Will Your Home Insurance Cover For War Damages? Here's What You Should Know

Amid rising global tensions escalating to the extent of a war-like situation, a question is highly concerning among homeowners: if things ever escalate, will my home insurance protect me?

The short answer is: not really, at least not when it comes to war.

In India, standard home insurance policies come with a wide umbrella of protections. Fire, floods, theft, even earthquakes, most of these are covered. But war? That's where most insurers draw a firm line.

"As a general rule, most insurance policies, whether they insure properties, health or personal accident, exclude war coverage," explains Subramanyam Brahmajosyula, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at SBI General Insurance. "This is because of the unpredictable nature of war, which can cause catastrophic damage well beyond the scope of standard underwriting practices."

And it's not just "war" in the conventional sense. Many things remotely tied to violent political unrest are excluded. That includes civil war, invasions, insurrections, and even nuclear fallout. In short, if your home is damaged because of a geopolitical event spiralling into armed conflict, your policy may not foot the bill at all.

There are a few nuances, though.

What's Off the Table?

Most home insurance policies clearly outline what they don't cover. These exclusions are not hidden in fine print; they are right there in black and white.

"War and war-related manmade force majeure events like political unrest, invasion, civil war, insurrection, etc., are generally excluded under home insurance policies," says Brahmajosyula.

"Claims arising from nuclear activity, such as radiation contamination from nuclear fuel or nuclear waste, are also typically excluded."

Most of these exclusions exist globally, not just in India. War is considered too unpredictable and too massive in scope for private insurers to risk covering.

What about Terrorism-inflicted damage?

Now here's where it gets a little more layered.

Some home insurance policies do provide protection against terrorism, but not always by default. For instance, under India's standard Bharat Griha Raksha (BGR) policy, terrorism is included. That means if your house suffers damage from a terror attack, the policy will generally cover the repair or rebuild cost as long as you have followed the correct claim process.

However, for other home insurance products like Griha Raksha Plus, etc., terrorism coverage is an optional add-on. "Terrorism is generally offered as an add-on under home insurance policies upon payment of an additional premium," confirms Brahmajosyula.

Ashwini Dubey, Head of Home Insurance at Policybazaar, adds that the claims process for terrorism-related damage is clearly laid out: homeowners must inform the police and ensure the incident is officially recorded. "If a theft takes place within seven days of such an insured event, that too should be promptly reported," Dubey says.

So, the coverage exists, but only if you've chosen to pay for it, or have a policy where it comes built in.

What If You Live in a High-Risk Zone?

You might think, "Surely someone living near a border or in a conflict-prone area can get some kind of specialised insurance?" Not really. At least not through typical consumer-grade home insurance products.

Insurers don't usually offer customised war-related cover, even in high-risk zones. If you live in such an area, your best option is to go through your policy carefully and consider buying every possible relevant add-on.

That means not just terrorism cover but also riot, strike, and malicious damage coverage. These are sometimes bundled in optional riders, and they can add some protection against unrest, though still not war.

What You Should Do

Every homeowner should understand their policy's exclusions. The assumption that "my insurance will take care of it" can be a costly mistake when conflict-related damage occurs.

"It is recommended that the homeowner carefully go through all policy conditions, both in terms of coverage and exclusions, before proceeding with a purchase decision," says Brahmajosyula. "Particular attention should be paid to exclusions that are absolute versus those that can be covered upon payment of an additional premium."

In uncertain times, peace of mind doesn't come from assuming coverage; it comes from knowing where the lines are drawn.

So no, your home insurance will not cover war damages, unless specifically mentioned. But if you are mindful and you can still build a safety net for several other risks that feel just as unpredictable.