A:Answer  Your homeowners insurance declarations page provides an at-a-glance summary of your policy — the types of coverage you have, how much coverage, claims limits, deductibles and premium cost. It is the first page (or pages) of your insurance policy and is issued when you purchase, renew or make changes to the policy.  

The declarations page, sometimes called the dec page, is a key document for homeowners because it’s a one-stop shop for common questions about your policy. Typically, it lists each type of coverage — dwelling, personal property and liability, among others — as well as the amount of coverage and deductible you’ve selected in each category and the total premium. It can serve as proof of insurance for mortgage lenders.  

The declarations page typically provides these policy details: 

• Policy period (or term), effective date and expiration date
• Policy number
• Type and amount of coverages and limits for each claim
• Deductible amounts for each coverage
• Policy premium
• Any discounts that have been applied to the premium
• Additional coverages or endorsements

The document also lists the name of the primary insured person and the addresses of the insured property, the bank that carries any mortgage on the house and the insurance company. 

The declarations page may seem confusing, but many state insurance departments publish online sample declarations pages with definitions of common insurance terms. For example, it can be helpful to know that Coverage A refers to dwelling coverage, or coverage on your home’s structure, while Coverage F refers to coverage of medical expenses if someone is injured on the insured property and you are held responsible.  

While the declarations page contains a lot of useful information, it is only a summary and doesn’t include every detail about your policy. Among the information that may not be listed on the declarations page are all the kinds of damage or losses you’re covered against, all optional coverages and a complete list of exclusions. You can find these in the body of your policy. 

Insurance companies will send the declarations page to customers periodically, and it can be requested at any time. It may also be available through some online customer portals.  

It’s recommended that homeowners review their declarations page periodically to make sure it is correct and up to date. Reviewing your declarations page allows you to revisit your coverage choices and make sure they still fit your needs. Have renovations changed your dwelling coverage needs? Have you added a feature like a pool that might warrant increased liability coverage? 

Your declarations page is also helpful if you need to file a claim and want to verify your coverage. 

A Farmers agent can help if you have questions about your declarations page or are considering filing a claim.

The information contained in this page is provided for general informational purposes only. The information is provided by Farmers^® and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to this article or the information, products, services or related graphics, if any, contained in this article for any purpose. The information is not meant as professional or expert advice, and any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. 

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