AARP homeowners insurance is sold through The Hartford, not underwritten by AARP itself
AARP does not sell insurance directly. Instead, AARP members can purchase homeowners insurance through a program administered by The Hartford, an insurance company that has partnered with AARP since 1974. The Hartford handles underwriting, claims, and customer service. AARP's role is to negotiate group rates for members and endorse the product in AARP materials.
This distinction matters because your policy is a Hartford policy, not an AARP policy. You will pay The Hartford, file claims with The Hartford, and speak to Hartford adjusters if something happens. AARP membership gets you access to the program and potentially lower rates than you would find shopping alone, but AARP does not manage the insurance itself.
The program is available to AARP members age 50 and older who own a home or condo. Renters and people under 50 cannot purchase through this program, though they may find other Hartford products or need to shop elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- AARP homeowners insurance is underwritten and sold by The Hartford, not by AARP, so you deal with Hartford for quotes, payments, and claims.
- Coverage typically includes the house structure, personal belongings, liability protection, and additional living expenses if you cannot stay in your home after a covered loss.
- Discounts for AARP members often include a membership discount plus additional reductions for things like bundling with auto insurance, having a security system, or being claim-free.
- You can get a quote by calling AARP's insurance phone line or visiting The Hartford's website; rates vary based on your home's age, location, construction type, and claims history.
- The policy is a standard homeowners insurance contract, so it excludes certain events like floods, earthquakes, and wear-and-tear damage, the same way other homeowners policies do.
What the policy actually covers
AARP homeowners insurance through The Hartford covers four main categories. Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the house structure itself — walls, roof, foundation, built-in appliances — if it is damaged by a covered peril like fire, wind, theft, or vandalism. Personal property coverage pays for your belongings inside the house — furniture, clothing, electronics — up to a limit, usually 50 to 70 percent of the dwelling coverage amount. Liability coverage pays if someone is injured on your property and sues you, or if you accidentally damage someone else's property. Additional living expenses cover hotel, meals, and other costs if a covered loss makes your home unlivable while repairs happen.
The exact dollar limits and what counts as a "covered peril" depend on which form you choose. Hartford offers different tiers — basic, standard, and comprehensive — with different price points and coverage breadth. A basic policy might cover fewer perils than a comprehensive one. You choose the form when you get a quote, and the agent or website will show you what each covers.
What the policy does not cover is equally important. Floods are almost never included in standard homeowners insurance and require a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer. Earthquakes, sinkholes, and some types of water damage (like slow leaks) are also typically excluded. Wear and tear, maintenance problems, and damage from pests are not covered. If you live in a flood zone or earthquake zone, you need to ask about those coverages separately.
How AARP member discounts work
AARP members usually receive a base discount just for being members — this varies by state but is often in the range of 5 to 15 percent off the standard rate. On top of that, The Hartford offers additional discounts for things like bundling homeowners and auto insurance with them, having a security system or deadbolts, being claim-free for a certain number of years, paying your premium in full rather than monthly, or being retired.
The discounts stack, so a member who bundles policies, has a security system, and has been claim-free for five years might receive a significantly lower rate than someone buying a single policy with no loss history. However, the starting rate varies by location, home age, and construction type, so two people with the same discounts can pay very different premiums.
Discounts change periodically and vary by state, so the best way to know what you may have access to for is to get a quote. You can call AARP's insurance phone line (the number is on AARP.com or your membership card) or visit The Hartford's website directly. Both will show you the base rate and list the discounts being applied.
How to get a quote and what information you will need
To get a quote, you will need basic information about your home: the year it was built, the square footage, the type of construction (wood frame, brick, etc.), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether you have a fireplace or wood stove, and the distance to the nearest fire hydrant and fire station. You will also need to know the replacement cost of your home — not what you paid for it or what it is worth on the market, but what it would cost to rebuild it from scratch today.
You will be asked about your claims history: whether you have filed homeowners or auto insurance claims in the past five to seven years, and if so, what they were for. You will also provide information about security features — alarm systems, deadbolts, fire extinguishers — because these lower risk and therefore lower your premium.
The quote process takes 15 to 30 minutes by phone or online. You will receive a quote that shows the annual premium, the coverage limits, the deductible (usually $500 to $1,000, but you can choose higher to lower the premium), and the discounts being applied. You do not have to buy on the spot; you can take the quote and compare it to other insurers.
What happens when you file a claim
If something happens to your home — a fire, a break-in, a tree falls on the roof — you contact The Hartford to file a claim. You can do this by phone, online, or through their mobile app. You will describe what happened, when it happened, and what was damaged. The Hartford will assign an adjuster to your claim.
The adjuster will contact you to schedule an inspection of the damage. They will visit your home, take photos, and assess what needs to be repaired or replaced. This usually happens within a few days of filing, though it can take longer if there are many claims in your area (after a hurricane, for example). You should take your own photos and keep receipts for anything you have already paid to repair, because the adjuster will use those to calculate what the insurer owes.
Once the adjuster completes their report, The Hartford will send you a settlement offer. If you agree, they will pay the claim — either to you, to your contractor, or to both, depending on your policy and the type of claim. If you disagree with the settlement, you can request a review or hire your own adjuster (called an independent adjuster) to dispute it. The policy spells out your rights in the claims process.
How AARP homeowners insurance compares to shopping on your own
The main advantage of buying through AARP is the group discount and the endorsement — AARP has vetted The Hartford and negotiated rates on behalf of members. If you are already an AARP member, you will likely pay less than you would for the same coverage from The Hartford if you called them directly without the AARP affiliation.
The disadvantage is that you are limited to one insurer. If you shop on your own, you can compare quotes from multiple companies — State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide, local insurers — and choose the one with the best rate and service for your situation. Some people find better rates elsewhere; others find that AARP's rate is the best they can get. The only way to know is to get quotes from both AARP and at least one or two other insurers.
AARP also does not offer homeowners insurance in every state. If you live in a state where the program is not available, you will need to shop elsewhere. You can check availability on AARP.com or by calling their insurance line.
What to know about deductibles and coverage limits
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance pays anything. A higher deductible (say, $1,000 instead of $500) lowers your annual premium but means you pay more if you file a claim. A lower deductible raises your premium but means less out-of-pocket cost when something happens. There is no right answer; it depends on your financial situation and how much risk you are comfortable taking.
Coverage limits are the maximum the insurer will pay for each category. Your dwelling limit should be high enough to rebuild your home if it is destroyed — not the market value, but the replacement cost. If your limit is too low and your home burns down, the insurer will only pay up to the limit, and you will have to cover the rest. Many people underestimate replacement cost, so ask the agent to help you calculate it or hire an independent appraiser.
Personal property coverage is usually capped at 50 to 70 percent of your dwelling limit, but you can increase it. Certain items — jewelry, art, collectibles — have sub-limits (lower caps) within the personal property coverage, so if you own valuable items, ask whether you need a separate rider (an add-on to the policy) to cover them fully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bundle AARP homeowners insurance with auto insurance?
Yes, if you buy both homeowners and auto insurance from The Hartford through the AARP program, you will receive a bundling discount on both policies. This is one of the larger discounts available. You do not have to bundle — you can buy homeowners only — but bundling usually saves money.
Does AARP homeowners insurance cover water damage from a burst pipe?
It depends on the cause. If a pipe bursts suddenly due to freezing and damages your home, that is usually covered. If water damage results from a slow leak that you did not notice or maintain, it is typically not covered because it is considered a maintenance issue. Ask The Hartford specifically about what water damage scenarios are included in your form.
What if I have had claims in the past — will AARP still insure me?
Yes, but your premium will be higher. Insurers use claims history to assess risk. If you have filed claims in the past five to seven years, The Hartford will factor that into your rate. The older the claim, the less impact it usually has. You will find out the exact premium when you get a quote.
Can I cancel the policy anytime, or is there a contract lock-in?
You can usually cancel anytime, but most policies are written for one year at a time. If you cancel mid-year, you may owe a cancellation fee or lose a discount you received for paying the full year upfront. Ask The Hartford about cancellation terms when you buy the policy.
Is flood insurance included, or do I need to buy it separately?
Flood insurance is not included in standard homeowners policies and must be purchased separately. If you are in a flood zone, your mortgage lender will require you to buy it. Even if you are not in a mapped flood zone, you can still buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Ask The Hartford whether they sell flood insurance or can refer you to a provider.