Alaska Homeowners Insurance

Three reasons to look closely at an Alaska home policy

1
Earthquake is excluded, in the state that has the most of them
The 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the 2018 Anchorage quake are both inside living memory, and earthquake is excluded from every standard homeowners policy. It is bought separately, usually with a percentage deductible rather than a flat one. Houses on bluff and slope soils around Anchorage carry an additional question, because earth movement following a quake is treated differently again.
2
A freeze claim can empty a house in a weekend
A split supply line in an unheated crawl space while nobody is home is the most expensive routine claim in this state. Coverage for it generally requires that heat was maintained, which makes a second home, a cabin or a house between tenants a different conversation. Freeze protection, a shutoff you can reach and someone checking the building are worth more than any endorsement.
3
Rebuilding depends on the barge schedule, not a square-foot average
Materials arrive by barge or air, crews travel, and the building season is short. A rebuild cost calculated from a national average does not describe a rebuild in Fairbanks, let alone off the road system. Ask what per-square-foot figure the dwelling limit assumes and whether extended replacement cost can sit above it, because the gap between estimate and reality is wider here than anywhere.

What the policy does and does not do about snow and ice

Collapse under the weight of snow or ice is a covered peril on most forms. The ice dam that pushes meltwater back under the roofing is more complicated and depends on the policy wording. Roof raking and ventilation are the practical answers. A metal roof, common here for exactly this reason, is also generally better regarded by underwriters than an aging shingle one.

Wood heat, and the questions it triggers

A wood stove or boiler is normal in much of Alaska and it changes the application. Carriers ask about clearance to combustibles, the chimney type, whether it was professionally installed and permitted, and when the flue was last swept. A stove that was put in without a permit is the most common reason an otherwise straightforward Alaska quote stalls. Have the install documentation if you have it.

Flood, permafrost and ground that moves

Flood is excluded from every standard policy and is bought separately — relevant on the Chena, the Kuskokwim and anywhere ice jams. Earth movement is excluded too, which reaches permafrost thaw and the differential settlement that follows it. A house that is visibly out of level is a condition question before it is a coverage question, and it is better to raise it than to have an adjuster find it.

What the underwriter will ask about your house

Year built, square footage, and the year the roof was last replaced
Roof material, and whether it is metal
Primary and secondary heating, including any wood stove or boiler
For a wood stove: clearances, chimney type, permit, and the last sweep date
Foundation type, and whether the building sits on permafrost
Water source and whether there is a holding tank
The responding fire department and the distance to it
Whether the property is ever unoccupied for long stretches

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Frequently asked questions

Does Alaska homeowners insurance cover earthquake?

No. Earthquake is excluded from a standard policy and bought separately, generally with a percentage deductible based on the dwelling limit. In the most seismically active state in the country that is worth a deliberate decision.

Is my cabin covered when nobody is there?

Not necessarily. Freeze coverage generally requires maintained heat, and a building that sits unoccupied is a separate underwriting question. Describe how it is actually used rather than how it is zoned.

Does my wood stove affect my policy?

Yes. Carriers ask about clearances, the chimney, whether the installation was permitted and when the flue was last swept. An unpermitted install is the most common thing that stalls an Alaska quote.

How much should I insure the house for?

For what rebuilding would cost here, with freight and a short building season in the figure — not a national average and not market value. Ask what per-square-foot number the quote assumes.

Other Alaska coverage

Alaska auto insurance Alaska condo and townhome insurance Alaska renters insurance ← All personal insurance

Three reasons to look closely at an Alaska home policy

Earthquake is excluded, in the state that has the most of them

A freeze claim can empty a house in a weekend

Rebuilding depends on the barge schedule, not a square-foot average