" once coverage has started. - Renewals are not automatic. A renewal quote goes to you, your agent and your lender "approximately 60 days ahead," with an invoice about 30 days ahead. "Renewal coverage is not bound until the payment is received." If you pay within 30 days of the due date, the renewal can be issued "with a lapse in coverage"; after 30 days you must reapply. - Cancellation for nonpayment: 10 days' notice if no lender is on the policy, 30 days if there is one (plus mailing time). - Claims: call (866) 634-4465, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or report through the Policyholder Service Portal, by email to newclaims@msplans.com, or by fax to (877) 786-7275. The plan recommends also telling your agent. [2][6][7]

Your rights as a policyholder

Mississippi's Policyholder Bill of Rights regulation applies to the MRPIUA. Among other things, it gives you the right to a written, adequate explanation of any cancellation or nonrenewal, a written explanation of any claim denial, and at least 45 days' notice of nonrenewal under Miss. Code Ann. 83-5-28. (The law moved from 30 to 45 days for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2026, and the department amended the regulation to match.) The Bill of Rights form posted on the plan's site is dated 12-14 and still says 30 days; MID's Bulletin 2026-11 tells insurers to use the 45-day version for policies and renewals effective on and after Jan. 1, 2027.

You can complain about a company or agent to the Mississippi Insurance Department, which investigates written complaints. [11][13][14][15]

Rates and recent changes

The plan's rates are in its Rules and Rates Manual, effective July 1, 2023. The MSPlans site says rates "are filed with and approved by the Mississippi Insurance Department." Recent changes the plan has posted:

- Feb. 1, 2025: the most the plan will write on a home rose to $300,000 actual cash value, "in lieu of the previously allowed $200,000," on new and renewal policies, subject to underwriting approval. - July 1, 2023: revised rules, rates, procedures and plan of operation took effect. [5][8][16][17]

Getting back to the regular market

The plan's own checklist says "More comprehensive coverage and/or less expensive coverage may be available to you in the voluntary market." The plan does not renew automatically: you get a renewal quote about 60 days before your policy expires.

Ways to make your home easier to insure, and possibly cheaper, are on our Mississippi page, including the state's FORTIFIED discount law and the Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant program. [2][3]

Help

- MRPIUA: (601) 981-2915, fax (601) 608-7517, P.O. Box 5389, Jackson, MS 39296. Office hours Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Central. For questions about your policy, the plan says to start with your servicing agent. - Complaints: Mississippi Insurance Department Consumer Services, (800) 562-2957, or the online complaint page. - Mississippi's rules if you were dropped: Homeowners Insurance in Mississippi. [2][4][18][19]

Questions people ask