The Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement covers a portion of the deductible of the underlying crop insurance policy when the county, or adjacent county, is within the area of sustained hurricane-force winds from a named hurricane that is published by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

If you are interested in learning more on the HIP-WI Endorsement, visit with your NAU Country Marketing Representative or Agent. Read more on the details below.

Eligible coverage

The HIP-WI Endorsement provides coverage for 76 different crops insured under the Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions (Basic Provisions) for both Catastrophic (CAT), and additional coverage policies when provided in the actuarial documents. It will be available in counties in the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic (specific counties in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia), as well as Hawaii.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the HIP-WI Endorsement, you must:

• Have an insurance policy under the Basic Provisions with the same insurance provider.
• Elect HIP-WI on or before the sales closing date (SCD).
  • The sales closing date for HIP-WI is the same as the underlying policy.
• Elect a HIP-WI coverage percentage.
• Comply with all terms and conditions of the HIP-WI Endorsement.

Important Dates

• 2021 and Subsequent Crop Years
  Sales Closing and Cancellation……........….......Same as underlying crop policy

Insurance Period

Generally, the insurance period for HIP-WI:

• Begins on the later of the sales closing date or earliest planting date of the crop; and
• Ends on the earliest of the end of insurance date or termination date (if there is no end of insurance date for the crop).

Waiting Period

The initial year HIP-WI is elected, coverage will not begin until 14 days after the sales closing date. If the underlying crop policy also requires a waiting period, the wait periods will run concurrently. For subsequent years, if you increase your HIP-WI coverage, the increase will not take effect until 14 days after the sales closing date. If a loss event occurs within the 14-day waiting period, HIP-WI coverage will be based on the coverage percentage and coverage range from the previous insured year.

Supplemental Coverage

The coverage provided by HIP-WI can be combined with the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) when acreage is also insured by a companion policy.

Acreage Reporting Requirements

You are not required to submit an additional acreage report for HIP-WI, because HIP-WI uses the underlying policy’s acreage report. The number of eligible acres will be the number of planted or insured acres reported on an acreage report of the underlying policy unless a qualifying event triggers the county prior to you filing an acreage report. If a qualifying event occurs prior to you filing your acreage report and it is the initial year you elect HIP-WI, your HIP-WI eligible acres will be the lesser of the number of acres reported on an intended acreage report or the number of actual planted acres. If a qualifying event occurs prior to you filing your acreage report and it is any subsequent year after you initially elect HIP-WI, your HIP-WI eligible acres will be the lesser of the number of acres planted at the time of the qualifying event or the highest number of planted insurable acres for the crop in the past four years. For crops which do not require an acreage report, such as nursery, use the crop’s equivalent of an acreage report.

Causes of Loss

The full value of the HIP-WI Endorsement is paid if a county, or adjacent county, is within the area of sustained hurricane-force winds from a named hurricane based on data published by the National Hurricane Center. The counties where payments occur will be identified in the actuarial documents. It is possible that your individual farm may experience reduced revenue or reduced yield due to hurricane-related causes and you do not receive an indemnity under HIP-WI. You are not required to file a notice of loss.

Contact your NAU Country Agent or Marketing Representative for more information.