Education Center

Everything you ever wanted to know about insurance.

Think of us as your on-call coverage best friend.

Plain-English answers, current 2026 numbers, and the questions you didn't know to ask — from people who actually live in your states.

Cover Me, Bradley.

Nobody plans for the plot twist… but we do. 🤝

Iowa · Nebraska · Kansas · Montana · Minnesota · North Carolina · Florida

The State of Insurance — 2026

What's actually happening right now

A snapshot of the numbers shaping your premiums, your claims, and the conversations agents are having every day this year.

$2,496

Avg. annual auto premium

National full-coverage average for 2026 — up just 0.67% after years of double-digit jumps.

$51B

Storm losses in 2025

Third straight year U.S. severe convective storm losses topped $50B. Hail drives up to 80% of those claims.

14%

Of drivers are uninsured

National average. Florida sits closer to 20%. You pay for them through your UM coverage.

$1,128

Workers comp per employee

National annual average. Your states all sit below average — Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska are among the cheapest in the country.

70–90%

Of residential storm losses

Come from your roof. Most carriers won't renew shingle roofs over 15–17 years old.

$33

Saved per $1 invested

In hazard mitigation. Roof straps, impact glass, and wind inspections pay for themselves fast.

8.7%

FL property rate decrease

First drop in Citizens premiums since 2015. South FL counties seeing 11–14% reductions on renewal.

6.19%

Iowa auto rate drop

Largest projected decrease in the country for 2026. Good year to shop your policy.

Sources: Insurance Information Institute, Swiss Re, ValuePenguin, NCCI, Florida OIR. Current as of Q2 2026.

The Other Side of the Story

How insurance actually helps

Stats and rate trends are one side of the conversation. Here's the part that gets less airtime: how the system works when you actually need it.

$137B

Paid out to policyholders

2024 U.S. insured natural catastrophe losses — money that went directly to families and businesses rebuilding after disasters.

$1.2T

Policyholder surplus

Industry reserves backing every policy in force in 2025 — the financial cushion that makes "guaranteed payable claims" real, not theoretical.

60%

Of insured businesses recover

Compared to roughly 40% of uninsured small businesses that never reopen after a disaster. Insurance is the difference between "recover" and "start over."

$1+ Trillion

In annual premiums working for you

U.S. P&C industry crossed $1 trillion in direct premiums in 2024 — a giant risk-sharing pool you participate in every time you pay yours.

Where We're Licensed

Your state, by the numbers

Tap your state to see workers comp rates, auto premium trends, and what's worth knowing this year.

Iowa$1.05 WC · ↓ 6.19% Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.05 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

↓ 6.19% projected

Auto Minimum

20/40/15

Fault System

At-Fault

Largest projected auto rate decrease in the country for 2026 — meaning this is the year to shop your policy. Workers comp max weekly benefit hit $2,350 for July 2025–June 2026.

Nebraska$1.08 WC · ↓ slight Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.08 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

↓ slight decrease

Auto Minimum

25/50/25

Fault System

At-Fault

Storm-belt state — auto premiums rose roughly 35% in recent years from hail and tornado losses. UM/UIM mandatory at 25/50 — real protection most drivers don't realize they have until they need it.

Kansas$1.08 WC · ↓ slight Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.08 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

↓ slight decrease

Auto Minimum

25/50/25

Fault System

No-Fault

PIP required: $4,500 medical, $900/mo wage loss for one year, $25/day in-home services. Workers comp max weekly benefit raised to $869 for July 2025–June 2026.

Montana$1.18 WC · → flat Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.18 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

→ flat

Auto Minimum

25/50/20

Fault System

At-Fault

Wildfire exposure is the dominant property risk — nearly 70% of Montana's recorded wildfires have occurred since 2000. House Bill 136 unlocks rate discounts for fireproofing measures.

Minnesota$1.15 WC · ↑ moderate Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.15 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

↑ moderate

Auto Minimum

30/60/10

Fault System

No-Fault

Auto rates up about 32% in recent years. Hail-heavy state — roof age is the biggest premium lever. PIP mandatory at $40,000 combined.

North Carolina$1.00 WC · → flat Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.00 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

→ flat

Auto Minimum

50/100/50

Fault System

At-Fault

Lowest workers comp rate in our footprint. But auto minimums raised in 2025 to the highest in the country, and a single ticket can hike premiums up to 137%.

Florida$1.40 WC · ↓ 7–10% Auto

Workers Comp Rate

$1.40 / $100 payroll

Auto Trend 2026

↓ 7–10%

Auto Minimum

$10K PIP + $10K PDL

Fault System

No-Fault

First Citizens property rate cut since 2015 (−8.7% average, up to −14% in South FL). The only state without a bodily injury liability mandate. Hurricane deductibles still apply (2–10% of dwelling).

Find Your State, Find Your Gaps

Click your state. See the real story.

Legal minimums tell you what you have to carry. Click below to see what we actually recommend — and how to fill the gap between the two.

Tap your state ↓

7 states — tap any gold pin to see what we recommend there.

↑

Pick your state to see the breakdown

Do You Know Your Coverages?

10 questions. Real answers.

Most people learn what their policy covers at claim time. Beat the curve in about two minutes.

Question 1 of 10

A tornado tears through your area and damages your roof. Is the damage covered under a standard homeowners policy?

Correct. Wind and tornado damage are standard covered perils. Watch for separate hurricane deductibles in FL and coastal NC — those are different from regular wind.

Heavy rain causes a nearby creek to overflow and flood your basement. Covered under standard homeowners?

Correct. Flooding from rising water is excluded from every standard homeowners policy. You need a separate NFIP or private flood policy — with a 30-day waiting period before it kicks in.

Your dog bites a neighbor's kid in your yard. Who covers the medical bills?

Correct. Most homeowners and renters policies include personal liability coverage that responds to dog bite claims — though some carriers exclude specific breeds.

You hire your first employee. Do you need workers comp insurance?

Correct. One employee triggers the workers comp requirement in nearly every state, including IA, NE, MT, and MN. Kansas has a payroll-based threshold; NC needs 3+; FL has special construction rules.

A hurricane hits and damages your home. What's your deductible?

Correct. Florida and coastal NC policies carry a hurricane (or named-storm) deductible separate from your regular deductible. On a $400K home with a 5% hurricane deductible, that's $20,000 out of pocket.

Your laptop is stolen from your locked car. Which policy pays?

Correct. Auto policies cover the vehicle and its built-in parts — not personal property inside it. Your laptop, phone, and other belongings stolen from the car fall under your home or renters policy.

You hit a deer with your car. Which coverage pays for the damage?

Correct. Animal strikes fall under comprehensive (sometimes called "other than collision") — the same coverage that handles hail, falling trees, and theft.

A fire forces your business to close for 2 weeks. Does insurance cover the lost income?

Correct. Business interruption (or business income) coverage is the line that replaces lost revenue while you can't operate. It's not automatic on every policy.

As a renter, is insurance required by law?

Correct. Renters insurance isn't legally required, but most landlords now make it a lease condition. For around $15–$20 per month it covers your belongings, liability, and temporary living expenses if the unit becomes unlivable.

Your workers comp e-mod is 1.20. What does that mean for your premium?

Correct. Your experience modification rate multiplies your base premium. 1.00 is average. 1.20 means you've had more claims than peers and pay 20% more. A clean three-year stretch can drive that back down.

out of 10

Nice work.

You know more about your coverage than most. Let's make sure your actual policy backs that up.

Talk to an agent →

This quiz is for educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Coverage rules vary by carrier, policy form, state, and individual underwriting. Always review your specific policy with a licensed agent before relying on any general guidance.

Coverage Rules

The stuff nobody tells you

Eight rules that quietly govern every policy you'll ever own — with a helpful hint up front and the coverage that fills the gap.

Rule 01

Standard home insurance does not cover flood.

!Helpful hint: One inch of water creates roughly $25,000 in damage. Even outside FEMA flood zones, ~20% of claims come from "low-risk" areas.

Wind-driven rain is covered. Rising water from any source is not. The exclusion is in every standard homeowners policy.

Fill it with: NFIP flood policy or private flood insurance. 30-day waiting period.

Rule 02

Hurricane and named-storm deductibles are separate.

!Helpful hint: Check your dec page before hurricane season. The number is in there — usually expressed as a percentage, not a dollar amount.

Usually 2–10% of your dwelling coverage. On a $400K home, that's $8K–$40K out of pocket before your policy pays.

Fill it with: Hurricane deductible buy-down rider or a dedicated savings/HELOC equal to the deductible.

Rule 03

Workers comp is required almost everywhere.

!Helpful hint: A "1099 contractor" who works set hours with your tools is usually reclassified as an employee on audit. Get classification right before someone gets hurt.

In nearly every state, having even one employee triggers a workers comp requirement. Penalties include stop-work orders, daily fines, and personal liability.

Fill it with: Workers comp policy + EPL coverage for misclassification and related employment claims.

Rule 04

Roof age is the single biggest property variable.

!Helpful hint: Get your roof inspected every 3–5 years and document with photos — even when nothing's wrong. That documentation is gold at claim time.

Most carriers won't renew a shingle roof past 15–17 years. A new roof can cut premiums 15–30% overnight, before any mitigation credit.

Fill it with: Replacement Cost (RCV) roof endorsement rather than Actual Cash Value, plus impact-resistant shingles for the discount.

Rule 05

Your e-mod follows you.

!Helpful hint: Frequency hurts you more than severity. Two small $1,500 claims will spike your e-mod faster than one big $50K claim. Sometimes paying small repairs out of pocket is the smartest move.

Workers comp uses an Experience Modification Rating that tracks your claims for three years. It follows your business like a credit score.

Fill it with: Documented safety program, return-to-work plan, and annual claim audit. Carriers reward all three.

Rule 06

Uninsured motorist coverage isn't optional in practice.

!Helpful hint: If you skip UM coverage and an uninsured driver hits you, your health and disability policies become Plan B — usually at far worse terms.

14% of U.S. drivers carry no insurance. In Florida it's closer to 20%. State minimums for UM/UIM (where required) are usually too low to actually protect you.

Fill it with: UM/UIM bodily injury at 100/300 or higher, plus UIM property damage where available.

Rule 07

Replacement cost ≠ market value.

!Helpful hint: Construction costs have run 250% since 2000. Get a fresh replacement cost estimate every three years — the gap closes quietly while your limits stay the same.

Insurance is built around what it costs to rebuild your home today — not what you paid or what it would sell for. Underinsuring at renewal is the most common gap we see.

Fill it with: Guaranteed or Extended Replacement Cost endorsement (covers 125–150% of dwelling) and an annual limit review.

Rule 08

An "act of God" is not a real coverage term.

!Helpful hint: Skip the dramatic language. At claim time, all that matters is whether the cause of loss is a named peril in your specific policy form.

Coverage decisions come down to specific named perils in your policy, not divine attribution. Adjusters roll their eyes at the phrase — and policies don't recognize it.

Fill it with: An open-peril ("all-risk") policy form instead of a named-peril form when available — broader coverage with fewer surprises.