The Minnesota Market Assistance Program is a referral service that helps agents find insurance in the private market for their applicants, rather than having to use the FAIR Plan for their insurance coverage.  The Market Assistance Program refers agents to Surplus Lines Carriers.  Surplus Lines Carriers insure non-standard risks.  In addition to Farm and Commercial coverage, Surplus Lines Carriers can also provide insurance for high value Homeowners. 

Because Surplus Lines Carriers serve higher risk customers, the cost for their policies will usually be higher than that charged by standard companies, and sometimes more than the FAIR Plan.  The coverage they provide however, is more comprehensive than that offered by the FAIR Plan, and Replacement Cost Coverage may also be available from Surplus Lines Carriers.  The FAIR Plan does not offer Replacement Cost Coverage.

The Minnesota Market Assistance Program is financed by the Minnesota FAIR Plan and the Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association (JUA).  The program is run by Michael McClure, who is also a licensed agent.  Mr. McClure does not however, get involved in the actual sales transaction, and collects no commission for his work.  The agent remains the representative of the insured.  Mr. McClure serves only as a referral service for the agent.  He will provide the agent with the name of one or more Surplus Lines Carriers that may be able to provide coverage for the applicant’s property.  Mr. McClure is paid a salary for this work, shared by the JUA and the FAIR Plan.

If you need Commercial, Farm or high value Homeowners insurance, ask your agent to contact Mr. McClure at: 1-800-257-1838 Outside the Metro Area, 952-472-3359 within the Metro Area, to see if coverage can be obtained from a Surplus Lines Carrier.