Understanding Elephant Insurance and Why Homeowners Consider It
Elephant Insurance operates as a specialty homeowners insurance carrier that has been writing policies since 2015. Unlike major national insurers you might see in television commercials, Elephant focuses on a specific market segment: homeowners who may have experienced claims in the past, have less-than-perfect credit, or live in areas where standard insurance options feel limited. The company is part of the National General Holdings Corp family, which means it operates with regulatory oversight and financial backing from an established insurance parent company.
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The reason homeowners search for Elephant specifically comes down to a real problem in the insurance marketplace. Standard homeowners insurance carriers often decline coverage or charge substantially higher premiums to applicants with previous claims or non-standard credit profiles. This creates a gap where many legitimate homeowners struggle to find coverage at all. Elephant positions itself to fill that gap by underwriting policies for people whose circumstances fall outside traditional insurer comfort zones.
Before reaching out to Elephant, many homeowners ask themselves: "Will I even be able to get homeowners insurance?" This question becomes urgent when a previous claim sits on your record, or when you've recently experienced a significant life event that affected your credit. Understanding what Elephant offers—and what it doesn't—helps you decide whether contacting them makes sense for your situation.
The free contact guide from Housing Basics serves a different purpose than Elephant's own materials. Where Elephant's website focuses on selling policies, our guide focuses on helping you understand what information you'll need, what questions to ask, and how the underwriting process typically works. Think of it as preparation rather than promotion.
Practical takeaway: Before contacting any specialty insurer, write down your recent claim history, your home's year built, and any major updates you've made. This information will be requested regardless, and having it prepared makes the conversation more productive.
What Information You'll Need Before Contacting Elephant Insurance
When you reach out to Elephant Insurance—whether by phone, website form, or other channels—the company will begin gathering basic information about your home and your insurance history. Understanding what they'll ask for beforehand prevents the frustration of starting a conversation and realizing you need to look up details.
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Start with your home's basic specifications. Elephant will want to know the year your home was built, its square footage (you can find this on your property deed or tax assessment), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the type of construction. For construction type, they're asking whether your home is wood frame (most common), masonry veneer, brick, stone, or another material. They'll also ask about your roof—specifically, how old it is and what material it's made from. This matters because roof age is one of the strongest predictors of insurance claims.
Next comes your claims history. This is the part many homeowners worry about. Elephant will ask about any homeowners insurance claims you've filed in roughly the past five years, sometimes longer. They'll want to know the year of the claim, what type of damage occurred (wind, water, theft, fire), and the amount paid out. They're not asking this to judge you—they're trying to understand the statistical likelihood of future claims. A single claim from seven years ago carries different weight than multiple recent claims.
You'll also need your current address and information about your mortgage (if applicable). Some insurers ask whether you've been denied coverage by other insurers or if you've ever had a policy canceled. These questions feel invasive, but insurance companies are legally permitted to ask them, and your honest answers actually work in your favor—they prevent problems later when underwriters discover inconsistencies.
Finally, think about any home improvements or safety features you've installed. Do you have deadbolts, a security system, smoke detectors, or a monitored alarm system? Have you updated your electrical system, plumbing, or heating system in recent years? These details can actually lower your premiums because they reduce risk.
Practical takeaway: Create a simple document listing: home age, square footage, roof age and material, any claims from the past seven years with dates and amounts, and any safety features or recent upgrades. You can reference this whenever you contact any insurance company.
How Specialty Insurers Like Elephant Evaluate Your Risk Profile
Understanding how Elephant Insurance evaluates applications—even though you're not "applying" in the formal sense when gathering information—helps you understand what you're walking into and what the company is actually looking for.
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Specialty insurers operate on different underwriting principles than standard carriers. Standard carriers often use complex algorithms that automatically decline anyone matching certain criteria: too many claims, too recent a claim, previous cancellations, or living in high-risk zip codes. Specialty insurers, by contrast, typically employ underwriters who look at your full picture rather than applying strict cutoffs. This human review process is actually what creates opportunity for people in non-standard situations.
The underwriting process examines several dimensions simultaneously. Your claims history receives close attention, but underwriters distinguish between different types of claims. A single water damage claim from a burst pipe looks different than three separate claims in four years. A theft claim looks different than a weather-related claim. The dollar amount matters too—a $500 claim and a $50,000 claim tell different stories about your property's condition and your likelihood of future losses.
Your credit history may factor into the evaluation, though this varies by state and by specific company practices. Some states restrict how heavily insurance companies can weigh credit scores, while others permit it. Why do insurers look at credit at all? Their data suggests that people with better credit histories file fewer claims and are more likely to maintain their properties. It's not personal judgment; it's statistical correlation that insurers have observed across millions of policies.
The physical characteristics of your home carry significant weight. An older home with an aging roof and original wiring carries more risk than a newer home with recent updates. The location matters too—not just the zip code, but specific factors like distance to fire hydrants, exposure to flood zones, or history of weather events in the area. Homes in rural areas sometimes face higher premiums due to longer emergency response times.
Importantly, underwriters also consider what you tell them about the home's condition and your maintenance practices. If you've invested in upgrades or maintained your property well, communicating that matters. If there are issues you're aware of—like a roof that needs replacing soon—being upfront about them actually works better than hoping the inspector misses them.
Practical takeaway: When contacting an insurer, frame your information honestly but completely. Instead of just saying "I had a claim," explain what happened and what you learned from it. Instead of hiding that your roof is 20 years old, mention it but note that you're planning replacement within the next year.
The Contact Process: Phone, Online, and Agent Options
Elephant Insurance provides multiple channels for initial contact, and each has different characteristics. Knowing your options helps you choose the method that works best for your situation.
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The phone route offers real-time conversation with someone who can answer immediate questions. This works well if you have complex circumstances—multiple previous claims, unusual home features, or specific concerns about coverage. During a phone call, you can ask follow-up questions and get clarification on the spot. The downside is that phone conversations require scheduling your time, and quality depends on the representative you reach. You might also feel pressure to make decisions quickly while on the phone.
Online contact forms on Elephant's website allow you to provide information at your own pace. You can research answers, gather documents, and fill out forms without time pressure. The company typically responds to online inquiries within one to two business days. This method works well if you prefer written communication or want time to think through your responses. The downside is that immediate questions don't get immediate answers, and you might find yourself explaining something unclear in writing that would be simple to discuss verbally.
Working through an independent insurance agent is another option. Many independent agents represent multiple carriers, including specialty insurers like Elephant. An agent can shop your information across several companies simultaneously, which sometimes uncovers better options than contacting each carrier individually. Agents also understand local market conditions and can explain why certain carriers might or might not be interested in your specific property. The tradeoff is that agents earn commissions, which could theoretically create bias toward certain carriers—though good agents prioritize finding you suitable coverage.
Regardless of which channel you choose, the information flow is similar. You provide basic details, the company reviews them against underwriting guidelines, and you hear back