The Hartford offers policies designed for older homeowners through its partnership with AARP. The company has been the provider of AARP home insurance since the 1980s.
However, you don’t need to be an AARP member to buy insurance from The Hartford. Non-members can get coverage through independent agents.
The Hartford is one of the insurance industry’s most venerable brands, dating back to 1810.
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Why you can trust NerdWallet
The Hartford/AARP home insurance star rating
3.5
NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
The Hartford/AARP homeowners insurance earned 3.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. Our editorial team determines NerdWallet’s ratings. The homeowners insurance scoring formula considers policy coverage options and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, the financial strength of the company, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
State availability
The Hartford offers homeowners insurance to AARP members in Washington, D.C., and every state but Florida. In most states, non-members can get Hartford home insurance through independent agents.
The Hartford/AARP home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
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Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. |
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Covers damage to unattached structures such as a shed or fence. |
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Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. |
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Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. |
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Covers legal expenses and damages if you’re responsible for injuries to other people or their property. |
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Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
The Hartford offers standard home insurance as well as several home insurance packages. Additional coverage options may be available, including:
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Additional Limits Coverage. It pays up to 125% of your coverage limits (or 150% in some areas) if you need to rebuild your home completely.
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ProtectorPlus Zero Deductible Benefit. Waives your deductible (the amount of a claim you’re responsible for) up to $5,000 if you make a claim of $27,500 or more.
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“New for Old” Protection. Pays to replace your possessions with new items, regardless of the old possessions’ age or condition (often known as contents replacement cost coverage).
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Lock replacement. Pays up to $500 (minus your deductible) to replace your locks if a key is lost or stolen.
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Personal injury liability coverage. Helps pay for damages from a libel or slander claim, which standard liability coverage typically doesn’t.
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Identity fraud coverage. Pays out-of-pocket expenses to help you recover after fraud or identity theft. Learn more about identity theft insurance.
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Disappearing Property Deductible. Reduces your deductible after you’ve been claim-free for three years.
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Green Rebuilding. Increases your policy limits by up to 10% to pay for environmentally friendly materials or methods to repair your home after a claim.
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Equipment breakdown coverage. Pay to repair or replace appliances and electronics if they fail for a reason other than normal wear and tear.
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Replacement Plus Patented Coverage. Helps pay to make your kitchen or bathroom safer and more accessible after a covered claim with upgrades such as multi-level countertops or single-lever faucets.
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Water backup and sump pump overflow. Reimburses you if a backed-up drain or failed sump pump causes water damage.
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Scheduled personal property. Offers extra coverage for individual items that aren’t fully covered by a standard policy, such as an expensive ring.
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Valuable items blanket coverage. Raises the payout limit for items such as jewelry and silverware if stolen, lost or damaged — up to $10,000 per item.
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Ordinance or law coverage. Pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes after a covered claim.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a discount by:
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Bundling auto and homeowners policies.
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Having home security features.
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Installing certain fire protection devices like sprinkler systems or monitored fire alarms.
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Owning a new home or a house with a new roof.
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Having filed no homeowners claims.
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Working less than 24 hours a week.
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Living in a gated community.
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Having no mortgage on your home.
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Taking steps to prevent wind damage to your home.
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Being a recent homebuyer.
Consumer complaints
The Hartford had far more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Consumer experience
Website: The Hartford’s website offers coverage information, online quotes and a portal where you can pay bills and manage your policy. You can also use your online account to file and track claims.
App: Some of The Hartford’s mobile app features are similar to the website’s, such as bill payments and claim tracking. However, Android users have reported bugs that make the app challenging to use. iPhone users report a slightly better experience with the app.
Claims: You can report a homeowners insurance claim through The Hartford’s website. If you’d rather speak to someone, AARP members can call 877-805-9918, while non-AARP policyholders can call 800-243-5860. For advice, see how to file a home insurance claim.
Customer service: AARP homeowners policyholders can call 800-423-0567, Monday through Saturday, for customer support. Non-AARP members can contact their local agent or call 800-624-5578, Monday through Saturday.
Where The Hartford/AARP stands out
Perks for older homeowners. The Hartford targets mature homeowners with retiree and AARP discounts. In addition, its “Replacement Plus” coverage could make it easier for those with limited mobility to get around their kitchen or bathroom after a covered claim.
Many coverage options. The Hartford offers quite a few ways to customize your policy, including the ability to waive your deductible for large claims.
Where The Hartford/AARP falls short
Consumer complaints. The Hartford’s biggest weak point is its high volume of customer complaints.
Buggy Android app. Judging by user ratings and reviews, The Hartford’s Android app may not be the most effective way to manage your policy. The iOS app fares better, however.
Is The Hartford/AARP home insurance right for you?
If you’re an AARP member or considering becoming one, the organization’s homeowners insurance is worth considering. But you don’t need an AARP membership to get The Hartford’s insurance; you can contact one of its local independent agents to ask about your options.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
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Farmers: Offers three tiers of homeowners insurance coverage.
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Nationwide: Widely available policies with a broad range of coverage options.
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Safeco: Solid homeowners insurance with customizable features.
What other types of insurance does The Hartford offer?
Does AARP insure mobile homes?
Are The Hartford and AARP the same?
Sarah Schlichter
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