Coverage education gaps present a significant strategic opportunity for independent agents to deepen client relationships, close protection shortfalls, and expand premium volume according to a recent study commissioned by The Hanover and conducted by The Harris Poll.
Survey results reveal that many U.S. homeowners are missing important insurance protections due to a lack of awareness or education about their potential benefits. The Hanover’s 2025 Homeowners Coverage Awareness Report surveyed U.S. homeowners aged 30 and older to assess their understanding and adoption of four insurance coverages: umbrella, cyber, valuables and recreational vehicles. The findings show a significant gap between awareness and actual coverage.
“These findings highlight the critical role independent agents play in educating homeowners and helping them make informed decisions,” said Daniel C. Halsey, president of personal lines at The Hanover. “Homeowners face a growing number of risks that aren’t addressed by a basic homeowners policy, making it all the more important for customers to talk with their agents about their evolving risks and build insurance plans that can help protect them, their income and their assets.”
“Keeping coverage together with one carrier can also help more easily identify potential gaps, and provide a more consistent customer service experience,” added Halsey.
Cyber insurance has the lowest awareness amongst the four coverage
Cyber insurance ranked lowest in consumer awareness, with just 46% of homeowners familiar with the coverage and only 7% reporting they have a policy in place. Awareness of umbrella coverage was much higher at 83%, yet less than four in ten homeowners (39%) have ever discussed the product with their insurance company or agent, and just 23% currently hold a policy.
Similarly, while 87% of respondents said they were aware of valuables coverage, only 26% indicated they are insured for those items. Recreational vehicle insurance showed the widest recognition at 94%, but only 31% of homeowners have spoken with their agent or insurer about obtaining protection.
Notably, interest in additional protection increases when homeowners are educated about what the coverage entails. After being presented with a description of umbrella insurance, 66% said they would consider purchasing a policy. The findings suggest that consumer education could play a decisive role in driving adoption of key coverages and correcting misconceptions about what standard homeowners policies actually protect.
Survey method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Hanover from Aug. 12-14, 2025, among 991 adults ages 30 and older who own a house. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/-3.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.
Access the full survey on The Hanover’s website here.
