Additional Living Expense Insurance

Updated: 04 May 2026

What Does Additional Living Expense Insurance Mean?

Additional living expense (ALE) insurance is a policy that covers extra costs the policyholder incurs if they are temporarily displaced from their permanent residence due to events such as fire, flood, or other disasters that make the home uninhabitable. This coverage helps pay for temporary housing, meals, and other necessary expenses while the home is being repaired or rebuilt. Whether the underlying damage gets paid out at all depends on the cause, which is why it pays to check whether homeowners insurance covers fire and the other perils listed in your policy.

Insuranceopedia Explains Additional Living Expense Insurance

Additional living expenses (ALE) insurance protects against the financial burden of extra costs the policyholder would incur when temporarily displaced from their home. This coverage may include expenses such as hotel fees, food bills, and other related costs, as well as potential loss of income. ALE insurance is often included as part of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies. ALE limits and time caps vary a lot between insurers, so this is one of the benefits worth comparing when you look at the best homeowners insurance companies. Renters get the same protection through their own policy, and most top-rated renters insurance providers include it without charging extra.

Related Reading