While Baton Rouge is both the capital of the state and the parish seat, it’s also the fifth wettest city in the US. That plus the city’s proximity to the Gulf, which exposes its more than 224,000 residents to hurricane damage, makes homeowner’s insurance vital.

Unfortunately, the struggle to find affordable coverage is real in Baton Rouge. Homeowners insurance in the city costs an average of $2,081 per year. Luckily, policies sold through Kin average $1,375 per year.

Baton Rouge home insurance costs

Baton Rouge home insurance premiums are different for everyone because they’re based on several variables. Your location is one factor, but so are things like the age of your home and the amount of coverage you want. Newer homes typically have more favorable rates than older homes because they meet newer building code standards. Even when a new home needs more dwelling coverage, it often costs less to insure than an older home.

Age and coverage limits are important, but they aren’t the only factors insurance companies use to calculate premiums. They also consider risks in your area. For Baton Rouge, that means assessing the likelihood of hurricane and flood damage. Your claims history and credit rating come into play, too. Plus, insurance companies can evaluate these risks differently, which causes even more variation between rates.

What Baton Rouge home insurance covers

All Baton Rouge home insurance policies have six core coverages that are essential in helping you get through the most common claims:

• Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild your home after a covered claim occurs
• Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or replace detached structures on your property, such as sheds and fences
• Personal property coverage: Covers your belongings, such as furniture, appliances, and clothing, if they’re damaged in a covered claim
• Loss of use coverage: Pays for additional living expenses when damages from a covered claim make your home temporarily uninhabitable
• Personal liability coverage: Covers the cost of a lawsuit if someone says you’re responsible for their property damage or injuries
• Medical payments coverage: Pays immediate medical costs if a guest is injured on your property

Dwelling coverage typically pays for wind damage caused by a hurricane, so you don't have to worry about getting hurricane insurance. But your policy through Kin will most likely have a hurricane deductible. Water damage from a hurricane is a different story; that usually requires flood insurance. This can be easily added to your home policy with a low-cost endorsement.

Baton Rouge's unique risks

Baton Rouge isn’t on the Gulf, so it doesn’t get the beating from hurricanes that cities like New Orleans do. But that doesn’t mean it escapes damage altogether. Strong storms, including last year’s Delta and Zeta, can rip off roofs and bring tree limbs crashing through windows. Plus, the city’s location alongside the Mississippi River means that there’s a chance of flooding whether it’s from a hurricane or a thunderstorm.

Baton Rouge has a mix of flood zones, including some that are considered Special Flood Hazard Areas where flood insurance is mandatory. Just this past May, the city suffered days of slow-moving rain that caused flooding in people’s homes.

Tips for lowering Baton Rouge home insurance costs

We can help you save on the high cost of Baton Rouge homeowners insurance. For example, you may be eligible for a discount or premium credit if you:

• Buy a home.
• Manage your insurance online.
• Have a clean claims history.
• Protect your home from wind damage.

Read more about wind mitigation inspections in Louisiana.

Another way to save on home insurance costs is to increase your policy deductible. By raising the deductible, you lower your premium. If you decide to go this route, make sure you can afford the amount you choose because that’s what you’ll have to pay in a claim.

The policies we sell offer the following AOP and hurricane deductibles:

• $500
• $1,000
• $2,500
• $5,000
• $7,500
• $10,000
• Or 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, or 10% of Coverage A

If you’re ready to get home insurance in Baton Rouge, call us at 855-717-0022 or enter your address. Our representatives are eager to help you save on homeowners insurance today.

*Kin is Kin Insurance Network Distributor, LLC, a licensed surplus lines producer.