Wildfire coverage for Montana homes is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain as insurance companies nationwide reduce their exposure to natural disaster payouts.
Homeowners in Missoula and other parts of Montana have experienced non-renewals of their insurance policies, higher premiums, and decreased potential reimbursement levels, according to industry officials and local government emergency services. Montana might be slower to see the effects of insurance broker pull-outs compared to other states that have faced significant losses from tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.
Adrian Beck, director of the Missoula County’s Emergency Management Office, stated, “The impacts on Montana are likely just beginning. Some individuals in the Missoula area have already lost coverage.”
Residents will now need to focus on protecting their properties through fire-wise defensive measures. Headwaters Economics, based in Bozeman, released a comprehensive guide for addressing urban wildfire risk in May.
According to a 2024 analysis by the Consumer Federation of America, almost one in ten homeowners in Montana lack insurance coverage for their homes. The analysis also highlights the high percentages of uninsured owners of manufactured homes (35%) and inherited homes (29%) nationally.
