Hippo: Your One-Stop Shop For Auto Insurance?

Hippo Insurance, founded in 2015, is a tech-based company that offers insurance to property owners. The company strives to save homeowners time and money with its streamlined offerings and modern approach. While Hippo does not offer auto insurance, it provides affordable home insurance with several benefits, including smart home devices, fast online quotes, and comprehensive coverage for electronics and home office equipment.

Hippo's home insurance coverage options

Hippo home insurance offers a range of coverage options to suit the needs of modern homeowners. The company takes a tech-forward approach to home insurance, providing innovative coverage options and potential discounts.

Hippo's home insurance coverage includes standard protections, such as dwelling, other structures, personal property, additional living expenses or loss of use, liability, and medical expenses. Additionally, Hippo includes extra coverage in its basic home insurance policies, such as home office equipment protection, domestic workers' compensation coverage, and water backup coverage.

For those seeking additional protection, Hippo offers several optional endorsements. These include equipment breakdown coverage, enhanced water backup coverage, service line coverage, valuables coverage, and extra coverage for jewelry and watches. Hippo also offers scheduled personal property coverage, allowing policyholders to schedule specific items with appraised values.

Hippo also provides higher coverage limits for computers and home office equipment, making it an attractive option for those who work from home. The company offers coverage for electronics, appliances, and essential staff, like house cleaners or babysitters. Water backup coverage and service line coverage are also available, depending on location and eligibility.

Hippo's home insurance rates are affordable, with an average monthly cost of around $101. The company provides a fast online quote process, allowing homeowners to obtain a quote in as little as 60 seconds.

Pros and cons of Hippo's home insurance

Pros of Hippo's Home Insurance:

• It offers low rates, numerous discount offerings, and robust coverage options.
• It provides free smart-home technology with a new policy in many states.
• It offers extra coverage for home office and electronic equipment.
• It provides customers with remote access to professionals who can troubleshoot home maintenance issues.
• It offers a complimentary smart home monitoring kit to help detect water, fire, and theft, triggering a discount.
• It offers a variety of optional benefits, such as workers' compensation insurance for house cleaners and babysitters.
• It offers extended replacement cost coverage for your house.
• It has a decent menu of homeowners insurance discounts.
• It has a good customer satisfaction rating.
• It has a good financial strength rating.
• It has a quick and easy online quoting process.
• It offers three coverage tiers that differ in cost, deductible, policy limits, and included endorsements.
• It includes 25% extended replacement cost on all coverage tiers.
• It offers quotes in 60 seconds.
• It receives fewer-than-average customer complaints for a company of its size.

Cons of Hippo's Home Insurance:

• It enforces a banned dog breeds list.
• It offers fewer discounts than other providers.
• Coverage and discount information is difficult to find on the website.
• It is not available in every state, and not available to all homeowners, even in states where Hippo sells insurance.
• It does not allow customers to file claims online.
• It has a lack of industry reputation.
• Its tech-forward approach may not appeal to everybody.
• It excludes certain dog breeds from coverage.
• It does not appear to offer flood insurance, ordinance or law protection, umbrella insurance, and other important coverages.

How to get a quote from Hippo

To get a quote from Hippo, you can either visit their website or call their licensed sales team.

Getting a Quote Online

To get a quote online, go to the Hippo homepage, myhippo.com, and enter your property address. You will then be asked a few basic questions about your property, and in less than 60 seconds, you will receive an accurate home insurance quote. You will then be asked a few more questions to ensure you secure all the best discounts available on your policy before being offered a final quote and providing your payment details.

Getting a Quote Over the Phone

If you would prefer to get a quote over the phone, you can call Hippo's licensed sales team in Austin, TX at 1-877-838-8866. They are available Monday - Friday, from 7 am - 7 pm Central Time and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 8 pm Central Time.

Hippo's customer reviews

Hippo Insurance Services has received a mix of positive and negative reviews from customers. On the one hand, some customers have praised the company for its competitive prices, fast and easy process, responsive customer service, and overall great experience. On the other hand, there have been complaints about issues with claims, unexpected premium increases, and difficulties reaching the company.

Positive reviews highlight Hippo's modern approach to home insurance, including its innovative coverage options and potential discounts. Customers have also appreciated the company's tech-forward methods, such as offering smart home devices with policies and higher coverage limits for computers and home office equipment. The online quote process is also praised for being quick and easy.

However, there have been several negative reviews regarding issues with claims. Some customers have reported difficulties in getting their claims approved and receiving timely responses from adjusters. There are also complaints about Hippo unexpectedly increasing premiums or cancelling policies without proper notification. Additionally, some customers have mentioned challenges in reaching the company through phone and email support.

Overall, while some customers have had positive experiences with Hippo, there are also a significant number of negative reviews that highlight issues with claims, customer service, and unexpected changes to policies.

How to file a claim with Hippo

Hippo does not offer auto insurance, but it does provide home insurance. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to file a claim with Hippo:

Step 1: File an Official Report

If your claim is related to criminal activity, such as a break-in or theft, the first step is to call the police and file a report. Obtain a copy of the report to provide to your insurance provider, as they will need official documentation of the incident. If the damage is not related to criminal activity, you can skip this step and proceed to contact your insurance provider directly.

Step 2: Contact Hippo

Notify Hippo about the damage as soon as possible to avoid any potential issues later on. Call Hippo's toll-free claims line at (855) 999-9746, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will reach a first reports representative who will guide you through the claims process and help you submit your claim. You can also reach out to Hippo via email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Step 3: Document the Damage

Take photos and videos of the damage from different angles, use items to provide scale, and make notes about the date and time the damage occurred. If you have a home inventory or know the approximate cost of the damaged items, gather this information as well. This documentation will serve as proof for your insurance provider.

Step 4: Mitigate Existing Damage

Take steps to prevent further damage from occurring. For example, if there is water damage, mop up the standing water to prevent mould from forming. Cover any wall damage to keep rain or critters from entering your home. Stopping the damage from spreading is crucial, as Hippo may not cover additional damage that could have been prevented.

Step 5: Complete All Necessary Forms

Hippo will provide you with the necessary forms to fill out, such as a proof-of-loss form, to initiate the claim process. Fill out these forms promptly and submit them along with any supporting documentation, such as the police report and photos or videos of the damage.

Step 6: Meet with an Insurance Adjuster

An insurance adjuster is a professional hired by Hippo to investigate the damage and determine the cost of settling the claim. They will assess the damage, review all the documents, and may interview you and any witnesses. Prepare for this meeting by gathering all the necessary documents and notifying any witnesses in advance.

Step 7: Get Repair Estimates

Although Hippo will conduct its own research to determine repair costs, it is recommended to obtain your own estimates from licensed contractors or appraisal experts. Submit these estimates to Hippo as proof of the cost of repairs.

Step 8: Settle Your Claim and Schedule Repairs

The final step is to settle the claim by agreeing on the payout amount with Hippo. Once the claim is settled, you will receive a cheque from Hippo, and you can schedule the necessary repairs. It is important to do this promptly to avoid any issues with the payment.

Remember to review your Hippo insurance policy to understand the specific requirements and deadlines for filing a claim, as these may vary. Additionally, keep in mind that filing multiple claims within a short period may result in an increase in your insurance rates, especially if the issues could have been easily prevented.

Frequently asked questions