Basic vs Special Form Insurance Coverage - Resources (2024)

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If you’ve shopped for property insurance before, you may have noticed that some policies list Covered Losses as Basic, while othersspecify Broad or Special. The differences between these three property insurance coverages are significant. It is important that you consider more than just the cost of the policy option before you choose which coverage form is best for you.

NREIG offers either a Basic or Special coverage form option. The broad form is not offered nearly as often, but we will cover it as well.

Basic Form Coverage

Basic coverage is a “Named Peril” policy, which means that for a loss to be covered, the peril must be listed by name on the declarations page. In addition, you carry the burden of proving that a loss was caused by an included peril.

Basic Form is typically the cheapest of the three coverage options. Depending on the carrier, this coverage form can save you approximately 25-30 percent per year. However, a Basic Form policy does not include the following perils:

  • Collapse
  • Falling Objects
  • Theft (This includes things you own, such as air conditioning units or copper pipes, not your tenants’ belongings.)
  • Weight of Ice, Sleet, or Snow
  • Water Damage (Most known as coverage for frozen and burst pipes)

Broad Form Coverage

Broad Form is similar to Basic in that it is also a “Named Peril” policy. The coverage provided by Broad Form includes the same perils asBasic, plus all of the bullets above except Theft. We do not typically offer this type of coverage because the cost savings it provides are usually not enough to make sense to purchase. You would save around 10% compared to Special Form. In most cases, for the additional 10%, it is a better option to go ahead and purchase Special Form.

Special Form Coverage

Special Form coverage is the most comprehensive and in turn, the most expensive insurance coverage form you can purchase. It is considered “All-Risk” coverage, meaning that unless there are specific exclusions listed within the policy, then coverage is afforded to you in the event of a loss. The burden of proof falls on the insurance company to prove that the policy specifically excludes the peril that caused the loss. There are standard exclusions that come on every Special form policy (some of which can be purchased as an endorsem*nt or stand-alone policy and others cannot), these are:

  • Mold & Fungus
  • Wear & Tear
  • Sewer & Drain Backup
  • Earth Movement (including earthquakes and sinkholes)
  • Flood
  • Intentional Tenant Damage

Be sure to review your exclusions and endorsem*nts pages to make sure no other exclusions have been slipped into your policy. Many insurers often exclude Theft.

See the graphic below for a comparison of NREIG’s Basic and Special Form coverage options.

Basic vs Special Form Insurance Coverage - Resources (2)

Consider the following when choosing your insurance coverage form:

  • Is the property in an area where the weight of ice, sleet, or snow and water damage is high risk? If not, Basic Form might be a better option.
  • For a flip, will the property still be in my possession when the temperatures get cold? If not, Basic form might be a better option.
  • Is Theft coverage a concern? If the location is occupied, then that threat should be diminished. As you can imagine, theft most often occurs at vacant locations.
    • If the location is a flip or undergoing renovation, will there be enough owned materials and appliances at the location for carrying Theft coverage to make sense? Keep in mind that your policy does not cover your general contractor’s tools and materials.

There can be up to a 30% price difference between Basic, Broad, and Special policy forms. It is up to you to determine if the additional exclusions associated with the cheaper coverage forms are worth the risk.

Our team is happy to provide you with a full policy/coverage comparison of what you currently carry and what we can provide. Call us at 888-741-8454 or email [email protected].

Note: This piece should not be construed as contractual. Applicable language specific to your policy supersedes it. Information contained in this post is intended to provide you with a brief overview of the coverages provided for reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide you with all policy exclusions, limitations, and conditions.

By Shawn Woedl|2024-06-11T19:25:47+00:00March 29th, 2023|Categories: Coverage Options, Insurance Education|Tags: basic form, broad form, coverage options, policy, special form|Comments Off on Basic, Broad, or Special- Which Insurance Coverage Form is Right for Me?

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About the Author: Shawn Woedl

Basic vs Special Form Insurance Coverage - Resources (3)

Shawn Woedl is the President of National Real Estate Insurance Group. He is an industry-recognized speaker and educator with an emphasis on Commercial Property and Premises Liability. He brings over 12 years of professional and personal experience in real estate, business, and insurance to NREIG’s unique, investor-oriented brand.

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FAQs

What is the difference between basic form and special form coverage? ›

Special form offers the highest and most comprehensive level of coverage of the three or the “platinum level.” It encompasses the perils under basic, broad, and goes beyond. Unlike basic and broad, special form does not limit the perils that are covered; rather, it only lists perils that are excluded.

What are the three types of coverage forms? ›

Basic, Broad, and Special form are three common coverage forms when insuring property. Basic form is the most restrictive, while Special offers the greater level of protection.

What is excluded on the special form coverage? ›

Wear and tear: Special form insurance policies typically do not cover damages resulting from normal wear and tear. While the policy may cover sudden and accidental damages, regular maintenance and repairs are generally not included.

What are the 3 main types of insurance coverage? ›

There are many types of health coverage such as PPOs, EPOs and HMOs.

What coverage is not included in the basic form dwelling policy? ›

The Basic Form is the most restrictive of the three dwelling forms. The only perils insured against are fire, lightning, and internal explosion. Burglary, vandalism, and mischief are not listed as covered perils.

What homeowners policy form is known as a special form? ›

3. HO-3: Special Form. What it is: HO-3 coverage is the most common type of homeowners insurance. It is also known as special form coverage.

What is covered by the special form? ›

With Special Form coverage, policyholders have extensive protection against a vast array of perils, ranging from basic causes of loss like fire or theft to special losses such as ice-damming or an employee accidentally driving a vehicle into the side of the building (as basic and broad form exclude vehicular collision ...

What is the basic form? ›

Basic form insurance is the most limited type of commercial property insurance coverage. It typically covers damage or loss caused by specific perils, such as fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosion, and vandalism.

What is the difference between named perils and special coverage? ›

Named peril means that the policy insures ONLY against the sources of loss (perils) listed in the policy such as fire, earthquake or hail. Special form coverage protects property against any source of loss that is not specifically excluded.

What is a special coverage? ›

Special Coverage Insurance Definition: An insurance policy expressly designed to offer a guarantee of protection in the event of specific circ*mstances. Your business will require its own set of special insurance coverages for the risks inherent in your industry.

Does special form include theft? ›

Unlike the basic and broad forms, the special form covers theft losses. The form, however, contains several theft related exclusions and limitations.

What is the difference between ACV and RCV? ›

If you have Replacement Cost Value (RCV) coverage, your policy will pay the cost to repair or replace your damaged property without deducting for depreciation. If you have Actual Cash Value (ACV) coverage, your policy will pay the depreciated cost to repair or replace your damaged property.

What are the three basic parts of full coverage insurance? ›

Full coverage car insurance is protection that includes collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage. Often, you can supplement your insurance with uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, medical payments, gap insurance, and other coverage options.

What are the 3 typical sources of insurance? ›

Three primary sources of medical insurance plans are employer-sponsored plans, government programs, and individual policies.

What types of insurance are not recommended? ›

15 Insurance Policies You Don't Need
  • Private Mortgage Insurance. ...
  • Extended Warranties. ...
  • Automobile Collision Insurance. ...
  • Rental Car Insurance. ...
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance. ...
  • Flight Insurance. ...
  • Water Line Coverage. ...
  • Life Insurance for Children.

What is general form and special form? ›

General Forms and Special Forms

A general form is a form in a particular crystal class that contains faces that intersect all crystallographic axes at different lengths. It has the form symbol {hkl} All other forms that may be present are called special forms.

What is the meaning of basic forms? ›

/ˈbeɪs fɔːm/ /ˈbeɪs fɔːrm/ (grammar) ​the basic form of a word to which endings can usually be added, for example wall is the base form of walls and walled. The base form is the form in which words in the dictionary are usually shown.

What is a basic form homeowners insurance policy? ›

HO-1 (basic form)

Your home's structure will be protected against eleven specified perils, such as fire, lightning, windstorms and hail, but you won't have liability or personal property coverage. Many mortgage companies won't accept HO-1 policies as proof of home insurance.

What is the difference between full coverage and basic coverage? ›

If you have only liability car insurance, your own vehicle damage isn't covered if you cause an accident or if it's damaged by weather or other incidents like fire. If you have full coverage car insurance, your car is covered for accidents regardless of fault and for non-collision damage.

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