The Hartford Homeowners Insurance Review: Partnering with AARP to Provide Older Homeowners with Plenty of Coverage Options

This homeowners insurance is a good fit for: Older customers, seeking a multitude of coverage options.

The Hartford, catering to homeowners aged 50 and older, may be more expensive than many of its competitors, but it also offers a large number of coverage options.

Top perks

Comprehensive coverage options

The Hartford offers an impressive menu of coverage options, including green rebuilding, current value replacement of personal belongings, flood coverage, and identity fraud protection.

Financial strength

A+ rating from both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's.

Full replacement cost

Homeowners insurance is far less valuable if it fails to cover the cost to rebuild. The Hartford will pay to rebuild at current prices, up to 150% of standard limits (depending where the property is located).

Waived deductibles

Certain losses are eligible for a waived deductible through the ProtectorPLUS zero deductible benefit.

Policy discounts

AARP members can receive a discount of 20%. The Hartford also offers a discount to retirees who work fewer than 24 hours a week.

What could be improved

Customer satisfaction

The Hartford's customer satisfaction ratings appear to be middling. They're not terrible but also not as strong as other major homeowners insurance companies.

Limited availability

Some of the safest homeowners to insure are older homeowners, and that's precisely what The Hartford does. That leaves a huge swath of potential customers out in the cold

When looking for an insurer that offers insurance to customers of all ages: State Farm has been coming through for its customers for 100 years.

For homeowners looking for higher customer satisfaction scores: Allstate routinely scores higher ratings.

Using a standardized scenario, we compared rates among insurance carriers nationwide. Overall, The Hartford is one of the more expensive homeowners insurance providers out there:

The fact that The Hartford has one of the more expensive quotes at first glance doesn't mean it is the most expensive. In fact, a homeowner can't fairly compare one policy to another without factoring in all the available homeowners insurance discounts. Here are some of the discounts offered by The Hartford:

• Home and auto bundling
• Home security system
• Additional fire protection
• AARP membership
• New home
• Good credit
• Claims-free history

The Hartford coverage options include:

• Dwelling
• Unattached building protection
• Personal property
• Loss of use
• Personal liability
• Medical payment
• Full replacement cost
• ProtectorPLUS Zero Deductible
• "New for old" coverage
• Personal injury
• Lock replacement
• Identity fraud protection
• Disappearing property deductible
• Equipment breakdown
• Valuable items blanket
• Green rebuilding
• Water backup and sump pump overflow
• Rental property protection

There are two ways to apply for The Hartford Homeowners Insurance. Applicants can begin the process on The Hartford website by providing a few answers about the property they want to protect. Or, they can call (888) 413-8970 for a quote.

Applicants may be asked to provide the following information:

• Address
• Year home was built
• Square footage
• Any additional buildings on the property
• Details about the construction materials used. The applicant doesn't have to know precisely what went into the construction of the home; general information will do. For example, if the house has a brick front or stucco exterior, the agent will want to make a note
• How many people live in the home
• Number and types of pets living in the home
• Whether the applicant is an AARP member

Among home insurance providers, the highest score achieved in the 2021 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking was 854 out of 1,000. That score was earned by Amica Mutual. Hartford received a score of 798. The company received a respectable score of 3.6 stars out of 5 on ConsumerAffairs.com.

The Hartford homeowners insurance is best for customers who:

• Are retired or a member of AARP
• Want a long list of coverage options

But homeowners under the age of 50 may want to consider State Farm, while homeowners looking for higher customer satisfaction ratings may want to give Allstate a look.