Abstract
This Article empirically debunks the common claim that homeowners insurance policies do not vary across different insurance carriers. In fact, carriers' homeowners policies differ radically with respect to numerous important coverage provisions. A substantial majority of these deviations produce decreases in the amount of coverage relative to the presumptive industry standard, though some deviations increase coverage. Despite this substantial variability in policy terms, even informed and vigilant consumers are currently unable to comparison shop among carriers on the basis of differences in coverage. The Article reviews various regulatory and judicial options for responding to this lack of transparency in homeowners insurance markets. It closes by considering the broader theoretical implications of the findings for regulatory theory and the efficiency of standardized form contracts.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1263-1348 |
Number of pages | 86 |
Journal | University of Chicago Law Review |
Volume | 78 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - Sep 2012 |