Homeowners' Insurance
If Your Homeowner's Insurance Won't Play FAIR
The following article was excerpted from the MSPCA web site. Read the complete text.
The MSPCA is getting more and more phone calls from people who are denied homeowner’s insurance solely because they own a particular breed of dog. These breeds include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers. Some insurance companies also refuse to insure homeowners who have dogs with a history of aggressive behavior.
The law does not prohibit insurance companies from discrimination based on breed. While breed-specific city and town ordinances have been challenged on constitutional grounds, such as due process and equal protection, insurance companies--because they are not part of the government--are not subject to these constitutional restrictions. Why are insurance companies reluctant to insure certain breeds? Dog bite claims cost insurance companies a tremendous amount of money. It is estimated that 4.7 million injuries occur from dog bites each year in the United States, with 800,000 requiring medical treatment. Insurance companies pay an estimated $250 million a year in dog bite claims, with an average claim cost of $12,000. Insurance companies sometimes attempt to limit their liability for these dog bites by eliminating what they perceive as high risks.
Many insurance companies do not automatically reject owners of certain breeds but may require letters from veterinarians, dog obedience certificates, or a home visit by an insurance agent. If your insurance company will not insure you because of the breed of dog you own, check with your insurance agent, who may know of another company that will insure you. In addition, some companies may insure you but exclude the animal from the policy. In Massachusetts, if homeowners are denied coverage, insurance can be obtained through the state's FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan, operated by the Massachusetts Insurance Property Underwriting Association. The FAIR Plan can be reached at Two Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02108-1904, (617) 723-3800 or (800) 392-6108, and at www.mpiua.com.
