This topic covers property coverages outside the main homeowners and commercial forms: flood, earthquake, inland and ocean marine, and the residual market. The national guide explains the forms. Georgia's residual property market is the Georgia Underwriting Association, which operates the state's FAIR Plan (O.C.G.A. 33-33).

The national concepts in brief

• Flood is excluded from homeowners policies. Homes are usually covered under the NFIP Standard Flood Insurance Policy (44 CFR Part 61).
• New NFIP coverage takes effect on the 30th day after application and payment. Exceptions include loan closings, map revisions and certain post-wildfire cases (44 CFR 61.11).
• Earthquake is excluded from homeowners policies but can usually be bought separately.
• Theft losses must be reported to the police as one of the duties after loss.

Georgia FAIR Plan (Georgia Underwriting Association)

• Purpose: insurers that write property insurance directly in Georgia maintain a FAIR Plan and underwriting association, with the Commissioner's approval (33-33-1, 33-33-2). The association makes basic property and liability insurance available to Georgians who can't get it in the standard market.
• Safety standards: it insures only risks maintained or improved to meet minimum safety standards.
• Membership: every insurer writing property insurance in Georgia must belong as a condition of its authority (33-33-3(a)).
• Sharing: participation is in proportion to each insurer's premiums. Habitational and commercial risks are calculated separately (33-33-3(b)).
• Appeals: anyone aggrieved by the plan may appeal to the Commissioner within 30 days. The final order can be reviewed in court (33-33-7).
• Local public entities: one that timely notifies the Commissioner gets temporary coverage during its appeal, paying the full premium (33-33-8(b)).
• Homeowners insurers must mention the FAIR Plan in non-payment-related cancellation notices and in nonrenewal notices (33-24-46(e)).

Exam traps

• Georgia's FAIR Plan is run by the Georgia Underwriting Association.
• Membership is mandatory for property insurers.
• FAIR Plan appeals go to the Commissioner within 30 days.
• NFIP coverage generally starts after a 30-day wait.