Home State County Mutual Insurance Reviews: Coverage, Claims, and Ratings

Home State County Mutual is a regional auto and property insurer based in Texas. But how do their prices, customer service, claims handling and financial strength stack up? This in-depth review examines Home State County Mutual feedback, complaints, products, and more to help you decide if they’re the right insurance choice.

Overview of Home State County Mutual

• Regional insurer focused on TX, OK, LA, AR, NM
• Specializes in auto, homeowners, farm, and commercial insurance
• Founded in 1958 and based in Waco, TX
• Rated B+ by A.M. Best for financial strength

Home State County Mutual exclusively sells its insurance products through a network of independent agents in the south-central states. The company has an A.M. Best rating of B+, which indicates “good” ability to pay out claims.

However, they aren’t rated by other major agencies like S&P and Moody’s. As a smaller regional insurer, they have around $250 million in total assets.

Home State County Mutual Customer Reviews

Reviews of Home State County Mutual insurance are mixed, based on data from various sources:

• Clearsurance: 2.1 out of 5 stars based on 3 customer reviews
• BBB: 11 complaints on file in the past 3 years

Positive feedback:

• Good pricing on auto insurance
• Some positive reviews of claims handling

Common complaints:

• Very poor claims service and delays
• Lowball claim settlements
• Difficulty reaching adjusters
• Unexpected rate hikes at renewal
• Poor customer service overall

While some customers report competitive premiums, especially for auto insurance, there are numerous complaints around poor responsiveness and claims handling. Experiences can vary greatly based on your location and agent.

Insurance Products Offered

Home State County Mutual provides a range of property/casualty insurance products including:

• Auto insurance – Bodily injury, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist
• Homeowners insurance – Coverage for houses, condos, manufactured homes
• Commercial insurance – General liability, business owners policies, commercial auto
• Farm insurance – Coverage for farms, ranches, equipment
• Umbrella insurance – Extra liability limits above other policies

The company focuses mainly on basic personal and commercial property/casualty risks. They do not offer niche coverages like classic car or boat insurance. Product availability can vary by state.

Is Home State County Mutual Insurance Affordable?

As a smaller regional insurer, Home State County Mutual insurance rates are often very competitive, especially for drivers in Texas and surrounding states.

However, some customers report their premiums increased sharply at renewal time, even with a clean driving record. Make sure to compare quotes each renewal to ensure you’re still getting the best rate.

Here are the average yearly premiums paid by Home State County Mutual customers based on 2021 data:

• Texas auto insurance: $1,467 per year
• Texas homeowners insurance: $2,040 per year
• Oklahoma auto insurance: $1,470 per year

Home State County Mutual pricing will typically beat the national insurers like State Farm and Allstate. But local independent agents may match or beat their rates in some cases.

Home State County Mutual Financial Strength

Home State County Mutual has a financial strength rating of B+ from A.M. Best Company. This means they have an “adequate” ability to pay out future claims, but not as strong as A-rated insurers.

Some key financial metrics for Home State County Mutual:

• A.M. Best Rating: B+
• Total Assets: $254 million
• Surplus: $130 million
• Combined Ratio: 85%

The company has significantly lower assets and surplus compared to leading national insurers. But its combined ratio of 85% indicates profitable underwriting with claims expenses at a reasonable level compared to premiums collected.

While the B+ rating is adequate, consumers with very high coverage limits may want to consider an insurer rated A or higher by A.M. Best for added peace of mind.

Are Claims Handled Properly?

Reviews on Home State County Mutual’s claims process are concerning, with many customers reporting major delays, poor communication, and lowball settlements. However, some do praise their claims handling.

There are 11 official complaints filed on the company’s BBB profile page, most related to claims issues. Common problems cited include:

• Extreme delays responding to and settling claims
• Very difficult to reach claims adjusters
• Low claim payouts compared to costs
• Refusing to cover damages that should be claimable

While a few complaints don’t necessarily indicate a widespread problem, the negative feedback on Home State’s claims process is worth considering. An independent local agent may have more leverage negotiating claim settlements.

Bottom Line: Is Home State County Mutual Recommended?

Home State County Mutual provides affordable auto, home, farm, and business insurance options in the south-central states. But reviews suggest claims and