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[Full disclosure: Main Street America Insurance is one of our insurance partners. As such, the Horan agency receives commissions for policies Main Street underwrites for our clients. That relationship does not influence our opinions or evaluations of the carrier. What follows is an objective review of a company we chose to partner with for many of the reasons you’ll read below.]
[Update: As of August 29, 2024, Main Street America Insurance has announced a significant change in their business focus. The company has decided to exit the personal lines segment and concentrate exclusively on commercial lines insurance. This shift allows Main Street America to bring new product innovations and service capabilities to market at a faster pace in the commercial space.
While this review originally covered both personal and commercial lines, please note that the personal lines information is now historical and no longer applicable for new policies.]
Main Street America Insurance, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a fairly large national carrier licensed in New York and 36 additional US states. But they’re not as well-known as other large insurance companies who outspend Main Street by hundreds of millions of dollars on TV, radio, and print ads each year.
For that reason, many Central New Yorkers have heard little about the company. While Main Street America previously offered both personal and commercial policies through dedicated independent agents, they now focus exclusively on commercial insurance products for small "Main Street" businesses in our region.
In this Horan Review, we'll look more closely at some of their unique policy offerings for commercial insurance to help you determine whether Main Street will be a good fit for your business insurance needs. Before we do so, we'll take a brief peek into the company's past.
How Main Street America Insurance Started
Unlike the other insurers we’ve covered in this series of Horan Reviews, Main Street America has been subject to mergers and acquisitions and extensive restructuring over the decades.
The carrier was organized in New Hampshire as the National Grange Mutual Liability Company (NGM) in March 1923. It began doing business on July 16, 1923. A companion carrier, National Grange Fire Insurance Company, was formed in 1935 and later absorbed into NGM.
There were further mergers, and NGM relocated operations to the state of Florida, becoming a stock insurance company. Main Street America Group, initiated in 1986, was issued 100% of NGM’s common stock. National Grange Mutual survives today, and Main Street underwrites home policies in New York and other states through the company.
Main Street America merged with American Family Insurance (AmFam) in 2018—AmFam being the 10th largest property and casualty (P&C) insurance company in 2021.
But Main Street holds its own in the P&C space, writing over $1 billion in annual premiums for individuals, families, and small “Main Street” businesses in 37 states across the American landscape. And it does so through its network of independent agencies that includes Horan.
Insurance Policies Offered by Main Street America
As of August 29, 2024, Main Street America Insurance specializes exclusively in commercial policies. Their decision to exit the personal lines segment allows them to focus on bringing new product innovations and service capabilities to market at a faster pace for their commercial clients.
Main Street offers a range of commercial insurance products, including:
The company's previous personal lines offerings, including homeowners and personal auto insurance, are no longer available for new policies. Existing personal lines policyholders should contact their independent agent or Main Street America directly for information about their current policies and future options.
Commercial Coverage
Main Street’s commercial insurance offerings include a Business Owners Policy or BOP. The policy is split into two coverage types: general liability and property damage. A BOP is great for small CNY businesses with physical locations on “Main Streets” in various towns.
It protects business owners who face potential lawsuits since frequent customers or guests will be on-site and can incur injuries on the premises. We’re talking accountants and attorneys with storefront offices, bike repair shops, hair salons, and other businesses.
Policyholders can also upgrade their insurance to include replacement coverage for their building or personal property belonging to the business.
Commercial auto policies are also on offer, and they include similar coverage you’ll see on personal auto insurance, including bodily injury liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and more.
Upgrading a commercial auto policy can lead to additional protections like coverage for vehicles rented by employees or for physical damage to hired vehicles.
Main Street also offers Workers’ Compensation coverage within its suite of commercial packages.
What is the Claims Process Like for Main Street America Insurance?
The phone lines for Main Street America Insurance are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed directly from their website. You can also report your claim online using their claims portal. It is easy to navigate and includes fillable forms with helpful instructions.
You can also contact your independent agent to report your claim since they are already familiar with the claims process.
From our experience, we have found Main Street to be prompt with payments and reasonable with the costs associated with various claims.
Main Street’s Awards and Other Highlights
Main Street America Insurance, as large a carrier as it is, doesn’t vie for awards or special recognition as far as we have seen, so there are none to report. But the carrier, being part of the AmFam group, ranked 251 on the Fortune 500 list in 2022, down from 232 in 2021.
AM Best, the world’s largest credit rating agency, announced in 2021 that Main Street America Insurance—including the companies in the group it shares with AmFam—received its 19th consecutive ‘A’ (Excellent) rating for financial strength.
AM Best “also affirmed the company’s issuer credit rating of ‘a+’ for the fourth year in a row” and increased Main Street’s innovation rating from “Significant” to “Prominent.”
Charitable Efforts
Through its charity arms, NGM Charitable Foundation and Austin Mutual Foundation, Main Street donated $244,936 to nonprofit organizations focused on health, educational, welfare, cultural, and civic needs in 2021.
In addition to offering support through corporate giving, volunteerism, and community service, Main Street also encourages its employees to give by matching donations:
“We offer a 1-to-1 match to employee donations made to nonprofit organizations and a 1-to-1.5 match for donations to The United Way.”
Considering Main Street’s Fortune 500 status within the AmFam group, its high industry ratings from AM Best, and the company’s charitable giving, one still has to weigh its policy offerings and ask:
Is Main Street America Insurance Right for Me?
Good Fits
- Small to medium-sized businesses looking for comprehensive commercial insurance coverage
- Contractors whose line of business doesn't require employees to climb ladders and who have been in business for at least three years
- Businesses seeking a carrier with strong financial stability and a focus on commercial lines innovation
Not-so-Good Fits
- Individuals seeking personal lines insurance (such as home or auto)
- Large corporations with complex insurance needs beyond the scope of Main Street's offerings
- Businesses with high-risk profiles that may not meet Main Street's underwriting criteria
Main Street America Insurance is now positioned as a specialized commercial lines insurer, catering specifically to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Their decision to focus exclusively on commercial insurance allows them to offer more products and services to business owners.
If you're a business owner looking for insurance coverage, Main Street America could be an excellent choice, offering stability, expertise, and a commitment to serving the commercial sector. However, if you're seeking personal insurance like home or auto coverage, you'll need to explore options with other carriers.
If you’d like to read more Horan Reviews on carriers that serve the Central New York region, click the links below. We’ll add more review links as they become available.
- Dryden Mutual Insurance Review
- Erie Insurance Review
- NYCM Insurance Review
- Progressive Insurance Review
- Sterling Insurance Review
- Travelers Insurance Review
If you're ready to see a quote from Main Street America Insurance for your business or other insurers in our network, click the Get a Quote button below, and one of our insurance specialists will reach out to you.
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