LANSING – Michigan Insurance Commissioner Frank M. Fitzgerald announced today that the Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association (Michigan Basic) now offers its policyholders the opportunity to purchase additional property insurance coverage for specific types of water damage. Michigan Basic provides property insurance to qualified individuals who are unable to obtain property insurance in the regular market.

This additional coverage offers Michigan Basic policyholders the ability to purchase coverage of up to $5,000 for interior water damage caused by rain, ice, snow or sleet. Policyholders should be aware, however, that this coverage may not include coverage for property losses resulting from flooding, sewer or drain back up or overflow, or ground water seepage. Michigan Basic policyholders who are interested in obtaining more details about this additional coverage and its cost should contact their insurance agent.

"Michigan Basic provides a valuable service to the citizens of this state by offering consumers the opportunity to obtain insurance coverage for their property when they are unable to obtain coverage in the regular market," Fitzgerald said. "I am pleased Michigan Basic is now expanding consumers' property insurance options by offering this additional coverage".

The heavy snow of January, 1999 caused many homeowners to experience interior water damage caused by snow damming. This new optional Michigan Basic coverage would pay for such claims.

"As we face another winter with predictions of heavier than normal snowfall, Michigan Basic policyholders should speak with their insurance agents about this new coverage," said Fitzgerald.

The Michigan Insurance Bureau has several consumer publications available on its Web site that relate to property insurance and Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association. The Bureau's Web site address is: www.cis.state.mi.us/ins

The Michigan Insurance Bureau is the primary regulator for over 1,526 domestic, foreign and alien companies. The Bureau is 100% fee-funded, requiring no public tax dollars for its supervisory, regulatory, licensing, and enforcement activities.

The Insurance Bureau is placed within the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services.