Hurricane Insurance Protection - Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement (Crop Year 2023)

In addition to the tropical storm option, RMA has expanded availability of HIP-WI to more counties for 2023 and succeeding crop years. When provided in the actuarial documents, the HIP-WI Endorsement provides coverage for over 70 different crops insured under the Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions (Basic Provisions) for both Catastrophic (CAT) and additional coverage policies. HIP-WI will be available in counties in the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, as well as Hawaii. The areas of insurance map below show the availability of HIP-WI.

Tropical Storm Expansion County Table text (PDF | Excel)

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

• Have an insurance policy under the Basic Provisions with the same insurance provider (any crop acreage, inventory, or trees and plants that are not insured by the underlying policy are not covered by HIP-WI);
• Elect HIP-WI on or before the HIP-WI sales closing date (SCD);
• Elect a HIP-WI coverage percentage;
• Not have elected the OLO or the CTV Endorsement for the underlying policy; and
• Comply with all terms and conditions of the HIP-WI Endorsement.

To be eligible for the Tropical Storm (TS) option:

• You must meet all eligibility requirements for HIP-WI;
• You must elect TS on or before the HIP-WI SCD; and
• The TS option must be available in the actuarial documents.

• Exception: For the 2023 crop year only, for crops with a SCD on or after November 1, 2022, on or before April 30, 2023, you must elect:
  • TS on existing HIP-WI Endorsements; or
  • The HIP-WI Endorsement with TS, if the insured does not already have the HIP-WI Endorsement. However, a HIP-WI Endorsement without TS cannot be elected after the initial year SCD of April 30, 2023.

Generally, when provided in the HIPWI actuarial documents the insurance period for HIP-WI begins on the insurance attachment date. When no insurance attachment date is provided on the HIP-WI actuarial documents, the insurance period begins on the later of:

• The SCD of the underlying policy; or
• The earliest planting date, for each planting period when applicable, for the underlying policy.

Generally, the insurance period ends on the:

• End of insurance date, for each planting period when applicable, when provided in the HIP-WI actuarial documents; or
• End of insurance date, for each planting period when applicable, provided in the underlying policy actuarial documents when not provided in the HIP-WI actuarial documents.

For the initial year that HIP-WI is elected, coverage will not begin until 14 days after the SCD. If the underlying crop policy also requires a waiting period, the wait periods will run concurrently.

For subsequent years, HIP-WI coverage may be increased (e.g., lowering coverage on the underlying policy, increasing the HIP-WI coverage factor, decreasing the STAX coverage level) by the SCD, but the increased HIP-WI coverage will not take effect until 14 days after the SCD, or the end of the waiting period for the underlying policy, when a waiting period is required by the underlying policy. If a qualifying event triggers the county within the 14-day waiting period, coverage will be based on the coverage percentage and coverage range from the previous insured year.

If coverage is decreased, the decreased coverage will take effect immediately (there is no waiting period). If a qualifying event triggers the county, HIP-WI coverage will be based on the lower coverage for the current insured year.

Because HIP-WI uses the underlying policy’s acreage report, you are not required to submit an additional acreage report for HIP-WI. Unless a qualifying event triggers the county prior to you filing an 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. 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, use the crop’s equivalent of an acreage report.

If an acreage report must be revised, or the Actual Production History (APH) needs to be corrected, the HIP-WI liability will be held to what the insured initially reported on their underlying policy’s acreage report and/ or Production Report (APH Record).

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 NHC. Half of the value of the HIP-WI Endorsement is paid when the TS is elected and the county, or adjacent county, is within the area of a tropical storm with sustained surface wind speeds of 34 knots (39 mph) and at least 6 inches of total precipitation received over four consecutive days (one day preceding the arrival of the tropical storm, the day of the tropical storm, and two days following the arrival of the tropical storm), according to NOAA and as determined by RMA.

The counties where payments have been triggered will be identified in the actuarial documents. Individual farm yields and revenues are not considered under HIP-WI, and it is possible that you may experience reduced revenue or reduced yield and not receive an indemnity under HIP-WI. You are not required to file a notice of loss.

An administrative fee and premium for the crop covered by each HIP-WI Endorsement will be due in addition to any administrative fee(s) and/or premium(s) of the underlying policy. The HIP-WI endorsement attaches only to the underlying policy and not to an endorsement. Therefore, only one admin fee is charged for HIP-WI coverage. However, the HIP-WI administrative fee may be waived if you qualify as a limited resource farmer, a Beginning Farmer Rancher (BFR), or a Veteran Farmer Rancher (VFR).

Premium for HIP-WI is calculated by multiplying the Hurricane Protection Amount (HPA) by the premium rate and any premium adjustment percentages that may apply. All information needed to calculate the premium rate is contained in the actuarial documents. The premium subsidy for HIP-WI is fixed at 65%.

Sales Closing Date: Sales Closing Date of Underlying Crop Policy

2023 Sales Closing Date for TS: April 30, 2023, only for crops with a HIP-WI SCD on or after November 1, 2022; HIP-WI SCD established in the actuarial documents, thereafter.

Cancellation Date: Cancellation Date of Underlying Crop Policy