Cost of Flood Insurance in Louisiana and How Coverage Works
Cost of Flood Insurance in Louisiana and How Coverage Works
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Flood insurance protects your home and belongings from damage due to flooding. Flood insurance is not legally mandated in Louisiana. However, people who live in certain areas that are at high risk of flooding, such as along the bayou or the Mississippi River, may need to purchase it in order to qualify for a federally-backed mortgage.
The two main options for buying flood insurance are through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a public entity run by FEMA, or from a private insurer. Generally, private flood insurance is a secondary choice, as private insurers do not provide coverage in as many areas as the NFIP.
Do you need flood insurance in Louisiana?
Flood insurance is not required by law for Louisiana residents. However, homeowners who live in certain high-risk flood areas may need to purchase flood insurance in order to qualify for a federally-backed mortgage loan.
High-risk areas include those along the coast, a low-lying area like a bayou or places close to another body of water, like the Mississippi or Atchafalaya rivers. Even areas that are simply low-lying compared to the surrounding can be at risk. With 60 inches of rain per year, Louisiana is the wettest state in the continental U.S.
If you're not required to purchase flood insurance, it may still be worthwhile to buy coverage. Louisiana homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and 25% of flood insurance claims are made by people outside high-risk flood zones. What's more, flood insurance claims are very common in Louisiana. More claims were made in Louisiana in 2016 than in the next three states combined.
Louisiana flood insurance coverage
Louisiana residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP with coverage limits of up to $250,000 for the structure of their home and $100,000 for its contents. However, NFIP flood insurance also has rules about what is covered. Generally, the structure and anything built into your home is protected. So is any property that's inside your home, though the rules are more complicated for anything in your basement or crawlspace.
Items covered by flood insurance
- Standard home systems: This includes your home's electrical wiring and plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and gas.
- Carpeting and installed features: Wall-to-wall carpeting, shelves and built-in bookcases are all covered by flood insurance.
- Foundation, walls and support structures: The structure of your house is included, as are staircases, so long as they are built into your house.
- Detached garage: Covered up to 10% of your total policy dwelling coverage.
- Portable appliances and personal property: Appliances like your oven, refrigerator and washing machine are generally covered. The same applies to your other belongings. Note that anything in this category is subject to a separate coverage limit.
Damage to your home's structure is paid at replacement cost value (RCV), meaning depreciation is not taken into account — as long as you live in a single-family home and it is your primary residence. Personal property is paid at actual cash value (ACV), meaning depreciation is taken into account.
What's not covered by flood insurance in Louisiana?
Flood insurance doesn’t cover everything. Your car, precious metals or jewels, and property outside your home like a pool or garden, are not covered. The same goes for anything damaged by moisture, mildew or rot, as well as anything damaged by earth movement, like a sinkhole.
Items and expenses not covered:
- Anything outside your home (swimming pool, landscaping, septic systems)
- Cars and most other vehicles
- Currency and precious metals
- Living expenses or loss of use
- Loss of business revenue
- Any personal property in a basement
Causes of damage not covered:
- Moisture, mildew or mold that could have been avoided
- Damage caused by earth movement
If you need coverage for any of the above, your best option is likely a private flood insurance provider.
Cost of flood insurance in Louisiana
The average price of NFIP flood insurance in Louisiana is $726 per year, though how much you'll pay may vary significantly based on the location of your home. NFIP flood insurance is calculated using a formula set by FEMA, so any company selling an NFIP flood policy will give you the same price.
The most expensive place we surveyed for flood insurance was Denham Springs, with an average price of $1,209 annually. The cheapest location we found was St. Bernard Parish, with an average price of $527 per year.
Prices for flood insurance in Louisiana cities
We collected the average rates for flood insurance in major Louisiana cities and unincorporated areas of flood-prone parishes. Keep in mind that even within a given city or area, prices may vary significantly based on the criteria listed above.
Policies in force | Population | Average coverage amount | Average annual premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 1,821 | $240,157 | $799 | |
| Ascension Parish (unincorporated areas) | 13,813 | $255,183 | $642 | |
| Baton Rouge | 37,264 | $255,472 | $686 | |
| Denham Springs | 2,169 | $200,960 | $1,209 | |
| Gonzales | 1,330 | $251,106 | $831 | |
| Houma | 4,729 | $282,006 | $583 | |
| Jefferson Parish (unincorporated areas) | 85,670 | $270,294 | $685 | |
| Lafayette | 7,866 | $272,089 | $608 | |
| Lafourche Parish (unincorporated areas) | 11,306 | $239,977 | $619 | |
| Lake Charles | 6,185 | $272,946 | $633 | |
| Monroe | 3,226 | $226,456 | $758 | |
| Morgan City | 1,650 | $261,135 | $886 |
How are flood insurance rates set?
The price you'll pay for flood insurance is primarily based on your home's elevation relative to nearby bodies of water, how far it is from water and any nearby mitigation factors such as levees. These rates also take into account how high the lowest level in your house is.
And as with other types of insurance, your rates will be affected by the dollar amount of coverage you buy, as well as your deductible. A higher deductible results in a lower premium, and vice versa.
Factors that affect your flood insurance rates:
Location | Other factors |
|---|---|
| Elevation above sea or river level | Height of your lowest floor |
| Distance from body of water | Whether you have a basement |
| Flood mitigation tools (e.g. levees) | Coverage levels |
| Deductible |
How to get flood insurance in Louisiana
Buying flood insurance in Louisiana works much like buying any other kind of insurance. You’ll contact an insurance agent who can help you decide on coverage levels and provide you with a quote. You may need to submit a proof of elevation, a document that certifies how high above water your house is.
The main difference between getting flood insurance and other types is that the price is set by the federal government. So while you should always collect multiple quotes for home, renters and auto insurance, you don't need to do so to get NFIP flood insurance. Remember that there is almost always a 30-day waiting period for NFIP insurance, so if you're concerned about flooding during Louisiana's rainy summer and fall seasons, make sure to buy a plan ahead of time.
If you don't qualify for NFIP coverage, or the coverage doesn't meet your needs — such as if you need higher levels of coverage — you may want to purchase coverage from a private flood insurer. The process works in the same way, though if you're buying private flood insurance, you should compare rates, as they may differ across insurers.
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