Does Owning A Trampoline Affect Home Insurance?

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David G. Pipes, CLU®, RICP®
Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
Many companies refuse to issue a homeowner’s policy when there is a trampoline on the property. The trampoline is clearly identified as a hazard. Regardless of mechanisms to make them safe, there is still a high incidence of claims involving a trampoline. Companies that will insure a home with a trampoline will normally be considerably more expensive.
Answered on August 29, 2014
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Terry A. McCarthy, CLU, ChFC
President, Insurance Associates Agency Inc., West Chester, OH
Trampolines are an attractive nuisance not unlike the pond on the back forty, They are the source of a lot of additional liability exposure to the policy and the homeowner. The biggest reason that liability increases is because more than one child or person is one the equipment at a time. Most families with a trampoline haven't established risk-based rules for use and enjoyment and so what looks to be a fun and exciting play thing, becomes a hazard teeming with potential to cause great bodily harm. Insurance companies know from experience that trampolines cause losses and are expensive to insure because the injuries can become catastrophic. Broken bones are one thing. A broken neck with paralysis is completely another but well within the outcomes on a trampoline. Add to the trampoline an almost complete lack of training or instruction on the correct methods of use (and the lack of appropriate rules for use), and we find the trampoline becomes similar to a loaded gun just waiting for curious hands with just as much potential to destroy a healthful life. Another issue that crops us is the degradation of the platform fabric since it is exposed to weather and sunlight. People have been known to bust through the platform because it became degraded due to the sun and weather effects. Bones get broke hitting the found and frame members below the deck. In my experience, most companies don't want anything to do with insuring a home with a trampoline. A relative few don't charge additional premium and don't restrict the presence of a trampoline. Others still will permit a trampoline when it is is present for coverage at an additional charge. One carrier we represent charges an additional $75 annually for the trampoline, requires the fences to be installed (most trampolines come with them), and they won't provide insurance on the home unless the trampoline is also included in coverage. All in all, you don't simply have the choice to not insure the trampoline since the mere act of having one dramatically increases the chances of having a loss! That said, trampolines can be enjoyed safely but it requires careful and near constant monitoring by the responsible adults, the establishment of rules for use, the ability to protect the equipment from non-invited use by neighbors when the owner or their children are not using the equipment, and inspection periodically for signs of degradation and normal wear and tear. Additionally, basic skills should be discussed, taught and understood, limits should be placed on the behavior that is allowed on the trampoline, and responsible adults should be willing to stop all play when careful control cannot be maintained. Many injuries occur when the parents are not paying attention or aware from the home. Let's face it, no one wants to be sued for the liability that may arise out of an injury on a trampoline and no one wants to deal with the often catastrophic injuries that can occur to your children or the neighbors. These latter comments and insight are a good foundation for understanding why an insurance company doesn't like trampolines and why homeowner insurance is often negatively influenced when they are present on the property.
Answered on July 22, 2015
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