Universal North America Home Insurance Review


Key Takeaways
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Universal North America Insurance Company started in 2005 as a Texas-domiciled carrier and was acquired by 5B Alliance, LLC on January 1, 2025.

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The company provides 16 optional coverage endorsements, including equipment breakdown and identity fraud expense protection.

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Universal North America offers discounts for bundling multiple policies.

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Universal North America Home Insurance: Quick History

Universal North America Insurance Company was established in June 2005 as a Texas-domiciled carrier under Universal Insurance Holdings of North America.

The company merged with its Florida counterpart, Universal Insurance Company of North America, in June 2021. 5B Alliance, LLC acquired Universal North America on January 1, 2025, with Rafael Cedeño serving as CEO and Chair.

What Does Universal North America Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Universal North America's home insurance includes the six standard coverages that protect your dwelling, belongings and liability.

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    Dwelling Coverage

    Dwelling coverage covers repair or reconstruction costs for your home's main structure when events like fires, storms or vandalism cause damage.

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    Other Structures Coverage

    Other structures coverage handles damage to detached structures, including sheds, garages, swimming pools, privacy fences and standalone carports.

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    Personal Property Coverage

    Personal property coverage pays to replace or repair your possessions including furniture, electronics, clothing and household items after covered loss events.

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    Personal Liability Coverage

    Personal liability coverage handles legal costs and settlements if someone gets injured on your property or you accidentally damage another person's property.

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    Medical Payments Coverage

    Medical payments coverage handles medical bills for guests injured at your home without requiring a liability determination.

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    Loss of Use Coverage

    Loss of use coverage reimburses hotel costs, restaurant meals and other living expenses when you can't stay in your home during covered repairs. This coverage also pays for storage fees, laundry expenses and increased commuting costs while your home is uninhabitable.

Optional Home Insurance Coverages from Universal North America

Universal North America offers 16 optional endorsements to enhance your standard homeowners policy, though availability varies by state. The best home insurance matches your risks and needs, which is why endorsements add specialized protection beyond basic coverage. Check the table to see which optional coverages fit your situation.

Equipment Breakdown
Covers electrical arcing, mechanical breakdown, centrifugal force, short circuits, line surges and owner error for AC systems, electronics and pool pumps
Flood Insurance
Provides coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program with no loan repayment required, protection for personal belongings and immediate relief availability
Earthquake Coverage
Offers comprehensive protection for your home, other structures, personal property and additional living expenses, or limited coverage for basic home protection only
Scheduled Personal Property
Provides coverage for specifically listed valuable items
Water Damage
Extends protection for water-related damage beyond standard coverage
Home Equipment Protection
Covers damage to home equipment and systems
Personal Injury
Provides legal liability coverage for non-physical harm like defamation or false arrest
Rental to Others
Covers situations when you rent part of your home to tenants
Increased Limit of Liability
Raises your liability coverage limits above standard policy amounts
Increased Loss Assessment
Increases coverage for condo association assessments beyond base limits
Personal Property Value Loss Settlement
Enhances how your personal property gets valued after a loss
Permitted Incidental Occupancies
Covers small business activities conducted from your home
Townhouse/Rowhouse
Provides specific coverage tailored for attached home structures
Increased Other Structures
Raises coverage limits for detached structures on your property
Seasonal or Unoccupied Property
Covers vacation homes or secondary properties not occupied year-round
Identity Fraud Expense
Reimburses costs related to identity theft recovery and restoration

What Does Universal North America's Home Insurance Not Cover?

Universal North America's standard homeowners insurance excludes certain perils that require separate policies or endorsements, including flood and earthquake damage. The company doesn't cover intentionally caused damage, normal wear and tear or losses from lack of maintenance.

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    Certain Natural Disasters

    Floods and earthquakes need standalone coverage or specific endorsements since standard homeowners policies exclude these events. Universal North America offers both flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program and earthquake coverage as optional additions.

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    Intentional or Preventable Damage

    Your policy won't cover damage you cause deliberately or problems that result from poor maintenance and normal wear over time. This includes pest infestations, mold from neglected leaks and structural issues from deferred maintenance.

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    High Value Items

    Basic policies cap coverage for high-value belongings like fine jewelry, antiques and artwork at limited amounts per item. You need scheduled personal property coverage to insure these items at their full replacement value.

Universal North America Homeowners Insurance Discounts

Universal North America provides one way to get affordable homeowners insurance through policy bundling, with discount availability varying by state. Ask your agent about discount eligibility, as Universal North America's discounts vary by location.

How to Buy Universal North America’s Homeowners Insurance

You can buy home insurance from Universal North America by finding a local agent through the company's online search tool or calling 866-778-4462 for assistance. Universal North America works exclusively through independent agents who provide quotes and answer coverage questions.

  1. 1
    Calculate Coverage

    Figure out how much you need by checking your home's replacement cost, personal property value and liability exposure. Make a home inventory of your belongings to set accurate personal property coverage limits.

  2. 2
    Find an Agent

    Use Universal North America's online agent search to find an independent agent in your area or call 866-778-4462 for referrals. Your agent gathers information about your property and coverage needs to create personalized quotes.

  3. 3
    Compare Options

    Review different coverage levels, deductible amounts and optional endorsements that Universal North America offers through your agent. Compare how each option affects your premium and protection to find the right balance between cost and coverage.

  4. 4
    Get Discounts

    Ask your agent about Universal North America's bundling discount when buying multiple policies together. Confirm which discounts you qualify for to maximize savings before you finalize your policy.

  5. 5
    Lock In Your Policy

    Read your policy documents carefully to confirm coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions match your needs. Sign your application and pay your first premium to start your Universal North America homeowners insurance.

How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim with Universal North America

Report damage to Universal North America by calling 866-999-0898 anytime or submitting your home insurance claim online. The company runs separate claims lines for new reports, ongoing claims and flood coverage to speed up your experience.

  1. 1
    Report the Claim

    Call Universal North America's 24/7 claims hotline at 866-999-0898 or file online through the company's claims portal. Provide your name, policy number and a description of the damage to your property when you contact the claims department.

  2. 2
    Schedule an Inspection

    A Universal North America adjuster will contact you after you report your claim to arrange an onsite inspection or request additional information. Be prepared to show all damaged areas and answer questions about how the loss occurred.

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    Track Your Claim Status

    Log into your My Universal account online to monitor your claim's progress or call 888-877-0770 for existing claims and claim-related questions. For Hawaii residents, call 808-531-9733 for updates on existing claims.

  4. 4
    Complete the Settlement Process

    Universal North America will notify you once your claim is settled and provide payment details.

Other Universal North America Products

Universal North America offers insurance beyond traditional home policies for different customer segments. The insurer covers rental properties, condo units and commercial operations. Not all coverages are available in all states.

Property Insurance

Universal North America insures renters through personal property and liability coverage, condo unit owners with protection beyond association policies, and landlords with dwelling fire coverage for rental properties including liability and loss of income coverage.

Flood Insurance

Universal North America partners with the National Flood Insurance Program to offer federally backed flood coverage with no loan repayment and protection for personal belongings.

Earthquake Insurance

Universal North America offers earthquake coverage including dwelling, other structures, personal property and additional living expenses, or limited earthquake policies with basic home protection only.

Businessowner Insurance

Universal North America covers small retail businesses like barber shops, beauty salons, florists and pet shops with building coverage up to $5 million, business property coverage up to $1 million and liability coverage from $300,000 to $2 million per occurrence.

Universal North America Home Insurance Review: Bottom Line

Universal North America offers comprehensive homeowners insurance with 16 additional coverage options like scheduled personal property and water damage protection. Policyholders save through the company's bundling discount when combining multiple insurance products.

Universal North America extends its insurance portfolio to renters, condo owners and landlords with property-specific policies, plus flood insurance backed by the National Flood Insurance Program. The insurer also provides dwelling fire coverage for landlords, condo unit owner policies and business owner insurance for small retail establishments.

Compare Home Insurance Rates

Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

Universal North America Home Insurance: FAQ

We answer common questions about Universal North America's home insurance policies, available discounts and coverage options below.

What types of homeowners insurance does Universal North America offer?

Does Universal North America offer flood and earthquake coverage?

Universal North America Home Insurance: Related Pages

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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