Condo Insurance in Ohio: What an HO-6 Policy Actually Covers, and Why Your HOA's Deductible Matters

Ohio condo owners typically pay $375-$575 a year for an HO-6 policy, and a 2022 change to Ohio law means knowing exactly where your coverage ends, and your HOA's begins, matters more than it used to.

Is condo insurance the same as homeowners insurance?

No, and the difference is specific. Your HOA carries a master policy that covers the building structure and common areas. Under Ohio law (ORC 5311.16, effective September 2022), that master policy must cover at least 90% of the building's replacement cost, up from the previous 80% of fair market value. Your own HO-6 policy picks up everything the master policy doesn't: interior walls-in improvements, personal property, liability, and loss of use if your unit becomes unlivable. The master policy is not a substitute for your own, the same general principle as renters insurance not replacing a landlord's own coverage.

Covers	HOA master policy	Your HO-6 policy
Building structure (min. 90% replacement cost)	Yes	No
Common areas	Yes	No
Interior walls-in improvements	No	Yes
Personal property	No	Yes
Liability	No	Yes
Your share of the HOA's deductible	No	Yes (loss assessment)

How much does condo insurance usually cost?

Ohio averages run $375-$575+ a year, though the real spread across carriers is wider, from around $296/year on the low end up to $1,075/year on the high end depending on the carrier and your unit's specifics. Carrier choice matters a lot here, it's worth comparing more than one quote rather than assuming the first number is representative.

Is condo insurance a good idea?

Yes, and in practice it's rarely optional, most HOA bylaws and any mortgage lender will require it. The more overlooked reason it matters: many Ohio HOAs now carry $10,000-$25,000 deductibles on their master policy. When a covered loss hits that deductible, individual owners can be assessed their share of it. That's exactly what loss assessment coverage, a standard part of an HO-6 policy, is built to absorb, and it's the piece owners most often don't realize they need until there's a claim.

What kind of insurance is needed for a condo?

An HO-6 policy, specifically built for condo owners, covering:

1. Interior/dwelling coverage: walls-in improvements and fixtures you own, not the building structure itself
2. Personal property: your belongings
3. Loss of use: living expenses if your unit is temporarily uninhabitable
4. Personal liability: injuries or damage you're responsible for
5. Loss assessment coverage: your share of an HOA deductible or shortfall on a covered claim

Ohio's 2022 law change narrowed the gap between what the HOA covers and what you need individually, but it didn't close it. The deductible exposure is still real, and still lands on the individual owner unless the HO-6 policy accounts for it. See how it compares against home insurance coverage, or start a condo insurance quote.