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 Chairman.
Universal North America Home Insurance Review
Updated: December 3, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Universal North America Insurance Company started in 2005 as a Texas-domiciled carrier and was acquired by 5B Alliance, LLC on January 1, 2025.
The company provides 16 optional coverage endorsements, including equipment breakdown and identity fraud expense protection.
Universal North America offers discounts for bundling multiple policies.
Universal North America Home Insurance: Quick History
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.
Dwelling Coverage
Dwelling coverage covers repair or reconstruction costs for your home's main structure when events like fires, storms or vandalism cause damage.
Other Structures Coverage
Other structures coverage handles damage to detached structures, including sheds, garages, swimming pools, privacy fences and standalone carports.
Personal Property Coverage
Personal property coverage pays to replace or repair your possessions including furniture, electronics, clothing and household items after covered loss events.
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.
Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments coverage handles medical bills for guests injured at your home without requiring a liability determination.
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 specific risks and needs, which is why endorsements add specialized protection beyond basic coverage. Review the table below 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.
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.
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.
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.
- 1Calculate Your Coverage Needs
Calculate how much home insurance you need by evaluating your home's replacement cost, personal property value and liability exposure. Create a home inventory documenting your belongings to establish accurate personal property coverage limits.
- 2Find a Local Agent
Use Universal North America's online agent search tool to locate an independent agent in your area or call 866-778-4462 for agent referrals. Your agent will gather information about your property and coverage needs to generate personalized quotes.
- 3Compare Policy Options
Review different coverage levels, deductible amounts and optional endorsements 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.
- 4Apply for Discounts
Ask your agent about Universal North America's bundling discount when purchasing multiple policies together. Confirm your eligibility for available discounts to maximize your savings before finalizing your policy.
- 5Review and Finalize Your Policy
Read your policy documents carefully to verify coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions match your needs. Sign your application and pay your first premium to activate 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 any time or submitting your home insurance claim online. The company operates separate claims lines for new reports, ongoing claims and flood coverage to streamline your experience.
- 1Report 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.
- 2Schedule 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.
- 3Track 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.
- 4Complete 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 expands its insurance offerings past traditional home policies to serve various customer segments. The insurer provides coverage options for rental properties, condo units and commercial operations. Note that 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 protection |
Flood Insurance | Universal North America partners with the National Flood Insurance Program to provide federally backed flood coverage with no loan repayment requirements and protection for personal belongings |
Earthquake Insurance | Universal North America offers comprehensive 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 protection from $300,000 to $2 million per occurrence |
Universal North America Home Insurance Review: Bottom Line
Universal North America delivers comprehensive homeowners insurance with 16 additional coverage options like scheduled personal property and water damage protection. Policyholders can 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.
Universal North America Home Insurance: FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked 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?
Universal North America provides standard homeowners policies covering dwelling, personal property, liability and loss of use, plus dwelling fire coverage for rental properties. The company also offers condo unit owner policies, renters insurance and 16 optional endorsements including equipment breakdown, identity fraud expense and scheduled personal property coverage.
Does Universal North America offer flood and earthquake coverage?
Universal North America sells flood insurance through a partnership with the National Flood Insurance Program, providing federally backed coverage with no loan repayment requirement. The company also offers earthquake coverage in two forms: comprehensive policies covering your home, other structures, personal property and additional living expenses, or limited policies protecting only your home structure.
Universal North America Home Insurance: Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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.
sources
- Universal North America. "Homeowners." Accessed December 6, 2025.
- Universal North America. "Homepage." Accessed December 6, 2025.
- Universal North America. "Flood Insurance." Accessed December 6, 2025.
- Universal North America. "Equipment Breakdown." Accessed December 6, 2025.
- Universal North America. "Earthquake Insurance." Accessed December 6, 2025.