- Great option for high-value homes
- Solid choices for additional coverage
- Great customer service
- Strong financial stability
- Only available in 10 states
- Not many discounts listed
- No way to get an online quote
Westfield Insurance Group is an Ohio-based insurance provider that provides personal and business/commercial insurance policies. Westfield offers personal insurance policies in 10 states: Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Their personal policies include homeowners, renters, condominium, and auto insurance.
Westfield is one of the largest insurance companies in Ohio and the Midwest – the company currently writes commercial policies in 21 states they service. Their commercial policies include insurance for farmers, agricultural businesses, and other types of commercial and business insurance.
Getting a clear idea of how an insurance carrier operates is a must. This will allow you to find the best one to purchase a policy from. With enough research, you will find the best coverage at the most affordable rate.
Westfield Insurance Group is a large insurance group that insures business owners and its specialty is farm insurance, since its inception the company has catered to farmers and specializes in farm insurance. The company insures surety bonds and agricultural businesses and has a long history of insuring farmers in the Midwest.
Westfield is one of the oldest insurance companies in the United States, it was founded in 1848 in Westfield, Center OH, a village in Ohio to provide insurance for farmers in the state of Ohio. The company went under the name Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and then changed its name to Ohio Farmers Insurance Company – the latter is still owned by the company as a subsidiary. Westfield expanded significantly in the 20th century and the company changed its name to the current Westfield Insurance Group in 1971. Currently, Westfield has over 170 years in the insurance business.
Westfield is in the top 3 insurance companies in Ohio and one of the largest in the Midwest – it employs 2,400 full-time staff and the company generated $2B in revenues last year. The company’s premises host a number of properties that belong to the company – its own golf course on the Westfield Country Club, Westfield Center (the HQ), Blair Center Conference Center, Westfield Inn Hotel, and Westfield Bank. The company does not sell its insurance policies directly, but they employ a network of licensed agents who sell Westfield’s policies in the states they cover; they currently license over 1,000 independent agents. Westfield is located in Westfield Center, OH.
Westfield homeowners insurance coverages
Westfield is a carrier that offers standard homeowners insurance policies and has a special interest in high-value homes. Their two main policies are meant to cover these more expensive homes.
Wespak Estate
This is a bundled option that includes homeowners insurance and auto insurance. It is said to include preferred coverage, making it suitable for high-value homes. Some of these endorsements that are automatically included are equipment breakdown coverage and guaranteed replacement cost coverage. They also offer protection against identity theft. This is a great option for those who want to use one company for multiple policies.
Estatepak
This option is essentially just the first half of the bundle. It is only meant to cover a high-value home without including a policy for any automobiles. When choosing this coverage, you also get the included endorsements that are meant to boost the coverage.
Additional coverages from Westfield
If you are getting a standard homeowners insurance policy through Westfield that is not for a high-value home. You are only going to get the basics. This includes coverage for the dwelling, other structures, personal belongings, and personal liability. Westfield offers these endorsements and policies if you are looking for additional coverage:
- Equipment breakdown coverage: This coverage is for the appliances and systems in your home. If they are broken or damaged by a covered loss, the coverage kicks in to repair or replace them. As long as the damage is not caused by natural wear and tear, you will be covered.
- Replacement cost coverage: In case you must rebuild your entire home, this coverage kicks in to make sure you are always going to be covered. This applies even when the cost to rebuild is more than the original dwelling coverage in place. With the Wespak Estate policy for high-value homes, you get guaranteed replacement cost coverage automatically. With the traditional homeowners policy, this addon extends dwelling coverage by up to 25% over the dwelling coverage limit.
- Identity theft: In case your identity is stolen, this coverage protects you by paying for costs associated with regaining your identity up to $20,000. They assign you a personal specialist to help you get back on track. Westfield also offers a year of free credit monitoring and will send you alerts if your data has been compromised.
- Flood insurance: Since flooding is excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies, you will need to buy one separately. Westfield does have the option for you to purchase a flood policy if you need this additional protection.
- Umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy covers all of the other base policies you have in place. This can enhance your personal liability by amounts that are usually in $1MM increments. It is a great way to make sure you are covered for any situation you may be deemed liable for.
Westfield home insurance discounts
On the Westfield website, they include a blog that has an article talking about smart home devices. Some of these devices include smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, video doorbells, security cameras, and leak detectors. They advise customers to ask if discounts can be applied for having these fixtures in the home.
By taking a look at some company reviews, it is also noted that Westfield offers discounts to those who have remained claim-free for five years. Also, if you stay with the company for a number of years, it is worth asking for a loyalty discount.
Other than these few options, it appears that homeowners can get discounts from Westfield for bundling their insurance policies. It is already clear that you can bundle your home and auto coverages, but they do offer other insurance products to allow you to create a different type of bundle if you wish.
Westfield homeowners insurance premiums
Westfield does not offer online quoting, so it is unknown exactly where they rank when it comes to pricing. They advise customers to use their online tool to find a local agent to work with. This is where you are able to put together a policy that is suitable for your home and ask about any discounts you may qualify for.
When reading through customer reviews online, many are happy with the premiums offered by Westfield. A lot of people say they have shopped around and found Westfield very competitive with their premiums. A majority of customers are very happy with the prices they pay and find them very affordable.
These reviews have remained consistently positive over the last several years, so it is safe to say that the company values providing customers with reasonable pricing. There are many loyal customers who advise they are very happy with the company and are not interested in switching to another any time soon.
Westfield’s claims reviews
One of the main things that customers say about the claims process is how fast it is with Westfield. People who have had to file claims are happy with the efficiency provided by the staff. They state it was a very easy process to go through and they were taken care of in a timely manner for a variety of claims.
A few people even stated that the company worked closely with the contractors who were assigned to the repairs. This has made the entire motion of going through with filing a claim simple. Even when things have gone wrong with contractors, Westfield seems to make it a priority to keep the process moving along for customers.
The few negative reviews regarding claims centered around being denied coverage for these claims. Some people who were loyal customers were left to pay for extensive damages out-of-pocket because the company denied the request to file claims. Others have also stated they have been assigned adjusters who were unhelpful.
Westfield’s customer service
Westfield has earned many great reviews regarding the customer service they provide. Many customers praise the company for being extremely easy to work with. They have stated the company truly cares about its customers and is always willing to help when needed. People appear to be very pleased with the effectiveness of Westfield’s communication.
A great notable pattern that can be gathered from these reviews is that Westfield aims to be available to its customers at all times. Whenever someone needs help, the company is there and ready to take action. This showcases the proactive stance Westfield takes and highlights how much they prioritize taking care of all customers.
Seeing that the company takes customer service inquiries seriously is a great sign because it is important that a carrier is available to help. This means you will likely be able to handle policy changes and payments with ease if necessary.
According to NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners), Westfield has received only 1 homeowners insurance complaint in 2022 and the overall complaint index is 0.14 which is well below the industry average which is always set at 1.00. This data indicates that all the positive reviews are accurate and Westfield’s customers really don’t have much to complain about.
Westfield’s financial strength
Looking at the financial strength of an insurance carrier is important because this can determine the likelihood of its ability to pay out claims. In case you must file one, you should know you are going to be protected.
BBB
While Westfield is not accredited through the Better Business Bureau, they have earned an A+ rating. This is the most superior rating that can be earned. Over the last three years, Westfield has closed 15 complaints.
AM Best
As of July 2021, Westfield earned an A rating through AM Best. This is seen as an excellent rating and showcases the company’s financial stability. They are known for having a stable outlook for the future.
Based on these financial ratings, it appears that Westfield is in great standing as a company. They aim to keep their reputation high among their competitors.
The verdict
Westfield is a company that takes pride in the coverage they provide and keeps a great reputation while doing so. They serve 10 states and specialize in protecting high-value homes. Since they have homeowners packages, it is also safe to say that Westfield wants to make getting insurance as easy as possible for homeowners.
There are many additional coverages that can be added to any policy to further enhance it, and there are also additional policies that can be purchased through the company. Some discounts are offered, and it is recommended to ask a local agent for more that you may qualify for while getting a quote.
They are excellent at providing customer service and have a great outlook when it comes to financial stability. A majority of customers are very happy with the company and have remained loyal to them for as long as decades. Some of these individuals have stated they see no reason to switch because the rates remain low and they have everything they need through Westfield.
At times, customers have felt negative about Westfield regarding claims because some have been denied. This seems to be a rare occurrence, as a majority of the customer reviews will say otherwise. Overall, this is a great option for homeowners looking for comprehensive coverage. It is especially great for those who live in high-value homes.
