The Massachusetts FAIR Plan, explained
What Massachusetts's insurer of last resort covers, who qualifies, and how to use it as a bridge instead of a destination.
By the TMRW Team · Published September 2, 2026
The short answer
- The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (Massachusetts FAIR Plan) is Massachusetts's insurer of last resort — basic property coverage for homes the regular market won't take.
- Like most FAIR plans, it covers fewer kinds of damage than a normal policy and usually costs more — treat it as a bridge while you work back to a regular insurer.
- Check the alternatives below before settling in; many homeowners qualify for the regular market again sooner than they expect.
Quick facts
| Official name | Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (Massachusetts FAIR Plan) |
| Website | mpiua.com |
| Consumer phone | (800) 392-6108 (toll-free) or (617) 723-3800 |
| Established | 1968 |
| Maximum home coverage | $1 million |
| Covers | Fire and smoke damage, Windstorm and hail damage, Damage when a roof collapses under snow or ice, Vandalism and theft, Damage from vehicles or aircraft hitting the home, Limited personal liability coverage (if someone is hurt on your property) - up to $500,000 on homeowners policies, Not covered: flooding - that requires a separate flood insurance policy |
Verified against the official plan site and state insurance department — see Sources.
Who qualifies
Your property is residential - a single-family home, multi-family dwelling, or condominium unit - and located in Massachusetts You certify that you made a reasonable effort to buy insurance from regular insurers and could not get it (Massachusetts does not publish a required number of declinations - the standard is a certified reasonable effort, such as being declined, cancelled, or non-renewed) You have taken reasonable steps to maintain the property The property is not vacant or condemned There are no outstanding tax liens or penalties against the property Some commercial properties may qualify for limited coverage in certain circumstances
How to apply
- 1.
Contact a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent or broker
Most people apply through a licensed agent or broker, who submits the application to the FAIR Plan for you. You can also apply directly on the MPIUA website at mpiua.com without a broker.
- 2.
Submit the application and complete an inspection
The FAIR Plan reviews your application and may inspect the property to confirm its condition and value.
- 3.
Pay the premium and receive your policy
If you are eligible, the policy is issued after the premium is paid. If you later find a regular insurer willing to cover you, make sure the new policy is active before cancelling the FAIR Plan policy so there is no gap in coverage.
What it costs
The FAIR Plan's rates are regulated by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, which reviews and approves them; rates are developed using factors such as home value, construction type, location, and safety features (Mass.gov, Division of Insurance).
The plan is growing: FAIR Plan enrollment increased by 24,436 policies in 2024, and the FAIR Plan wrote 8.7% of 2024 Massachusetts home insurance premium; on Cape Cod and the Islands it accounted for 39.6% of policies (Division of Insurance, 2024 Annual Home Insurance Report).
The plan may impose minimum mandatory deductibles for windstorm and hail on any policy, varying with the amount of dwelling coverage, under its approved rating plans (MPIUA Plan of Operation).
Coverage caps out at $1,000,000 for a single interest at one location ($1,500,000 total when multiple parties have an interest); homeowners dwelling coverage (Coverage A) maxes at $1,000,000 and personal liability at $500,000 (MPIUA Producer Manual, April 2025).
Alternatives in Massachusetts
Keep shopping the regular (voluntary) market through a licensed independent agent or broker - insurers' appetites differ, and the Division of Insurance notes you will not be charged more by a voluntary insurer for having been on the FAIR Plan Surplus lines (specialty, non-admitted) insurers, accessed through a broker, for hard-to-place homes For flood: a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer - the FAIR Plan does not cover flooding, and as of 2025 new FAIR Plan policies in Special Flood Hazard Areas in coastal-zone communities require a separate flood policy The Massachusetts Division of Insurance for consumer help comparing options
Wherever you land, most FAIR-type policies leave gaps a second policy has to fill — see the gap (DIC) policy, explained.
Common questions
TMRW is an independent wildfire-mitigation company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the California FAIR Plan Association or any state FAIR Plan, wind pool, or insurance program.
This page is educational. TMRW is not an insurance agent, broker, or producer, and nothing here is insurance advice, a coverage recommendation, or an offer of insurance. Talk to a licensed agent or broker about your coverage.
Sources
- About Us - Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (official plan site) — Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, accessed 2026-09-02
- Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (FAIR Plan) consumer page — Massachusetts Division of Insurance (Mass.gov), accessed 2026-09-02
- MPIUA Massachusetts Producer Manual, April 2025 (coverage limits) — Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, accessed 2026-09-02
- Amended Plan of Operation of MPIUA (limits of liability and deductibles) — Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, accessed 2026-09-02
- Annual Home Insurance Report for Calendar Year 2024 (FAIR Plan enrollment and market share) — Massachusetts Division of Insurance (Mass.gov), accessed 2026-09-02
Keep reading
FAIR Plans: insurance of last resort, explained
FAIR Plans are state-organized insurers of last resort — expensive, fire-focused, and thinner than they look. What they are, what they cost, and how homeowners get back to regular insurance.
The gap policy: Difference in Conditions (DIC) insurance, explained
A DIC policy is the gap-filler that turns bare-bones FAIR Plan coverage back into something like normal home insurance. What it covers, what it costs, and how to buy one.
The California FAIR Plan, explained
What the California FAIR Plan is, what it really costs with the second policy you'll need, what happens if it runs out of money — and how homeowners get back to real insurance.