Gulf States Insurance
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Homeowners (HO3) – Louisiana-focused personal lines carrier. Preferred business - Owner-occupied primary or secondary/seasonal single-family dwellings meeting modern construction and maintenance standards. - Protection classes (PC) 1–9, with additional conditions in PC9 (well‑maintained, year‑round accessible road, visible to neighbors/street). PC10 is ineligible. - Age of home: new–100 years, with acceptable updates and condition; homes over 100 years may be considered with individual underwriting review. Documentation of updates (roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC) is required when updates are within 10 years. - Coverage A limits: approximately $100,000–$500,000; carrier provides a required replacement cost estimator tool and expects Coverage A to be consistent with that calculation. - Risks on 1–5 acres are acceptable if accessible year‑round for fire service and there is a hydrant or credible water source within 1,000 feet, or fire department can transport sufficient water. - Prior losses: generally acceptable if a single prior loss does not exceed about $10,000; larger losses require underwriting review. Occupancy and eligibility - Must be owner‑occupied as primary residence or secondary/seasonal residence. - Dwellings unoccupied more than 3 months must either be in a secured/limited‑access community (gates/guards) or have actively monitored central station fire and burglar alarms. - PC9 non‑primary/seasonal risks require central station fire and burglar alarms. - PC10 risks are declined. Condition & construction notes - Roofs showing granule loss and/or over 10 years old may be subject to an ACV Roof Endorsement rather than full replacement cost. - Water heaters over 15 years old require a Limited Water Endorsement. - Metal roofs and/or risks with a metal detached structure require a Non‑Structural Hail Loss Limitation endorsement. Restricted or declined risks (inferred from manual criteria) - Ineligible: PC10 locations; homes in poor condition; homes without acceptable updates/condition where required documentation cannot be provided; locations that lack adequate fire‑protection access or water source on larger acreage; vacant/non‑owner‑occupied homes outside guidelines. - Homes over 100 years are not automatic declines but must be individually underwritten and can be declined if condition or updates are not satisfactory. Geographic notes - Company is Louisiana‑domiciled and licensed there, with primary appetite for Louisiana homeowners business. Coastal/Mississippi business is written through related entity Coastal American, with claims information pointing to separate Mississippi servicing contacts.([insurancejournal.com](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2019/10/29/546894.htm?utm_source=openai)) Submission & underwriting process - Agents have binding authority within the HO3 quick reference parameters; risks that fall outside (e.g., prior loss >$10,000, homes >100 years, unusual construction or large acreage without clear water supply) require referral to underwriting before binding.([gulfstates.live.ptsapp.com](https://gulfstates.live.ptsapp.com/views/manuals/templates/Gulf%20States%20HO%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide%20Version%202019_07_15.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Carrier may require interior inspections on homes over 40 years if no verifiable documentation of recent updates is available; agents/insureds must supply update documentation for underwriting consideration. - Replacement cost estimator tool provided by Gulf States must be used; applications should match the estimator output or be discussed with underwriting. Broker/producer instructions - Agents are expected to: (1) verify and document year and nature of key system updates (roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC), (2) disclose and document prior losses, especially any exceeding $10,000, and (3) ensure alarm systems and fire‑protection details (hydrant distance, water source, access, visibility) are accurately captured for PC9 and acreage risks.([gulfstates.live.ptsapp.com](https://gulfstates.live.ptsapp.com/views/manuals/templates/Gulf%20States%20HO%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide%20Version%202019_07_15.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Claims for LA homeowners are directed to Gulf States Insurance (888‑277‑0575) and the carrier’s claims portal; Mississippi homeowners written via Coastal American follow separate claim contacts but are managed under Gulf States’ systems.([alphala.com](https://alphala.com/make-a-claim/?utm_source=openai)) Flood - Gulf States Insurance Company participates as a Write‑Your‑Own (WYO) carrier for NFIP flood; appetite generally follows NFIP program rules and coastal homeowners territory where the company is active. Specific agent flood underwriting manual was not retrieved; assume standard NFIP eligibility/coverage, with program‑driven underwriting and rating.([flaglercounty.gov](https://www.flaglercounty.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/growth-management/documents/flood-zone-information/resources/nfip-the-choice-is-yours-wyo-companies-actively-writing-flood-insurance-2019-2020-f-073-04-2020.pdf?utm_source=openai))