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Ohio FAIR Plan

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the Ohio FAIR Plan is

The Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association (OFPUA) is a state-created insurer of last resort. FAIR stands for "fair access to insurance requirements." Ohio law created the association out of "all insurers authorized to write" basic property insurance in the state, and every such insurer "shall be a member." Members share the plan's writings, expenses, profits and losses in proportion to their Ohio premiums.

The plan says it was established in 1968 "to provide essential insurance coverage for eligible property unable to obtain insurance through the voluntary market." It is regulated by the Ohio Department of Insurance.

This site is not the Ohio FAIR Plan and is not affiliated with it. We explain the plan's published rules; the plan and your agent make the decisions. [4][7][8][9]

Who is eligible

The plan covers structures and contents in Ohio that meet its underwriting criteria and have "been denied coverage by at least 2 insurance companies." State law requires you to certify, as part of the application, that at least two insurance companies were contacted and coverage was not available.

Since a law change effective October 24, 2024, eligibility is not limited to "urban areas." The current law says any person with an insurable interest in property "at a fixed location" who "has been unable to obtain basic property insurance or homeowners insurance may apply." In practice, the plan says it began in a limited number of metropolitan areas and "By 1977 the entire state was eligible for basic property insurance."

Other rules that commonly decide an application (from the plan's homeowners and dwelling criteria):

- The property "may not have delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties or other such charges due." - It may not be in violation of building, housing, health, fire or safety codes. If you have a code violation notice, you must also submit a detailed plan to fix it; the plan may then insure you on the condition that the fixes are made on schedule. - It may not have unrepaired damage or unsettled losses, and may not be in foreclosure, litigation or receivership (homeowners forms). - At least 50% of the dwelling must be occupied. Vacant property is only insurable under the plan's Rehabilitation Program, for homes under formal renovation. - Homeowners forms require handrails on stairs of more than 3 steps and porches, a fence around an inground pool, a gate on an above-ground pool, a barrier around a hot tub or trampoline, and either no aggressive dogs or a policy endorsement excluding dog liability. - "Credit history is not considered." Loss history is, and can limit what you're offered (for example, no theft coverage after multiple theft losses until you take steps to prevent more).

The law bars the plan from judging your property by "the condition of surrounding property" you don't control, and the plan's rules say it "shall not refuse to insure any risk because of an environmental hazard." [1][3][4][6][9][10][11][12][13]

What it covers and what it doesn't

Actual cash value means replacement cost minus depreciation, so an older roof or furnace pays less than the cost of a new one.

Other limits that matter:

- The most the plan will insure at one location is $2 million for building and contents combined. - Dwelling Property policies include Ordinance or Law coverage and Additional Living Costs and Fair Rental Value, each at 10% of the dwelling amount, and earthquake can be added with a 5% deductible. - Personal property is covered on an actual cash value basis, and the plan does not schedule (list individually) valuable items. - No liability coverage is offered on Farm, Dwelling Property or Commercial policies; liability is available only on qualifying Homeowners policies. - Policies have deductibles and exclusions, which vary by policy type. Read your policy or ask your agent.

The plan also offers farm, commercial, crime, and mine subsidence coverage. Flood insurance is a separate policy; see our sister site FloodHawk. [3][6][7][12][13]

How to apply

1. Shop first. The plan says to "Check with at least two insurance companies regarding your particular situation." 2. Find an agent. "To get a policy with Ohio FAIR Plan, you will need to work with your agent. You cannot directly apply for a policy." Every Ohio agent can help, even one who normally works with other companies, and the plan "does not have a list of 'preferred' agents." Ohio's rule requires a licensed agent to help on request. Your premium is the same with or without an agent. 3. Optional head start. You can begin the application yourself with Get Coverage on the plan's site and hand it to your agent. 4. Pay the deposit. Coverage can start "as early as the day following OFPUA's receipt of the fully completed application and appropriate binder deposit premium," if the property meets the guidelines. The plan says underwriting generally takes 3-5 days. 5. Inspection. Properties "are typically inspected within 30 days of the application being submitted." Ohio's rule gives the plan 10 business days after it gets the inspection report to tell you and your agent in writing whether the risk is acceptable, acceptable after repairs, or not acceptable.

For a rough number first, the plan's Get a Quote tool gives "an informal estimate." [2][3][5][6][14][15]

If you're turned down or dropped: appeals

The plan's guidelines say its notices that it won't insure you, or that it is cancelling or not replacing your coverage, "will specify the reasons" and will include instructions for appealing to the plan's Board of Governors.

Under Ohio's rule, you have the right to appeal "any action or decision of the association" to its board, in writing "within thirty days after receipt of notice." The board must hold a hearing within 45 days of getting your appeal (it can be postponed up to 60 days for good cause) and tell you its decision no later than 10 days after the hearing. If you disagree with the board, you can appeal to the Superintendent of Insurance within 30 days. [6][7]

Paying, claims and policy changes

- Pay online through the plan's payment page, or mail payments to Ohio FAIR Plan, PO Box 645536, Cincinnati OH 45264-5536. - Payment plan: the plan offers a quarterly payment plan for Homeowners policies and for Dwelling Property policies that need to stay with the plan a second year. - Claims "can be reported 24/7" on the Ohio FAIR Plan mobile app, through Submit a Claim, or by calling (614) 839-6446. - Policy changes: the plan says "any binder or policy changes must be issued by the FAIR Plan." - Mortgage lenders: the plan "is not rated by A.M. Best." It says all Ohio property insurers are its members and statutory reinsurers. [2][3][4][16]

Recent changes

- April 1, 2025: new and replacement Homeowners policies moved to a new program with new rates and forms. Changes included $5,000 of water backup and sump pump discharge coverage on most policies, actual cash value loss settlement on the HO 0008, deductibles of $250, $500, $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000, and roof covering, exterior and construction as rating factors. Pools, trampolines and dogs now add premium, and 3-4 family homes, owner-occupied mobile homes and seasonal homes became eligible. - April 1, 2024: Dwelling Property policies moved to a new program. Liability coverage "is not available," and Ordinance or Law coverage of 10% was added. - October 24, 2024: the state law change described above removed the "urban areas" limit. - April 1, 2026: commercial policies moved to a new program. - In both the 2024 and 2025 changes, you can only cancel "at a future date" (no backdating). [10][11][17][18][19]

Getting back to a regular insurer

The plan's FAQ says "It is required that consumers shop for insurance each year" and that it is in your interest to look for a standard company. The plan's bulletins ask agents to check, at each renewal offer, whether "the customer may not need to be insured with OFP any longer."

Ohio law also requires the plan's board to keep a written program for reducing how much people have to rely on the plan. [3][9][17]

Help

- Ohio FAIR Plan: (614) 839-6446, or chat on the plan's website during business hours. Mail: 8800 Lyra Drive, Suite 150, Columbus OH 43240. - Complaints about an insurance company or agent: Ohio Department of Insurance Consumer Services, (800) 686-1526 or the online complaint page. - More on Ohio's rules if you were dropped: Homeowners Insurance in Ohio. [2][20]

Questions people ask