The Hartford Home Insurance Review

Updated: November 5, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

The Hartford's home insurance program operates through an exclusive partnership with AARP, the only home insurance program the organization endorses. AARP members who bundle home and auto policies can save nearly $1,000 annually. Another distinguishing feature of the program is the ProtectorPLUS Zero Deductible Benefit, which waives the homeowners insurance deductible up to $5,000 when a covered loss exceeds $32,900. A major claim doesn't also come with a large out-of-pocket cost at the worst possible time.

Additional Limits Coverage functions like extended replacement cost coverage. The dwelling limit rises to 125% of the policy's coverage amount, or up to 150% in some states, protecting policyholders from being underinsured when rebuilding costs exceed the original estimate. The Disappearing Property Deductible works differently. Its deductible drops each year after three consecutive claim-free years, so homeowners who avoid losses over an extended period pay less out of pocket when something does eventually occur.

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WHO IS THE HARTFORD’S HOME INSURANCE BEST FOR?

The Hartford suits AARP members who carry both home and auto insurance and want to consolidate them for savings, since bundling can reduce the home premium by up to 20% and the combined savings can reach nearly $1,000 annually.

The Hartford Home Insurance Availability by State

The Hartford’s AARP home insurance program is available in most U.S. states but doesn't write new home insurance policies in California or Florida. The program is also unavailable in Canada and U.S. territories. 

Coverage options, available endorsements and pricing vary by state, since The Hartford uses different underwriting affiliates depending on the location of the home. Checking the average cost of home insurance by state can give you a useful reference point when comparing quotes.

Homeowners Insurance Discounts Offered by The Hartford

The Hartford offers three home insurance discounts through the AARP program, with the bundle discount offering the largest savings of the three.

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    Auto & Home Bundle

    AARP members who carry auto insurance through The Hartford can save up to 20% on home insurance and up to 12% on auto insurance by bundling both policies. Combined, those savings can reach nearly $1,000 annually. The discount applies only when both the auto and home (or condo or renters) policies are active through the AARP Auto and Home Insurance Programs from The Hartford.

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    Fire Protection

    Homeowners who install fire sprinkler systems or monitored fire alarm systems can qualify for a discount on their home insurance premiums with The Hartford. These systems reduce the risk of large fire losses, and the discount reflects that lower risk.

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    Home Security System

    Adding a burglar alarm or security monitoring system to the home can bring a discount on your homeowners policy. Like the fire protection discount, The Hartford rewards homeowners who take steps that reduce the likelihood of a covered loss.

Cost-focused homeowners should still weigh The Hartford's post-discount rate against the cheapest homeowners insurance options in their state before signing a policy.

What Does The Hartford’s Homeowners Insurance Cover?

The AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford includes the six core coverages found in most homeowners policies. These coverages protect the home structure, personal belongings and the policyholder's financial liability.

What Home Insurance Endorsements Does The Hartford Offer?

The Hartford offers eight optional endorsements through the AARP program. These range from deductible protections to coverage for valuables, equipment and identity theft. Endorsement availability varies by state, so homeowners should confirm which options are offered when requesting a quote.

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    Additional Limits Coverage

    Extends the dwelling limit to 125% of the policy’s coverage amount after a total loss, or up to 150% in some states. It works similarly to extended replacement cost coverage in providing a buffer when rebuilding costs exceed the original estimate, though it’s less expansive than guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which has no cap on rebuilding costs.

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    ProtectorPLUS Zero Deductible Benefit

    Waives the homeowners insurance deductible up to $5,000 when a covered loss exceeds $32,900. If a lightning strike causes electrical and structural damage above that threshold, for example, the deductible is waived entirely on that claim.

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    ‘New for Old’ Protection

    Replaces destroyed personal belongings with new items of the same quality instead of paying actual cash value, which accounts for depreciation. For homeowners who lose older appliances or furnishings in a covered loss, this endorsement covers the cost of a new replacement rather than what the old item was worth at the time of the loss.

  • Reimbursement for Replacing Locks

    Pays up to $500, with a $100 deductible, to replace door locks if keys are lost or stolen. This covers a security concern that most homeowners would otherwise handle entirely out of pocket.

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    Identity Fraud Expense Coverage

    Reimburses out-of-pocket expenses up to certain policy limits to help recover after identity fraud or theft. Policyholders should review the specific limits in their policy when getting a quote if identity protection is a priority.

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    Disappearing Property Deductible

    Reduces the deductible each year after three consecutive claim-free years. Homeowners who go without losses over an extended period can reach a lower deductible than where they started, reducing what they’d pay out of pocket when a covered loss eventually occurs.

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    Equipment Breakdown Coverage

    Equipment breakdown coverage covers repair or replacement costs for appliances and electronics that fail due to mechanical or electrical breakdown, which a standard homeowners policy usually excludes. It also applies to green-upgrade replacements, so a homeowner who wants to swap a broken appliance for a more energy-efficient model can apply this coverage to that purchase.

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    Valuable Items Blanket

    Provides additional coverage for certain high-value personal property, such as jewelry and china, functioning similarly to scheduled personal property coverage. If an insured item is stolen, this endorsement can help pay to replace it where the standard personal property limit alone might fall short.

What Does The Hartford Homeowners Insurance Not Cover?

Standard homeowners insurance policies exclude certain types of damage and loss, regardless of carrier. The Hartford’s AARP program follows the same general limitations.

  • Flood damage
  • Earthquake damage
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Maintenance-related deterioration
  • Pest and insect damage (including termites)
  • Mold and fungus (in most cases)
  • Sewer and water backup
  • Power failure or utility interruption
  • Intentional damage caused by the policyholder
  • Business equipment or liability from home-based business activity
  • High-value items above standard personal property limits

Exclusions vary by state and policy. Homeowners should review their declarations page before assuming any loss is covered.

How to Buy Homeowners Insurance from The Hartford

Getting a quote through the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program starts at The Hartford’s website, where homeowners enter their ZIP code to begin. Those who prefer to complete the process by phone can call 877-422-2345.

After reviewing the quote, homeowners can complete the purchase online or by phone. The declarations page you receive after purchase confirms the coverage limits, effective date and deductible. It's worth reviewing to make sure everything reflects what was selected.

How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim with The Hartford

AARP policyholders can file a homeowners insurance claim online through The Hartford’s policyholder portal or by calling 877-805-9918, which is staffed around the clock. Homeowners without a portal account can also file online without logging in. Flood damage claims go through a separate line at 800-787-5677, distinct from the standard homeowners claims number.

After a claim is filed, policyholders can track its status and monitor payment progress through the policyholder portal without needing to call for an update. Non-AARP policyholders use a separate claims line at 800-243-5860. For questions that require speaking with someone, the claims lines are available at any point in the process.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.

Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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