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Rhode Island FAIR Plan (RIJRA)

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the Rhode Island FAIR Plan is

The Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association, "also known as the Rhode Island FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements)," was set up in response to the federal Urban Property Protection and Reinsurance Act of 1968. Its purpose is "to provide basic property insurance on eligible property for applicants who have been unable to gain insurance through the voluntary market."

State law (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 27-33) requires every insurer licensed to write property insurance in Rhode Island to participate in the FAIR plan, and the plan's operating rules are in the Department of Business Regulation's regulation 230-RICR-20-05-11. Member insurers share the plan's writings, expenses and losses. By law the plan's rates must be "self-supporting" and approved by the Department of Business Regulation (DBR).

The plan's office is at Two Center Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts. Payment questions go to the Massachusetts FAIR Plan (MPIUA), and the online payment portal serves both plans.

We are not the Rhode Island FAIR Plan and are not affiliated with it. We explain its published rules; the plan and your agent make the decisions. [1][3][4][5][8][9][10]

Who is eligible

"Any person or legal entity having an insurable interest in the property may apply if the applicant has been unable to secure such insurance in the voluntary insurance market." The property must be at a fixed location in Rhode Island and "in insurable condition." Automobiles and farms are not eligible. The plan's manual says "an attempt should be made to place coverage in the voluntary insurance market" before applying.

Location alone can't keep you out: the regulation says the plan "shall not decline or cancel any risk for reasons of neighborhood or area location or any environmental hazard beyond the control of the property owner," and the plan says coverage is provided "without consideration of environmental conditions associated with the property's location."

The plan can decline or cancel under its underwriting standards, for example for:

- poor physical condition (construction, heating, wiring, unrepaired damage, general deterioration); - vacancy, or 65% or more of the building unoccupied (unless it's being rehabilitated); - real estate taxes delinquent one year or more, or heat, water or lighting off 30 days or more (when within your control); - fire damage where permanent repairs haven't started within 60 days after the loss was adjusted; - unpaid insurance premiums owed to an agent, insurer or the plan; - an arson or insurance-fraud conviction or unresolved indictment; - for liability coverage, hazards such as unfenced swimming pools or vicious animals.

Homeowners forms HO-2, HO-3, HO-5 and HO-8 are for owner-occupants of 1-4 family homes; HO-4 is for tenants; HO-6 is for owner-occupied condo units. Dwelling fire forms (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3) cover 1-4 unit dwellings, including rentals. [1][2][5]

What it covers and what it doesn't

What to know:

- Perils: DP-1 is fire and lightning, with windstorm, hail and other "extended coverage" perils and vandalism optional. DP-2 and HO-2 add named perils such as falling objects, weight of ice and snow, accidental water discharge and freezing. HO-3 and DP-3 cover the house against all risks except those excluded. - Deductibles: the homeowners base deductible is $250, with options of $500, $1,000 and $2,500, and since Sept. 1, 2026, $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 (all forms except HO-4 and HO-6). A $100 deductible is available on owners forms if you have no property losses. - Mold: a limited fungi, wet or dry rot, or bacteria endorsement is mandatory, with built-in limits of $10,000 (property) and $50,000 (liability). - Lead: a lead poisoning exclusion is attached to homeowners policies covering pre-1978 rental units that don't comply with the Lead Act; lead liability coverage can be bought. - Flood is not covered. For flood insurance see our sister site FloodHawk.

One older sentence in the plan's April 2025 manual still says the amount of insurance may not exceed "$1,000,000 single interest"; the plan's April 2024 notice and the same manual's limits tables say $1,250,000. Confirm the limit for your home with your agent or the plan. [2][6][7][11]

Hurricane deductibles and storm limits

For a reduced premium, a mandatory hurricane deductible applies to all homeowners HO-2, HO-3, HO-5 and HO-8 policies. It depends on your Rhode Island building code wind zone:

Mitigation can remove or reduce it. With proof from a qualified contractor, the plan reduces or removes the hurricane deductible if you have plywood shutters precut to fit all windows and doors (with anchors pre-installed), permanent storm shutters or hurricane glass, and/or roof tie-downs meeting the state building code. For example, on Block Island, roof tie-downs alone cut the 5% deductible to 2%.

State rules cap any hurricane deductible at 5% of the dwelling's insured value and apply it only once per calendar year for all hurricanes.

Storm watches. When the National Weather Service has a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning for any point on the U.S. coast north of latitude 35.3 degrees (the North Carolina-Virginia line), the plan attaches a "Windstorm and Hail Limitation" to new coverage where there was no prior insurance or coverage lapsed, and to coverage increases. It suspends wind and hail coverage for the storm and 24 hours after the watch or warning ends. It is not attached for a home purchase closing during the watch, or if you are applying because your prior insurer cancelled or didn't renew you and your coverage hasn't lapsed. See our hurricane deductible guide. [2][7][12][13]

How to apply

1. Go through a licensed agent or broker. The producer acts as your agent, not the plan's, and cannot bind coverage. The plan's rules say no licensed agent "shall refuse a request for insurance, inspection and placement from an eligible applicant" unless you owe money to an agent, broker or insurer for the coverage. 2. Application. Homeowners and dwelling applications are submitted online by the agent, with the plan's CoreLogic replacement cost estimate for HO-2, HO-3 and HO-5 policies. 3. Immediate coverage. For coverage within 30 days, the agent submits the signed application with payment. If acceptable, coverage is effective on the date the plan receives the application (or a later date you request), and the plan inspects afterward. 4. Non-immediate coverage. The plan inspects first; it averages "up to twenty days" to respond. If the plan, through no fault of yours, hasn't offered or denied coverage within 20 calendar days and you have paid the estimated premium, you are automatically insured ("deemer provision"). 5. Inspection. Inspections are mandatory and free, done weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. with full access to the building. If the inspector can't reach you or you miss the appointment, a "Lock-out Letter" starts the process to reject or cancel coverage. If conditions need fixing, you get a Substandard Condition Notice and can send photos or receipts through the Insured Portal to show repairs. [2][5][14]

Paying, renewals and claims

- Installments: pay 20% down and the rest in seven installments due on days 45, 75, 105, 135, 165, 195 and 225. The annual premium must be at least $100 to use the plan, and a $2 or $4 service charge applies to each installment unless you pay online. If you received two or more nonpayment cancellation notices in a policy period, you may lose the installment option. - Pay online (or by phone through Invoice Cloud at (855) 471-9081), or mail a check to Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association, P.O. Box 981031, Boston, MA 02298-1031. AutoPay and paperless billing became available through the Insured Portal starting Jan. 20, 2026. - Renewals: homeowners and dwelling policies renew automatically. A renewal invoice is mailed about 45 days before expiration, and payment must arrive no later than two days after the renewal date to avoid a cancellation notice. - Claims: report a property damage claim online or call (800) 851-8978 or (617) 723-3800 during business hours (liability claims by phone). For an emergency claim after hours, call (800) 297-3554. [1][2][4][15][16][17]

Cancellation, nonrenewal and appeals

The plan gives 30 days' notice before cancelling, except for owner or occupant arson, material misrepresentation or nonpayment. It gives at least 45 days' written notice before not renewing a homeowners or dwelling policy, with the specific reasons, sent to you, your agent and any mortgage lender.

Appeals: you may appeal any final underwriting ruling to the plan's Governing Committee within 15 days after the notice is mailed. You can then appeal the committee's decision to the Commissioner (DBR) within 30 days. [2][5]

Rates and recent changes

- Sept. 1, 2026: new optional all-peril deductibles of $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 for homeowners policies (all forms except HO-4 and HO-6). - Jan. 20, 2026: new bill payment portal with AutoPay and paperless billing. - Oct. 15, 2025: dwelling personal liability rate revision. - Sept. 15, 2025: homeowners and dwelling rate revisions approved by the DBR. - June 1, 2024 and May 1, 2024: homeowners and dwelling rate revisions. - April 1, 2024: maximum limits raised: homeowners Coverage A from $1,000,000 to $1,250,000; condo and renters contents from $50,000 to $100,000; dwelling building and contents combined from $1,000,000 to $1,250,000.

The plan's rate letters do not state the size of the rate changes, and the plan's website does not publish a policy count. [1][6][7][18][19]

Getting back to a regular insurer

The plan's manual says "Many insurance companies are willing to write coverage on certain properties presently insured through RIJRA." It reminds agents that the plan "is a residual market of last resort" and to make "reasonable efforts" to place renewals in the standard market. Ask your agent to shop your policy before each renewal, especially after you add storm protection or a new roof. [2][20]

Help

- Rhode Island FAIR Plan: (800) 851-8978, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Two Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02108-1904. - Complaints and questions: Rhode Island DBR Insurance Division, (401) 462-9520. - Your rights if a regular insurer drops you: Homeowners Insurance in Rhode Island. [2][3][21]

Questions people ask