The Hartford (AARP Homeowners Insurance Program) homeowners insurance

Overview

The Hartford is one of the oldest names in American insurance, but most homeowners meet it through a different name on the mail: the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford. Since 1984 The Hartford has been the exclusive provider of home and auto insurance endorsed by AARP, and the program is built for AARP members, who are generally 50 and older. AARP membership is required in most states; The Hartford will sign up a non-member during the quote. The company also writes homeowners policies for non-members through independent agents, under a newer product line called Prevail.

Hartford Fire & Casualty Group ranked #23 among U.S. homeowners insurance groups by 2025 direct premiums written, with $1.30 billion (0.69% of the national market), according to NAIC market share data. It was the 10th-largest homeowners group in its home state of Connecticut (3.55%) and in Colorado (1.12%). Homeowners is a smaller piece of a large company: The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) is mainly a commercial insurer and group-benefits provider, and its whole Personal Insurance segment, auto plus home, wrote $3.73 billion in 2025, of which homeowners was $1.29 billion.

History

The company began in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut, as a fire insurer; its first president was Nathaniel Terry. Its reputation was built on paying through disasters: after the 1835 New York City fire its president and directors pledged their own fortunes to pay claims, and it paid claims after the 1871 Chicago fire and more than $11 million after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, according to the company's history.

The AARP relationship dates to 1984, the same year The Hartford set up its Center for Mature Market Excellence, a research group that studies aging. In June 2020 the two organizations extended the auto and home program to January 1, 2033. The holding company changed its name from The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. to The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. in February 2025, keeping the HIG ticker. Christopher J. Swift, who joined as chief financial officer in 2010, is chairman and CEO.

Homeowners coverage

The AARP program offers homeowners, condo and renters policies with the standard coverages: dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, personal liability and medical payments to others. Flood is excluded, and The Hartford sells flood insurance separately through a dedicated line. Optional and program features listed on its site include:

• New for Old protection, which replaces destroyed belongings with new ones of the same quality rather than paying depreciated value.
• Disappearing deductible, which lowers the deductible each year after three consecutive loss-free years (terms vary by state).
• Lock replacement up to $500, with a $100 deductible, when keys are lost or stolen.
• Identity fraud expense coverage (how this coverage works) and equipment breakdown coverage coverage, which also helps pay for "green" upgrades after a covered breakdown.
• A valuable items blanket for jewelry, art and collectibles.

The AARP home program is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, and the issuing company differs by state (Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast in Texas, Arizona, Michigan and Minnesota, for example), so check the declarations page for the exact insurer.

Discounts and savings

The headline discount is the AARP auto-and-home bundle: up to 20% off home, condo or renters coverage and up to 12% off auto when both are with the program. The Hartford also lists discounts for fire protection devices such as sprinklers and monitored alarms, for burglar alarms and security systems, and a loyalty credit that grows the longer you stay claim-free (availability varies by state). AARP member rates also differ from non-member rates by state and by length of membership. For the trade-offs of these programs, see retiree, employer and affinity group discounts.

Where it sells and recent market moves

The program is marketed nationally, but The Hartford says it "does not write new business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL." In California it stopped offering new homeowners policies on February 1, 2024, citing the state's "unique challenges," while continuing to renew existing policies under its underwriting guidelines and writing other lines. It also does not accept new homeowners business in Florida. Elsewhere, ask whether new business is open in your county before you count on a quote.

Pricing has risen sharply. The company's investor reports show average renewal written price increases on homeowners of 14.7% in 2024 and 12.3% in 2025, with homeowners policy retention around 82% to 83%. Those increases helped the homeowners line post a 2025 combined ratio of 89.2, an underwriting profit. In its 2026 shareholder letter, management said its focus is "continued expansion of Prevail in the Agency channel," so more Hartford home policies are now sold through independent agents.

Claims

AARP program customers can report a home claim online or by phone at 877-805-9918, available 24/7; non-AARP customers call 800-243-5860, and flood claims go to 800-787-5677. The Hartford runs a catastrophe claims operation that deploys after major storms and posts preparation and recovery guidance on its site.

Its claims scores are among the best of any large carrier. The Hartford ranked second in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study with 756 points, against a study average of 702, and third in the 2025 study with 725, against an average of 682.

Ratings and reputation

AM Best affirmed the A+ (Superior) financial strength rating of Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its pool members on July 22, 2026, with a stable outlook, citing balance sheet strength it assesses as "strongest." The Hartford's January 2026 ratings schedule lists Hartford Fire at AA- (Very Strong) from S&P and Aa3 from Moody's, which upgraded the group's main property-casualty companies from A1 in October 2025. Those are some of the strongest ratings among U.S. home insurers (what AM Best ratings mean).

Who it suits

The Hartford suits AARP members who want a large, highly rated carrier, are comfortable buying by phone or online, and want to bundle home and auto for the larger discount. It suits less well younger buyers who cannot or will not join AARP, homeowners in California and Florida, where new business is closed, and people who want a local agent's advice unless Prevail is offered through an agent in their state.

• Strengths: A+ (Superior) from AM Best (July 2026), AA- from S&P and Aa3 from Moody's; second-best score in J.D. Power's 2026 claims study; New for Old and disappearing-deductible features built for long-term owners; a program partnership with AARP running to 2033.
• Weaknesses: generally requires AARP membership; no new homeowners business in California or Florida; renewal price increases averaged 12.3% in 2025 after 14.7% in 2024; homeowners is a small part of a commercially focused company, so product changes follow corporate strategy.

How to contact The Hartford