Nationwide Insurance

Carrier appetite summary

Nationwide publishes appetite access points but keeps detailed class-level underwriting rules behind its agent login and in line‑ or state‑specific PDFs, so operational guidance below reflects what is currently visible combined with known positioning by line. GENERAL / BROKER NOTES - Distribution: Written through appointed independent agencies. Agents are expected to quote and service through Nationwide’s Commercial Center and Agent Center; detailed product, coverage and service workflows are behind login. - Appetite navigation: Public Agent Center page lists appetite links for Personal Lines, Small Commercial, Middle Market, and Farm & Ranch. Agents use these tools (and IVANS / comparative raters) to confirm eligibility before submitting risks. - Underwriting control: All products remain subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval; not all products or discounts are available in all states.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) COMMERCIAL LINES (WORKERS COMP, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, UMBRELLA, CPP) - Focused industries: Nationwide positions itself as a specialized commercial carrier with focused appetite in select industries, with separate appetites for Small Commercial and Middle Market. Typical emphasis (from visible materials and industry pages) is on mainstream, well‑managed risks in sectors such as real estate, services, light manufacturing, and contractors; high‑hazard and distressed risks are commonly pushed to E&S.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) - Preferred profile (general): Modern construction and utilities; stable operations with favorable loss history; compliant with risk‑control recommendations; willingness to share complete underwriting information and required ACORD/supplementals. - Restricted / likely declined (commercial): • Heavy CAT‑exposed property (coastal wind/hail, flood‑prone areas) or schedules with poor maintenance and outdated electrical, roofing, or plumbing may be declined or non‑renewed in admitted markets, with possible placement in E&S.([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/NorthCarolina/comments/16zknop/as_it_evaluates_risk_nationwide_wont_renew_10000/?utm_source=openai)) • Higher‑hazard classes, distressed loss history, or risks outside current appetite are routed to Nationwide’s Excess & Surplus/Specialty platform rather than standard lines.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) - Geographic notes: Nationwide indicates it writes commercial insurance in 46 states and DC (standard lines real estate example). Appetite and program availability vary by state and peril (especially wind/hail and flood).([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/industries/types/commercial-real-estate?utm_source=openai)) - Submission expectations (commercial): • Completed ACORDs plus applicable Nationwide supplemental apps by industry (e.g., Real Estate supplemental for commercial real estate accounts).([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/industries/types/commercial-real-estate?utm_source=openai)) • Full schedule of locations, construction details, updates (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC), protection, occupancy, and loss runs for Property/CPP and Umbrella. • For Workers Comp, payroll by class and state, description of operations, hire/safety practices, and 3–5 years of loss history. State‑specific appetite guides (often PDF by state or segment) list target classes and ineligible operations. - Broker instructions: Appointed agents are directed to Commercial Center for product/coverage information, servicing, and marketing tools; underwriting questions are generally channeled through designated commercial underwriters or small commercial teams.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) WORKERS COMP (WC) - Target WC risks: Small commercial and small contractors with routine, relatively low‑hazard operations. Appetite guides (example California small commercial WC guide hosted by an agency) show typical preferences for professional offices, light retail/wholesale, and certain service contractors, with explicit class‑level notes and ineligible operations. - Examples of preferred or acceptable classes (from CA WC appetite reference): professional offices (attorneys, accountants), barbers/beauty (excluding tanning and tattoo parlors), bakeries, certain auto service (light vehicle repair/service stations without heavy truck or tow‑for‑hire exposure). Heavy truck work, towing‑for‑hire, 24‑hour operations, large truck/machinery repair, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, exclusively nail salons and employee leasing firms are shown as ineligible.([ironpointagent.com](https://www.ironpointagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21-0825-Nationwide-CA-WorkersCompAppetiteGuide_ADA.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Operational takeaways: Focus your submissions on mainstream small businesses with controlled manual labor and solid safety practices; avoid heavy transportation, employee leasing, and high‑hazard personal services. Ensure clean loss runs and accurate payroll by class. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY & COMMERCIAL PACKAGE - Preferred property risks: • Modern or well‑maintained buildings with good protection (sprinklers, alarms), standard construction, and occupancies aligned with Nationwide’s focused industries (e.g., commercial real estate, offices, light mercantile, and certain habitational under defined real estate programs).([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/industries/types/commercial-real-estate?utm_source=openai)) • Accounts willing to implement and maintain loss‑control recommendations from My Loss Control Services (sprinkler maintenance, hot‑work controls, etc.).([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) - Restricted / declining signals: • Older or under‑maintained buildings with outdated wiring, roofs beyond carrier age tolerances, or significant prior water/fire losses are more likely to be declined or shifted to E&S. • High‑CAT locations (hurricane‑exposed coastal wind, severe flood zones) show evidence of non‑renewal or requirement to split wind/hail with state residual markets in some states (e.g., Eastern NC).([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/NorthCarolina/comments/16zknop/as_it_evaluates_risk_nationwide_wont_renew_10000/?utm_source=openai)) - Submission requirements: Completed ACORD property/CPP apps, detailed COPE data, year and type of updates, and full loss runs. Certain industry risks (e.g., commercial real estate) require Nationwide‑specific supplementals. COMMERCIAL UMBRELLA - Appetite: Umbrella is typically offered over in‑house primary GL/Auto/Property for qualifying small commercial and middle‑market accounts in Nationwide’s focused industries. Risks that require broad limits over non‑Nationwide primaries or very high‑hazard operations are more commonly handled by E&S markets. - Key underwriting factors: Alignment of underlying policy limits and forms with Nationwide requirements, overall risk profile (premises hazards, products, auto fleet), and loss history. Expect scrutiny on habitational, hospitality, and high‑traffic premises. HOMEOWNERS (PERSONAL LINES PROPERTY) - Coverage posture: Nationwide offers standard Homeowners policies covering dwelling, personal property, liability, and various endorsements (water backup, personal injury, roof upgrade endorsements). Flood is explicitly treated as separate coverage; Nationwide materials emphasize that homeowners policies generally do not cover flood.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/homeowners/pages/coverage?utm_source=openai)) - Preferred home risks: Newer construction or well‑maintained homes, favorable loss history, compliant roofs and wiring, and non‑coastal or lower‑CAT locations; appetite is adjusted state‑by‑state and has recently tightened in some coastal and CAT‑prone regions. - Restricted / declined: • Homes in high‑risk coastal or wind/hail areas and heavy flood zones are more likely to face non‑renewal or require separate wind/hail placement in residual markets.([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/NorthCarolina/comments/16zknop/as_it_evaluates_risk_nationwide_wont_renew_10000/?utm_source=openai)) • Multiple water or weather‑related losses, poor condition, or non‑compliant updates trigger underwriting review and possible decline. - Producer notes: Agents are directed to the Personal Lines appetite tool from the Agent Center to confirm state‑specific rules and to track tightening/pausing of personal lines appetite over time.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) BOAT / WATERCRAFT - Coverage: Nationwide offers dedicated boat insurance, with physical damage, liability, medical payments, and optional coverages such as fishing equipment, personal effects, towing, and roadside assistance (when the trailer is insured). Packages are tiered by usage type (weekenders, overnighters, light‑tackle anglers, deep‑water pros) with specified sub‑limits for gear and towing.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/boat/pages/coverage?utm_source=openai)) - Preferred risks: Well‑maintained pleasure craft used for personal/recreational purposes within defined navigation territories; operators with clean driving/boating records. - Restricted / declined: Higher‑hazard uses such as commercial charter, racing, or unusually high‑performance vessels typically require special underwriting or E&S placement; specific details are behind agent login and may vary by state. - Submission expectations: Hull information (year, make, model, value), engine type/HP, mooring/location, navigation territory, operator age and experience, and loss history. FLOOD - Product positioning: Nationwide positions flood coverage as a necessary complement to homeowners and commercial property policies and points insureds to evaluate their flood risk and consider flood policies; standard homeowners forms explicitly exclude flood.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/homeowners/pages/coverage?utm_source=openai)) - Program structure: Nationwide participates as a Write‑Your‑Own (WYO) carrier in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and/or offers private flood solutions in selected areas. Agents must follow NFIP rules and training requirements when writing NFIP flood; private flood options, if available, are subject to separate underwriting. - Operational notes for producers: • Verify lender requirements and NFIP vs private flood eligibility; use NFIP‑mandated training where applicable.([agents.floodsmart.gov](https://agents.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/fema-nfip-an-agents-guide-selling-flood-insurance-brochure-06-2023.pdf?utm_source=openai)) • Clearly explain that flood is not part of a standard HO or commercial property policy and must be purchased separately. SUBMISSION & PROCESS - Appetite tools: Agents should begin with the Agent Center appetite links for Personal Lines, Small Commercial, Middle Market, and Farm & Ranch to confirm whether a class/industry is in appetite before completing full submissions.([nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/)) - Required documentation: Expect standard ACORD apps, Nationwide or industry‑specific supplementals, 3–5 years of loss runs for commercial lines, photographs/inspection reports for property risks, and detailed class coding/payroll for WC. - Underwriting interaction: For risks at the edge of appetite (e.g., high‑CAT properties, borderline WC classes, or higher limits Umbrella), pre‑submission discussions with the assigned underwriter or sales manager are recommended; Nationwide explicitly supports agents with digital tools, training, and loss‑control resources rather than guaranteeing open appetite. Given that many Nationwide underwriting manuals and class‑by‑class appetites are accessible only behind secure agent logins, agents should always confirm final eligibility, state‑specific restrictions, and current moratoria or tightening with Nationwide’s appetite tools or underwriting staff before binding.

Referenced source pages