The Texas FAIR Plan (TFPA) now covers 124,445 homes. Here's how it differs from TWIA.
If you've been declined by two private insurers and you're not just looking for wind coverage, the Texas FAIR Plan, not TWIA, is the state's real insurer of last resort. It covers far more perils than TWIA does, but it can't write wind or hail in the same 14 coastal counties TWIA exists for. Here's what it actually covers, what it costs, and when you need both.
What is the Texas FAIR Plan (TFPA)?
The Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) is Texas's insurer of last resort for homes and other residential property. It is for owners who have been turned down by at least two private insurers actively writing property insurance in Texas. It is not a state agency and gets no general-revenue funding; it is run by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) under the direction of its own Governing Committee, under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2211.
You can only apply through a licensed Texas agent. The TWIA windstorm page covers the separate wind-and-hail pool for the 14 coastal counties, and the Texas non-renewal guide covers the 60-day notice you should have received first.
Broader coverage, but a higher bar to qualify.
The plan isn't sold direct-to-consumer, and it's easy to assume it works exactly like TWIA. It doesn't — the perils, the declination count, and the geography all differ.
Get two declinations, not one, and use a licensed Texas agent
You need documented proof that at least two insurance companies actively writing residential property insurance in Texas declined to cover the home before you can obtain coverage — surplus lines carriers don't count toward this. Coverage is only available through a licensed Texas property and casualty agent; the Association doesn't sell direct.
- Before you start collecting declinations, it's worth checking the standard admitted market yourself — you can start a comparison here so you know what's actually out there first.
- Or check specific carriers directly: State Farm, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual all write homeowners coverage directly, and Insurify pulls quotes from several carriers at once — each one counts as a declination if they decline, and a quote if they don't. If you or a family member served in the military, USAA is another option — membership is required.
Bring your own replacement-cost number
The Texas FAIR Plan does not estimate your home's replacement value for you — you or your agent need to bring that number to the application. It also determines how close you are to the plan's coverage caps, which are considerably lower than a standard policy's. Once you know your dwelling coverage amount, estimate your TFPA premium here before you call an agent.
Check whether you're in TWIA's 14-county zone
The plan covers wind and hail everywhere in Texas except the 14 coastal catastrophe counties and the part of Harris County east of Highway 146 — there, TWIA handles wind/hail instead, and the Texas FAIR Plan covers everything else (fire, theft, liability, and the rest).
Fire, lightning, smoke, wind/hail (outside the TWIA zone), theft, vandalism, riot, explosion, vehicle damage
Per the Association: falling trees, limbs or objects; building collapse; broken glass; weight of ice, snow or sleet; freezing of plumbing, heating, AC or appliances; mold or fungi remediation; sewer or drain backup; scheduled items such as expensive jewelry. Wind/hail is also excluded inside TWIA's 14-county zone. Sudden and accidental water or steam discharge is available only as a limited endorsement for extra premium.
Dwelling up to $1,000,000; liability $100,000 or $300,000; personal property 50–70% of dwelling (up to $500,000 for condo/tenant)
What the Texas FAIR Plan needs, and when to reapply.
The plan is meant as a temporary backstop. Policyholders must reapply in the voluntary market every two years, so this is not a one-time application.
Collect two declinations in writing from private insurers actively writing residential coverage in Texas — surplus lines carriers don't count.
Confirm the property qualifies. It can't be vacant, condemned, in serious disrepair, or have more than eight claims in the past three years.
Choose your deductible. 1% or 2% of dwelling coverage — four or more claims in three years forfeits the 1% option.
If you're in the coastal zone, apply for TWIA in the same window rather than treating it as a separate errand later.
Calendar your reapplication. The Association says policyholders must reapply in the voluntary market every two years, so put the date in your calendar when you bind coverage.
What can make a property ineligible.
The Association publishes its eligibility requirements, including the reasons it can refuse an application. Fix what you can before an agent submits it.
- The property is condemned, vacant, or in disrepair or has existing damage.
- Excessive or unusual liability exposure, such as a dangerous animal, or a pool or trampoline that is not within a fenced yard.
- A conviction for arson, fraud or other insurance-related offenses.
- More than eight paid claims (excluding glass) in three years.
- A mobile home, unless the wheels are removed and it is tied down.
- A farm or ranch used for business, or a dwelling occupied for business use.
- You currently hold a homeowners policy, a renewal offer, or a valid comparable offer: the plan is not available then.
The list comes from the Association's coverage and eligibility page; confirm the current wording with your agent.
How to pay, contact TFPA and report a claim.
The Association runs its own Customer Payment Portal and a one-time payment option, linked from its e-payments page. You can request your account number by contacting the Association. TWIA wind/hail premiums are paid separately through twia.org.
| Payment fee (per TFPA) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Installment fee, each installment | $5.00 |
| Late fee, each payment received after the due date | $5.00 |
| Payment reversal fee | $15.00 |
| Payment taken by phone | $10.00 |
- Phone: 800-979-6440 (Spanish: option 2); local line 512-505-2200. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
- Report a claim, 24/7: the Association's online Claim Center, or 800-979-6440, option 1.
- Policy questions: 800-979-6440, option 4, or tfpapolicy@twia.org. Policy changes go through your agent.
- Property owners' associations: a separate Property Owners' Association insurance line, 800-979-6437.
- Mail a premium payment: P.O. Box 733916, Dallas, TX 75373-3916.
Fees and contacts were checked against texasfairplan.org on October 4, 2026 and can change; use the official site for current figures. Compare the cost side with our TFPA premium calculator.
What people ask before they call an agent.
What is the Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA)?
The Texas FAIR Plan Association is Texas's general property insurer of last resort, created by the Texas Legislature under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2211 to provide residential property insurance when the private market won't. Unlike California's fire-only FAIR Plan, it covers most named perils — fire, lightning, wind/hail, theft, vandalism, riot, and explosion — statewide, with one major exception: it can't write wind/hail coverage in the 14 coastal counties and part of Harris County, where TWIA handles that peril instead.
How is TFPA different from TWIA?
TWIA covers wind and hail only, and only in the 14-county coastal catastrophe area plus part of Harris County. The Texas FAIR Plan covers a much broader set of perils — fire, theft, liability, vandalism, and (outside that same coastal zone) wind/hail too — across the entire state. A homeowner inside the coastal zone whose only uninsured peril is wind typically only needs TWIA; one who's been declined more broadly may need a TFPA policy for everything else, or both policies together.
How much does a TFPA policy cost?
TFPA doesn’t publish a typical premium on its website. Pricing varies by coverage amount, construction, deductible choice (1% or 2% of dwelling coverage), and location, the same way any named-peril residual-market policy does. Get a real number from a licensed Texas property and casualty agent.
How do I qualify for TFPA coverage?
You need documented declinations from at least two insurance companies actively writing residential property insurance in Texas (surplus lines carriers don't count), and no current homeowners policy or comparable coverage offer available. The property also can't be vacant, condemned, in serious disrepair, or have more than eight claims in the past three years. Coverage is only available through a licensed Texas P&C agent — TFPA doesn't sell direct-to-consumer.
Can I have both a TFPA policy and a TWIA policy?
Yes, and many coastal homeowners do. Since the Texas FAIR Plan can't cover wind/hail in the 14-county catastrophe area and part of Harris County, a homeowner there who's been declined for both wind/hail and everything else typically holds a TWIA policy for wind/hail and a separate TFPA (or private) policy for fire, theft, liability, and the rest — similar in spirit to how California FAIR Plan homeowners pair a DIC wrap on top of fire-only coverage.
How do I pay my Texas FAIR Plan premium?
The Association offers a Customer Payment Portal and a one-time payment option through the e-payments page on texasfairplan.org, and you can mail a payment to P.O. Box 733916, Dallas, TX 75373-3916. If you need your account number, contact the Association. Wind/hail premiums for a separate TWIA policy are paid at twia.org.
Does TFPA charge fees on top of the premium?
Per TFPA's payment fee schedule, there is a $5.00 fee for each installment, a $5.00 late fee on a payment received after the due date, a $15.00 payment reversal fee, and a $10.00 fee for a payment taken by phone. Check texasfairplan.org for the current schedule.
How do I report a TFPA claim?
Report claims 24 hours a day through the Association's online Claim Center or by calling 800-979-6440 and choosing option 1. For policy questions choose option 4.
How long can I stay on the Texas FAIR Plan?
The Association says policyholders must reapply in the voluntary market every two years. It is designed as a backstop, not a permanent home for your coverage.