---
title: "Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (the Beach Pool): Who Qualifies on the Coast, Wind and Hail Only Policies and How to Pair Them With Homeowners Coverage"
description: "The AIUA, Alabama's Beach Pool, insures wind and hail on property south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties. See limits and how to apply."
url: "https://riskado.com/alabama-beach-pool/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-10-13"
modified: "2026-10-13"
tags: ["wind-and-hail-insurance","alabama-beach-pool","coastal-property-insurance","hurricane-deductible","alabama-homeowners-insurance"]
image: "https://riskado.com/og/default.jpg"
alternates:
  es: "https://riskado.com/es/beach-pool-de-alabama.md"
---

# Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (the Beach Pool): Who Qualifies on the Coast, Wind and Hail Only Policies and How to Pair Them With Homeowners Coverage

Riskado

Oct 13, 2026 · 12 min read · Updated Oct 13, 2026

![Raised beach houses on pilings along the dunes of the Alabama Gulf coast under a clear sky](https://riskado.com/blog/alabama-beach-pool/featured.jpg)

The Alabama Insurance [Underwriting](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/underwriting/) Association (AIUA), often called the Alabama Beach Pool or wind pool, insures eligible property in areas south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties when owners can't get [coverage](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/coverage/) in the private market. Its main product covers wind, hail and hurricane. A wind and hail only [policy](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/policy/) from the AIUA can sit alongside a homeowners policy that excludes wind, but the two have to be checked together for dates, [limits](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/limit-of-liability/) and [deductibles](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/deductible/). AIUA policies don't cover flood, and the association requires [flood insurance](https://riskado.com/alabama-flood-insurance/) in certain flood zones. You can't apply directly: an AIUA authorized [agent](https://riskado.com/insurance-terms/agent/) submits the application, and the AIUA decides whether the property qualifies.

### Key takeaways

- **Where**Eligible areas south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
- **What**Mainly wind, hail and hurricane coverage, for owners who can't get it privately.
- **Pairing**A wind and hail only policy can sit alongside a homeowners policy that excludes wind.
- **Flood**Not covered, and required in certain flood zones.
- **How to apply**Through an AIUA authorized agent; the AIUA decides eligibility.

## Does your property need AIUA wind coverage?

You're likely to need it if your homeowners insurer has [non-renewed you](https://riskado.com/homeowners-insurance-non-renewal/), offered a policy that excludes wind, or turned down the property, and the home sits in the AIUA's coastal territory. The [AIUA Plan of Operation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/system/refinery/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMjUvMDEvMjMvMTYvMzEvMTcvY2EwYzAzNzctZWMwYS00OTJiLTliNDctNDRjMjNjMzRlOGZmL0FJVUEgUGxhbiBvZiBPcGVyYXRpb24gKDAzLTI1KV9maW5hbC5wZGYiXV0/AIUA%20Plan%20of%20Operation%20%2803-25%29_final.pdf), effective March 1, 2025, says one of the association's purposes is to provide wind, hail and hurricane coverage in the eligible areas so owners of insurable property can get financing. That matters if your lender is asking for proof of wind coverage.

The order of steps protects you from a gap. Keep your current policy in force, confirm the address is eligible, have an agent submit the AIUA application with your other policy's declarations page, and pay the full premium. Coverage doesn't start until the AIUA has the completed application and payment.

### From application to coverage

1.  Keep current coverageLeave your existing policy in force while you apply.
2.  Check the addressConfirm the property is inside an AIUA eligible area.
3.  Apply through an agentAn AIUA authorized agent submits the application with your other policy's declarations page.
4.  Pay in fullCoverage isn't bound until the full premium is paid.
5.  Coverage starts12:01 a.m. on the day the AIUA receives the completed application and premium, for a new policy without a sale.

![An insurance agent's desk with a laptop, a printed map and a coffee cup, seen from above](https://riskado.com/blog/alabama-beach-pool/apply.jpg)

An AIUA authorized agent submits the application, and the AIUA decides whether the property qualifies.

## What is the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association?

The AIUA isn't a state agency or a private insurance company. It is an association of insurers. Insurance industry leaders formed it voluntarily in the early 1970s together with the Alabama Department of Insurance, and the Legislature codified it in 2008, according to the [AIUA's About page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/about-aiua). Under [Code of Alabama § 27-1-24 (opens in a new tab)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=27-1-24), every insurer writing fire and extended coverage insurance directly in Alabama must be a member and remain a member as a condition of doing business in the state.

Its mission is to give owners of eligible property in Baldwin and Mobile counties a way to buy essential insurance when they can't find it privately. A 13-member board runs the plan: nine members elected by member insurers and four appointed each year by the Commissioner, two from Baldwin County and two from Mobile County, under the plan of operation.

People often ask whether the AIUA is Alabama's FAIR Plan. The AIUA's own materials call it the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association and describe its job as providing a market for eligible coastal property. It covers only the coastal areas of two counties.

## Which properties are inside the AIUA territory?

The plan defines the eligible areas as areas south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties. It doesn't cover the rest of the state, according to the [AIUA FAQ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/faqs). Within that area, the AIUA uses rating zones, including a Gulf front zone and zones labeled B1 to B5 in Baldwin and M1 to M5 in Mobile.

A city name isn't enough to confirm eligibility. Enter the property's address on the [AIUA maps page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/maps) to see its territory, and have your agent confirm the zone when the application is prepared.

![A long sandy beach with a line of houses along the dunes on the Alabama coast](https://riskado.com/blog/alabama-beach-pool/territory.jpg)

AIUA eligible areas lie south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

## Who qualifies for an AIUA policy?

The property has to be insurable under AIUA's underwriting standards, and the association, not the agent, makes the final call. An agent answers prescreening questions, but the AIUA determines whether the property meets its rules, according to the FAQ. The plan lists what underwriters look at:

- Whether the amount of insurance requested bears a reasonable relation to the property's value.
- Construction, heating, wiring, maintenance and general condition.
- How the property is used, including upkeep, vacancy, overcrowding and stored rubbish or flammable materials.
- For a wind, hail and hurricane only application, proof of the underlying fire and extended coverage.
- For property in a flood zone with an "A" or "V" designation from the National Flood Insurance Program, proof of flood insurance at least equal to the AIUA limits or the maximum available from the NFIP, with limited exceptions.

Construction standards apply too. A structure started on or after January 1, 1971 that wasn't built in substantial compliance with the Southern Standard Building Code, including its design-wind requirements, isn't insurable under the plan. The AIUA doesn't insure vacant or farm property, and a home with pre-existing damage or outstanding repair requirements may not qualify until the work is done, according to the FAQ.

## What an AIUA wind and hail only policy covers

The AIUA writes wind, hail and hurricane coverage, and in limited cases fire and extended coverage. Since January 1, 2017, it issues fire and extended coverage policies only for properties it has insured continuously under that type of policy since before that date, according to the plan.

The plan caps the amounts it will write, up to the property's reasonable insurable value:

AIUA coverage limits (Plan of Operation, effective March 1, 2025)

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Coverage | AIUA maximum |
| --- | --- |
| Residential dwelling | $500,000 on all interests in one building or fire division |
| Personal property in a residential dwelling | $250,000 |
| Commercial | $1,000,000 per building or fire division |
| Commercial, one insured location | $3,000,000 |

Deductibles come in pairs. Under the [AIUA Dwelling Policy Program Manual (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/system/refinery/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMjUvMDEvMjMvMTYvMzEvMTcvYWYyZDRiZTItM2NkYy00Y2E1LWExMjktM2Y4YjEzOWRmYzAxL0FJVUEgRHdlbGxpbmcgTWFudWFsIC0gKDAzLTI1KV9maW5hbC5wZGYiXV0/AIUA%20Dwelling%20Manual%20-%20%2803-25%29_final.pdf), effective March 1, 2025, the wind and hail deductible (for losses other than hurricane) and the hurricane deductible are each 1%, 2%, 5% or 10% of the Coverage A limit, and you must choose the same percentage for both. The hurricane deductible applies to wind loss from 24 hours before until 24 hours after a hurricane declared by the National Weather Service makes landfall anywhere in Alabama. Fire and other non-wind deductibles are $500, $1,000 or $2,500.

On a $300,000 Coverage A limit, for example, a 2% deductible means you pay the first $6,000 of a covered hurricane loss.

AIUA dwelling deductible choices (Dwelling Policy Program Manual, effective March 1, 2025)

Hover or tap a row to highlight it.

| Deductible | Choices | What it applies to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wind and hail, except hurricane | 1%, 2%, 5% or 10% of Coverage A | Windstorm and hail loss other than hurricane |
| Hurricane | 1%, 2%, 5% or 10% of Coverage A | Wind loss from 24 hours before to 24 hours after an Alabama hurricane landfall |
| Fire and other non-wind perils | $500, $1,000 or $2,500 | Fire, lightning, internal explosion and other covered non-wind perils |

![Palm trees and sea oats bending in strong wind beside a coastal house](https://riskado.com/blog/alabama-beach-pool/wind.jpg)

AIUA wind and hurricane deductibles are a percentage of the Coverage A limit, and the two percentages must match.

## How a wind-only policy pairs with your homeowners policy

Think of it as two policies covering one house. The AIUA wind policy responds to covered wind, hail and hurricane damage under its own terms. Your [homeowners policy](https://riskado.com/alabama-homeowners-insurance/), sometimes called the "all other perils" policy, responds to what it still covers, such as fire, theft, water damage and liability, under its terms.

The AIUA manual sets rules for the pairing. The dwelling limit on the AIUA wind policy must be equal to or greater than the dwelling limit on the all other perils policy, and a copy of that policy's current declarations page must go in with the AIUA application. If your homeowners policy pays replacement cost on the dwelling, the AIUA policy must too. If it pays actual cash value, the AIUA may insure the dwelling on an actual cash value basis for wind only. The dwelling must be insured to 100% of its value, up to the AIUA maximum, based on a replacement cost calculation submitted with the application.

Line the two policies up before you rely on them. Check that the effective dates match, that the limits work together, and how each deductible applies. Then ask your lender whether the combination meets the insurance clause in your mortgage, and confirm the lender is listed on both policies.

## What the AIUA doesn't cover

Flood isn't covered. The AIUA states that flood is not covered under most property policies, including AIUA policies, and that if the property is in a flood zone, it requires flood insurance equal to your fire and wind coverage. Most damage in recent hurricanes came from flood rather than wind, according to the [AIUA's About page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/about-aiua).

Personal liability coverage isn't available under the AIUA dwelling program, according to the manual. That's one reason the homeowners policy alongside it matters. The manual also limits replacement cost coverage: it isn't provided for condominium units, townhouses, mobile or manufactured homes, personal property, or roofs that have reached the end of their life expectancy or don't meet the underwriting guidelines.

![Floodwater standing in the yard of a raised house on pilings after a storm](https://riskado.com/blog/alabama-beach-pool/flood.jpg)

AIUA policies don't cover flood, and the association requires flood insurance in certain flood zones.

## How AIUA rates and discounts work

Independent actuaries set AIUA rates using routine non-storm losses, the probable maximum loss from a catastrophe, operating expenses and the cost of reinsurance, and the rates are filed with and approved by the Alabama Department of Insurance, according to the [AIUA (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/about-aiua).

Mitigation earns discounts. The AIUA offers premium discounts for homes built to [FORTIFIED standards](https://riskado.com/alabama-fortified-roof/) and for wind loss mitigation features such as wind resistant shingles, roof straps and impact resistant doors, windows and shutters. AIUA policyholders can also apply for a grant of up to $10,000, regardless of income, to bring a single-family primary residence up to the FORTIFIED Roof or Silver standard through the [AIUA and Strengthen Alabama Homes partnership (opens in a new tab)](https://strengthenalabamahomes.com/Home/AIUASAHPartnership).

If a private insurer later writes full coverage including wind on a property that was in the AIUA, that insurer may qualify for a state premium tax credit, according to ALDOI's [coastal insurance credit application (opens in a new tab)](https://aldoi.gov/CoastalCreditApp/Application.aspx). The credit goes to the insurer, not the homeowner, but it's one reason an agent may find private options on a coastal home.

## How to apply, pay, renew and file a claim

An AIUA authorized agent submits the application, and agents have no authority to bind coverage for the association, according to the [AIUA FAQ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/faqs). A new policy without a property sale takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day the AIUA receives the completed application and the premium due. For a real estate closing, the AIUA can issue a 30-day binder if the required documents and full payment arrive before the binder expires.

Payment must be made in full before coverage is bound. The [AIUA home page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/) lists checks, money orders, major credit cards and ACH, and it doesn't accept cash. Online payments go through the [AIUA payment page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/bills/payment) to a third-party processor. If your premium is escrowed, the agent bills the mortgage company.

Storms close the door to new business. The AIUA won't issue a new business policy when a named storm is within the area the manual defines or a tropical storm watch or warning covers Baldwin or Mobile County, and electronic applications stay closed until 24 hours after the storm dissipates and the watches and warnings end. Apply well before a storm forms.

Policies run for one year and don't renew automatically. The plan allows a policy to be rewritten each year after a new application and full payment, as long as the property still meets the underwriting standards. Put the expiration date on your calendar.

To report a claim, use the AIUA's online claim form or call 1-866-780-2482, according to the [AIUA claims page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/claims-information). Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, photograph them, and keep damaged property until an adjuster has seen it.

## What happens if a private insurer offers coverage

You can leave the AIUA mid-term. AIUA policies may be cancelled pro rata when coverage is replaced by another company, if you give the AIUA satisfactory evidence, according to the FAQ. A sale of the property, a total loss and the AIUA finding the property no longer insurable are the other pro rata reasons. Cancelling for any other reason makes the premium fully earned, with no refund.

Don't cancel until the new policy is in force and your lender has accepted it. Then send the AIUA the replacement policy's declarations page through your agent.

## How the AIUA compares with other states

Neighboring states handle coastal and hard-to-place property in different ways. Georgia's residual market is the Georgia Underwriting Association, also called the [Georgia FAIR Plan](https://riskado.com/georgia-fair-plan/), which covers buildings and personal property against fire, windstorm, hail and other named perils, according to the [Georgia insurance commissioner's business guide (opens in a new tab)](https://oci.georgia.gov/document/document/guide-business-insurance/download).

North Carolina runs a separate [Coastal Property Insurance Pool](https://riskado.com/north-carolina-coastal-property-insurance-pool/), formerly called the Beach Plan, and its windstorm and hail policy requires an active primary policy from an admitted carrier that excludes windstorm, according to [NCJUA and NCIUA (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ncjua-nciua.org/html/svcs_cov.htm). Florida's [Citizens Property Insurance Corporation](https://riskado.com/citizens-property-insurance-florida/) was created by the Florida Legislature in 2002 as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt government entity and calls itself the state's insurer of last resort, according to [Citizens (opens in a new tab)](https://www.citizensfla.com/en/who-we-are).

## Questions to ask your agent

- Is this exact address inside an AIUA eligible area, and which zone is it in?
- Are you an AIUA authorized agent, and are you licensed in Alabama?
- Does my homeowners policy exclude wind, hail or hurricane?
- Which policy covers fire, theft, water damage, liability and living expenses?
- Is the AIUA dwelling limit at least equal to my homeowners dwelling limit?
- Which deductible percentage fits my savings, and what is it in dollars?
- Is the roof covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
- Does this address require flood insurance under AIUA rules?
- What mitigation documents would qualify for a FORTIFIED or other wind discount?
- When does the full payment need to arrive for coverage to start?
- What does my lender need to see on both policies?
- If a private insurer offers coverage later, what evidence does the AIUA need?

Riskado's directory lists [insurance agencies in Alabama](https://riskado.com/agencies/alabama/) by city and category. Confirm the agent's license with the [Alabama insurance license lookup (opens in a new tab)](https://sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup/?jurisdiction=AL). If a problem with an insurer or agent isn't resolved, the Alabama Department of Insurance [Consumer Services Division (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/ConsumerServicesBio.aspx) handles complaints against insurance companies, agents and brokers. It doesn't give legal advice or decide what a claim is worth. Spanish-speaking policyholders can ask Consumer Services about language assistance.

### Before you apply: a checklist

- **Address**Confirm the property's AIUA zone on the maps page.
- **Current policy**Have your homeowners declarations page and check whether wind, hail or hurricane is excluded.
- **Underlying coverage**Confirm the fire and extended coverage that will sit under the wind policy.
- **Flood zone**Check FEMA flood-zone status and any flood policy.
- **Documents**Gather construction, roof and mitigation documents.
- **Lender**Confirm what your mortgage company needs to see.
- **Payment**Be ready to pay the full premium before coverage binds.
- **Renewal**Put the one-year expiration date on your calendar.

**Quiz: Check what you know about the Alabama Beach Pool**

1. Which counties have AIUA eligible areas?
   - Every Gulf coast county in Alabama
   - Baldwin and Mobile **(correct answer)**
   - Mobile only
2. Does an AIUA policy cover flood?
   - Yes
   - No **(correct answer)**
   - Only in A zones
3. Can you apply to the AIUA directly?
   - Yes, online
   - No, through an AIUA authorized agent **(correct answer)**
   - Only by mail
4. Does an AIUA policy renew automatically?
   - Yes, every year
   - No, it is rewritten each year after a new application and full payment **(correct answer)**
   - Only if no claims were filed
5. Who is assessed if the AIUA needs more money after a catastrophe?
   - Each policyholder directly
   - Member insurers, based on their participation **(correct answer)**
   - The State of Alabama

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Alabama have a FAIR plan?

The AIUA serves the role of a residual market on the coast, for eligible property south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Elsewhere in Alabama, an agency can check admitted insurers and surplus lines insurers for property the standard market declines.

### Can I buy an AIUA policy directly?

No. Consumers must go through an AIUA authorized agent, according to the [AIUA FAQ (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aiua.org/faqs). The agent submits the application and the AIUA decides eligibility.

### Who pays if the AIUA has a large loss?

The plan authorizes assessments on member insurers based on each member's share of participation at the time of the loss. In a catastrophe, the first partial loss assessment is capped at $2 million per member, and members may recoup assessments as state law allows.

### Is there a minimum premium?

Yes. The AIUA FAQ lists a $100 minimum premium for both residential and commercial policies.

## Before your current coverage ends

Check the address on the AIUA map, gather your homeowners declarations page, roof and mitigation documents and flood zone information, and ask an Alabama-licensed agency to compare private options with an AIUA wind policy. Pay in full before the old policy ends, and keep both policies' declarations pages together.

### Key terms

Tap a term to see what it means.

**AIUA.** The Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association, the coastal market for eligible property in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

## More articles

- [Alabama Flood Insurance: Flood Zones and Maps, What Coverage Costs, the 30-Day Wait, NFIP vs Private Policies and Coastal and River Flooding](https://riskado.com/alabama-flood-insurance/): Alabama requires flood insurance in FEMA high-risk zones when the mortgage is government-backed. See flood maps, NFIP limits, the 30-day wait and private cover.

- [Florida Renters Insurance: Whether It Is Required, What a Policy Covers, Hurricane and Flood Gaps and What It Costs](https://riskado.com/florida-renters-insurance/): Florida law doesn't require renters insurance, but a lease can. See what an HO-4 covers, hurricane deductible and flood gaps, and the $186 average premium.

- [Florida Hurricane Deductible: How the Percentage Works, When It Applies, the Once-a-Season Rule and What the Options Cost You at Claim Time](https://riskado.com/florida-hurricane-deductible/): Florida insurers must offer $500, 2%, 5% and 10% hurricane deductibles, figured on your dwelling limit. See when the deductible applies and the yearly rule.

- [Florida Homeowners Insurance: Why Rates Are High, What the 2022 and 2023 Reforms Changed, What Drives Your Price and What to Do at Renewal or Non-Renewal](https://riskado.com/florida-homeowners-insurance/): Florida had the highest average HO-3 premium in 2022, at $2,677. See why rates are high, what the 2021 to 2023 reforms changed and what to do at renewal.

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