News

Credit/Debit Card Payments

Current FAIR Plan policyholders and new applicants can now make on-line premium payments via credit or debit card.

To access the credit and debit card payment options, click on "Payments" and select "Pay by Debit/Credit Card". You can also complete an electronic insurance application and submit a credit or debit card payment by clicking on "Producers" and "Application". Once application is properly completed click on "Continue" and "Proceed to Payment Site".

Dwelling Fire Rate Change

The Illinois Department of Insurance has granted the Illinois FAIR Plan a rate change for Dwelling Fire policies. The overall statewide average rate increase is 9.6% and will be effective for new and renewal policies on 04/01/23.

Homeowner Rate Change

Effective on 4/1/22, The overall statewide rate increase is 8.3%.

Illinois FAIR Plan New Premium Payment Mailing Address

Effective 12/14/20, mail all checks and money orders to the FAIR Plan’s new payment address:

Coronavirus Preparedness

Due to the Coronavirus and the related concerns for the health and safety of our employees, customers and producers the FAIR Plan staff will be working from home for the immediate future. During this time do not plan visits to the FAIR Plan to conduct business, make payments, etc.

Dwelling Fire Rate Change

The Illinois Department of Insurance has granted the Illinois FAIR Plan a rate change for Dwelling Fire policies. The overall statewide average rate increase is 9.7% and will be effective March 1, 2020.

Homeowner Rate Change

The Illinois Department of Insurance has granted the Illinois FAIR Plan a rate change for homeowners policies. The overall statewide rate increase is 2% and will be effective May 1, 2018.

Illinois FAIR Plan Response to December 28, 2015 Flooding

In accordance with the Illinois Department of Insurance Bulletin CB 2015-13 and in support of policyholders affected by the recent flooding, the Illinois FAIR Plan will:

• Take into consideration the needs policyholders affected by the December 28, 2015 flooding.
• Declare a temporary moratorium on cancelations and nonrenewals.
• Extend claim reporting and payment requirements.
• Extend time allowed to make flood related repairs.
• Not issue company cancelations or nonrenewals as a result of "increased risk" due to the flooding.

Policyholders are advised that in the event of flood-related dispute or issue they may call the DOI’s toll-free complaint hotline at 1-866-445-5364, or file a complaint online at: https://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf.

Illinois FAIR Plan Will Only Accept Electronic Applications

In an effort to improve overall processing efficiencies and move toward a paperless office the Illinois FAIR Plan will no longer accept paper applications for homeowners and dwelling coverage beginning July 15th. The electronic application can be accessed at www.illinoisfairplan.com by clicking on Producer/Application/Click here to submit electronic application with or without payment. If you have any questions on submitting the electronic application you can contact info@illinoisfairplan.com or call (312) 861 – 0385 and press 3.

Illinois FAIR Plan Response to April 9, 2015 Tornadoes

In accordance with the Illinois Department of Insurance Bulletin CB 2015-18 and in support of policyholders affected by the recent disaster, the Illinois FAIR Plan will:

• Take into consideration the needs policyholders affected by the April 9, 2015 storms.
• Declare a temporary moratorium on cancelations and nonrenewals.
• Extend claim reporting and payment requirements.
• Extend time allowed to make storm related repairs.
• Not issue company cancelations or nonrenewals as a result of "increased hazards" due to the storm.

Policyholders are advised that in the event of a disaster-related dispute or issue they may call the DOI’s toll-free complaint hotline at 1-866-445-5364, or file a complaint online at: https://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf.

Homeowners Rating Adjustment

Effective April 1, 2014 the FAIR Plan is converting to the industry accepted ISO rating procedure. While there is no overall rate change, a small portion of our policyholders may be affected on renewal as a result of territorial, construction or occupancy rate adjustments.

Dwelling Property Rate Change

The Illinois Department of Insurance has granted the Illinois FAIR Plan a rate change for dwelling policies. The overall increase is 4.9% and will be effective April 1, 2014.

Producers Copies of Notices Available Online Only

Policyholder notice mailings to producers have been discontinued including critical cancellation, non-renewal and declination notices. Producer copies of policyholder notices and forms are available under Producer Inquiry on the IFPA Website. When a notice or form is mailed to a policyholder, producers will receive an email notification.

Illinois FAIR Plan Response to November 17, 2013 Tornadoes

In accordance with the Illinois Department of Insurance Bulletin CB 2013-18 and in support of policyholders affected by the recent disaster, the Illinois FAIR Plan will:

• Take into consideration the needs policyholders affected by the November 17, 2013 storms.
• Declare a temporary moratorium on cancelations and nonrenewals.
• Extend claim reporting and payment requirements.
• Extend time allowed to make storm related repairs.
• Not issue company cancelations or nonrenewals as a result of "increased hazards" due to the storm.

Policyholders are advised that in the event of a disaster-related dispute or issue they may call the DOI’s toll-free complaint hotline at 1-866-445-5364, or file a complaint online at: http://insurance.Illinois.gov/Home/ComplaintLinks.asp.

2013 CE Course

Producers are encouraged to attend the 2013 FAIR Plan and Flood Program CE Courses on October 23rd in Orland Park. Click on CE Course for more details.

Producer Copy of Electronic Application

Producers will no longer need to print a copy of completed Electronic Applications if submitting electronically. After successfully submitting an Electronic Application, producers will automatically receive a copy of the completed application as a PDF attachment to the confirmation email received from the FAIR Plan.

Dwelling Property Rating Adjustment

Effective April 1, 2013 the FAIR Plan is converting to the industry accepted ISO rating procedure. While there is no overall rate change, a small portion of our policyholders may be affected on renewal as a result of territorial, construction or occupancy rate adjustments. An attempt has been to minimize that impact by capping the change for any affected policyholder.

Producers Copies of Notices Available Online Only

With the exception of critical cancelation and nonrenewal and declination notices, policyholder notice mailings to producers have been discontinued. Producer copies of policyholder notices and forms are available under Producer Inquiry on the IFPA Website. When a notice or form is mailed to a policyholder, producers will receive an email notification.

Producers Copies of Notices Now Available Online

Producer copies of policyholder forms are now available on the IFPA Website. When a notice or form is mailed to your policyholder, you will receive and email notification.

Homeowners Rate Change

The Illinois Department of Insurance has granted the Illinois FAIR Plan a rate change for Homeowners policies. The overall increase is 7.6% and will be effective March 1, 2012.

Electronic Submissions for Homeowners and Dwelling Property Applications Updated

The electronic application now offers various options for completion.

• To assure the fastest turnaround, the application should be completed online and submitted electronically with the necessary supporting documentation and the applicant's down payment. Payments will be made through an electronic funds transfer from an applicants checking or savings account.
• As an alternative, when an electronic payment will not be included, the application can be completed online and submitted electronically with supporting documentation.
• As an additional alternative, the application can be completed online, printed and submitted by mail with supporting documentation.

Click on Applications for more information

Attach Signed Mine Subsidence Waiver (FP344) to Electronic Submissions When Waiving Coverage in Mandatory Counties

When an electronic application is submitted to the Illinois FAIR Plan and the property is located in a mandatory Mine Subsidence County and Mine Subsidence Coverage is being waived, the Mine Subsidence Waiver (FP344) found in the Forms and Documents section must be printed, signed by the applicant and submitted to the Illinois FAIR Plan as an attachment to the electronic application. Failure to do so will result in coverage being added to the policy.

Make Checks Payable to Illinois FAIR Plan

The Illinois FAIR Plan will no longer accept checks that are not made payable to the Illinois FAIR Plan. Checks submitted to the Illinois FAIR Plan made payable to an agent, agency or any other party besides the Illinois FAIR Plan will be returned uncashed and may result in policy cancellation or nonrenewal for existing policies and will prevent the Illinois FAIR Plan from providing coverage for new business.

Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act (750 ILCS 75/1)

The Act, which becomes effective on June 1, 2011, creates a legal relationship between two persons of the same or opposite sex who form a civil union. The Act provides that the parties to a civil union are entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits that are afforded or recognized by the laws of Illinois to spouses. The law further provides that a party to a civil union shall be included in any definition or use of the terms “spouse,” “family,” “immediate family,” “dependent,” “next of kin,” and other terms descriptive of spousal relationships as those terms are used throughout Illinois law. This includes the terms “marriage” or “married.” or variations thereon. Illinois FAIR Plan policies comply with the Act.

Electronic Submission and Payment Available for Homeowners and Owner Occupied Dwelling Property Applications

Producers are now able to complete a FAIR Plan Homeowners or owner occupied Dwelling Property application online and submit it electronically with the necessary supporting documentation and the applicants’ down payment.

Payments will be made through an electronic funds transfer from an applicants checking or savings account. Credit card and money order payments are not available at this time.

Click on Online Applications for more information.

As an alternative, when an online payment will not be made, such as a non-owner occupied Dwelling Property application being submitted for quotation, the application can be completed online, printed and submitted with supporting documentation by mail.

Online Premium Payment Charge Eliminated

The $2 Service Fee previously charged for an electronic payment has been waived by the Illinois FAIR Plan and there is no longer a cost for making electronic payments. Policyholders can easily make payments online by going to www.illinoisfairplan.com and clicking on the Payment tab.

Inflation Guard on HO8 Renewals and All Dwelling Property

In order to keep up with the increased cost of construction and minimize any penalties for an insured in the event of a loss, effective July, 2009 the Illinois FAIR Plan is adding Inflation Guard to HO8 renewals and all Dwelling Property policies. This is in addition to the Homeowner's Replacement Cost HO2/3 policies and new Homeowner's Repair Cost HO8 policy. As a result, all Homeowner's and Dwelling Property policies will now include Inflation Guard. This is an option enhancement to the HO8 and Dwelling Property policies and may be removed at the insured's written request.

Earthquake Coverage Moratorium Lifted

Effective May 19, 2008, the Illinois FAIR Plan no longer has a moratorium on new Earthquake Coverage. Earthquake coverage is available as an endorsement to the Homeowners and Dwelling Property policies.

Earthquake Coverage Moratorium

Effective immediately, as a result of the April 18, 2008 5.2 magnitude West Salem, IL earthquake, the Illinois FAIR Plan has declared a minimum of a 30 day moratorium on new Earthquake Coverage for the entire state of Illinois.

Online Premium Payments

Current FAIR Plan policyholders can now make renewal and installment payments online, online payments are currently not available for new applicants. To learn more, click on the "Payment" tab.

Payment Inquiry

We are very pleased to announce that on-line payment inquiry is available for producers. This will allow you to view payment activity and history for your FAIR Plan clients without having to call our office! To access this feature, you need to utilize your FAIR Plan producer number and password, which is the last 4 digits of your social security or tax ID number. While FAIR Plan staff is able to provide your producer number, we cannot provide your social security number information. You do have the option to change your password using the change password feature. Please keep a record of your password as we will be unable to provide it for you. If you forget your password after changing it, the default is the last 4 digits of your social security number or tax ID number.