Last Updated on July 13, 2025 by The Insurance Pros
🏢 Michigan Condo Insurance: HO‑6 vs Association Policy Explained
If you own or are buying a condo in Michigan, it’s essential to understand how your individual condo insurance policy (HO-6) interacts with your condo association’s master policy. Mortgage lenders typically require condo insurance that covers at least 20% of your mortgage amount.
The key to getting the right protection lies in knowing what your condo association’s policy includes and what’s excluded. That gap is what your personal HO-6 policy fills.
📋 What’s Typically Covered by the Condo Association Policy?
Condo associations usually carry a master policy that insures the common elements of the complex. This includes:
- Exterior building structure (roof, siding, framing)
- Common areas (hallways, lobbies, playgrounds)
- Shared infrastructure (plumbing, wiring between walls)
However, **each association’s coverage differs**, so reviewing the master policy and bylaws is a must. Bare walls-in and all-in are common terms used to describe these coverage types.
🏠 What HO‑6 Condo Insurance Covers
Your HO‑6 condo insurance policy protects what’s **inside your unit**. Coverage includes:
- Your belongings and furniture
- Interior walls, floors, cabinetry, and fixtures (if not covered by the association)
- Loss of use (temporary living expenses if your unit is uninhabitable)
- Personal liability for injury or property damage to others
- Medical payments to others
- Loss assessment coverage for your share of a master policy deductible
🧾 Understanding Loss Assessment Coverage
If your association faces a major repair, like storm damage or a slip-and-fall lawsuit, the cost may be passed on to owners. HO‑6 insurance typically includes up to $1,000 in loss assessment coverage, but higher limits are available and often worth considering.
📉 Association Deductibles Are Getting Higher
To cut costs, many Michigan condo associations are increasing their master policy deductibles, sometimes up to $25,000 or more. This means if there’s a covered loss in a shared area, each unit owner could be responsible for a share of that deductible unless your HO‑6 policy covers it.
📊 HO‑6 vs Association Policy Infographic
Use this quick-reference infographic to see what’s covered under each policy and where your HO‑6 plan fits in:
📄 Download the HO‑6 vs Association Coverage Infographic (PDF)
✅ Condo Insurance Checklist
- 🔍 Review your association’s master policy & deductible
- 🏠 Determine what’s not covered (interior, personal property)
- 🧾 Ask about loss assessment limits
- 🛏️ Insure your furniture, flooring, and fixtures
- 📦 Create a home inventory list
- 📝 Get a quote tailored to your condo and budget
📎 Outbound Resource
For more guidance on HO-6 condo insurance standards, visit NAIC Consumer Resources. Finally, if you rent a condo out to a tenant, you may need rental condo insurance; click the highlighted link to find out more about this coverage.
📞 Get a Free Michigan Condo Insurance Quote
Our licensed team will help you review your condo’s unique situation, decode the association policy, and recommend the right coverage and limits.
