- Great customer service.
- Comprehensive policy options.
- Competitive rates.
- Low complaint index from NAIC
- Only available in 13 states.
- Some problems reported by customers who have filed claims.
Unitrin Insurance is a company that was acquired by Kemper Insurance in 2010. They are based out of Illinois and serve 13 states. While they provide homeowners insurance, they are also well-known for writing auto insurance policies. You can get a standard homeowners policy for owner-occupied dwellings, coverage for condos, coverage for apartments, and coverage for mobile homes. They offer a broad range of products that are sure to be inclusive of most individuals.
As a company, Unitrin is very involved with the local community. They support organizations that aim to give the less fortunate access to food and housing. When they are not doing community outreach operations, you can see more examples of their charitable work through their foundation. The Kemper Foundation focuses on education, community development, and health. It is clear that the organization cares about individuals and wants to make a difference.
There is another program organized by the company called Kemper Cares. It is an employee volunteer program that encourages team members to engage with partner organizations. A few of these organizations include the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. It is clear that Unitrin values this kind of work and only chooses to employ those who share the same values.
Unitrin homeowners insurance is available in the following 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Unitrin homeowners insurance coverages
There are three main policies you can choose when shopping for homeowners insurance with Unitrin. Each of these policies includes the standard coverages for the dwelling, other structures, personal belongings, and personal liability.
- Home Essentials: This is the most basic of the three homeowners policies being offered. The protection can be extended to include personal property replacement cost, water backup, and equipment breakdown if you choose.
- Home Enhanced: With this policy, you get everything included in the Essentials policy with higher limits. It will automatically include coverage for personal property with replacement cost, water backup, and identity fraud expenses.
- Home Elite: With the Elite policy, you will get the most comprehensive coverage. You will get everything included in the Enhanced policy with higher limits for some of the coverages.
It is noted that the Enhanced and Elite policies come with a blanket property limit. This is known to provide homeowners with more flexibility in case of a claims settlement. It combines all four property limits into one single maximum amount that can be paid for a loss in any of the categories.
Additional coverages
Depending on the type of policy you choose, you do have the option to add additional coverages. The way that Unitrin has designed its policies makes it easy for you to choose from basic, extra, and very comprehensive coverage. In case you do have the desire to customize your policy, you can choose from the following options:
- Personal property coverage with replacement cost
- Water backup
- Equipment breakdown
- Identity fraud expense
- Scheduled personal property
- Blanket valuable items
Unitrin also writes personal umbrella policies, which will give you additional coverage for personal liability. These policies are typically written in limits of $1 million and will extend to all of the other policies that you hold.
Another useful policy that is offered is flood insurance. Flooding is excluded when you purchase a homeowners insurance policy, so having this extra protection is going to cover any losses that can result from a weather-related incident or other instances when your house might be flooded.
Unitrin home insurance discounts
Unitrin does offer its customers the option to save money on homeowners insurance. When you choose them, you can qualify for a few different discounts that will lower your premium.
- Package: Bundling coverage will earn you a discount. This applies when you have an auto policy and a homeowners policy.
- Military: Active and retired members of the military also qualify for a discount. This includes Junior and Senior Cadets in the military academy as well.
- Home safety: When the entire house has an automatic gas shutoff valve or water leak protection, you can qualify for this discount.
- Protective devices: Having fire and burglar alarms or smoke detectors will qualify you for this discount.
Unitrin home insurance premiums
According to Bankrate, Unitrin home insurance is affordable. It is estimated that on average homeowners insurance premium from Unitrin is 39% lower than the national average for policy with $250,000 worth of dwelling coverage.
Your price will vary depending on the type of policy you choose and how much coverage you need for your specific home. The best way to get an accurate rate is by getting a quote with your details included. Unitrin does offer online quoting, so it is simple to see how much you will have to pay.
Claims experience
Most customers who have had to file claims through Unitrin have positive things to say. Some people have gone through flooding and hail damage and were able to get their claims handled with no issues. A lot of people say that it is very easy to work with Unitrin and they are great about keeping in touch and offering plenty of updates on the status of the claim.
There are a few people who have complained that they were non-renewed after filing claims through Unitrin. Some people also felt they were not properly compensated for their claims, only being offered a fraction of what it cost to fix the problems.
Customer service
There are many positive reviews reflecting the customer service provided by Unitrin. Many people are very happy with how they have been treated, and a lot of people remain loyal to the carrier for homeowners insurance. Several people state that Unitrin seems to truly care about your needs and will do its best to make sure you are taken care of when you need help.
In 2022, Kemper, the company that acquired Unitrin, holds a score of 0.55 on the NAIC complaint index. Unitrin itself got a complaint index of 0.49 for homeowners insurance. Both of these indices are lower than the average score of 1.0, which is a great sign when it comes to the customer service being provided. There were only seven complaints filed against Kemper regarding its homeowners insurance products for the year 2022. At the same time, Unitrin’s home insurance received only 3 complaints.
Financial strength
BBB
Kemper has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since December 2021, which happened after they acquired Unitrin. They currently hold a rating of A+, which is the highest possible rating for financial stability as a company.
AM Best
Through AM Best, Kemper holds an A- rating. This is seen as an excellent rating and confirms a stable outlook for the company. This is a downgrade as opposed to the A rating they held prior to August 2022.
The verdict
Unitrin is a comprehensive insurance carrier that has been acquired by Kemper. They offer a wide range of products, giving you the ability to purchase many different policies through the same company. No matter what type of home you live in, it is likely possible you can get a homeowners policy through Unitrin.
They have their homeowners policies categorized by coverage amounts, giving you the option to get the perfect amount of coverage for your home. There are also additional coverages you can add to further customize the policy. If you are looking to save money on your insurance, Unitrin does offer a few different discounts that you can qualify for.
While handling claims, Unitrin does a decent job. There are many people that have had no issues after filing claims. Those who have run into problems have expressed their insurance did not provide enough compensation or that the company decided to non-renew after filing a claim.
Customer service is where Unitrin excels. Most people have nothing bad to say about the company and feel happy with the service being provided. They do a great job of being communicative with all customers and aim to help whenever possible. This appears to be a great option for homeowners insurance and can likely cover your home effectively.
