The short answer
Association insurance usually has several pieces: a master property policy for buildings and common elements, general liability, directors and officers (D&O) coverage for the board, fidelity or crime coverage for association funds, and flood or umbrella coverage where needed. Owners typically carry an HO-6 policy for their interiors, belongings, and the master policy deductible.
Association policies
- Master property policy: buildings and common elements — check whether it's 'bare walls,' 'single entity,' or 'all-in.' See master insurance policy.
- General liability: injuries on common property.
- D&O: protects board members' decisions — see D&O insurance.
- Fidelity / crime: theft of association funds by anyone handling them.
- Flood and umbrella: where location and risk call for it.
Owner policies
Condominium owners carry an HO-6 policy for interiors not covered by the master policy, personal property, liability, and loss assessment coverage. Owners should know the master deductible — in some documents, the owner whose unit caused the loss is responsible for it.
Annual review
Review coverage each renewal with the association's broker: replacement cost values, deductibles, flood exposure, and whether the documents and the policy actually agree on who insures what.
Common questions
Who pays the master policy deductible?
The governing documents decide. Some associations pass the deductible to the owner responsible for the loss; others treat it as a common expense.
Do HOA homeowners need HO-6 insurance?
HO-6 is for condominium units. Owners of single-family homes in an HOA usually carry a standard homeowners policy because they insure the whole structure.
Reviewed October 2026 by Comet Management, Hamburg, NJ.