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Wisconsin FAIR Plan (Wisconsin Insurance Plan)

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the Wisconsin Insurance Plan is

The plan describes itself as "Wisconsin's FAIR Plan or residual property insurer," created "to provide basic property insurance on certain properties rejected for coverage by other insurers." FAIR stands for "fair access to insurance requirements." The FAIR plans' national service office (PIPSO) lists it as the "Wisconsin FAIR Plan."

It exists under state rule Ins 4.10, which carries out Wis. Stat. 619.01. The rule defines it as a "nonprofit, unincorporated mandatory risk-sharing facility." Every insurer licensed to write basic property insurance in Wisconsin is a member, and members share the plan's losses and expenses in proportion to their premiums. A governing committee runs it under the supervision of the Commissioner of Insurance.

The plan says it is "state mandated but not a government agency," and its employees are not state employees. Its stated mission is to insure property "without regard to environmental hazards, providing the property is reasonably maintained."

We are not the Wisconsin Insurance Plan and are not affiliated with it. We summarize its published rules; the plan decides every application. [1][2][4][14][15][16]

Who is eligible

You must have been turned down. Ins 4.10 lets you apply if you have "received within the last 6 months a notice of rejection or cancellation from an insurer," and the notice must go with your application. The plan accepts a letter or email from an insurance company underwriter, a cancellation or nonrenewal notice, or a page from an insurer's agent manual showing why the property isn't eligible. It does not accept a rejection from an agent or agency, one older than 6 months, or one from the plan itself.

Property it can't insure: motor vehicles, manufacturing properties, and farms with more than $5,000 a year in gross farm receipts.

Homeowners policy: a one- or two-family home that is the owner's principal residence (mobile homes at a permanent location qualify), with a market value of $350,000 or less (dwelling only, not the land or other structures). The plan's agent guidelines measure this with the assessed value of improvements on the property tax bill.

Dwelling policy: a 1-4 family home, owner- or tenant-occupied; seasonal or second homes; renters' belongings; condo unit owners; and vacant homes under active rehabilitation.

Not every application is accepted. The plan says it "has underwriting standards and is not required to insure all properties that apply for coverage," though "these standards may be less restrictive than those of other insurers." Things that commonly matter under the rule and the plan's guidelines:

- Roofs and siding. Under the plan's May 2026 guidelines, roofs or siding in poor condition, made of materials no longer manufactured (asbestos, T-lock, hexagonal shingles), or 3-tab shingle roofs older than 20 years "regardless of condition" trigger cancellation guidelines for Homeowners policies and Dwelling policies with extended coverage. If the roof or siding is the problem, the plan may restrict coverage to a fire-only Dwelling policy. - Vacancy. The plan can't insure property vacant or unoccupied for more than 60 days unless it is under active rehabilitation (Dwelling or Commercial only). - Taxes, utilities and orders. An order to vacate or demolish can lead to a decline, as can any two of these: property taxes delinquent a year or more, or going 30 days or more without water, heat (in heating season) or lighting when that is within the owner's control. - Loss history and some liability hazards (broken steps, missing handrails, unfenced pools, animals that have caused a claim) can rule out the Homeowners policy (hazards until fixed); the plan may then offer its Dwelling policy, which has no liability coverage.

The rule says the plan's standards "shall not include neighborhood or area location or any environment hazard beyond the control of the property owner." [1][2][4][10][11][15]

What it covers and what it doesn't

All plan policies are actual cash value policies (replacement cost minus depreciation). The plan's coverage chart:

Perils covered: fire or lightning; windstorm or hail, explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles and smoke ("extended coverage," optional on Dwelling policies); vandalism; and theft as shown above.

Not covered on any plan policy, per the chart: falling objects, weight of ice, snow or sleet, freezing, electrical current damage, collapse, water damage, and accidental discharge or overflow of water. The chart is dated September 27, 2022; your policy, not the chart, controls.

Minimum deductibles rise with the dwelling limit ($250 up to $75,000, $500 up to $150,000, $1,000 up to $250,000), and customers with two or more claims in three years may get a higher deductible.

Condition charges. If an inspection finds problems that don't justify a decline (wiring, heating, upkeep, a dog, a pool or trampoline, a home business), the plan can add 25% of the base premium per condition, up to 50% at a time, starting at renewal. OCI says you must finish repairs and tell the plan in writing 90 days before renewal to avoid the charge.

Flood is not covered; see our sister site FloodHawk. [2][4][6][11][17]

How to apply

1. Get a rejection or cancellation from an insurer, dated within the last 6 months. 2. Contact a licensed Wisconsin agent. The plan says "Any licensed insurance agent in the state of Wisconsin can assist you," and you may need to say "I want to apply to the Wisconsin Insurance Plan." Agents (the plan calls them producers) "should not charge a fee," and using one "does not affect the premium." The plan's guidelines say every agent licensed for property insurance is required to help. 3. Submit the application with three things: a complete application signed and submitted by the agent, the rejection documentation, and a deposit of "at least 20% of the total premium." The earliest a policy can start is the day after the plan receives the complete application and the payment. 4. Underwriting review: "usually" 3 to 5 business days. You're notified by mail. If the plan turns you down, the letter states the reasons and the deposit is returned. 5. Inspection: if accepted, the property is inspected "within 2 to 4 weeks," usually from the outside. Inspections are free to you under Ins 4.10. If the inspection finds problems, you get a cancellation notice that says what to fix and by when.

OCI's homeowners guide says you can also apply without an agent, though the plan recommends using one; the plan's own page says applications are signed and submitted by a producer. Ask the plan if you can't find an agent to help. [2][3][6][11][18]

If the plan says no, cancels or won't renew: appeals

The plan may cancel or refuse to renew only for reasons listed in Ins 4.10, such as nonpayment, facts found on inspection, unrepaired damage after more than 60 days, repairs not started within 60 days after a claim is paid, abandonment for 90 days or more, or repeated losses.

The plan's guidelines list its notice periods: 13 days for nonpayment, 13 or 30 days for problems found on the first inspection, 13 days for misrepresentation or a substantial change in risk, and 60 days for nonrenewal. Notices "will provide the reason."

Your right to a hearing. Every notice of declination, cancellation, nonrenewal or reduced coverage must tell you about your right to a hearing. You must file a petition with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance "not later than 30 days after the notice is mailed." Filing it stops a cancellation, nonrenewal or reduction while the case is pending, "as long as the petitioner continues to pay the plan premium." OCI's guide says to send the request to OCI, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873, with your name, address, property location, policy number and reasons. [2][6][11][15]

Paying, claims and policy changes

- There is no policyholder login yet. The plan's Policyholder Login page says a portal is coming. The online system at wifairplan.onaipso.com is for agents, though anyone can submit a claim there as a guest. - Pay online from the plan's payment page through ACI Payments, which charges $6.48 for a credit card, $2.86 for a debit card, or $2.49 for a bank account. Or mail a check or money order (no cash) to Wisconsin Insurance Plan, 2115 10th Avenue, Suite 201, South Milwaukee, WI 53172. A returned payment costs $28. - No grace period. A payment that arrives after the cancellation date is returned, the policy ends, and you must apply again. - Payment plans: pay in full or in 5 installments with no service fee. - Claims: call (877) 240-0533 or (414) 291-5353, or use Submit a Claim. Someone from claims usually contacts you within 48 hours. The plan has contracted with the Illinois FAIR Plan to supervise claim handling. - Cancelling: send a signed written request. The plan may back-date up to 30 days; longer needs proof of other coverage or that you sold the property. - Office hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. [5][7][8][9][12][18][19][20][21][22]

Cost and the 4-year limit

OCI says "The premiums charged by WIP are higher than those charged by regular insurance companies" and calls it "homeowners insurance of last resort." The plan says it "does not price for profit"; when losses run higher than expected, that shows up in the premiums in its rate filings.

Four years, then shop again. Ins 4.10 requires the plan to review each policy for the regular market between 36 and 48 months. In practice, about 70 days before the end of the fourth policy year the plan sends a nonrenewal notice: "Don't panic! You may reapply." You and your agent must shop the regular market; if no one will insure you, you submit a completely new application with a rejection from another insurer (not the plan), and the property is reinspected.

OCI's advice: treat a plan policy "as temporary coverage" and keep shopping; "You can keep your coverage with WIP while you shop." [2][6][11][13][23]

Help

- Wisconsin Insurance Plan: (414) 291-5353; claims (877) 240-0533. - Complaints about an insurer, agent or the plan's decisions: Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, (800) 236-8517, or the OCI complaint page. - Your rights if a regular insurer dropped you: Homeowners Insurance in Wisconsin. [5][6][24]

Questions people ask