With a MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100, Citizens has above-average ratings in customer satisfaction and financial stability. However, it earned only 3.00 out of 5 in affordability, which is just average.
score73Citizens Home Insurance Review: Service, Cost, & More (2024)
Updated: November 21, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
score735/5
satisfaction
3/5
affordability
4/5
stability
pros
Above average customer satisfaction
Rare add-on sinkhole coverage
cons
Only available in Florida
Low rating for affordability
Few discounts and coverages
Verdict
Citizens is a good option for homeowners in Florida, especially if they want sinkhole coverage. It offers common discounts like protective device and new home and a rare discount for roofing material. But other than these, its discount options are very limited. It also might not be the most affordable option for homeowners insurance, but Citizens received a great score for customer satisfaction.
Does Citizens Have Good Customer Service?
What to Expect From Citizens Homeowners Insurance
There are many things to learn about a homeowners insurance company. MoneyGeek listed some important details to know about Citizens homeowners insurance to help you.
- 1
Getting a quote
You can contact a Citizens agent directly to get a customized homeowners insurance quote for your specific profile.
- 2
Customer support
For any concerns or questions, contact the Citizens Customer Care Center at 866-411-2742. You can also email the company through its website.
- 3
Filing a claim
You can file a claim online through the myPolicy portal — it is available 24/7. You can also call customer service to file a claim.
- 4
Canceling your policy
To cancel your Citizens homeowners insurance policy, contact the Customer Care Center at 866-411-2742, your agent or file a cancellation request online.
FILING A HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE CLAIM WITH CITIZENS
To file a claim, policyholders can use the Citizens online portal (myPolicy) or call 866-411-2742, which is available 24/7.
STATE AVAILABILITY
Citizens homeowners insurance is only available in Florida.
How Much Does Citizens Homeowners Insurance Cost?
You can contact an agent to get a Citizens homeowners insurance quote and find out how much a policy costs. Based on MoneyGeek’s nationwide data, homeowners insurance averages $1,979 per year. But keep in mind that rates will vary depending on your home’s construction type, location and age, plus other factors.
Factors like dwelling coverage, personal liability coverage, location and deductible affect a Citizens homeowners insurance premium.
You should determine how much home insurance coverage you need considering the replacement cost of your home and the contents inside. Generally, a dwelling coverage of $250,000 is a good starting point. There are also other home insurance coverage limits to consider like personal liability when getting a homeowners insurance policy.
To estimate the cost of homeowners insurance for your home and profile, use MoneyGeek’s home insurance calculator below.
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
The cost to rebuild a home can be extremely high. Purchasing a lower dwelling coverage limit with a high deductible may keep your monthly bills more affordable, but you might end up paying more out-of-pocket in the event your house is severely damaged or completely destroyed.
What Discounts Does Citizens Offer?
Citizens offers homeowners insurance policyholders three discounts. That is fewer than the industry average of seven. Very few companies offer a roofing material discount, which makes it Citizens’ rarest discount. Citizens also has discounts for individuals with a new home and those with a protective device.
Discount | Description |
|---|---|
Roofing Material | If your home is protected against wind, rain damage, hurricane damage and other severe storms, you may be able to get a discount with Citizens. To be eligible, your home must get a wind mitigation inspection. |
New Home | This discount may only be available for homes built after January 1, 2002, and homes before 2002 that are updated to the 2002 Florida Building Code. Alternatively, you might be able to qualify for this discount depending on how your roof’s constructed. Your house may need a roof or wind mitigation inspection. |
Protective Device | You can get this discount if your home has a centrally monitored fire alarm, regardless if you have sprinklers or not. Another way to get this discount is to have a centrally monitored burglar alarm. |
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
Citizens offers a widely available discount with protective device for homeowners that have a centrally monitored burglar alarm or fire alarm. MoneyGeek recommends taking advantage of this discount to save on homeowners insurance with Citizens.
Which Coverage Types Does Citizens Offer?
You can choose from three add-on coverages with a Citizens homeowners insurance policy. However, this is fewer than the industry average of five. Out of the three extra coverages, sinkhole is the rarest and covers damage to your house in case of ground subsidence. Other than this, Citizens does not provide unique add-on coverages.
Citizens provides homeowners policyholders with three endorsements if they need extra coverage. MoneyGeek explains each to help you determine if it’s the coverage you need.
- 1
Sinkhole
If your home is structurally damaged due to ground subsidence, this coverage protects you. The sinkhole may need to be inspected prior to reimbursement.
- 2
Contents Replacement Cost
In a covered loss, you receive the cost of replacement for damaged or destroyed personal property.
- 3
Building Ordinance or Law
This coverage protects you from additional expenses that you might need to pay should there be changes in the law or building codes when you must rebuild your home.
Before purchasing homeowners insurance, be sure that you compare quotes between different insurers to find the best policy for you that includes standard coverages.
MoneyGeek advises that you read the fine print of your policy to find out if your provider includes flood, earthquake or insect coverage. You may need to purchase them as a separate endorsement or policy, or they may be unavailable. If any hazards are common in your area, make sure to choose a homeowners insurance policy that you can add them to for the most protection.
It’s important that you get all the standard coverages in a homeowners insurance policy. These are outlined below.
Dwelling
This refers to the amount that covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home.
Personal Property
This covers the items that you own, including clothing, furniture and appliances. Your personal property limit is the amount you receive in a total loss to replace them. If you have high-value items like jewelry and paintings, you may need separate coverage for them.
Personal Liability
It covers bodily injury if a third party is accidentally injured at your home or property damage you cause.
Other Structures
This covers additional structures that aren’t attached to the home. These structures include tool sheds, garages and greenhouses.
Medical Payments
It pays the medical bills of an injured person on your property.
Loss of Use
In the event your home is unlivable due to repairs, you’re given coverage for living expenses.
What Online Homeowners Insurance Tools Does Citizens Offer?
Citizens offers online tools for homeowners insurance policyholders. While the options are limited compared to other insurers, they’re still useful for making payments or filing claims.
Flexible Payment Options
Use your U.S. checking or savings account to pay your premium online.
myPolicy Online Portal
When you log in to your Citizens myPolicy account online, you can manage your payments and view additional information about your policy and file a claim.
Online Claims
Citizens policyholders looking to file a claim can do so via their myPolicy online account.
Other Citizens Insurance Products
If you need more protection aside from homeowners insurance, it might be better to purchase policies from one company. Citizens offers coverage for condos, mobile homes and commercial properties. Browse the table below to learn more about Citizens insurance policies.
Type of Product | Description |
|---|---|
Dwelling Fire | If you have a property that’s currently occupied by a tenant, Citizens dwelling fire covers personal property, loss of rent, other structures and more. |
Condo | With this policy, condominium-unit owners have coverage for the unit’s interior, personal property and liability. |
Mobile Homes | Mobile home owners get coverage for additional living expenses, personal liability and personal property. Although, it does not cover the actual structure. |
Commercial Residential | You can get coverage if you own commercial property that people can live in, such as apartments, condos and retirement homes. |
Commercial Nonresidential | This policy is ideal for nonresidential properties like retail stores, beauty shops, restaurants, etc. |
Methodology
To evaluate Citizens as a homeowners insurance company, MoneyGeek analyzed the Citizens website, gathered quotes and consulted consumer intelligence organizations such as J.D. Power, the NAIC and AM Best.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
sources
- Citizens. "Contact Us." Accessed May 2, 2022.
- Citizens. "Commercial Policies." Accessed May 28, 2022.
- Citizens. "Personal Policies." Accessed May 28, 2022.