Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
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Who insures it · 4 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures earthquake-only?

Earthquake-only is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

4 markets publicly write earthquake-only: GeoVera, California Earthquake Authority (CEA), Palomar (Residential Earthquake), Arrowhead General Insurance Agency. 3 admitted carriers, 1 MGA.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
GeoVera
Admitted carrier		Residential earthquake insurance (stand-alone) for homes in California, Oregon and Washington; site also outlines GeoVera Specialty and Coastal Select products
“Residential Earthquake Insurance for California, Oregon and Washington”		CA, OR, WAnot statedgeovera.com · read 2026-10-28
California Earthquake Authority (CEA)
Admitted carrier		Residential earthquake policies sold exclusively through participating residential insurance companies; not-for-profit authority rather than a conventional carrier
“CEA is one of the world's largest providers of residential earthquake insurance.”		Californianot statedearthquakeauthority.com · read 2026-10-28
Palomar (Residential Earthquake)
Admitted carrier		Stand-alone earthquake policies for homeowners and condo-unit owners (Flex Choice, Standard/Superior, Value Select); underwritten by Palomar Specialty Insurance Company and affiliates
“Stand-alone earthquake policy for homeowners and condo-unit owners”		Flex Choice: AR, HI, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS, SC, TN, UT; Standard/Superior: AR, AZ, CA, IL, IN, KS, KY, NV, OK, OR, TN, TX, UT, WA; Value Select: CA, OR, WAnot statedplmr.com · read 2026-10-28
Arrowhead General Insurance Agency
MGA		Residential Earthquake program for home and condominium owners; carriers Palomar Specialty (Value Select) and Zurich; page describes Arrowhead as a national program administrator and managing general agency
“Arrowhead's Residential Earthquake insurance program is designed to provide better earthquake insurance options”		CA, OR, WAnot statedarrowheadgrp.com · read 2026-10-28

Jumpstart (parametric earthquake) now redirects to neptuneflood.com, which returned 403, and jumpstartrecovery.com does not resolve; ICW Group's catastrophe page covers commercial earthquake only (VerTerra, non-admitted). CEA is a publicly managed entity included because its page states it provides residential earthquake insurance.

How earthquake-only gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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