Foremost Permits Unoccupancy for Those Deployed for War

Foremost Permits Unoccupancy for Those Deployed for War

NU Online News Service, April 7, 4:30 p.m. EST?A homeowners insurer is relaxing its non-occupancy pricing and claim payment rules to benefit people being deployed for war.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Foremost Insurance Group, which writes mobile home and non-standard homeowners coverage, will continue to insure homes that are unoccupied because of military service, with no rate increases or claim penalties. Normally, the insurer would raise the premium on such policies to account for the higher risks of unoccupancy, and limit claim payments for losses occurring during the period of unoccupancy.

"What this boils down to is cost savings for our customers who are serving," said John Johnson, senior vice president of Foremost, in a statement. "We want to give those serving our country the peace-of-mind that their investment is insured without the threat of no insurance, or the possibility of an increased premium or diminished claim payment."

Policies of those deployed who must temporarily leave their homes will carry a special notation not to impose an unoccupany penalty if there is a claim, Mr. Johnson noted.